Recently, we took our three-year-old grand-daughter to a state park.  I found everything she said and did charming.  Especially the way she answered a question with a hand on her hip and a "Well....... actually..."   Absolutely adorable.  I was equally amused by a kindergartener at our church.  When I asked how her first week at school was, she looked at me, slightly rolled her eyes and shrugged, and said "It was fine."  Just like I ought to know that this was nothing new to her, she was a big school girl.  
Kids, they are so cute (in small numbers).  Now, imagine yourself surrounded by 22 (or more) of these little people (some of you do this daily, my hat is off to you!).  You have one tapping on your shoulder calling you "Hey, teacher!", another is grabbing your hand telling you how nice you are, and another is jostling for room to wrap their arms around your waist.  If there was a fire drill now, you'd be in trouble!  Walking is not an option- moving is not an option. Somehow you have to disengage these charming little people and teach them life lessons.  Once accomplished, you start with a call-back, for which I am convinced that none of these smiling little faces understands- they just repeat what you said.  You pretend they are the same page as you and proceed.  The lesson is going great.  They are absorbing mountains of meaningful information and then....... someone stands up and yells at the kid across the room for taking her pencil. The intercom buzzes to 'please send one of the little darlings to the office'.  A charmer stands in front of you with crossed fingers (the universal sign for "I have to use the restroom").  Chaos. Again. Time for recess. Then you start all over, eager to impart pieces of wisdom, while watching the clock and counting down the final minutes before buses arrive. 
Fun?  Sure, why else would you be there if you didn't have fun?  Everyday is an adventure. Everyday is new. Everyday you play an important part in helping a child grow.  
Enjoy your week-end! Rest, relax, laugh at your children's charming little phrases and actions. Monday will be here soon enough :)

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Just in time for the sale..........

It isn't too late to check out the sale at Teachers Pay Teachers and remember that they are offering many free downloads today.

I also added this literature unit to my store Chocolate 4 Teachers. 

Happy Shopping!

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Chocolate 4 Teachers

FREE!!!!     SALE!!!!
Two words that make a teacher's heart beat faster.  We all love a sale, especially when it helps us in our classroom.  Teachers pay teachers is having their annual Back to School Sale.  Go to this link to get a free account and start checking out free or reasonably priced items. The sale is for one day only- August 20th, so save the date!

Speaking of free, those who know me know that I love a bargain! Who doesn't?  We all love to get something for nothing.  But the word free also reminds me that the price Christ paid for me was anything but free. The gift He gives me is free, but it cost Him everything. In a world that loves getting something free, why is it so hard to accept this gift?

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We've all heard the phrase, Thank a Teacher, but does anyone actually do it. 
Yes! I've been thanked numerous times and it never fails to humble me. 
After all, God gave me a gift to teach, and all I'm doing is using it.  
I've got the easy part.   
Today, I want to Thank a Teacher. Over the years I have had the privilege of 
having many great teachers and of working with many great teachers.  
For instance, my piano teacher that encouraged me and believed in me even 
when I didn't practice. Thank You.  Or my elementary teachers that let me 
'teach the class' (I didn't give them a choice!). Thank You. 
Or the teacher that helped me purchase food for a homeless student. 
Thank You. Or the teacher that stays after school, volunteering her time 
night-after-night, helping kids understand math. Thank You. Or the "two guys" 
that always made our team laugh 'til we cried. Thank You. Or the countless 
others that have become friends. Thank You. 
In my opinion, teachers are the real heroes. 
Going the extra mile. 
Staying late while their families wait at home. 
Attending games and dances. 
Buying clothing and food for needy kids. 
Crying with our students. 
Defending our students. 
And loving them.  
Teachers aren't the ones that stand out in a crowd. We 
don't seek attention. We quietly go about our business of loving kids. 
I won't say we do it 'for the kids' because that phrase has become trite and 
meaningless. Teachers live it and breathe it because that's who we are. 
Thank God for  teachers.

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New Beginnings. 
Every year in your classroom is your opportunity to start fresh- 
new year, new students, new ideas. 
By this time, most of you are getting ready for the first day of school. It may be
tomorrow or it may be next week, but you all have the same thing on your minds....
What do I do the first day? the first hour? the first week?
Take a deep breath and dive in......
Let your feet hit the floor dancing when your alarm goes off. 
Greet your students with a smile (they will wonder what you have planned 
for them!). 
And at the end of the day....... give yourself a pat on the back and thank
God for another opportunity to guide and nurture young minds. 
Have a great year!

For some great teaching ideas - lots of free ones ( I love free): Teachers Pay Teachers
For a free first week lesson plan go to:  First Week Activity- POP!
and don't forget my Etsy store section- teacher's corner at:
Classic Print Pillow

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Chocolate 4 Teachers

"I don't have a pencil!"  "Could I have a pencil?"  "I need a pencil."
How many times have we heard that??  I wish I had a nickel for every
time a student asked for a pencil.  I also wish I had a nickel for every
pencil that walked out the door.  I have heard countless conversations 
between educators about the dilemma of the pencil. 
"How do we keep students from taking them?" "How can we continue
to provide every student with a writing utensil on a daily basis?"
Thanks to a friend from church (who made the comment one Sunday, 
"I just wish there was someone who would decorate my room
for me.")  I began investigating different classroom avenues for classroom
decor AND supplies solutions. 
 I saw this pencil trick on a popular craft store's website and decided to try it. 
The crayon crafts will be another blog!

Surprising, it worked really well and was so easy. 
First, take a sheet of foam (I love to shop at discount stores) and cut varying lengths. Cutting different lengths gives the finished product a better look.

Next, cut the foam rectangle in half. 

Use a variety of colors  OR if you are departmentalized, use a different color for 
each class.Now, you are ready to hot glue the foam to the pencil. Lay the foam flat 
and run a thin line of hot glue near the bottom (where it is solid - opposite of where 
you made cuts). Make sure that you do not include the eraser in the glued area. 
Keep the eraser in the cut area so students will have access.

When you are finished, you will have a container full of colorful pencils!

THE PERKS:
1. Not as expensive as buying flowers and tape to attach to pencils.
2. Faster to make than attaching silk flowers to pencil ends. 
3. The eraser is still usable. To make using the eraser easier, you could trim 
     the fringed ends.
4. Not as easy for students to 'dismantle'. Yes, they will probably find a way to 
    take the foam off, BUT foam glued to wood is very durable.
5. I tried to pull it off or unwrap it (after letting the glue dry) and was unable 
    to do so - with normal force. 

*** I am starting a new category in my Etsy shop called Teacher's Corner. In it I will offer things like the picture frame (above) and the pillow below at teacher friendly prices.

This pillow is made of classic teacher print and burlap. I thought that burlap would make it more durable for the classroom.  I only have a limited quantity of this vintage fabric available, so let me know quick if you are interested in having some for the classroom.  I am not selling the pencils on Etsy, but if you don't have time to make them, I will sell them here for $3.00/dozen + S&H. Send me a comment if you are interested and we'll set things up.
In the meantime........................
Check out my Etsy shop for other decorating items!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/GentleReflections?ref=l2-shopheader-name

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Try something new.... Explore.... Have fun...... 
After all your days of summer freedom are numbered! :)  
Seriously, try something new either at home or in the classroom just to give you a new perspective. My husband will tell you that I love to experiment in the kitchen. He calls himself the guinea pig.  I call it branching out and exploring your options.   Anyway, in an effort to please his palette I made pork tenderloin sandwiches. I had never made them before, but he called it a "do-over". 
Speaking of do-overs.... isn't it great that every day our heavenly Father gives us a do-over. There are many days that I can't wait until my do-over.  I am thankful for each new chance to "get things right." I am thankful that Jesus Christ made it possible for me to live each day blessed and joyful. 


Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches:
1.Thinly sliced pork tenderloin medallions. The thinner the better!  
2.Dip the slice in egg mixture (beaten egg with water, salt, and pepper), 
then roll in bread crumb mixture 
(bread crumbs, crushed Ritz crackers, salt, and pepper). 
Back into the egg mixture, then bread crumbs before going into a hot skillet with canola oil. 
 I toasted hamburger buns, sliced fresh tomatoes, 
got out the mayo and potato chips and dinner on the table 
in under 30 minutes.  That's a record for me!

I am putting together a free download of getting started ideas.  Look for it in the next day or two.

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Chocolate 4 Teachers

I'll bet you have been working in your class rooms this week making sure that everything is just perfect??  But have you spent any time at home preparing for the next nine months? (No, I don't mean preparing for a new addition!) 
Now is a great time to stock up on home supplies.  Remember.... you are going to be exhausted. You will not  feel like grocery shopping or cooking. It always takes awhile to get your body back on school time.  So...... plan ahead. Get out the crockpot. Make a list of favorite menus and stock up on supplies for your home.  Plan a crockpot meal for the first day so you come home to the enticing smells of comfort food.  And remember, there is only one you.  I used to compare myself to the Proverbs 31 woman and get so frustrated. Then I heard a sermon in which the pastor believed that the Proverb was actually written about more than one woman. What a relief!  I don't have to do it all! Do what you can and accept what you can't.  

Need some suggestions??
-Anything pasta is comfort food (for me). Pasta cooks fast and is filling. 
-Beef tips in broth. Put stew meat (I dump it in frozen) in crockpot. 
 Add one can of beef broth (or two depending on much beef you put in). 
 Season. Turn on low and come home to beef 
 tips in broth. Just add wide egg noodles for beef and noodles. 
-Chicken seasoned with taco seasoning. Another crockpot meal. 
 Just add enough chicken broth to keep it from getting dry.
- Tacos in the crockpot- crumble ground beef, sprinkle with taco 
  seasoning and add liquid to keep moist.  If you have leftovers use 
   to make enchiladas later in the week.
- Made double of whatever you are fixing for meals this week and 
  freeze the extras. Make sure to label and date.  I use glass baking 
  dishes with plastic lids. Pop off the lid, defrost, 
  oven.  To keep dish from cracking, don't preheat oven. 

** The key is to keep things simple.  And remember .... You don't have to do it all!

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We have all had them.  It doesn't matter if you have taught 15 years, 50 years, or 5 minutes. Jitters. What will this year be like?  The fear of the unknown.  You prepare. You plan. But it all comes down to that first day in the classroom. 

My grandfather was a wise man. He was my best friend and confidant. He knew I was a worrier and often told me, "Worry is like a rocking chair. It takes a lot of effort, but gets you nowhere."  I'm not sure where he picked up this nugget of wisdom, but I have always reminded myself of it when worry creeps in.  Why spend my effort worrying when I can be productive?  David offers these comforting words in Psalms,  

                  " But you, O Lord, are a shield around me,

                 my glory, and the one who lifts my head high."Take heart, you are not in this alone.  God will be your shield and your guide. Now, I know you are thinking,  " A shield?  Just what have I gotten myself into?" I'm not talking about a shield of metal to protect you from incoming, but a shield of strength and wisdom to guide you through your day.  I don't know about you, but I don't want to undertake any endeavor without God as my shield. 

Before-School- Starts Tip:
 I "borrowed" this from a wise friend.  While you are working in your classroom, take a moment to pray. Ask God to be present in your room this year: to give you wisdom when trying to determine the best method to reach a difficult child (or parent), to give you ideas or resources, to bless your efforts, to lead you in solutions, to give you joy each day in learning along with your students.  What a difference this will make in your year!  


Coming soon.......... some decorative craft ideas and a "game" that will take 2-3 days of your first week- a great way to get your school year started! 

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The clock is ticking........ Okay, sorry to remind you! But once you turn the calendar to August, you can almost hear the clock tick. During my first years of teaching, I would "practice" getting up and getting ready for school.  Crazy, huh? Yet year after year, two- three weeks before school started, I would set both alarms (Yes, I actually set two alarms), go to bed early, get up early, and time myself getting ready. By the time school started.... I had it down to a fine art. 
Regardless of what you do to prepare for the 'big day' all teachers have something in common. A new year begins and our personal lives go on hold.  It shouldn't be that way. But year after year all of our good intentions go out the window and we give everything we have to our kids at school.  This year, I'm going to challenge you to make time for yourself and your family.  Call it a personal reserve.  Hopefully the tips and ideas on this blog will help.  Let's call it chocolate for the teacher's heart (and a chocolate bar in your desk doesn't hurt either).

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Chocolate 4 Teachers