We have a joke in our house that when the 9:00 hour comes around “happy mommy” quickly starts to fade and her grumpy side starts to come out.  I don’t know about you, but by 9:00 my energy and patience is spent (heck, some nights I feel that way by 6:00, who are we kidding!).  […] Read more…

Just for fun I thought I would share some of my favorite costumes that my children or others have worn through the years!  Some of them are homemade and others are store bought.  You can probably guess which ones!  Hope you find some inspiration with Halloween just a week away! This is one of my […] Read more…

Usually by this point in the school year you have gotten in to a steady routine with your class.  Now you can begin to expand on some of the social skills you would like to continue to develop in your students.  I like to spend some time focusing on helpfulness this time of year.  It goes […] Read more…

One of my favorite books to use in preschool is Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle!  I love the predictability of this book and so do children!  There are so many related activities you can do!  The possibilities are endless! Recently, I created several printables to supplement the story.  Tonight […] Read more…

I recently attended my first blog conference in Sandusky, Ohio.  I have been blogging for about 2 years and wanted some new tools to help me provide a better blog experience for you!  Going to Bloggy Con 2013 was just what I needed!  Not only did I learn more about blogging, but I also made […] Read more…

As many of you know, I love to garden!  One of my favorite things to grow is spring bulbs like tulips and daffodils.  As you tuck those little pods of life into the warm cozy soil, you are hoping for better things to come!  You trust that the hard work you are doing now will bear fruit in about six months […] Read more…

Have you ever had a student that comes to school upset pretty much every day.  They arrive at your door and this is what you see… Here comes this kiddo who is having a tough time and there are many reasons why this could be happening.  It could be due to sensory issues, a rough […] Read more…

At the beginning of the school year I loved to play lots of games with my students to help them get to know one another.  There are a TON of opportunities to work on important skills throughout these games.  This particular game idea came from my favorite Autism Consultant several years ago.   I have modified it so we […] Read more…

Yesterday I heard a commercial on TV that prompted me to write this post.  It was a Chuck E. Cheese commercial reminding parents that kids grow up way too fast and everyone needs to make time to visit a place where “a kid can be a kid”.  I think Chuck E. Cheese has the right idea.  How […] Read more…

How do you help your children be accountable for the quality of their work without using rewards and punishments?  Are you able to help your children reach goals without using stickers, gold stars, clip charts, and time out? Since beginning our Conscious Discipline journey, one of the biggest shifts that has happened for me has been […] Read more…