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I used to buy fast fashion. I’ve donned a few weekend one-night wears from Supré. I’ve made a few quick stops at Kmart for essentials. I’ve even succumbed to Zara’s sale rack in the thrill of a bargain hunt.
By Kim Bui Riddle me this, what do lipstick and plywood have in common? The answer is that both have animal by-products as ingredients! Yup, you heard
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As the marketing landscape continues to evolve at a rapid pace, staying ahead of emerging trends is more crucial than ever. In 2024, we’re witnessing a significant shift in how brands connect with their audiences, driven by an increased focus on authenticity, community, and timely engagement. From fostering deeper community connections to redefining the role
Explore techniques and tips to express your unique style and message through custom typography t shirt design. Learn More.
I talk quite a bit about classroom management on my blog. I have to be honest here. I have tried so many different things. I have tried the clip chart, I have tried check marks, I have tried the “flip the card”. NONE of them work for me. The book Dream Class really changed my thoughts on...
Want to get started with the Gene Keys but don't know where to start?
I am not sure how you feel about parent-teacher conferences, but when chatting to colleagues, I have encountered everything from frustration and dislike, to enjoyment and gratification. Personally, I love them: I find that meeting the parents or guardians of the teens I work with every day can be the most insightful, valuable and constructive experience. Below are just a few of the top tips I have garnered from my many meetings with parents (often learned the hard way). ____________________________________________________________________________ From my experience, unless there is a particular issue to discuss, parents come to teacher conferences just wanting to know that your really know their child: that you are on their side and have their best interests at heart. The best way to communicate this is to be as prepared as possible. In order to do this, at the beginning of the school year, I have all my students complete a few basic forms themselves, and then I place these in manila folders so that every student I teach has a file. Throughout the year, if I ever have an interaction with a student which is noteworthy, or if there is cause for concern, or even if they produce a particularly important piece of work, I pop it into the file. This means that when I meet with a parent, I pull out the file and have a substantial stack of material to reference. ____________________________________________________________________________ I can’t advocate for this enough: when dealing with teenagers, it is vital that they are always included in their own learning process - that they take responsibility for their own education and progress. Therefore, I always (strongly) encourage my students to attend any parent-teacher meeting I hold. This serves two purposes. Firstly, it means that students are accountable for their own education; they are active participants, and they are given a voice. Secondly, it cuts out the middleman; it means that you limit the potential for miscommunication and “he said, she said” messages. ____________________________________________________________________________ FREEBIE #1: Grab this free worksheet to have students complete at the beginning of the year, so you can check in with them on their progress and get vital information about how they learn best. ____________________________________________________________________________ This is the real benefit of having students attend (see above): I start any meeting with a student or parent with a series of questions to really get the pulse of the conversation and draw out any specific concerns. If a student is present I will always ask them questions such as: How are you enjoying our course? Which area of English do you want to grow in? Can you name one activity we have completed so far this year which you really enjoyed? One you struggled with? How would you rate your engagement in class? Where would you like to see improvement? If a student is not present, I might ask the parent questions such as: How do you find your child is doing this year? Do you have any particular concerns? Does he/she ever talk about what we are studying in class? How much is he/she reading at home? What area would you like to see improvement in? The answers to these questions can often be extremely revealing and will often then determine the path our meeting will take. Starting this way shifts the focus off of the teacher, and onto the students and their educational journey: a far more constructive focus. ____________________________________________________________________________ I always try to end my meetings by identifying one or two actionable goals for going forward. Usually, I have the student self-identify these goals, or we all come up with them together, and agree upon them collaboratively. This also serves two purposes: it gives a clear actionable focus moving forward, which often gives parents and students a feeling of progress, and a focus for growth; in addition, it really does help indicate the end of the meeting, and bring it to a close - a sometimes much-needed signal! ;-) ____________________________________________________________________________ FREEBIE #2: This is a template of the page I prepare and use for parent-teacher conferences; I compile one of each of these for the students with whom I meet. Click to download instructions and template. ____________________________________________________________________________ Finally, I really do try to keep parents/guardians as informed as possible throughout the year, and not just at parent-teacher conference time. Sending parents short emails, giving them quick phone calls when possible, or sending notes home on a more regular basis: all incredibly rewarding, valuable and satisfying parts of my job, especially when done to signal positive praise and achievement (you can read more about that here). If you have any specific questions or comments about parent-teacher conference, please do post them in the comments below, as all our Coffee Shop ladies have ample experience and advice on this topic, which they’d love to share. Looking for more resources for parent-teacher conferences? Check these out: Self-Evaluations for Parent-Teach Conferences by Room 213
In the ever-evolving landscape of marketing, staying ahead of the curve is crucial for businesses looking to leave a lasting impact on their audience. As we step into 2024, the world of marketing is witnessing a transformative shift, with technology, data, and ethics playing pivotal roles. In this blog post, we delve into the top five marketing trends that are shaping the industry, offering insights into how brands can navigate this dynamic landscape successfully.
Maastricht is a great destination for food lovers. Here are 15 tips for the best restaurants in Maastricht and shops you don't want to miss.
Surface pattern design by definition is a pattern that is created to repeat seamlessly on any surface such as wallpaper, fabric, etc. My love of interior design and quilting has always returned me to this dream. My dream is to become a surface pattern designer. I want to see my own designs come to life on fabric, wallpaper, rugs, journals and anywhere else it takes me! Above are some branch sketches and a wallpaper that is available on my Spoonflower shop. Here are just a few small examples of where you might see a repeating piece of artwork used: This has been a confusing topic when I mention it to people since I am currently a quilt pattern designer. I thought it would be best to write up a blog and explain the process with some examples. I am shifting my business in 2024 from a focus on quilt pattern design to surface pattern design. I took my first class from Bonnie Christine back in 2019 when I joined her very first Immersion Course. Then I have joined almost every year since. In the course I learned how to digitize my artwork and create patterns that repeat seamlessly in Adobe Illustrator so that they may be printed on different substrates. Here's an example of something I created in the course this year. I went for my normal morning walk and noticed these flowers blooming in our neighborhood park. I snapped a few photos and did a few sketches later from those sketches. I scanned them in, digitized them and created a repeating pattern. At the end of the course we were gifted a notebook with one of our patterns so I used this pattern. I will never forget the day I got this from my mailbox. I was so excited to see my design on a product. A journal I had printed with my modern floral design on it. You can also purchase this print on Spoonflower! I opened my Spoonflower shop in 2019, but neglected it for a long time. I've updated with a few pieces I created during the Immersion course. You can check out those designs here! The final step in the course is designing a full collection. I was having a hard time finding inspiration for a full collection, but one day I decided to just start creating things I loved and would love to see in my own home. These motifs all came to life from my iPad during an online conference I attended. The Home collection was born! You can see one colorway of the collection below and see the other here! Later, I was trying to come up with my next collection and I heard Bonnie say that the boy fabric industry is underserved. Something clicked in my brain! I'm surrounded by boys! Why not design three mini collections based on their personalities?! So off I went and these three collections were created with my full heart. Above is the collection for Oliver, but you can see the full collection here! What's next? I keep designing and start reaching out to art directors with my portfolio. My biggest goal for 2024 is to get at least one licensing deal and go from there. I still love quilting, but I find myself way more inspired and excited to paint, sketch and design fabric so I'm following that dream. Following that wonder! You Might Also Enjoy Reading: What is Modern Quilting? A Tour of My Studio A Collection: Bellisimo
Recently I've been thinking a lot about how long it actually takes to build a career as a fashion photographer. Now, I'm not saying this to put you off, or to fill you with dread, or to make you feel inadequate. Quite the opposite - it's to remind you that this is a tough industry! I've b
So you've decided to take the leap and get that website up and running for your online business. Cheers to you, friend! But maybe you're feeling a little uninspired when it comes to designing it. Lucky for you, I've rounded up the top 10 best examples of Squarespace websites for counselors, coaches,
The best soil for dahlias. How to prepare your soil and grow beautiful dahlias all summer long. Plus tips for growing and caring for dahlias.
Formal teacher observations and informal walk-throughs are an inevitable part of teaching. Tips to handle it all with grace and relaxation.
A detailed look at my Switzerland trip itinerary. Includes travel times, planning tips & a summary of places I visited during my 2 weeks in Switzerland.
Providing NetSuite software insights, industry trends, ERP best practices, and quick NetSuite tips for success.
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Ah, travel—the magic word that brings visions of faraway places and stunning landscapes. It’s almost like a siren’s call, luring us into the great unknown! Whether you’re daydreaming about climbing the majestic peaks of the Himalayas in India or lounging on a sun-kissed beach, we all have travel dreams that ignite our wanderlust. While we
There is this blog that I wrote a couple years ago making its way around the internet again the last few days. It’s a spicy little rant that I wrote on a plane as I was coming home from a lo…
Special eduction law can be a bit gray at times. Although it should be clear cut, it can be difficult to get explicit answers to some of the basic questions that pop up in the day-to-day life of a special education teacher. Here is a scenario that you may have run into before. You need to set up an IEP meeting, but have been unable to confirm a meeting time with the family. How many attempts do you need to make to set up an IEP meeting with a family? What do you do if they don't respond? Can it all be done through email and phone calls or does one of the attempts need to be a letter? Does one attempt need to be a certified letter? While there are laws related to these questions (which you can find HERE), you may find the answer given still leaves you a bit confused. When it comes to these questions, and many more, the law does not give specifics. The specifics tend to come from each state's interpretation of the law and from court case rulings. So how is a special education teacher supposed to make sense of the scattered out information and try to teach at the same time? Well... it's really hard. Some districts have incredible administrators who have a deep understanding of the law, current court cases, and best practice. Many of these districts also reach out to lawyers for guidance. They do the leg work so you can focus on providing your students with what they need to be successful. With that being said, it is still in everyone's best interest to know how to seek out the answers to your own questions. If you do not have this level of support in your district, you will have to take the extra steps to become informed of your role and responsibilities as a special education teacher. I cannot answer all of your questions here. However, I can provide you with some links and resources that will empower you to become more informed and confident in your understanding of special education law. I am going to share a ton of information. I recommend bookmarking this page so that you can refer back to it as questions arise throughout the school year. But first, let's start with the basics. There are three main federal laws that address disabilities. I recommend you click on the links and skim through each of the laws. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) - The primary purpose of IDEA is "to ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living." IDEA (2004) This is a major law in the world of special education and there is a lot jam packed into this act. You can use the search feature on this page to find information related to a specific topic. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - This is a civil rights law prohibiting discrimination based on disability. This law is less applicable to public education, but is still valuable to review. Section 504 Rehabilitation Act - Section 504 extended civil rights to people with disabilities in education and other settings. The act outlines the need for a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) which may include reasonable accommodations. Unlike IDEA, students do not need to qualify for an IEP to fall under the umbrella of 504 services. Please note - this is why it is extremely important that the accommodations listed in the IEP or 504 plan are being followed. If they are not, it becomes a civil rights issue, not just a special education issue. Click on Subpart D for information related directly to preschool, elementary, and secondary education. If reading through those three acts seems daunting, don't worry. I am going to share with you some great resources for synthesizing the plethora of information found above. WrightsLaw - I cannot recommend this site enough. It is run by Pete Wright, an attorney who represents children with special needs, and Pam Wright, a psychotherapist who has worked with children and families since the 70s. They summarize court cases in a way that is easy to understand and provide concrete takeaways from the rulings. They have also written numerous books related to special education law and provide training around law and advocacy throughout the country. Make sure you sign up for their newsletter to stay on top of current court cases. The website has quite a bit of information and can be a little difficult to navigate. However, you can click HERE to watch a quick video about how to sift through all of the information. Center for Parent Information and Resources - This website was produced under the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. While it is geared primarily toward parents, it serves as a great resource for anyone working with students with special needs. Their resource library provides links to documents related to disability services and special education. This site is easy to navigate and the information is accurate and concise. National Education Association (IDEA & Special Education) - This site offers "IDEA Briefs" to explain developments about and aspects of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). They are presented in a question and answer format, and are quick and easy to read. The site also offers a nice summary of the 2004 reauthorization of IDEA found HERE. Department of Education - The specifics surrounding special education law can vary between states. Search your state's department of education website for state specific laws, codes, and policies. You can search for your state HERE and get a list of helpful links. State Specific Education Association - Many states have their own rules and regulations that expand upon those found in IDEA. Your local union (if applicable) may have resources to help you learn more about special education law in your state. If you are unable to find answers on the website, don't hesitate to reach out to your local union reps to see if there are any resources or training opportunities that may be available for special education teachers. Understanding the law is a huge undertaking and I hope that this post has given you some guidence and resources to make it a bit easier. Do you have any other go-to resources for special education law? Please share in the comments below!
Please note: This blog post was written in 2015 when we were still actively staging. We left this particular blog post on our site to share our original process of operating as a boutique staging company. Having been in the home staging industry for more than ten years, we have…
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