"I feel like I'm alone every day — even when I'm surrounded by people."
Meet stupid hen that made people smile. Although unfinished, it received a lot of love and support from my social media fans.
Long hair with bangs is a look that’s always on trend. Check out some celeb-inspired examples of long hairstyles that look great with bangs.
Including the one word that never fails.
Know what to look for.
42 inspiring happiness quotes that will make you smile and make your day (and even life) a little better. Get your daily dose of motivation!
Crochet a medium size crochet pumpkin to brighten up your home or office for fall. A cheery dark orange crochet pumpkin with 2 green leaves and a cute stem.
Hey you, are you looking for a challenge? Are you tired of easy outlines and feel ready to try new things? Then these hard coloring pages are for you!
Embarking on a Mario amigurumi project is like jumping into your very own crafting level of the classic Nintendo game. The iconic Italian plumber, with his
These doodling ideas are just the beginning. Let them inspire you to create your own unique designs, reflecting your personal style and creativity. Remember,
Half Smile and Willing Hands are distress tolerance skills that promote a mind-body connection when a person experiences distressing emotions or encounters a challenging situation. Half Smile involves lifting the corners of the mouth into a soft smile and Willing Hands involves opening the hands to express willingness. The DBT Half Smile and Willing Hands PDF handout defines the skill and explains its purpose. It also includes a list of steps to implement the “half smile” and “willing hands,” and reminds the client to practice the skill during both calm, and difficult moments. If there is mental resistance, individuals can take three slow, deep belly breaths and slowly tense and relax their muscles. This handout helps kids and teens increase their ability to stay grounded during distressing situations. They can practice the skill as they wake up in the morning or whenever they start to feel irritated. Caring adults can demonstrate the technique so that young people will know how to perform it effectively. This handout is a nice visual supplement to our DBT Half Smile worksheet, and DBT Willing Hands worksheet. *This item is an instant digital download. A link to download your files will be emailed to you once payment is confirmed. Want more resources like this? Check out our full catalog of DBT worksheets and handouts. References: Lp, J. E. P. (2015b). Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training with Adolescents: A Practical Workbook for Therapists, Teens & Parents. PESI Publishing & Media. Linehan, M. M. (2014). DBT skills training handouts and worksheets. Guilford Publications.
A poetry analysis graphic organizer designed to be paired with any poem. Created using Google Slides so it can be printed or assigned digitally. Structure: How many stanzas/verses? What words/phrases emphasize the images or themes? Are there words and/or lines repeated? What is the line length/rhyme scheme? Meaning: What is this poem about? What is the poet’s main message? Does the message change? What are the main ideas in this poem? Imagery: What pictures do you get in your mind when you read the poem? Does the poem contain similes, metaphors or personification? Why do you think the poet has included these images? Language: What words have been used to create images? Are there any complicated words? Is the language simple to understand? Which words and phrases create the images? What adjectives are included? Color, size, comparison? Effect: What is the effect of the poem? What does the poem make you think or feel about? What is the poet trying to say about their subject?
Markers, and crayons, and pencils, oh my! As you walk through stores right now, you can start to see that school is definitely in the air! This is always a time that makes me happy (there’s just something about brand new school supplies that makes my heart smile!) = But... Read more
Our "Good Manners Chart" will help you teach manners and etiquette for kids, including basic good manners, table manners, at school, and more.
Do you often look at your photos and feel disappointed at how bulky you look? Here are some tips on how to look thinner in pictures. Try the sideway pose, keep your chin up and suck in your tummy.
Sarcasm is the sharpest wit. There's nothing like a clever put-down to convey contempt. Here are 21 sarcasm quotes to make you smile.
Why was the math book so unhappy? Because ... it's got problems!
The beauty of simple pleasures in life is that they don't have to cost a thing. They are the littlest moments, but immense pleasure can be found in them.
Have you ever wondered how to mail something crazy? I got so excited when I realized there was a whole bunch of weird things that you can mail someone
Do you have regrets in life? This will show you how to make decisions in life that you'll be proud of. Number 1 is the most life changing because...
Are your kids missing their friends, teachers and family these days? It can be hard to stay connected with all the social distancing going on, but there are other ways kids can show loved ones that they care. Now is a great time for them to make some homemade cards to to send to friends
Charming, fun, and yet just the right amount of salty, curse words from the 1950s have a certain extra somethin' that many modern day insults seem to lack. Our four letter words and other caustic phrases get the point across, and they certainly have…
A few years ago, after a 26 day trip traveling with less, I didn’t have a chance to create my capsule wardrobe for spring. I could have beat myself up for falling behind, but instead, I smiled and remembered that even though...
Do you have helpers in your classroom? Many teachers have asked over the years about how classroom helpers work in our classes. Here...
Enjoy 80+ funny jokes for kids sure to make kids (and adults) laugh. Silly, fun, and classic jokes for the whole family. Warning: jokes will cause belly laughs!
Enjoy a great selection of amazing 100 Free Coloring Pages for Adults and Children that you can download and transform into your own little pieces of art
A smart brain helps you reap greater benefits in work, relationships, and social life. Check out 7 hobbies that make you smarter and more intelligent.
If you’re like most people, you respond with “Good” when someone asks how you’re doing. Spice things up with witty and funny responses.
How can you tone your mouth and cheek area while getting rid of marionette lines in the meantime? Try these three easy facial exercises!
Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!! I know - it's a scary thought reality!!!! I'm sorry to even say the words......Back to School. But let's be honest. It's not that far away now, and closer for some than for others. So let's start thinking about how we can prepare. I don't know about you, but I have been stalking Target, Hobby Lobby and a few other places all summer long looking for the best deals and the cutest little bins, buckets, and supplies. Why, oh why, do we teachers spend so much dang money on our classrooms (and have so much fun doing it!?!). I know, I know!!! (I say as I wave my hand in the air like my new students will likely be doing soon enough.) We buy cutesy new things for our classrooms and spend our money on supplies because we love to see the looks on the faces of our little ones when they walk through the door and see their new HOME! It's one of the many reasons why we love teaching so much. As much as we all dread the end of another summer and the freedom we get with it, we also secretly love the excitement of the first day of school. Come on - admit it - you feel the same way too. If there ever comes a time when I don't feel that way, then that should be when I retire. I say retire because I am positive it will not be happening for a LONG time, if ever. I feel like I'm going to be one of those lovely, older, experienced teachers who doesn't want to retire and has to be kicked out. I'll have to dragged out kicking and screaming - dragging my chevron and polka dotted decorations behind me! So back to how we can prepare for going back to school. I don't actually go back until after Labor Day (I'm sorry if that makes you hate me right now, but you get out earlier I'm sure =) I will definitely be posting pictures of my classroom when I actually get around to organizing and decorating it. I also have to find room for all of this stuff... (remember I mentioned I had been shopping just a teeny bit). Even though my room is nowhere near ready I have been thinking A LOT about what I plan on doing those first few weeks of school. This will only be my 2nd year teaching 1st grade. It is my 12th year teaching, but I taught 3rd and 4th grades for 10 years. Last year I was in survival mode with the implementation of Common Core, all the changes with teacher evaluation, and being my first year in a new grade level. It was fun, but I have so many ideas for what I want to do differently this year. But before I talk about all of the things I plan to change (that will have to be another post), I have to get through the first week of school. Yikes!! So here are a few ideas I've been throwing around for that first week. I will start with some things from my Welcome Back Pack. I've always loved reading First Day Jitters by Julie Dannenburg on the first day of school and I also found First Grade Jitters by Robert Quackenbush - how perfect is that? I will start with this First Day Feelings survey and class graph after reading one or both of those books. The picture of the graph is just an example to show what it might look like. We will also make Jitter Juice from Babbling Abby's Fun with Firsties to ease the nerves and have a little snack break =) We will compare our summer with school like this example from First Grade Honeybunch. We will reminisce about our summers *tear* with a little summer writing (which is really my teacher way of getting a quick writing sample to see where they are at). We will HAVE to finish on a high note and not get totally depressed that our summers are over, so we will then come back together and talk about all the amazing things we will be doing this year in first grade - like learning to READ!!!!!! That's a big one! I will give some beautiful, could hear a pin drop, speech about how reading opens the doors to anything you will ever do in life like driving, traveling the world, and of course social media like texting, Facebook, etc. (I'm not totally serious, but I know they will think this is the best part =( Next, we're going to need to break up the sitting, because I don't know if you know this or not, but kids (and adults too) who are just coming back to school after a summer vacation are not so good at sitting for long periods of time and their attention spans are mere minutes at best. So it is extremely necessary to plan for multiple breaks in the day. My Find a Friend activities will give us that opportunity to get up and walk around. These are perfect for any student because there is no reading involved - just pictures. I would introduce this by going through the pictures and pointing out what they are and what they might think of when they see them (a little inferencing on the first day of school - take that Common Core!) Then they walk around and get other kids to sign their names next to a picture they like. When we come back together to share I have students share what they picked and why. For example, I might pick the dog and say that I have a black lab named Molly and tell a little about her. There are 4 different versions of this so I can do 1 each day to get up and moving. The next thing that I think we probably all do is some getting to know you activities or All About Me. I created an All About Me banner that will be perfect to hang up in the hallway or on a bulletin board. So excited to do these this year! There are a couple variations to choose from. I will probably choose this one I also have this super cute Math About Me craftivity that I like to do with the kids. We discuss how math and numbers are everywhere and how we can even describe ourselves using numbers. The craftivity above is a freebie in my TpT Store, but I also just wrote a poem to go with it. You can download the poem HERE if you'd like it. To finish off my pack, I also have included a Back to School interactive mini-book and some printables/coloring pages to fill time or use as morning work. In addition to all this FUN, I also need to take care of some business. That business will be ROUTINES, ROUTINES, ROUTINES!!!! I will be modeling like a crazy woman and pointing out when students are following rules. I will be positive and upbeat, but when needed we will stop what we are doing and go back to the carpet to review a routine or a rule. Here are a bunch of books I plan on reading those first few days as we discuss rules and routines and make anchor charts. I don't have any formal plans for these yet, but I am working on a few things to go along with some of these books, and others will be just discussions and connections. We will work through our class rules that first week (more to come in a later post on that) and more routines. So I hope you got some good ideas from my First Week of First Grade plans. I'd love to hear what you are doing in your own classrooms (or are planning on doing), so leave me a little note =) Click HERE to go to part 2 of this post - I Survived the First Week - Now What? Some more freebies and a chance to win!!!
Interested in learning how to read someone like a book? Find out about the 9 unconscious body language signs and master this valuable skill.
It's important to consider what Jesus says to the gay community, if for no other reason than the confusing noise on the news and in public forums.
Kids stuck at home? Let family and friends know you are thinking of them. Use these printable coloring pages to send some happy mail to others!
Last updated on March 31st, 2020 at 08:45 amTake a break from watching the news or Netflix and invest in yourself! These are, in my opinion, the best TED talks that can change your life and the way you think. I’m definitely going through all the stages now. First, it was whining, now it’s looking […]
