ID Badge Verse - Matthew 22:37

Spring is in the air!  It felt so good to spend time outside today planting flowers and getting the garden ready for planting time with the kids!  My students have Spring Fever as well!  We are definitely ready to finally have some quality outside recess time!

As you work on creating awesome lessons that hopefully take advantage of the great outdoors, take a moment to download the new verse for the week, Matthew 22:37.  Have a great week!

ID Badge Verse - 1 John 3:18

February has been a great month full of freebies and fun!  I have enjoyed using all the great learning activities from my fellow bloggers and am looking forward to all that March has to offer! Here is another Valentine themed verse to use for the remainder of February.

This verse reminds us to let our actions speak louder than our words.  I have to say that in the hustle and bustle of the last few weeks, as I work to complete my graduate research project, I have fallen short a few times.  I hope to finish out the last week of February extending loving words and loving deeds to my students and the colleagues and friends around me. Download this week's verse, 1 John 3:18,  and remember to show love not only in your speech but in your actions as well. Blessings!

ID Badge Verse - Galatians 6:9

Happy February!  Time flies when you're having fun!  I am so excited to be in my favorite month of the year!  There are so many wonderful themes I enjoy teaching in February!  Groundhog Day, 100th day of school, Valentine's Day, President's Day, Dental Health, and Black History month are all so much fun!  I love integrating these themes into our morning meeting, read aloud, and math stations! 

My verse for this week is Galatians 6:9.  This week I want to enjoy "doing good" to my students, families, and colleagues.  This verse tells us not to grow weary.  Another way of saying this is "take your joy!"  I try to bring my joy to work every day.  When I am in need of a blessing, it always comes at just the right time!  Download the verse of the week and remember to be a blessing to others, because in due season you will also receive a blessing!

ID Badge Verse - Matthew 5:9

I hope everyone has a great MLK Day tomorrow!  Take a minute to reflect on why we have this holiday!  I know we'll all be working on our Martin Luther King, Jr. activities in the classroom this week!  Download the verse of the week, Matthew 5:9, and think about the great peacemakers that have set such a wonderful example for us.

As you share about the life of MLK with your students, remember why this great man chose to live a life of peace.  He left a powerful legacy for us all.  Have a peaceful week!

ID Badge Verse - 1 John 4:7

The verse this week is simple and one that many of you already know and live by.  Scripture tells us in 1 John 4:7 to "Love one another because love comes from God."  This chapter is packed with powerful truths about God's love.

11 since God loved us, we also ought to love one another.

12 if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love.

18 There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear...

19 We love because he first loved us.

This week I want to reflect on why I am able to love and remember to extend love to others.  When I teach with love I am sharing God's love with others.  Download this week's verse, 1 John 4:7 and remember to simply love one another.

ID Badge Verse - Philippians 4:13

Happy New Year!  So far 2013 is off to a great start in my classroom.  The kids came back rearing to go and ready to learn!  It seemed that each of my students was a few inches taller and a bit more mature after they returned from their holiday break.  In a few weeks second quarter will come to a close and things will really being to pick up the pace.  Although I dread the paperwork and assessments that always come with the end of an academic quarter, I delight in documenting the growth that each child has experienced.  I try to help each student understand that "all things are possible" and that they can do anything they put their mind to! 

As each child gains confidence with their new found independence in reading, writing, and math I am reminded that I must continue to express an encouraging and positive vision for their future.   

I will begin my last semester in graduate school next week!  I can't believe the years have gone by so fast!  There is no way I could have done any of it without Philippians 4:13 in my back pocket!  I will continue to hold on to this source of great strength as I am sometimes an important source of strength and encouragement for my sweet students.  Have a great week and remember where your source of hope, strength, and joy come from!

ID Badge Verse - Ecclesiastes 3:1

My verse this week, Ecclesiastes 3:1, says that "For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven."  This makes me reflect on the Christmas season.  Many of us are filled with joy as the spirit of the holiday is all around us.  I was reminded in church this morning to prayerfully consider those that may be experiencing added sorrow during the holiday season.   

As most of us experience added joy during the holiday season, some experience heightened sorrow due to the loss or absence of a loved one.  I can't imagine how difficult it must be for so many families to embrace the joy of Christmas without their most precious blessing present to share in the joy. I heard a song that beautifully captured the feelings of many teachers and parents this Christmas.  Broken Hearted Christmas was written by Harriet Williams for families and teachers experiencing sorrow due to the recent tragic loss of students and teachers.  As a first grade teacher it, touched my heart and offered the specific words of comfort I needed to hear.  The chorus is an especially beautiful reminder that we can share our burden with the Heavenly Father because he knows exactly how we feel...and can offer His perfect loving understanding and support as we journey forward.

If you have a broken heart this Christmas,
Give it to God, He knows just what to do.
If you can't find joy and peace this Christmas
Tell the Heavenly Father - He knows the pain
Of losing a child for someone else's sin.
He can make you heart whole again.

Many teachers, even ones that weren't directly effected by the tragic and senseless loss, can identify with feelings of fear and questioning.  I spoke with my night custodian this past week and he expressed his intense emotional realization that "evil must really exist."  So many of us have heavy hearts mixed with joy at the same time.  It's difficult to sort out and understand.  I hope that this Christmas offers rest, relaxation, peace, joy, and comfort to all of my teacher friends this season.  Blessings, friends!

ID Badge - Proverbs 13:10

I always strive to be a reflective teacher.  I want to look at my lessons and approaches to teaching and learning with an open mind.  My hope is that I won't get "stuck in my ways" in the classroom and that I will always seek to improve my pedagogy.  With the new Common Core State Standards pushing today's educators to strive for precise and purposeful teaching I sometimes find myself overwhelmed and wanting to fall back on something tried and true.  It's fun and easy to teach what is already familiar.  Conversely it is scary to try new approaches without your tool belt of tricks ready by your side.  The 21st century approaches to teaching and educating in today's classroom can indeed be scary, but can also provide a fresh lens in which to view your impact on the learners in your classroom.

The verse this week reminds me that it's wise to take advice and seek constructive feedback from others in my profession.  I hope to improve myself for the benefit of my students and can only do that by approaching feedback, and sometimes criticism, with a positive attitude and a thankful spirit.  Download this week's verse, Proverbs 13:10, and avoid pride to be wise!

Giving Thanks!

Its' been nine weeks since I've started blogging and posting products to TpT.  As I reflect on the past two months I have so much to be thankful for.  The blog has had 5000 hits and my TpT freebies have thousands of downloads.  My hope in starting this endeavor was that students and teachers would be blessed from the products I share.  When I look at the numbers I can see the possible impact and it makes me so happy!  The students in my classroom love my themed games and creative centers.  I am so thankful for being able to digitally share with many other teachers and students!

Each week I share my verse for the week.  I need a tangible reminder of my source of inspiration for the week.  I hope that the verses have provided support, encouragement, and inspiration for other teachers as well.  This week I've put together all 9 of the verses I shared so far into one document.  Feel free to download the 9 verses, cut them out, and store them in your ID badge pocket.  Distribute to your teacher friends as needed!  

I wanted to share a quick and easy Thanksgiving sight word game with you today.  It's called Gobble! and the kids really enjoy it.  For Halloween we called it Boo!...the name changes the whole game for the students.  I am always surprised that they can't get enough of this easy "kaboom" style game.  It's a great reinforcement for sight word practice and a super independent word work center for ABC order skills.  I've included all the cards and recording sheets for a game or center.  Teacher and student directions are included as well as a set of blank cards for adding your own spelling words or vocabulary words to the game.  Download Gobble here!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner so keep your students engaged in learning up to the very last day!  Have fun!
 

ID Badge Verse - Psalm 127:3

My principal once told me that the parents of my students are entrusting me with their most precious gift every day. All children are different.  Each one is unique, presenting different challenges and strengths.  The thing that they all have in common is that they represent the very best and most precious gift God has given to their parents.

Children are not only precious to their parents, but are precious to God as well.  They are His gift to us.  We must remember to treat each child as the unique gift that they are.  When you interact with your students' parents this week, remember that you are discussing their most precious gift.  Are you showing the student's parent that you cherish their child and consider them a gift?  Do you words reflect that the child is a reward from God? Download this week's verse, Psalm 127:3, and remember that your students are indeed little gifts from above! 

ID Badge Verse - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Fall is in the air!  The wind chimes on my front porch and deck have been tinkling all weekend and the beautiful Autumn leaves are begging to be jumped in!  This is such a beautiful season to enjoy!

This week I am going to meditate (hopefully outside) on the "love chapter," 1 Corinthians 13.  This chapter gives a pretty tall order for the things that love is...kind and patient, and the things that love it not...proud, boastful, rude, self-seeking, easily angered.  The part that really sticks out to me is that "love keeps no record of wrongs."

When I was a little girl my father used to tell me to "forgive and forget" whenever I was having spats with my three sisters.  We used to play a game called "starting over" where we would completely forgive one another and move forward as if nothing had happened.  I think that this was a very valuable lesson to learn at a young age.  

The Father forgives us and separates our sin from us as far as the east is from the west.  He forgives and forgets; fully and completely.  He asks us to do the same.  Because we are human, this is a hard thing to do.  I find that I can easily forgive but the forgetting part is pretty difficult.  It may seem that we have forgotten wrong doing against us, but as soon a person slights us in any way again, their past wrongdoings are foremost in our minds.  We have to remind ourselves that the past is in the past and we don't need to keep a record of wrongs.  I struggle with this and imagine I always will.  It is hard to "forget" hurt.  I try to remember that I may hurt people (hopefully unintentionally) and I would want to be fully forgiven for my wrongdoings.  I need to extend the same forgive and forget attitude that I would hope others extend to me when I do something foolish in a moment of selfishness or pride.  

This week I hope to be patient and kind to others, to remain thankful instead of boastful, and to keep no record of wrongs.  I hope that I can model this attitude for my students.  Download the verse for the week, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, and meditate on the qualities of love you can extend to those you serve throughout the week.

ID Badge Verse - 1 Thessalonians 5:11

It's the last week in our academic quarter and things always get a bit hectic right around crunch time!  We all feel like we have so much to cram in and, of course, SO MUCH ASSESSING to complete.  It always gets done but from the look on teacher faces throughout the building, you know that some of us are thinking we may not make it this time.  

I encourage you to lift up your colleagues and teacher friends throughout the week with positive words and a helpful spirit.  I will be wearing 1 Thessalonians 5:11 this week to remind me "encourage one another and build each other up." It can be hard to use encouraging words with adults when we speak to children all day long, but specific praise and encouragement can go a long way, even for teachers!  Download this week's verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, and let your students catch you extending grace, giving compliments, and showing gratitude to teachers and staff throughout your building.  I hope you all have a great week!

ID Badge Verse - James 1:19

One of the resource teachers in our building was delivering Daily 5 and CAFE books to teachers on Friday morning.  As she made a few teachers' dreams come true (they had been patiently waiting for their own copy of these books),  she was likened unto Oprah and we all had a good chuckle.  I made the comment to a friend, "Wouldn't it be great to have so much that you could give stuff away like Oprah?"  The response I got..."You're little ___'s Oprah every day."  That comment really made me think.  Rather than focusing on the things we wish we could give our students, why not focus on what we can give them?  Love and listening are two things that many children could use more of.  

Because we are teachers, we often have a full agenda of things we have to say and teach throughout the day.  We need to be careful to really listen to our students when they speak to us.  We need to listen not only to their words, but to their actions as well.  Our students tell us, and often times show us, what they need every day.  It's up to us to meet their most basic needs first before academic learning can take place.  Download the verse of the week, James 1:19, and remember to be an attentive and patient listener this week.

ID Badge Verse - Romans 12:7-8

This week I wanted to share one of my favorite "teacher verses."  Romans 12 tells us, "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you."  Different people have different gifts and this chapter of Romans speaks about using the specific talent God has gifted you with in accordance with His purpose.

Teaching is HARD job and I don't think that one can continue to stay in teaching if they weren't truly called to this purpose.  We work very hard, often times with limited resources, and ever changing obstacles in our path.  Sometimes when the hard work "pays off" and I can see the results of my labor, and I want to jump up and say "YES!"  Often times I do!  I sometimes have to remind myself not to toot my own horn for my accomplishments or evidence of my students' success.  I need to also give thanks to God for providing the increase and for ultimately blessing me with the measure of faith He has gifted to me.  Download this week's verse, Romans 12:7-8, and remember to use your gifts to the fullest with love and sincerity.

ID Badge Verse - Romans 5:3-4

It's been a LONG weekend full of work, and the week ahead is sure to promise many opportunities to "develop character." Hahaha!  Whenever I know I will face struggles during the week, I try to remember that suffering can lead to improved character if I embrace it in the right spirit.

My hope this week is to seek balance between the huge amount of school work that "needs" to be done and my family.  I hope to be truly present for my students as well as my own children.  I hope to make my brain "stop" it's constant thinking and instead focus on what is most important.  I hope to show my children how to develop character through perseverance.  Download the verse for the week, Romans 5:3-4, and remind yourself to rejoice in your trails that you may ultimately rejoice in HOPE.

ID Badge Verse - 1 Peter 5:7

My sister shared this verse on her facebook this week.  I felt it was just the verse I needed to see this weekend.  During times of great anxiety, during great trails and tribulations, God lets us "give up" our worries to let Him deal with them.  The amazing thing is that he doesn't want just our "big" worries.  He even wants the day to day troubles and burdens.  He asks us to cast ALL our cares on Him.  

How blessed we would be if we could remember to "give it God" during stressful moments each day.  He can take care of the worry and we'd be free to be "in the moment" for our students.  Download this week's ID badge verse, 1 Peter 5:7, and let God bear your burdens so you have room in your heart to bear burdens for those you serve throughout the week.

ID Badge Verse - Colossians 3:23

It's been a busy weekend.  I haven't stopped working since the dismissal bell on Friday afternoon.  I know that it's going to be a LONG and busy week.  I decided to share my "life verse" this week since I will be using it every day to help remind me not to get discouraged.  

Colossians 3:23 says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man."  This verse reminds me that whatever I am doing is important.  All those little tasks that add up to a whole day of rushing and bustling around, are important if you are doing them for the right reason.  I may not get everything done, and I may feel overwhelmed at times, but if I stop and remember who I am serving, I can try to work not only with my hands, but with my heart.

I hope your week is fruitful and full of blessings.  Download this week's ID badge verse and remember that in all that you do, work at it with your whole heart. 

ID Badge Verses

Every week I use a different scripture verse to guide my prayer time, and as a source of inspiration during my day.

I decided to share my weekly verse with you each Sunday.  I usually put my verse for the week in the back of my ID badge holder so it reminds me of my prayer goal for the week.

This week I chose a scripture I heard in church this morning.  Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  

This verse is such a comfort to me.  I hope that this week I can provide comfort and hope to my students as I communicate my vision for their bright future in my classroom.  I hope to inspire them to picture their own bright future brimming with possibilities!

Feel free to download my verse cards for the week.  There are several sizes that will fit your ID badge, lesson plan book, desk, binder, or file cabinet.  Enjoy and have a great week!