Just a little TGIF!

I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for their weekly Linky Party.

Awhile back, I watched this video on Empathy vs. Sympathy. I watched it again this week to help refresh my mind . . . ground me to what is *REALLY* important in education. As teachers, we are asked the same questions thousands of times . . . in interviews, by parents, by colleagues/administrators, by family and friends.

Why did you become a teacher? What made you want to be a teacher? Why did you go into education?

Normally, my answer varies depending on the type of day/week/month I'm having. :)

However, I always come back to one thing . . . CONNECTION. Teaching is about making connections. Teachers need to be Connection Connoisseurs.

Just watch the video. It will help you "get it."

My parents are visiting us! This is their first time to our new house and I am *so* excited they are here. This morning while I am at a district professional development meeting, they will be going on an adventure with Maeve and Gibson. The first Friday of every month there is a Jazz Storytelling at the American Jazz Museum in downtown Kansas City. I can't wait to hear how it is!





I have been working hard on my literature packets and hope to add some more to my TPT shop very soon. In addition to the literature packets, I have also been working on nonfiction packets for small groups. These nonfiction packets supplement various nonfiction texts (such as the Scholastic series "True or False" and the Scholastic series "Smart Words Reader") and include 10 days of literacy/writing activities.

Check them out below. They are $2.50 - $3.00 each and are challenging, engaging, and thought-provoking. They are great tools to integrate different areas of study to small/cooperative learning groups. Click on the pictures to take you to my TPT store.

Next week, we have our Valentine's Day Party (the parents are bringing in a chocolate fountain - YUM!), Parent/Teacher Conferences, AND it's my birthday.{Tuesday the 11th ~ be on the lookout for a little birthday sale in my TPT shop ~ } My birthday is actually the same day as our Valentine's Day party so it should be an *energetic* day to say the least. Although it is a busy week I am looking forward to talking with all of the parents about their child's accomplishments.

Back to my birthday . . . Mr. T always makes me a birthday cake or the dessert of my choice. I am thinking of the possibilities . . .

You guys, I *LOVE* chocolate and mint together. I have a serious weakness for chocolate mint brownies with that mouthwatering mint buttercream layered between chocolate ganache and a dense chocolate cake. The thing is . . . I don't have a *go to* recipe for them. When I search Pinterest in hopes of finding a recipe, I become a little overwhelmed. I mean, I want the best recipe out there! And I can't realistically make every single mint chocolate recipe out there (shhhhh . . . the reason is not time, it is because I will eat all of them!).

Seriously, if you have a *tried and true* chocolate mint recipe SEND IT MY WAY!



We no longer have babies in our house. We have a toddler and a pre-schooler. However, I am searching the internet for the perfect blankies because my children *LOVE* their shredded, ripped, worn-through blankies and they are on their last leg.

When they were born my sister bought them each a four pack of the Aden + Anais muslin blankets. Mr. T and I thought it was perfect - there were four in a pack so if one was dirty, no biggie; if one was torn, throw it away; if one was stained by a glob of spaghetti sauce, go ahead and toss it . . . you get the picture.

We are now down to 2 shredded, torn, faded, embarrassments for (1 for each of them) blankies but Maeve and Gibson *LOVE* them. It is such a comfort for them.

That settles it! The kids are getting new blankies for Valentine's Day!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Let me leave you with a few quick photos from our week of snow.