NEW BLOG

I am moving my blog to a self-hosted site. 😀 I really promise to not switch again LOL! I have been working on the design of it, which is still under construction thanks to help from others, but I’d love for you to hop on over if you stop by here. I will be working hard over the next two weeks to catch up on some long-overdue posts. I hope you’ll join me at the new blog.

Here’s the url if you want to save it: http://www.leapingin2learning.com/ or you can click the link above!

Five Free and Frugal Ideas for Your Classroom

Here’s five free and frugal ideas you can use for educational pursuits today!

1. REPURPOSE plastic pieces leftover from broken or partially misplaced games.

Use them for new game markers for:

• homemade or TpT games (like the ones in my store)
• sorting
• matching
• counting
• one-to-one correspondence

2. ACCESS tumblebooks.com to read and/or listen to thousands of FREE books with audio and highlighted text.

• You can sort by type of book, age, reading level, etc.
• If you have an account with your local library, be sure to ask if they have a tumblebooks account. We are able to access it completely FREE with our library’s code!
• This site is formatted to work on tablet devices as well as your laptop!

3. TRY simple scientific experiments with your students!

They can be done with items you DEFINITELY have on hand and will DEFINITELY inspire your students to seek out even more LEARNING opportunities!

• A review of the Commutative Property with four glasses of water, two with a smaller but equal amount and two with a larger but equal amount.
• Does it matter if you add the glass with the lesser amount of water to the glass with the larger amount OR if you add the glass with the larger amount to the glass with the lesser amount?
• No it doesn’t! Whether you add 4 + 6 for instance or 6 + 4, you still get 10!
• Try it especially if your students are struggling to understand why the two amounts are in fact equal no matter which way you add them up!

• All you need for this experiment is MAGNETS of various sizes and objects to test whether they are magnetic or not!
• If you have them, brass brads are the MOST FUN, especially with a large and very attractive magnet!
• Challenge your students to see how many they can pick up with just one magnet!

4. GO OUTSIDE and explore in nature.

Whether you can find a nearby creek or just a nearby tree or field to explore, get outside and see what you can discover with your students! The world is our classroom!

5. SAVE PAPER and packaging you find in products you buy.

It has so many uses, not to mention it doesn’t end up in the trash or recycling bin quite yet!

• Paper piecing: you might notice the chicken pictures in the picture below. They were created with scrap papers including another piece of brown paper that was salvaged from packaging!

• The history projects on the top of the shelves in the picture below were also saved from the round file! They were intended to be the back of some cubeical shelves, but my Dad made me real wood back instead. These very sturdy (but still paper) boards were the perfect size for 2nd grade history projects!

Here is a close-up shot of one of the projects in progress!

• Instant mural! (this paper below that our children turned into a mural of space “and other things” was wadded up as padding in a package of books I ordered.

These ideas are free and frugal, yet they are sure to enrich the education of those you teach! If you have some more ideas, PLEASE do SHARE in the comments!

Another Post About My Desk

How is that for a hook?

Yes I have rearranged my desk again. Actually, I never really arranged it. Until now. It has looked like this … well usually messier … than this. For nine months.

Not bad for nearly one year since we purchased our new home, and nine months since we moved in. Mind you, things weren’t finished when we moved in (and still aren’t), but the library was a top priority and was *mostly* finished.

But my desk. That is another story. The word piles comes to my mind. A fairly accurate description actually. Workspace would definitely not be an accurate description of my desk these last nine months.

Sweet! Our New *Still in Development* Writing Station

For now, just some photos … (Edited to add: some more explanation!)

I recycled this tub from the garage. 🙂 DH wasn’t really using it. Each side has notebooks and writing tools for each of my 2nd grade students.

Some of the items I’ve included in the tub: notebook with blank lined paper, small notepad for list-making, envelopes to actually mail hand-written letters, erasers, scrap papers for rough drafts, notes, etc.

Easter Eggs

Who needs to dye eggs when you have a basket full of these?

Looks like our young hens (yes we have been a bit busy with 7 baby chicks and 2 young hens) are now layers! Which made this guy a very happy boy! He has wanted blue eggs for a long time!

I found one Beautiful blue egg in the henhouse today!

Baby Chick Update: Week 2 + A Tour Around Our Little Farm

The baby chicks are growing and FAST!

They love to eat and drink lots of water.

They stay close to one another and are still a bit skittish of us.

They are now 6 inches tall head to feet, and their feet are 2 inches long.

Are You a Proverbs 31 Woman?

Do you ever read about the Proverbs 31 woman and think, Why can’t I be like her?

I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve found life to feel quite defeating lately. If I were to judge or evaluate my worth purely on circumstances regarding our family—relationships, choices, words spoken, and so much more … I would surely not find my value or worth to be worth much at all. Anyone else able to relate?

I am even told on a regular basis things that devalue who I am, what I pour my heart into everyday, and what I perceive to be one of my God-given purposes in this life.

A Spring Break!

If only it were Spring Break, but the break today was definitely one we could use again!

It was too beautiful to stay inside, so we took a walk down to the creek for a little Spring Break! 😀

We Are Done with the iPod

It is finished.

Case closed.

The Prez never wanted them. But he agreed finally.

15 months was enough.

One is broken. Two are strangely missing (actually this happens a lot). One is tucked away at the moment.

I’m certain and the Prez will be thrilled with my certainty.

They aren’t coming back.

If you have a child or have had a child who has basically disengaged with everyone and everything and is desperate for his iPod at all costs, then you understand.

If you don’t understand, be very grateful.

We have three children who are not addicted to games like mine craft and roblox and clash of clans.

Then we have another who is addicted. It has changed him. In a bad way.

The Lord has repeatedly brought a particular Scripture to my mind in recent days. It wasn’t just for me, though I desperately needed the Word too.

But I am certain it was the voice of The Lord for our son too, one of the ones whose actions and attitudes have brought the Prez and I to a place of desperate, face-to-the-floor prayers.

“LORD, bring them back to You. You say You never let go. Why does it seem like You have?”

And then this over and over again:

“Finally,brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Philippians 4:8

The iPod as it was here just doesn’t line up with this Word. It is the opposite.

I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know the iPod isn’t going to a part of our home anymore.

They aren’t welcome in our home anymore.

Spring Has Sprung and So Have Our BABY CHICKS!!!

With sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-60s, we were busy today with spring cleaning at our little farm! Flowers are blooming … and we are ready for SPRING!