STEM Activities

By now, you should know my love for STEM learning. These activities inspire young learners to use their problem-solving skills to solve the challenges. 

My Easter STEM Set #1 includes activities such as egg stacking and jelly bean predictions. 

My Easter STEM Learning Set #2 includes even more hands-on activities featuring egg experiments and marshmallow bunnies.

Math Activities

Another way to include Easter fun and learning is with math centers. Your students will enjoy sorting colors, counting manipulatives, strengthening fine motor skills, and following directions with my Easter Themed Math Centers set. This set includes five different center options with at least eight cards for each center. 

Crafts and Writing Activities

My Easter Crafts and Writing Activities set is full of hands-on learning opportunities. Each craft includes several writing prompts. I also include a Resource List with free YouTube links to videos of read alouds, songs, etc., for you to use in your classroom discussions. Your students will love learning with these fun Easter crafts and writing prompts!

Drawing and Writing

If writing and directed drawings are your preference, I’ve got you covered. My Easter Directed Drawings set includes nine images with seven different printable options for each so you can easily differentiate. Images include: Easter bunny, peep, lily, church, chocolate bunny, Easter basket, Easter egg, and carrot.

I also have a Draw & Write Easter Prompts set. Your students will love completing these drawing and writing activities.

Sensory Bins

You can incorporate Easter fun and learning with my Easter Sensory Bin activities. Not only are these a great sensory activity, they include math and literacy practice, too. 

As you can see, there are so many fun math, literacy, STEM, and hands-on activities that you can do that include Easter themes this time of year. I’m always a big fan of keeping students engaged with activities that reflect the current season and holiday.

The post Easter Fun and Learning in Kindergarten appeared first on Kreative in Kinder.

Back to school… Those three words do one of two things: They either burn your eyes or give you butterflies. It’s okay to experience either, or even both, of these feelings. There is SO much work that goes into preparing for the first day of school. It’s almost like preparing for a marathon—except we don’t end up fit in the end, ha!

I’m excited to share with you a great way or two to make going back to school a little bit easier. Here are my TOP non-teaching tips for back to school! 

5 Non-Teaching Tips For Back To School

So, you’ve spent the summer break soaking in the sun, reading a book or twelve, and peeing whenever you want. It’s a good life, right?! I’m sure you have also prepped some for your classroom, attended a PD or ten, and hit the Target dollar spot or the Dollar Tree a few hundred times. We don’t fault you there; It’s in your blood. It’s like telling a kid to “not touch that.” You know it’s going to happen. There is some sort of magnetic pull that beckons us to buy all the things. Teaching is not just what you do, it’s who you ARE. But it’s also one of the best parts about being a teacher, because we have a great time while doing it too!

But, here’s the deal, it’s not the only thing you are. You may be a wife, husband, mother, father, friend, son, or daughter. There are several careers in this world that are all encompassing, where your heart and mind are “on call” 24/7. You just can’t help it. Doctors and lawyers come to mind…of course those people get paid what they are worth. And then there are teachers. YOU, on the other hand, are ministering to all walks of life with only the tricks in your pocket and the few coins tossed your way. There is something important that you must understand though; You cannot pour from an empty cup. 

When I made the decision to re-brand from Kreative in Kinder to Kreative in Life, it was because my heart was impacted in a mighty way. My heart will always be for kids, but currently, my heart beats to love and minister to you. I know your job is hard. I want to virtually squeeze you into a big huge and encourage you so you don’t give up—because YOU ARE IMPORTANT in the ministry of education. Seriously, our future president may be in your class this year. The child that may develop a cure for cancer may learn to love science because of you. You really just never know. This is why we have to do this together.

Before you hit the ground running and gear up for the marathon known as the new school year, let’s come up with a plan to keep you whole. We want you to be present for your school family and your home family. We want you fulfilled and not grasping at straws. We want you to be the best you for yourself, your loved ones, and your little ones. So, where do we start? Let’s not go crazy here. Let’s start with a few small changes, some easy things that we can control.

MEAL PREP AND MORE

I know, this might seem trivial but don’t stop reading just yet! I’m going to be honest; I’ve told my family straight up, you cannot count on me during August and May. How sad is that? Well, it’s the truth. I don’t know if I am coming or going during the beginning or end of school. Sometimes being a teacher is just bound to be a lot of work. After I have worked a 10+ hour day and I come home to my husband asking me what’s for dinner… Y’all… it certainly tests my patience. He’s lucky he’s cute! But seriously, I hate that question. So, knowing that we are going to be on the crazy train during these different seasons, it’s best to prepare beforehand!

The Power of Meal Prep: I’ve done several things in the past to help with this. I have prepared freezer meals. Yes, it took an entire Saturday, but I was able to prepare a month’s worth of meals.

The Power of Community: I have also put up a post on FB asking others if they want to create a meal club with me which ended up working out great. What’s a “meal club?” I’m glad you asked. So, let’s say there are six people in the group. I would choose a family meal (based upon agreed parameters), and I would make six of that meal. Then, we would all exchange and have six different meals.

The Power of Two Birds, One Stone: Another system my family has used was that on Sunday after church, my husband would grill at least three meats (chicken, sausage, steaks, or hamburger something) for the week. They would last us through Thursday as long as everything was properly stored in good containers. If I knew we were eating spaghetti or tacos, I would go ahead and make the meat to have it ready. Then we would toss in a steamer bag of veggies or open a salad bag, and voila—we had a good, healthy meal in a mere matter of moments. Eating out is always an option but eating out is expensive. And eating fast food often makes our bodies feel bad. 

No matter what, be sure to fuel your body with the good stuff so you have all the energy you need to take on the new year and all of your new incoming students!

FAMILY TIME IS IMPORTANT

Leftovers are not just what our families live on in the kitchen, it’s also what we end up giving them. This is one area I have struggled with a lot. I went back to school after we adopted our kids. I originally went to school to teach high school, but then I subbed in a high school and realized that I could not teach someone taller than me. I’m 5’2″, so scratch big kids all together, ha!

I remember when I started teaching I would always burn the midnight oil (as they say). One day my youngest flat out told me, “Mom! I thought when you got out of school, you would have more time for us!” Y’all, I can’t even put into words what that did to my big mama heart. It didn’t change my work habits, though. I continued on that path for a few more years until one day I had this epiphany: I can never get this time back with them.

As an adoptive mom, I am already missing all of their firsts in the beginning years. It’s tough when you feel like you’ve missed out on so many good things. When my oldest started high school, it sunk in. This is it. I’m about to lose her, and here I am, in this classroom with the sun going down—and I am missing it all. Life changed for us in that moment. I didn’t miss a thing after that. I still stayed after school on most days but I made sure I was home before the sun went down at the very least. Making dinner at home became important. Having just one meal with my family became more cherished.

My daughter graduated this past June and my only regret is that I hadn’t made that decision sooner. Listen, you will never be caught up. There will always be more work to do. We can always simply do more. That’s just the nature of this job. Your job as a teacher is to love and teach to the best of your ability. And when those children go home, you pass the baton to their parents. We all know that there will be parents who won’t pick up that baton, but at the end of the day, are you picking up your kids’ baton?

I can’t emphasize this enough. Make time for your family. You can only do what you can do. Don’t let your career suck you so dry that you have nothing left to give to the other areas of your life. It’s a hard choice but I promise you can find balance, Your family will no longer feel like they are second fiddle. And you can do all of this without having to spend a dime. As they say, the best things in life are free!

ME TIME IS ALSO IMPORTANT

Yes, you read that correctly. I dare you to take ten minutes a day for yourself. Read a good book or just jam out to your favorite tunes. You are about to chase your tail. You may even show up to school with two different shoes. There are plenty of different ways your tiredness is going to manifest. We won’t judge you, though. Just be sure to make a little time each day for you. In these quiet moments you can reflect on all of the good the day has brought you.

This can look like taking ten minutes to shave your legs or pluck those eyebrows. Just do something that makes you feel good about yourself. I like to take the time to pick out my clothes for the week so I can just grab and go! This is something that makes my life easier. What little thing can you do that adds additional help to your week?

On the weekend, don’t spend it all at school. Go to a movie, swim, or take a freaking nap for once. Doesn’t matter. Just do SOMETHING for you! I would venture to guess you are exhausted already. Stress makes us physically and emotionally ill. We don’t need to be creating mental health issues for ourselves if we could just take a little extra time to do things for ourselves. Just remember, you are no good to anyone unless you take care of yourself/ The easiest way to do right by yourself and your loved ones is by taking care of you too!

LET’S GET PHYSICAL: EXERCISE

Agh! Don’t throw rocks at me! I know, I know. Who wants to get up early to exercise or show up after a long day in the classroom? Okay, hear me out. Have you seen the movie Legally Blonde? There’s that hilarious quote: “Exercise creates endorphins. Endorphins make people happy. Happy people don’t kill people.” Well, it’s true. Note: I do not like to exercise. I tell people that if you ever see me running, know someone must be chasing me, and call 911 immediately… ha! All jokes aside, is it ever really a good time of year to start exercising if you don’t really like it?

But, seriously, exercise is an important part of taking care of ourselves. Even getting up fifteen minutes early every morning and walking around the block will help you. You will be more awake and alert. You will also kick start your metabolism and increase your focus. And, that nonsense about endorphins that I mentioned above is completely true! I would bet that if you added something as simple as a morning walk or jog to your daily routine, you wouldn’t need Starbucks to get you through each day, and then you can use that money to treat yourself to a pedicure on the weekend!

NURTURE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS

Relationships. We can’t survive without them. It doesn’t matter if you are new to a school or if you have been there for ten years—there is always room to build relationships. Make it a point to get to know your fellow teachers. Make them a part of your team. Be open. Be humble. Be compassionate. This will only further optimize your professional development. It’s a good way to enhance your best qualities and of those around you.

I remember a few years ago, a team from another school came over to observe my team because we work so well together. They met with us during our planning and asked us a series of questions. One question was, “How do you all work so well together?”

I loved our answer. We each started listing each other’s strengths (not weaknesses). Paula was the best singer and knew all the songs. She also was the book whisperer. She knew every author and every book. Casey was kind, generous, and always lent a hand. She was so helpful that if someone couldn’t make it to school, she would take care of things. She was also tall enough to help me put up and take down all the things in my classroom—which was a huge help since I’m only 5’3.

And then there was Marilyn, who we called Sparky. She was the one up at 4 a.m. emailing us all the things for the week. I would text her and tell her to calm down; we are all still asleep, ha! She was always at school at 6 a.m. and ready to hit the ground running. She made sure we didn’t forget events and looked ten steps ahead to keep us in the know.

Then, there was me. I was the creator of things: newsletter, parent notes, new activities, etc. I was also in charge of all things technology. You see, we didn’t focus on our weaknesses. We worked so great together because we recognized each other’s strengths. And we all had so many of our own strengths. If someone were to ask me a question that I did not know, I knew which of my teammates did or ones that could offer alternative great ideas. Individually, we are all a work in progress, but together we were a force to be reckoned with. We were a great resource for each other.

Your team is your lifeline at school—so get to know them. My team were the first people to find out that I was pregnant a few years ago with my miracle baby. I had received the call at school and I was in shock. You know what they did? They stopped and prayed for me right then and there. And then, some time later, when God called my baby home, they were there every single day for me as I slowly picked the pieces of my heart up and put them back together.

Whether you want to admit it or not, you need each other. You are not just teaching together, in many ways you are doing life together. So, head to a dinner, happy hour, or a movie for some team bonding. Have a BBQ with your families even! Not many careers give you a team. Look at this for the blessing that it is.

And, if someone is not a team player, don’t let it deter your relationships with the others. When you choose to let one bad apple ruin it for everyone, they win. When you let someone impact you negatively, you are choosing to let them rob you of YOUR joy. Don’t do that. Your joy is for YOU. Don’t just hand it to someone else. No one has control over you unless you give it to them. This includes control over your heart and state of mind. You know that Frozen song. Well, that’s just what you’re going to have to do. Let. It. Go.

Every aspect of teaching can either bring joy or take a toll—but in the end it’s all for the kids and it’s worth it to see them succeed. Every day changes, gives us new opportunities to be better for our kids, for our friends, and for ourselves. Different teachers will find they might need different things at different times. Just find what works for you and be kind to yourself if there is ever a transition period. That could look like the start of school or the end—maybe somewhere in the middle. But just remember, it’s always the perfect time to take a moment to take a breath, reflect, and be grateful.

Please remember it doesn’t matter how much time, effort, or money you put into preparing yourself for this school year—there will still be trials and errors. Stuff will happen and you just have to learn to go with it. Be flexible. Be joyful. Be grateful. Remember that you are not perfect and no one expects you to be. Take care of yourself so you’re better equipped to help others!

Every morning my prayer is always, “Lord fill me to overflowing so that I may overflow in to the lives I touch today.  Give me a spirit of wisdom, patience and joy to love each child and adult as you love me, to forgive each child and adult as you have forgiven me and to freely give mercy and grace in every circumstance.”

Fill up that cup friends and get ready to overflow. It starts with YOU. YOU were made for THIS! 

God has called you, he has equipped you, and he will sustain you. YOU ARE ENOUGH!

The post 5 Nonteaching Tips For Back To School appeared first on Kreative in Kinder.

I truly believe we have been commissioned to shine the light of Jesus by loving our neighbors. I’m not just talking about the guy that lives next door but anyone and everyone that we interact with every day.

Throughout the bible there is one common theme, which is to love others just like he loved us. It’s not always easy; people are human, imperfect and often at different places in this journey of life. (Mark 12:31)

People will disappoint you, they will hurt you and they will most certainly let you down. Finding a way to love them in spite of all that is exactly what Jesus wants you to do. After all, he did the same for you.

So, how do we do that? Start small. You can’t fake genuine love, compassion and acceptance; it truly starts with caring for the person right in front of you. (Romans 12:9)

Kind words: If you’re anything like me you might find that you’re mouth has a tendency to get you in trouble. Even though I usually mean well sometimes I say things, that I learn later on, didn’t sit well with someone else. You can’t please everyone but you can be aware of the words you’re using and be a voice of kindness and encouragement to others. I’d shy away from using humor at the expense of someone else and make a conscious effort to lift others up. People who don’t know you will size you up based on the things you say. (Proverbs 15:1)

Leave judgment at the door: Who are you to judge another? Seriously! I’d bet if someone looked hard enough they could find a thing or two to condemn you for. People have different backgrounds, life experiences and are walking their own path with Christ and you have no right to lay judgment on another. Correction can only come from a solid relationship built on love, trust and respect. Next time you’re tempted to judge someone for their choices, I encourage you to try showing them love instead. (Matthew 7:1-2)

Meet someone’s needs at every opportunity: Life is tough and families can easily find themselves in need through circumstance, poor choices or simply God’s will. Take action when an opportunity presents itself to meet someone’s immediate need. Whether it’s lending a cup of sugar, offering to drive to an appointment or providing groceries you can rest assured that your efforts probably mean more to them than you could ever imagine. If you’ve ever been in need, think to yourself what a difference it would have been to have a helping hand. Make sure you’re doing this for the right reasons and using it as an opportunity to build someone up; don’t ever make someone feel inferior or less because of it. And if you’re expecting something in return, don’t bother. (Deuteronomy 15:11)

Build a relationship: I’m always surprised that many people would rather donate money or material things rather than their precious time. If you truly want to love your neighbor I encourage you to open up your home and heart to others. So many in this world suffer from loneliness and friendship can be life altering for so many. You might even find that it changes you for the better. Reach out for the purpose of connection and rid yourself of any agenda. All it takes is a simple Hello to get the ball rolling. (Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10)

Pray: Pray every single day. The more time you spend with God the more you’ll find yourself able to exemplify God-like behavior. Prayer offers preparedness and can give you the knowledge you need to be able to serve others while energizing your spirit. Pray for your thoughts and actions, pray for your neighbors and then pray some more. (Ephesians 6:18)

Every day we are given the opportunity to love others. As parents, wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, friends and neighbors..we can make a difference just by showing we care. It’s easy to turn and walk away but if everyone did that, what kind of legacy would we leave for our children?

The post 5 Godly Ways to Love Your Neighbor appeared first on Kreative in Kinder.

I saw a sign the other day that said, “Man. Kind. Be both.” YES.  I teared up after reading it and then came back to the realization that we are living in a broken world.  It’s almost impossible to turn on the news or open up Facebook and not see yet another tragic incident that instills fear in us. Where has the love for humanity gone? When did people quit loving people? There’s a simple answer here. They didn’t.

Our judgement gets clouded and consumed with perceptions and politics but at the end of the day, I do believe that the heart of most of mankind wants to just love people.  There is no such thing as a perfect world or even a perfect person but when it comes down to it, human decency is not dead. This has been so evident during this past week.

I live in Texas, about 2.5 hours from Houston.  Watching the news has been tearing my heart to pieces.  I was in Houston two weeks ago where I worked with 350 Headstart teachers. I was in Louisiana the week before that working with even more teachers.  For those two weeks, I provided professional development for so many teachers, encouraging them for the school year they were about to begin, oblivious to what was to come.  Today I just sit and pray that these teachers are all safe and still have homes to go to.  It’s kind of surreal to think that the place I was last week is now under water. I have friends in the area that left because they have a baby and were worried that they would lose power. Now their community is being evacuated. All of this sadness is overwhelming.

I personally live my life with the motto, “Love God and Love People.” Everything within me wants to save everyone. How can I help? I can’t just sit here and do nothing. Grief is consuming.  All I know how to do is pray. I’ve been cleaning my house just in case we need to take in evacuees. Really, I need to feel useful. My husband tried to go to Houston yesterday but so many of the communities surrounding it are flooded that you cannot get in. He went as far as he could and just brought food and water to those working the rescues. We have a group of friends that went down last night with boats. They evacuated a nursing home. Can you imagine?

My faith in mankind has never dwindled to nothing but honestly, it was suffering.  My television grabbed me and shook me. Watching the rescue efforts shows the true heart of people.  PEOPLE LOVE PEOPLE.  There will always be jerks in the world but most people really do care about the welfare of others. We know how to be man and kind.

Tragedy has this way of shaking us.  Just like when a loved one dies, we appreciate people in our lives more. We love harder and make less excuses. Our time is more valuable.  Tragedy like what we are experiencing right now is awful to its core but I hope that people watching see that it doesn’t matter what color or what gender a person is, we are all capable of loving and taking care of one another.  It should not be tit for tat or an eye for an eye. It should be love and be loved. Yes, it can be that simple.  Turn on your television and watch the people being rescued. They are not there for reward, recognition or to settle a score. They simply there to be man and kind.

If you are like me, I am sure you are wondering what can you do to help. I think at first, we naturally want to buy everything and give everything.  This is not an opportunity for you to clean out your storage (said with love).  People don’t need ten year old teddy bears and jeans with holes in them (though I do think that may be cool now and people buy them like that, ha). Yes, people are in need but we need to remember that we want to be a blessing in a tragedy and not a burden. Often, relief efforts cannot use many things donated to them.

I would encourage you to do your research.  When dropping off bags of clothes, pre-sort them and label them. Many volunteer hours are spent sorting through stuff so help them out.  We also don’t know how long it will take people to get back into their homes or if that is even possible.  Gift cards are a great idea because people can get what they need. Keep an eye out for future posts on where to send those.  The Red Cross needs people to donate blood too.

If you are a teacher, consider going to the store and buying extra crayons, paper, etc now while they are still on sale. We can help you find a teacher to send them to.  Think about what you would want someone to send you if you lost your classroom.  There are also organizations like Donor’s Choose that are already working on projects for Texas teachers. We are working on organizing some sort of classroom drive once we are past the worst of this. Making cards with your class is a sweet gesture but remember that there may not be a place to send them to.  Be patient and let the land dry out a little. Right now things like that are super sweet but not a priority. Getting people out safely and then assessing the damage is most important.

Also know that Houston is a huge hub for Texas and beyond. Yesterday, most of Waco and our surrounding areas were out of gas. We get a lot of our gas and other delivery based items from Houston.  This also means with limited supplies that prices will go up. Things will get worse for everyone in Texas before it gets better because Houston is a hub for so many things.  There is no easy fix here.

Natural disasters leave their mark in history. You will read about statistics. The number of inches of rain, the total cost of damages, the amount of people displaced, all are relevant things.  What we will remember though, in ten years from now, is how people reacted.  The fact that people choose to be man and kind, restoring our faith in mankind.  Those first responders and the average Joe with a fishing boat, the teacher that is buying school supplies for the teacher that lost everything and the mom that is sending diapers because she couldn’t imagine going through this, those are the things we need to hold on to. Everyone can do something.  Everyone can choose to be man and kind.

Stay safe,

Crystal

Here are a few articles with advice on how you can help. Stay tuned for details to help teachers in need.

Red Cross

CNN: How can you help?

Forbes: Helping Out After Harvey

Texas Monthly Helping Guide

The post Harvey & Humanity appeared first on Kreative in Kinder.

There are so many things I pray about every day, some for years.  This particular prayer, 15 years. But, what do you do when the answer is no?

Today’s Story

Two months ago a friend reached out to me. She new a high school aged girl who had gotten pregnant and was considering putting the baby up for adoption because she wasn’t ready to be a mom. Her mom was a young mother and didn’t want that for her too. I’ve joked that I wish someone would just message me on Facebook that they had a baby for me so I was shocked to get this message.

My friend wanted to know if we would consider adopting an African American baby. I told her we would pray about it but I already knew the answer. YES. Send us any of God’s children and the answer is YES. If our life’s testimony is to love God’s people, that means ALL of God’s people. Our love knows no colors.

She told the girl about us and we were given her name and little updates over the last two months. We’ve prayed and prayed for her by name. I offered to help get in touch w services when she was ready and of course we said we would help however we could if we were to adopt. And then we waited. Ultimately, this would be a dream scenario as we cannot afford private adoption.

I’m not going to lie. I’ve done some dreaming of this possible new addition to our family. This weekend we learned that over the holiday the girl decided to have an abortion. I know this is not the ending you were hoping to read. It’s not the ending we were praying for either.

I believe that as ministers we must be transparent and not just share when God says yes. Sometimes when God says no, it means not yet. Sometimes it means he has another plan. And sometimes the answer is in the hands of another person and is out of his hands. I don’t agree with the girl’s decision but I can’t judge her. We are all born sinners and her sin, albeit different, is the same as mine.

This morning at worship practice I choked up as I was worshiping and mourning the loss of a baby I never knew. Oh, if she only knew how much we would have loved that baby. Then, I praised God for his perfect plan because we trust him. Then I prayed for her. Maybe Nick and I were brought into this situation just to do that because God knew we would commit to pray. He knew we would trust him. So, this was not our answer but I still believe it’s coming in some shape or form.

For now, I pray (and I hope you will too) that this situation will change this girl’s life and put her on the right path. One day she will mature and come to terms with her decision. Hopefully, there will be remorse and with that she will be forgiven. She is bright and has potential. I pray she figures that out and fulfills the plans God has for her.

We have to live in a manner of forgiveness and love or we live a life in bondage, anger and resentment and that, my friends, is not a life worth living. Just because the answer is no, that doesn’t mean the story has come to an end.

The post When The Answer Is NO. appeared first on Kreative in Kinder.

Dear Teachers,

We need you! We see you! I remember before becoming a teacher and always dreaming of nights off with my kids and summers and all of those “extras” I thought would be glamorous.  Fast forward through years of a reality check.  There are days when people say those same statements to me and I think in my head, “You are lucky I know Jesus because I want to punch you in the face!”  Ha. Y’all that is real talk.  There are no days that ended at 3:00 p.m. or even 4:00 p.m. and really it’s a celebration to walk out of school before dark! And you can forget being about to see your children more.  I just didn’t know what I had to give up but also what I would gain.

My daughter graduated from high school last year and it was a major eye opening experience.  After the first month of school, the staff had been given a warning about absences for the school year and basically “encouraged” not to miss any days.  This always floored me because they give us ten days a year (five sick, five personal) but then don’t want us to take them and if we do there is guilt attached.  I remember walking into my principal’s office and telling her that my daughter was graduating this year and I wasn’t going to miss a thing. Not. One. Thing.  I would use my ten days and I honestly didn’t care what the consequence were.  Since I became a teacher I had missed every first day of school.  Almost all field trips and definitely every holiday party.  If I were to go to my child’s holiday party then who would be there for my student’s celebration? So these moments in time that educators give up are a sacrifice that so many overlook. But, I know. I see you.

I wasn’t there for so many experiences for my own children but I was there for my students and I realize now that this was also a gift.  So many children do not have parents that can or want to attend things and I was that person for them.  I showed up for them and loved them as my own. I not only taught them but I was the person they could depend on.  I was there to celebrate their life everyday, and for some children, I may have been the only one.

The tides of education are changing because children are changing.  A friend of mine said it best when discussing the hardships teachers are facing today. Parents are not parenting because they do not know how or unfortunately some just do not care.  There are also parents stretched way too thin just trying to survive.  It’s not because they don’t love their children, they are just doing the best they can.  More families are faced with poverty.  Children are being neglected and the lack of stability has turned many of them into something we don’t recognize as small children anymore. They are in survival mode . . . fight or flight. Unfortunately, they have no idea how to handle the stress and routine of school when they have become accustomed to chaos, disorganization and unpredictable situations in their lives.

And then there is YOU, the faithful educator who is not equipped to deal with these major life altering events changing the child emotionally and physically.  You went to school to learn how to teach these children academics but you never, in your wildest dreams, knew you would be responsible for so much more.  You, my friend, are not just a teacher! You are a living example of good in the world.  You model courtesy and manners.  You show children how to have an actual conversation…the kind with spoken words! You teach character and integrity.  You hold children accountable and teach them that the world will not treat them like a victim no matter their circumstance.  They must be survivors.  You love them and sometimes you are the only one to do so.  You show up. Tired. Weary. Your love knows no conditions.

People do not choose to be in education for the money.  They do not choose this life for free time. YOU choose this life because it’s a calling like no other.  God has placed you exactly where you need to be…not because it is easy but because YOU can survive the journey.  You are not a quitter.  You have more love in your heart than you can possibly imagine.  Just when you think you are ready to throw in the towel, a student says something to you that reminds you why you are here.  You are planting seeds that God will later grow.  YOU. ARE. HOPE.

Statistically, 50% of new teachers leave the profession in the first three years.  Isn’t that insane?  I believe this is because they are not preparing you for real life in the classroom.  We have to change that.  Educators are more than just teachers.  You are changing our future one student at a time.  Without educators we have no hope.  Our future literally depends on the students growing up in your classroom right now. It’s easy to throw in the towel and walk away but you were called for such a time as this.

Dear Teachers, We need YOU! If no one else has told you today, I appreciate you.  I love your heart.  I understand your sacrifice.  I know you are tired and weary.  I see you and I want to support you.  You can’t pour from an empty well…so we need to find a way fill it up!

We know God has called you to the ministry of education.  He has called you, equipped you and he will sustain you.  God wants you to know that YOU are ENOUGH.

We know your job is hard.  Seek God’s hand in your life and the extraordinary opportunity you have to make a difference.  Be the light in your school and community.  Spark change in the ministry of education.  Change the world.

Your life has so much purpose and you are so necessary in the ministry of education.  It is not easy but it is worth it.  The children are worth it.  Our future is worth it.  Fill your cup so you can overflow into the lives you touch everyday.  We are in this together.  Hold on, sweet educator, because we need you! You are the HOPE our world is needing.

The post Dear Teachers, We need YOU! appeared first on Kreative in Kinder.

Yesterday my family and I went to see God’s Not Dead 2.  It was SO good.  Now, it’s no secret that I am a believer so I love a good faith based movie.  There is so much junk on television. I want to watch something that inspires me, moves me. In my true hot mess form, I cried. And then I cried some more. Don’t judge. Ha! There were some serious tugging on my heart strings.

My friend said she really liked the movie but questioned as to why they had to make a teacher the martyr again?  My response was this. Why not? Just like a lot of jobs, teacher are in the trenches everyday.  If anyone needs a message of faith, it’s teachers.

There are plenty of careers that come with hours of work, stress, and heartache. I believe that teaching is a calling and I have yet to meet a teacher that is in this profession just because it’s their career and certainly not because it pays well.  In my opinion, teaching is a ministry.  Teachers are the deliverers of hope, not only to hopeless children but also their families.  We are literally planting sounds from the ground up.  Speaking from experience, I was a child (planted seed) that helped lead my parents to salvation. I understand the importance of pouring love into children because they me be the only Jesus their parents see.

God’s Not Dead 2 is about a teacher that goes on trial for referencing the bible in class.  She was a history teacher and was asked a question about history that included Jesus.  The school district wanted her to apologize and accept reprimand for her “mistake”.  She was a good teacher though and more importantly she was a strong believer.  No matter what they put her through, her answer was always the same. She would not apologize for saying the name of Jesus.

As a teacher, you need an abundance of courage every day.  When you see a child come to school hungry, dirty or knowing they have been hurt, it takes its toll on you. When you realize that you may be the only structure or caring individual in their life, it rocks your world.  The only thing that keeps me going is my faith, understanding that I am fulfilling a calling and that my role in my students’ lives is purposeful.  Your life is purposeful.

When Nick and I were foster parents, we had to look at it as a ministry.  It would have been hard to have a revolving door where broken children came and went.  We agreed that whoever came through our doors, we would give them Jesus. We would love them and give them the best of ourselves.  We may only have them for a season, but that was long enough to plant seeds that could last an eternity.  We may not spend the coming years with them, but hopefully we can spend eternity with them.

I look at teaching with the same mindset.  Now, pleases do not misunderstand me. I do not pray with my students nor do I do things that I know are against school policy. I do, however, try to let my life speak for itself.  I would like to think that my love for others speaks volumes as to where my hope comes from.  Our life should scream believer.  After all, actions have always spoken louder than words. And no one can ever keep me from saying prayers to myself. Lord knows some days call for more prayers than others.

Teachers are so much more than educators. They (we) plant seeds of love, hope, and grace.  We provide our students with forgiveness and unconditional love…something that is foreign to many of them. I cannot imagine a world without Jesus because that is a world without hope.  As a teacher, faith fuels me to not give up on children when situations are tough…and man, sometimes they are SO tough.

Walking away from this movie, as a believer and as a teacher, I took away a message of courage.    I hope I would have enough courage to stand on my faith…even if it could cost me everything.   I hope this is true for my faith in Jesus and also my faith in myself.  So many times we are given directives that are not what is best for kids.  I think of how many times I wish I would have had the courage to speak up and share my heart.  The people who create our curriculum, our guidelines, our schedules…they have no clue the baggage that these kids walk in the door with.  Children need more than education.  They need to find hope in something.  They need to feel loved.  They need to be given grace.  As hard as this journey is in education, I do believe that it’s possible because God’s Not Dead.

Teacher or not, go see this movie.  I promise, no matter where you are in your journey, you will walk away with something. A seed will be planted in you and who knows how far it will grow.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

The post God’s Not Dead 2 Review appeared first on Kreative in Kinder.

I love Easter.  I sing in the worship band and Easter is like the Super Bowl event of the year.  I love to worship with so many people.  There is just something special about being in a room that is busting at the seams with worshipers.  Oh, be still my heart.

My favorite thing about listening to the word (on any given day) is that, to me, its interpretation is different each time I hear it based upon the season in my life.  Last Easter, I wrote a strongly convicted post about feeling empathy for God when losing a child.  It was a new, appreciated prospective.  You can read more about it here.

This Easter, God spoke to me about the significance of the tomb.  This morning in the sermon, my pastor referenced the significance of Jesus being in the tomb for three days.  If Jesus was in the tomb for just one day, maybe some would call his resurrection a coincidence and that Jesus hadn’t really died.  Three days.  Long enough to dispel any doubt.  It was planned and purposeful.

The tomb.  The place where Jesus’ body lay for three days.  He was brutally crucified but willingly died. Knowing he would rise again. Three days.

What does this mean to me?

Before salvation, I was sitting in a tomb. I wish it had only been for three days.  The guard would often change based upon the sin of my choosing but no one moved the rock, keeping me bound within.  I sat among the sins of myself and the world.  Without the removal of that rock, I was trapped.  A slave longing to be free.

Lucky for me, and you, Jesus freely moved my rock and set me free. My salvation comes with a new guard, one bringing good news.  So, here is my question for you.  If we have been set free, why do we still stay in our tomb?

Maybe your tomb is shame. Infidelity.  Past discretions.  Current immoral thoughts. For me, I think my tomb is self-control, or the lack of when it comes to making better choices for a healthier life.  You see, we all have a tomb but as a believer, there is no rock keeping us inside of it.  Jesus’s resurrection set us free.  Free from yesterday, free from today and free from tomorrow.

Romans 8:11 says, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who lives in you.”

Sin does not define you. It’s something we do, not who we are. Granted, the goal should be to not sin, but we are not perfect people.  As a believer though, we are set free.  Hopefully through that freedom you find wisdom and direction by listening to God’s voice and letting him lead your path.  Whatever path he has planned for you, I promise…it’s not sitting in a tomb.

Jesus’s life had more purpose than to lie in a tomb. So does yours.

Happy Easter friends. He is R I S E N.

The post Are you still in the tomb? appeared first on Kreative in Kinder.

Welcome to Kreative in Life! No, you are not in the wrong place.  I am excited to share some changes with you. Big changes. Huge.  My heart is racing just typing this.

Last night I shed a tear when my web designer deleted Kreative in Kinder.  I actually cried. Nick looked at me like I was a nut job.  I just said, leave me alone…I’m hormonal.  Ha! Sometimes that’s all I need to say (true or not) for the members of my family to back off. Ha! Kreative in Kinder. One of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I have spent the last FIVE years and what feels like a gazillion hours pouring my heart, craziness, and love for education and life on that little piece of virtual space. It really is special to connect with people all over the world.  It’s simply extraordinary when you know they are praying for you. Luckily, my amazing website creator migrated all of the old posts to my new site but the name is gone. It’s a door closed but not without a great door opening.

Sometimes in life you come to a crossroads. You can either stay the course or JUMP.  Today I jumped. It was one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever made. Today I turned in my resignation for my teaching position next year.

Reading my blog, you know my heart. My husband and I want so badly to have a baby.  For the last two years, we have tried (minor) fertility treatments locally but we are at a point where I need to see a specialist out of town.  That really was my goal during this school year but it just didn’t happen. I just didn’t have time. I find myself saying; well…I will do it later.  I am so consumed with my three children and my 22 students that at the end of the day, I have nothing left. That is not a bad thing but as I near 36, I feel my window closing. Something’s got to give.

Nick and I have prayed for months as to which way to go in our journey. We both are in agreement that God has another season planned for us. That may or may not end with a bundle of joy, but we have decided to trust God and take a HUGE leap of faith.

Once school is out, I plan to spend more time consulting and presenting at conferences and in school districts. I hope to create new, meaningful resources that will hopefully alleviate some stress for teachers and increase classroom engagement through exciting lessons. I also plan to WRITE and write freely.  There is so much on my heart. I want to share more about our adoption journey, marriage, parenting, and uncensored opinions on education.

Most importantly, I plan to have flexibility to talk to doctors, visit them as often as necessary or meet with expectant mothers who may chose us to adopt their sweet baby.

I LOVE my school, my team, my friends but I know God has BIG things planned for my family and as scared as I am, God doesn’t have to ask twice. I will jump!

Moving forward, I hope you will stick with me.  I hope that the resources I share with you will inspire you. I hope my faith will encourage you and I hope my story will help you feel like you are not alone. We are all in this life together. Each our own hot mess. Ha!

I can’t wait to volunteer at schools. Maybe I will come to yours! I’m excited to work with hundreds of teachers this year.  I hope to be a breath of fresh air or at least someone you can laugh with. I. Get. Your. Life.

I’m not sure how long this season will last, but don’t worry; you have a front row seat to the Hot Mess Express. Ha!

It’s going down, for real. I hope you have picked out a front seat! I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to get Kreative in LIFE!

The post Leap of Faith…Just JUMP! appeared first on Kreative in Kinder.

If ever I’ve earned a Spring Break, it’s this one. My kids had SB last week because we are in different districts. They took turns coming to school with me. I think they understand my need for more naps this year. Ha! 

I’m currently in a car headed to Houston where the hubs and I will board a cruise ship for seven (hopefully) glorious days. We are cruising to Cozumel, Belize and Honduras. I’m hoping to get a good tan to help camouflage the inevitable weight gain. Though, Nick does this we will go to the gym everyday. Yeah, okay (wink, wink). 

If you read my blog often, you know how much I love my husband. He is my favorite person in the history of ever. Even if his common sense goes out the window when I’m around and I have to answer stupid questions (ha), I still puffy heart love him BIG. 

Nick and I will be married fifteen years this year. When we got married, we made a promise that we would take a vacation alone together every year. Most of them have been to nearby cities in Texas for three days or so but its always been a priority. So is a weekly date night. We go to dinner alone once a week. Sometimes dinner isn’t possible and it’s just running errands but it’s just us. Marriage is so important to us and it doesn’t work if we aren’t both invested and make time together a priority. 

I think people think I’m nuts when I say outside of God, I put my husband first. He is my first priority. You may think that’s crazy since I’m a mom of three but I believe that our marriage is the foundation of our family. It’s the glue that holds our family together. We we are great, everything wlse just falls into place. 

We also want our kids to see that marriage is beautiful.  We want them to look at us and think “that is what I want one day.” Of course we gross them out by  kissing in front of them on purpose because we think it’s funny. Then I tell them when their parents stop kissing, they should be worried.

This is the longest we’ve ever been away from our kids at the same time. This is definitely the most expensive vacation we’ve ever taken together too. Those things could be obstacles but this trip is necessary. Adulting is hard. Marriage is hard. I think going somewhere where there is no cell service, no social media and most importantly no distractions makes all the difference. We could spend a ridiculous amount of money for wifi on the ship but really, I want to be completely and totally present this week.

Infertility is another marriage speed bump that I’m happy to escape from for a hot minute. It takes a toll. Medications, waiting, disappointment. Month. After. Month. I think we have both handled it well because our faith is our foundation but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. I’ve seen many women who get so consumed that they quit living. All they  post on FB is stories of grief. I don’t want us to ever be that way. We have hope in God’s plan for us and whatever that may be, it has to be okay.

God is our foundation. We are our family’s foundation. All of that must be nurtured. So vacation here we come. I’m hoping for tons of laughter, naps, eating, pina coladas, sun soaking and sweet moments. 

You really can’t put a price tag on that. 

Happy Spring Break. Love and virtual hugs. 

The post Marriage: The Gift of TIME appeared first on Kreative in Kinder.