suzette roberts

// Children's Books For Every Mood

Six loved children's books I worked with over the last three months creating complete Thematic Units for our 2019 - 2020 classroom year ahead. A cookbook included! Can you imagine? :) Yep, I wanted to go there too... And #4 begins our first Educational Leadership Seminar in late September. This was indeed a lot of fun(!).

Thank you to our dynamic group of dedicated Educators for your consistency, drive, and bringing such a bubbly balance to our online meetings. And thank you all for just being there with unexpected recent events. I never had to worry about this side of my work, not once. One call/ email and things were taken care of all the way across the board. I appreciate you all so much for having my back and covering me through and through with some really tough days... Loyal working teams like ours are a hard find in these times. Thank you all so very much. x

 

#1. Waiting Is Not Easy by Mo Willems  

#2. Silly Jokes for Silly Kids by Silly Willy (I wanted this variety in the mix).

#3. How To Babysit A Grandma by Jean Reagan

#4. How To Raise Successful People (Simple Lessons for Radical Results) by Esther Wojcicki

#5. Dear Boy by Paris Rosenthal and Jason Rosenthal

#6. Cooking Class: 57 Fun Recipes Kids Will Love To Make (and Eat!) by Deanna F. Cook

 

 

 

// Chocolate Fudge Cake for A Good Cause

Kids helping kids... and a great way to have our cake and eat it too with school fundraisers such as Terra Cotta Cookie Co. Many of our schools are already actively involved in this very edible and fun hands-on fundraiser. For a small donation, you receive a cookie or brownie mix of dry ingredients to which you simply add water and two eggs for an easy anytime chocolate treat. Last year, my sister Gi, participated in this fundraiser and promptly handed me the box of dry ingredients to practice my cake-making skills. I added milk (instead of water), and some dark chocolate chips for added moisture and fudgyness, followed the simple directions, making another beloved slim cake. We thoroughly enjoyed it... More after the jump, and have a restful weekend. ~xx

 

Using half of the ingredients to make my loved slim cake...

// Developing Good Work Ethic Practices

Dedicated Educators actively in the business for 20 plus years or more can certainly relate-- just as we desired our dream Principal and Admin staff (and were blessed to have nailed it!) with entering into our profession in our very early twenties, now that we are working at an overseeing level, we look for new and even seasoned hires who come to the table and consistently demonstrate a strong work ethic: behaviours that emulate good self-discipline, self-management, self-drive, a serious commitment to the field/ 'job', the people we serve, and taking the overall performance to that next higher level. They always manage to get more done within the same 24-hour work day, while also maintaining a high(er) energy level that's focused and committed to the task at hand.

Last month's In-the-Classroom Webinar explored a few simple practices our polished and ethical dream bosses are often seeking during scheduled working hours, which also makes for an excellent Social Studies Lesson Planning Unit (Theme: Community and Citizenship) for our students at our Grade 3 level and upwards. Here are their top five...

// Abigail Halpin: Finding Wild

'Swooning over this beautiful beautiful children's book: Finding Wild, by Megan Wagner Lloyd with colourful, nature bountiful illustrations by Abigail Halpin. Using bolder blues and greens with pops of sunshine garden colours, Abigail Halpin brings to blissful life, creative simplicity, quiet wildchild celebrations with Mother Nature, and the inspiring message of finding all things lovely as we immerse ourselves 'with the wild' far and near. A delightful read and keeper for both young children and grown-ups...

// Cookies and Cream Ice Cream

Hello March! Somewhere in the very early 80's while at my high school graduation, totally clueless as to what the larger than life world had in store for a simple island girl who only wanted to swim in the warm salty sea, fly wide-bodied jets, eat fish and ice cream, and have a really good time, this, always a hit flavour with so many of our young kids, was born... becoming the best-selling flavour in 1983. Years later, deeply buried in classroom teaching, wings clipped and mostly grounded, this indulgent flavour continued to live on, as proof with the gazillion Favourite Ice Cream Flavours pictographs created by my kids at varying grade levels, and many times by-passing any reference to the usual chocolate and strawberry. What happened? It's simple... Cookies and Cream Ice Cream has a no-explanation-needed feel of extra-fun with all the sweet and sandwiched crunchies in the mix for both our younger and older kids. And it's still happening...

Have a refreshing weekend, and thanks so much for all my treats this week. I needed every. single. one. of them. :) Music and more after the jump... ~xx

// Have a Loving Family Day Weekend.~

{rustic-style homemade french fries; it started in a dream weeks ago...}

 

... where I was once again on a ship cruising the Atlantic with my last Grade 3 group. All my kids were enjoying fries: some had just one fry in hand, some two, others a few, and one or two an entire bucket. It made me laugh, but it also made me feel really good inside to see them sharing their golden goods and having a grand time with each other in casual style while taking in the majestic blue... #life #love #heartful Happy Valentine's(!) afternoon and/ or evening wherever you are in the world. Have a sweet one, and have a very loving long weekend. Happy Family Day to you and yours! More after the jump... ~xx