Category: Meet Up

30 Amazing Teachers Guest Blogger

9/28/2015

Congrats to the amazing Cassandra for turning 30! Woo-hoo and welcome to the club, my friend. I have to say, I’m loving my 30s. Enjoy this new turn in your life adventure!!! I had the pleasure of meeting Cassandra at this year’s TPT Conference, and more specifically at the Splash Bash pool party that I co-organized with another dear bloggie friend, Ashlyn from The Creative Classroom. Immediately I could tell that Mrs. Third Grade was such a gentle, kind, warm soul, and that has certainly proven to be true. I have to admit I’m envious because these two lovely ladies both live close enough to each other to occasionally hang and geek out over teacher topics...wish I lived closer...but I’m more than THRILLED to have been included in this amazing celebration for Cassandra!

// Hop on over to the Mrs. Third Grade Blog to learn more about me! //

{...and to read a few tips I've learned by trial & error over the last 30-something years...LOL!}

0 Comments

5 Ways to Beat the Back-to-School Blues

9/18/2015

1 Comment

// Here We Go Again... //

New school supplies, a perfectly clean and organized classroom, a fresh crop of students. Back-to-school is one of the most exciting times of the year for teachers! We talk about plans for our new students, ideas for classes, and eagerness to reconnect with colleagues, but what we don’t speak of are the dreaded back-to-school blues. Don’t deny it. Whether you started school a month ago, last week, or even mid-summer...I think almost everyone feels at least a small twinge of the blues as summer dwindles away and you get back into work mode. Here’s 5 ways I keep my chin up, focus on the excitement of a brand new year, and start off on the right foot when it’s back-to-school-time!

// Featured in SCHOLASTIC INSTRUCTOR Magazine! //

Some of these tips were chosen and featured in the back-to-school issue of ScholasticInstructor magazine! {SQUEAL!} Read about them below,
and check out more info in the
magazine article.

{CLICK each image below to be taken to the full article to read more details, tips, & tricks!}

#1) MANAGE MUNCHIES

#2) GIVING FEELS GOOD

PS: See my PREVIOUS post from this week for a FULL POST on my favorite colleague teacher gifts!!
{You'll see simple steps and inexpensive items needed to make super cute goodies.}

#3) GET ORGANIZED!

#4) LEAN ON YOUR TEAM & BE SILLY

#5) EXPAND YOUR NETWORK

// TPT //

1 Comment

Oh, What a Week! {5 for Friday}

8/1/2014

2 Comments

It's been an amazing week, and I'm going to replay some quick snapshots for you "5 for Friday-style" hosted by Doodle Bugs Teaching! Can it REALLY be August 1st already?!?! {#sayitaintso} If this past week is any indication, the last days of summer are going to be awesome...but fly by fast {too fast, really!}. I hope you're soaking up every last, delicious drop of summer like we're trying to do!

// Take a Peek @ My Week //

// Crazy over my First #Slantbox //

For a while now, I had been seeing pics of something called a #Slantbox / #Slantboxexchange floating all over Instagram. WHAT IS THIS SLANTBOX?!?!, I wondered. So, in true Lindsey fashion, I had to search and find the answer. Oh boy, I found a treasure box of goodies {literally} with this one! Read ALL ABOUT IT over at Jameson's blog, Lessons With Coffee. She has an entire website page dedicated to the who/what/when/where/why of all things Slantbox & even provides rules {which are both needed, & kind of fun}. Yesterday we were *MATCHED* with our giving/receiving partners for the August Slantbox, themed "Hometown Pride." I'm beyond psyched about my 2 August matches and cannot wait to see the fun & friendships that come from this exchange! Check out the details and sign up for September's exchange! Take a gander at my two matches below!

// Chicago Teacher-Blogger Stylish Soiree //

It's only 2 days and counting until the Chicago teacher-blogger brunch @ Bellwether hosted by Darling Dressed Duo and Sequins Are a Girl's Best Friend! You can read all about this event on my previous blog posts (1) (2). This event is sure to be fabulous, fashionable, and have fantastic food! I'll be the crazy lady snapping copious quantities of photos {including other people's food--haha!} and can't wait to post more in detail next week. Stay tuned for details about the chic venue, scrumptious food, & fantastic friends!

PS--Everyone attending will get chic teacher stationery from It's Elementary, My Dear! Take a sneak peek at the luxe loot they'll be receiving below! Who doesn't love some swanky S.W.A.G?!?

// Congrats, Meredith...Sign up to WIN BIG! //

Hip, hip, HOORAY for Meredith over at Creativity to the Core! She's celebrating & thankful for a HUGE milestone of 1,500 followers on Instagram! I'm joining a whole crew of other teachers supporting her success by donating goodies for a super sweet giveaway! One lucky winner will win ALL of the goodies below, PLUS COUTURE TEACHER STATIONERY from It's Elementary, My Dear! The picture above is just a SNEAK PEEK of the glittery goodness the lucky winner will receive from me. Take a gander below at the glorious gathering of giveaways galore {say that 5 times fast} from over 30 teachers who have donated downloads, goods, store credit, & more!
// See the entire post for more details & ENTER TO WIN! //

// Getting Ready to Get My BARGAIN On! //

This week I linked up with Mrs. D’s Corner and Miss V’s Busy Bees for the B2S Weekly Linky Party to share my love of all things classroom decor! If you check out the post, you'll learn that for the first time in 3 years, I'm not switching grade levels! This means, I get to keep my existing "Retro Road Trip" decor. Instead of starting from scratch {which is fun, but exhausting & quite expensive}, I get to tweak my design to perfect our classroom environment. And so....it begins. My bargain hunting bonanza. Already, I've begun scoping out the usual suspects: Wal-mart, Hobby Lobby, Goodwill, Dollar Tree, and the local party supply store. Check out some of the super bargain finds I'm keeping my eye on for purchase & projects, & check back for more on my end-of-summer bargain hunting for both school & fashion finds!

Tables & chairs @ Wal-mart

Vintage storage @ Hobby Lobby

// Goodwill Goodies that Need Some LOVE //

I haven't purchased any of these, but snapped pics of my fave finds from Goodwill when I perused last week. Should I get these? They range from $6 - $12, but I have to figure out if they're worth the repair effort! Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Retro rolling office chair & high top stool for whole group lessons @ Goodwill

Nesting tables for working around the room & retro high top chair for whole group lessons @ Goodwill

// This week With My Best Buddy //

It's been a week jam-packed full of fun with my little buddy! Thanks to Instagram, I'm more accountable for documenting these sweet, precious memories. It's so nice to be able to reflect on all of our summer time fun!

Petting farm, carousel rides, & LOTS of smiles

Grayson's new friend, Senor Burro @ dinner

Bike rides to the part on perfect summer nights

Swim lessons, splash pad, playground, & pool!

2 Comments

Let's Do Brunch!

7/28/2014

2 Comments

Original graphics from RedStamp.com.

Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, & Samantha made weekend brunch infamous...& it's no wonder they loved it so much! Weekend brunch is absolutely delightful. Take the morning to sleep in, get dressed up, and meet family and/or friends out for delectable dishes, specialties, & refreshing beverages. Brunch in Chicago is a staple event for many city folk, with brunch venues abounding with amazing atmosphere & tasty treats around every corner. Even though I'm a suburban lady, I happen to be lucky enough to enjoy brunch in the city TWO weekends in a row! {SQUEAL!}

This weekend one of my friend & former colleagues was in Chi-town after moving to Texas a year ago....good timing on her part, considering that we had the most horrific winter
E-V-E-R this year! It was so wonderful seeing her & was a great reason to get together other work friends that I haven't seen since the end of the school year. Take a peek at some snapshots from our outing to the beautiful Perennial Virant, where we feasted on sweet & savory treats from their locally sourced menu. My order? PV Omelet: house smoked pork loin, prairie fruits farm chevre, pesto, shaved vegetables, homefries with cheese curds, toast & homemade preserves with Fresh Green Kukicha hot tea. Words CANNOT describe how delicious every single bite was...and everyone's order looked just as delightful! Y-U-M.

// Style & Stationery //

Make your own brunch invitation with RedStamp.com!

// Can't Wait 'Til Next Week!! //

I'm sure I'll still be on Cloud 9 for the rest of the week after our amazing brunch at Perennial Virant, but guess what? The Chicago blogger meet-up brunch (graciously hosted by @darlingdressedduo & @sequinsaragirlsbestfriend, #sequinsDDDbrunch) is next week at the one-&-only Bellwether! I've never been to Bellwether, but by the looks of the atmosphere & brunch menu, I'm down right giddy about this coming Sunday's event. (I'm thinking about ordering the beet salad (arugula, pistachio, goat cheese, balsamic vinaigrette) with grilled salmon {drooling}.

Even better...is the excitement bubbling over because I get to meet so many fabulous Chicago area bloggers! If you're attending, give a shout out in the comments so we can connect before & after the event. More details about a special surprise for those attending to come soon.....SO FUN!

MEETING HOUSE & EATERY
— 302 East Illinois Street --

2 Comments

My First Ever "5 -for- Friday"

7/25/2014

19 Comments

It's a week of FIRSTS here on It's Elementary, My Dear, now that the blog is fully up-and-running, I have so many topics, tidbits, and link-ups that I want to write about there aren't enough hours in the day to keep up with my {super excited} thoughts! Today, I'm cranking out my FIRST EVER "5 -for- Friday" link-up with Doodle Bugs Teaching {insert happy dance here}! Let's see what fun & frolicking this week of firsts has brought me...

// My 1st Link-Up: Tune Into Technology Tuesday //

Part 2 Coming SOON:
iPad
STUDENT use

The lovely ladies {and fellow Chicago-area bloggers} over at Learning to the Core and iTeach 1:1 have cooked up a 4 week series of Tuesday tech-themed topics to pick our brains and link up with others sharing tech tips. I'm only just now linking up in time for the topic of iPads {#betterlatethannever}, but will be back again next week to chat about my obsession with QR codes. In fact, I've only posted Part 1 of my iPad postings (TEACHER use). Over the weekend I'll be wrapping up my 2nd iPad posting (and will link it, too) focusing on STUDENT use of the devices. Get a sneak peek of my kids in action adding to their digital portfolios (using the Open School ePortfolio app), which I will use for extensive assessment, feedback, and communication with parents. iPads are my FAVE "tech-sessory!"

// Excited About Midwest Meet-Ups //

I've been watching {slightly enviously} as other teacher-bloggers around the country giggle & gobble up food together at regional and state meet-ups for years! OH, how I've imagined having the chance for a Midwest or Chicago {HOLLA!} area blogger meet-up for a long time now! GUESS WHAT?!?! My dreams of a Midwest/Chicago area meet-up are coming true! Thanks to the divas at Darling Dressed Duo and Sequins Are a Girl's Best Friend, we'll be enjoying a fabulous brunch outing in downtown Chicago August 3rd! Even more surprising was when I stumbled upon {TONIGHT--just before I wrote this post!} the Midwest Blogger Meet-up co-hosted by Lessons With Coffee and Thriving in Third. I'm on cloud 9, giddy beyond belief {#hopeicansleeptonight} for these two events, because I know I'll be meeting some of the most fabulous people EVER! I can't wait for us to all become blogging besties!

// We hope YOU can join us for BOTH events! //

// S.L.A.N.T. Me Silly! //

Soooooo...I've been catching {slightly jealous & definitely curious} glimpses of S.L.A.N.T. boxes all over Instagram, always wondering, "How in the WORLD do I get into this totally awesome exchange club?!?!?" Well, tonight during some {almost} midnight, totally random blog hopping, I landed at Lessons & Coffee. Not only did it introduce me to the Midwest Blogger Meet-up (see above), but I seem to have stumbled upon the MOTHERSHIP for joining in the S.L.A.N.T. box fun! INSTANTLY, I signed up for the August exchange, & will be pacing the floors until I hear back about my match & start gathering goodies for the them of "Hometown Pride."

// It's Gettin' HAUTE in Here! //

Even if you don't personally know me, but follow the blog, my Instagram, or Pinterest boards, you know I love beautiful design. One thing you probably DON'T know about me {unless you're a personal friend} is that graphic design is one of my passionate hobbies. I LOVE IT. For nearly 2 full years, I created couture wedding, holiday, & everyday stationary and art prints for clients all over the world. It was artsy and wonderful...but led me away from education & out of education. Despite my success & enjoyment, I was called back to the classroom & am ever grateful that I returned. Now, I have the perfect opportunity to combine my love of design with my calling to education!! I'm cooking up some DELICIOUS DESIGNS that will soon be revealed. See a sneak peek of my design inspiration below. Check back for haute stationery providing "Smart Style for Trendy Teachers!"

// Mommy & Me //

I CHERISH the moments when I get to play MOMMY in a school setting & the role of TEACHER takes a back seat. This past Mother's Day tea party at my son's preschool was the first such experience {no planning, prepping, or corralling kids was nice!} and tomorrow is another. I arranged to volunteer at Grayson's school once a week between now and the start of MY back-to-school. This week's theme is "Little Chefs," & I've cooked up some tasty activities for the cute little kiddos in Gray's class. See the center activity materials below & watch for a full post with action pics coming soon!
#soexcited #lovehimsomuch #mommytime

Never Miss
a Beat:
Subscribe
>>>>>>>>>

19 Comments

30 Amazing Teachers Guest Blogger

// Hop on over to the Mrs. Third Grade Blog to learn more about me! //

5 Ways to Beat the Back-to-School Blues

// Here We Go Again... //

// Featured in SCHOLASTIC INSTRUCTOR Magazine! //

#1) MANAGE MUNCHIES

#2) GIVING FEELS GOOD

#3) GET ORGANIZED!

#4) LEAN ON YOUR TEAM & BE SILLY

#5) EXPAND YOUR NETWORK

// TPT //

Oh, What a Week! {5 for Friday}

// Take a Peek @ My Week //

// Crazy over my First #Slantbox //

// Chicago Teacher-Blogger Stylish Soiree //

// Congrats, Meredith...Sign up to WIN BIG! //

// Getting Ready to Get My BARGAIN On! //

// Goodwill Goodies that Need Some LOVE //

// This week With My Best Buddy //

Let's Do Brunch!

// Style & Stationery //

// Can't Wait 'Til Next Week!! //

My First Ever "5 -for- Friday"

// My 1st Link-Up: Tune Into Technology Tuesday //

Part 2 Coming SOON: iPad STUDENT use

// Excited About Midwest Meet-Ups //

// We hope YOU can join us for BOTH events! //

// S.L.A.N.T. Me Silly! //

// It's Gettin' HAUTE in Here! //

// Mommy & Me //

Never Miss a Beat: Subscribe >>>>>>>>>

// CONNECT //

Be an INSIDER!

MEET LINDSEY

Find Me On // TPT //

FAVORITE THINGS

ERIN CONDREN

SITE DESIGN

SHOP NOW

PHOTO LOVE

PIN-TASTIC

CATEGORIES

ARCHIVES

LINKED UP

// Home // Blog // About // Shop // Connect //

Part 2 Coming SOON:
iPad
STUDENT use

Never Miss
a Beat:
Subscribe
>>>>>>>>>

Find Me On
// TPT //