Teacher guilt & how to handle it

I have just completed my first year as a teacher and am now currently experiencing my first summer vacation/break. There are many teachers that continue to work during this break. Some are doing masters classes, professional development courses, pre-planning lessons, or remodeling their classrooms. We are about a month into summer break and I have done ZERO work related things. So, I am feeling some intense teacher guilt right now and am trying my best to work through it.

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What is teacher guilt?

Teacher guilt is feeling like you are not doing enough or thinking you have to be working all the time. Basically I feel guilty because I have all this downtime and I am choosing to not work on school things.

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Where does my teacher guilt come from?

I love following fellow teachers on twitter, instagram, and tiktok. Social media is an awesome place to find ideas, inspiration, and a way to meet new people. However, I have found it to be kind of toxic for my mental health. I end up comparing myself to other teachers and in turn it makes me feel like I am not doing enough or makes me feel like I am not a good teacher.

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Tips for dealing with teacher guilt

1. Do the things you enjoy.

I have found that it is essential to continue to things I enjoy doing. Take a trip, read books, binge watch Netflix, exercise, ect. I am not going to punish myself for not working on school things by taking away things I enjoy. So, keep doing fun things.

2. Prioritize your time.

I personally do not have a whole lot I want to accomplish this summer in terms of school things. I want to revamp some lessons, find some new ideas, read some professional development books, and I have to move to new a classroom eventually. Those are things that do not require the whole summer. I do not have to get it all done right away or work on them everyday. So, I am going to prioritize my time and do those things when I think it is necessary and not when social media tells me to.

3. Find a new hobby.

I have been spending the majority of my time at home since about March (thanks to Covid-19). Keeping myself busy was key. Trying and learning something new has really helped keep me and my mind off school related things. I have started to experiment in the kitchen and have tried a variety of new dishes which has been really fun for me. I also have started an at home workout routine which has really helped me mentally and physically. So, finding new things to keep me busy has helped me feel better about how I choose to spend my time.

4. Give yourself A LOT of grace.

At the end of day we are all human. This school year was my first year as a teacher and it took a lot out of me mentally and physically. I have my whole life to work and I am really liking taking this summer slow and just doing whatever I want. So, I simply need a break and I am going to enjoy it.

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Lets wrap it up

Yes, it is true that teachers do a lot of work during the summer. It it also true that teachers do not spend their entire summer working on school things. And that is okay. Teacher guilt is a real thing and I have been experiencing it hard core for about a month. I made the decision to not work on school things until about mid July in order to give myself the break I deserved.

PSA to my fellow teachers: enjoy your summer break. You have plenty of time to work.

Thanks for reading as always. Please feel free to like and comment.

Kels

May Reading Roundup

Since I am a teacher I am now in full on summer vacation mode and am really loving relaxing on the couch with a good book. One of my goals this summer is to tackle my very large TBR (to be read) list. 

Did anyone else feel like May went by really fast? Well, during this past month I read 4 books and enjoyed them all for the most part. 

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1.All We Have Left (Wendy Mills) 

All We Have Left tells a really heart wrenching 9/11 story from two perspectives. Mills did a nice job of showing how 9/11 affected people then and now and it really pulled at my heart. 

Favorite Quote:
“People do terrible things. People do beautiful things. It’s against the black backdrop of evil that the shining light of good shows the brightest.” Pg. 357

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2. Yes No Maybe So (Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed) 

Yes No Maybe so is a really lovely modern romance. Personally I think this book had two main themes throughout. One was Religion (Muslim and Jewish) and the other was political activism. The authors did a really awesome job of showcasing both of these in a way that really complimented the story line. 

My favorite thing about this book was the fact that neither of the main characters were of age to vote, yet they both were still involved in politics in some way. I think that is very admirable and I hope more young people read this and realize they can make a difference even if they can’t vote directly. 

Favorite Quote:
“It’s not about waiting for the good parts of history. We’re the ones who have to make them happen. We have to draw the timeline ourselves. Pg. 410

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3.Study In Charlotte (Brittany Cavallaro) 

Study In Charlotte is a kind of retelling of the famous Sherlock Holmes tales. The two main characters are dependents of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. These two find themselves attending the same boarding school in America and of course a mystery is involved. 

I loved this spin on the classic Holmes stories. However, I found that I was reading it just to finish it because of my feelings towards the main characters. I loved James Watson and found him to be a very  likable and relatable character. Charlotte Holmes on the other hand just rubbed me the wrong way. She has a strong personality and one that I do not care for. 

This book is part of a series and sadly, I do not see myself reading the others because of how much I do not like one of the main characters. 

Favorite Quote:
“I tried to fight the feeling that I was a guest start in my own life.” Pg. 133

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4. American Street (Ibi Zoboi)

American Street follows a Haitian American teenager who was born in the USA but was raised in Haiti. She and her mother decided to come live in the US full time but her mother gets detained by immigration when they arrive. Fabiola must go to Detroit without her. 

I loved that this story followed Fabiola’s journey in navigating life in the United States. She has never known life without her mother so, this was a big change for her. She found herself living with an aunt and 3 cousins that she knew but at the same did not know. 

This story shows you hardships and how to overcome them, how important family is, and how important it is to not lose sight of yourself. 

Favorite Quote:
“And I am not a pebble in the valley. I am a mountain.” Pg. 324

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5. Did Not Finish 

My motto in reading is that life is too short to read a book you do not like. So, with that being said I did start one book this month that I did not finish. 

Impostors by Scott Westerfeld sadly just did not do it for me. I loved the synopsis of this book and thought I was going to love the book but that was not the case. I found this book to be hard to follow, too busy, and confusing. 

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Let’s Wrap It Up

Out of the four books I read in May, American Street was my favorite. I think the story was really well written and I loved learning some about Haitian culture. Reading is one of my favorite hobbies and something I do very often. I try my best to read a variety of books from a variety of authors. 

Please feel free to give me book/author recommendations. 

Thanks for reading as always. Please free to like and comment. 

Kels 

10 things I learned in my first year of teaching

When I started my teaching career I never would have thought my first year would end this way. This first year had a lot of ups and downs and I have learned a ton about myself and about teaching. So, here is a snipit of the things I learned this school year. 

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1. Coffee. Coffee. Coffee. 

I am the type of person that would rather go in early to work rather then stay late. So, coffee and I became closer then ever before because I was getting to the school early most mornings. My first hour of the day would joke with me about my coffee drinking and tell me that it was my teacher juice. 

The more coffee I have the better. I also invested in a couple good to go coffee cups so my coffee would stay hot even when I forgot about it. 

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2. Interact with your fellow teachers as much as possible (in and out of school) 

The teachers you work with become your people and the people you rely on when you need it. We are taught in college that building relationships with students is the most important thing to do but I firmly believe building relationships with your colleagues is also highly important. 

Have a relationship with them in school and out of school. Eat lunch with them, go to dinner with them, or attend a school event with them. Having that relationship with them will help you be the best teacher you can be. 

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3. Share your life with your students 

Every teacher really wants to get to know their students. But, it is also important to let your students get to know you (to a point). I loved sharing childhood stories, fun things I did on the weekends, and things about my family. Doing this really helped me connect with my students and helped us build solid relationships. 

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4. Never be afraid to try something new

One of my favorite parts of teaching is trying  new activities, lessons, or projects wtih my students. I spend a lot of time planning and tweeking my ideas in an effort to make them the best that they can be. 

Be honest with your students when you are trying something new. I always referred to my first hour as my guinea pigs because they were the first class to try whatever crazy idea I had that day. They loved helping me work out any kinks and helped make things better. 

Pinterest, twitter, and teachers pay teachers is a great place to look for ideas. I personally like to make things myself so, I will go to these websites to get inspiration. Taking the time to research an idea will help you make it even better. 

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5. It’s okay for a lesson to fail 

Failure is a part of life and it happens to everyone. So, since I am always trying new things I have learned to be okay with a lesson failing. A failing lesson does not mean you are a bad teacher. Often times the lesson is still a good lesson it just did not work out the way that I wanted it to and that’s okay. 

TIP: be honest with your students when a lesson fails. It gives you an opportunity to show them how to handle failure in a positive way. 

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6. Be flexible 

I am not a go with the flow type of person and being flexible does not come easy to me. But, it is something I have learned over time. I have to be flexible with myself, my students, and with my lessons. There are going to be interruptions in every class period and learning to work with those is hard but doable. 

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7. Never enough time in the day or enough time in a class period 

For most students school days go by really slow. For teachers, it goes by really fast (well, sometimes).  I teach middle school and we have 54 minute class periods. It never fails that I will be in the middle of teaching and realize we have a minute till the bell. Where does the time go? Lesson pacing is a hard thing to master and I do not think any teacher can ever fully master it but you can get pretty dang close. But, I also think lesson pacing changes each year and even changes with each class period. For instance I knew that my 4th hour worked faster then my 5th hour and I have to plan accordingly. Sometimes that is easier said then done. That is something you just have to be okay with and learn to work around. 

TIP: Make a to-do list. This helps me prioritize things I need to get in the day. So, I can try and use my plan time as best I can. Also I will list out things I need to tell each class or things I need to add to my faster working classes so they do not have so much downtime. Doing this helps keep me and my brain on track. 

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8. Know when to quit 

Let me explain what I mean by this. Know when to pack up, go home, and turn off your teacher brain (way easier said then done). At the beginning of the school year I was staying in my classroom until 5 sometimes 6 o’clock at night working. I soon realized I was getting burnt out and neglecting myself/mental health.

I made the decision (in around December) that I would not stay past 4 in the afternoon. I knew I would have to make some changes to ensure this was possible. Once I got it all worked out I had a better attitude, got more accomplished during the day, and was a better teacher. 

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9. Always take time to reflect 

Reflection is a huge part of teaching and something I do daily and sometimes hourly. During college we had to write a handwritten reflection on the back of all our lesson plans. I think this helped me get into the habit of reflection.

We are in such a digital world and my lesson plans are now done digitally on a website called Planbook. So, my lesson refelections are done a bit differently. I print out my planbook lesson plans each week so I can keep a hard copy in my curriculum binders to reference later. In around December I decided I needed a dedicated place for my lesson reflections (instead of just random stickynotes left on my desk). So, I got a composition notebook and used a page or 2 for each week. I would write the day of the week, date, lesson title, and then reflect on that days lesson. This gave me a space to write the good, the bad, and the ugly. It also gave me a place to write ideas on how to make it better. 

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10. You can’t save them all 

This is perhaps the hardest lesson I had to learn. I had 70 students total and came to the hard conclusion that is impossible to save them all no mater how hard I try. I loved all my students and wanted all of them succeed. If a student doesn’t want to try to succeed then they are going to fail and I have to be okay with that. I can’t force a kid to want to do well. As a teacher that is heartbreaking. I do not want any kids to a fail but I can’t help them unless they first help themselves. 

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Lets wrap it up 

My first year teaching came to end without any closure. In March of 2020 my governor made the decision to close all school buildings for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year and I found myself teaching online. That is something I was not prepared for or trained for. Even though I was not ready for this massive change my 6th grade team and I took it head on and I think we did a fantastic job. 

The last 9 weeks of school went by so quickly and I can’t believe my first year of teaching is over. I am so thankful for the students I had and the teachers I got to work with. They all taught me so much and I am really looking forward to the 2020-2021 school year. 

To my students: Thank you for laughing with me, being my kids, and letting me try out my crazy ideas. I will forever cherish my time with you and will remember you all dearly as my first group of students. We did not get to end the way we wanted to but that’s okay because I will get to see you next year. Even though you guys are no longer my students place remember you will always have a seat in my classroom. 

Love, 

Miss. Greenwell 

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Thank you for reading as always. Please feel free to like, comment, and share. 

Kels

History Explained: Florence Nightingale

What is history explained?:

This is the first of many history-related posts. I currently teach 6th-grade social studies so history is my niche. I am going to be doing posts called History Explained every now and again to share a short piece of history. 

Enjoy. 

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May 12 is known as International Nurses Day and is done so in honor of Florence Nightingale since she was born on this day in 1820. She made a lasting and amazing impact on the field of nursing and made great changes to the healthcare field. 

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Who was she?:

Florence was born to a wealthy family in the city that shares her name. Her family returned to England in 1821 and began a life of great prominence. Florence was a very bright child and her father was very interested in her education and helped her in history, philosophy, and literature. Florence knew at a young age that her life’s calling was to help aid suffering people. She cared for ill relatives and wealthy family friends but her parents did not want her to pursue a career in nursing. They saw it as an inappropriate venture for a lady of her status. 

Florence knew she did not want to be a housewife. So, she went against her family’s wishes and enrolled in a nursing school in 1850. She received very little training and soon went to work at a hospital as a nurse. 

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Crimean War Time:

The war broke out in October 1853 and at the time Florence was working at the Harley Street Hospital and volunteering at the Middlesex Hospital. The Middlesex Hospital was dealing with a cholera outbreak and very unsanitary conditions. She volunteered her time to help improve conditions and reduce the death rate. She accomplished both of those things. Florence was really good at her job and realized that there were a lot of things that needed to be changed. During her time at Harley Street Hospital, she impressed her employers so much that they promoted her to the nursing superintendent (nursing supervisor or director of nursing). 

While the war waged on the British military set up hospitals in Scutari. A British journalist reported on the care of the wounded and his report caused the British people to demand better care for their loved ones. The hospitals were understaffed, unsanitary, and the hospital did not have the necessary supplies needed to care for patients. In 1854 Sidney Herbert, Secretary of War called upon Florence Nightingale to help. 

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“The Lady With The Lamp:”

Nightingale was tasked with forming a corp of nurses to go to Scutari to help provide aid in the hospitals. She quickly rose to action and was able to get almost 3 dozen nurses to go with her and help provide care. The group had been forewarned about the conditions of the hospital but nothing could have prepared them for what they saw when they arrived. The hospital was filthy, there were not enough supplies, and these women were not welcomed by the medical staff that was currently there. 

Once she was able to what she needed to Nightingale immediately went to work. She cleaned the whole hospital, set standards for care, and established things like a kitchen, a library, a laundry service, and a classroom to help keep the patients stimulated intellectually. She knew that these patients needed medical and mental care. 

“People say the effect is only on the mind. It is no such thing. The effect is ont the body too.” -Florence Nightingale 

During the night she would wander the wards caring for patients as needed. The soldiers started calling her “the lady with the lamp” because she would carry a lamp to help her see. Doing this earned her respect from soldiers and other medical staff. Overall, Florence worked at the military hospital for about a year and a half before she returned home in 1856. 

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Recognition: 

When the war was finally over and all the hospitals closed, Nightingale was set to return home. She was unsure what she was going to come home to since she had defied her parent’s wishes but she was welcomed as a hero for the amazing work she did.

Queen Victoria gave her an engraved brooch for her dedication to aiding wounded soldiers during the Crimean War. This is now referred to as the Nightingale Jewel.  The British government also gave her a monetary prize which she used to help fund a school of nursing. In 1860 St. Thomas Hospital opened in London and Nightingale established a school of nursing there. The Nightingale School of Nursing formalized nursing education since it was the first scientific-based nursing school created. Perhaps the best thing Nightingale did with this school was to make nursing an honorable profession choice for any and every person who chooses to pursue it. 

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Aftermath:

Sadly in 1855 Nightingale contracted a bacteria infection called Crimean Fever while she was working at the hospitals in Scutari during the war. She never had a full recovery from this infection because no treatment existed at the time. The effects of this illness stayed with her for the rest of her life. She often times was bedridden because of chronic pain. 

Despite being bedridden and in pain she still worked hard to better the field of nursing. She kept very good written records, published many reports/books, helped the British government set up better standards for healthcare, interviewed politicians, and helped aid other countries by giving advice. She did a lot from the comforts of her own bed. Which that in and of itself is very honorable. 

On August 13th, 1910 Florence Nightingale unexpectedly died in her London home. Respecting her wishes her family gave her a modest funeral despite what the public wanted. 

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Museum: 

In 1982 the Florence Nightingale Museum was established to honor the amazing healthcare reformer. The museum can be found at the original Nightingale Training School for Nurses site at St. Thomas Hospital in London.   

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Let’s wrap it up:

Florence Nightingale did really wonderful work for nurses, patients, and healthcare reform. She worked tirelessly to improve healthcare not only in Britain but all over the world. She made a lasting impact and is honored greatly by many. 

In the mists of the Covid-19 pandemic, I could not think of a better person to research for my first History Explained post. I really loved researching the work and life of Florence Nightingale and ended up learning so many new things about her (if anything is factually wrong in this post please let me know so I can fix it ASAP). 

Thanks for reading as always. Please feel free to like and comment.

Kels 

 

Inspiration: It Comes and Goes

Inspiration is a funny thing and is something that comes and goes. The hard thing to do is learn to be okay with that. You can’t force yourself to find inspiration, you have to let it just come to you when it chooses to. Often times inspiration comes when you least expect it. 

So, what can you do? 

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Ways to help find inspiration: 

Even though you can’t force inspiration to come to you, you can go searching for it and hope that it comes. There are lots of ways to search for inspiration and I have a few ways I like best. To put it simply, do things you enjoy doing or things that require minimal thinking.

1. Meditation

This is a great way to take a mental break and to clear your mind. A lot of times our mind is too full of other thoughts that it can be hard to realize when an idea is inspiring because we are too busy thinking of other things. Taking time to clear our mind is a great way to make space for new ideas and thus new inspiration. 

If you are new to meditation I suggest looking for an app. It is a great place to get started. 

2. Search Pinterest 

I use Pinterest all the time and have got a lot of ideas from there. It is a great place to go for so many things. If you need help with recipes, lesson plans, organization, or cleaning then Pinterest is your gal. It can be a one-stop-shop for inspiration.  

3. Scroll Through TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook 

Social media is a great place to find inspiration (if you follow the right people that is). I personally use the Instagram explorer page the most and it is a great place to find new and interesting ideas. The pictures and videos shown to you on your explore page are based on the pages you currently follow and photos you have liked in the past. So, it is an awesome place to look through. You see a variety of posts based on things you are interested in. 

Tiktok, Twitter, and Facebook are also great places to go when you need some inspiration. I would start by finding and following some pages and people that you find interesting or that are into the same things you are. This way you start to see more posts based on your interests. For example, I am into bullet journals and bookgrams (Instagram accounts dedicated to books/reading) so I made sure to follow some accounts related to those so I see posts that inspire me or give me new and interesting ideas. 

Social media can be such a negative place so, set yourself up for success by following positive accounts and unfollowing the negative ones. 

4. Watch Youtube Videos 

Youtube is a God sent and I am not ashamed to say I have spent many hours watching videos. There are so many videos out there and there is probably a video already made that can help you with whatever you need. For example, if you need some help/ideas/inspiration for organizing your bathroom there are videos out there for that. Watch a couple videos, find the items you want, and you can have an organized bathroom in no time. 

Be careful because it is easy to fall into the Youtube rabbit hole. So, try to stay focused on the task at hand. 

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What to do what inspiration hits: 

Like I mentioned at the beginning of this post, a lot of times inspiration or new ideas hit you when you least expect it. I personally get a lot of ideas when I am trying to do something else. 

1. Don’t Dwell (circle back)

When inspiration or a new idea comes to you, don’t dwell on it. When a new idea comes to us a lot of times we want to figure it all out at once but that is the best way to drive the inspiration or idea away. So, when something hits you take note of it, think about it for a bit, and then move on. Giving yourself time to circle back to an idea is the best thing to do. It allows you to build on the idea and gives you time to make it even better. 

2. Write It Down 

If I don’t write something down odds are I will forget it and the same goes for the random ideas that come to me. So, when inspiration comes to me I physically write it down (in a notebook or on my notes app on my phone) so I can come back to it later. This is really important when an idea comes to you in the middle of doing something else. Doing this also gives you a platform to expand on your ideas or connect ideas together. 

3. Talk It Through/Write It Out 

I am a very verbal and visual person. I oftentimes talk to myself while working because it helps me work through my thoughts and ideas. So, when I have a new idea for a lesson plan or blog post I talk it through with myself for a little bit and physically write down or type my thoughts. This helps me work through my ideas and helps me eventually get to the final product I want. 

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Let’s Wrap It Up

Inspiration is something that I have always found interesting. You can’t force inspiration to come to you but you can go looking for it. I try my best to stay inspired as much as I can. I try to look at and follow accounts that inspire me in hopes of seeing a post that gives me an idea for something. Doing this has really helped me develop new ideas for my work life and my personal life. I also think that my mental health is better because I choose to follow accounts that impact my life in a positive way. 

How do you find inspiration? What are some things that inspire you?

Thanks for reading as always. Please feel free to like and comment. 

Kels 

Simple & affordable ways to help the environment

Being more environmentally friendly has been a goal of mine for a few years now. I try really hard to do simple things do my part for mother earth.  Being environmentally friendly and using things that are better for the environment is easier than ever before. You can get things from Amazon, Walmart, and even TJ Maxx to you treat mother nature better.

So, here is a list of 10 things you can do and or buy that help the environment.

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1. Recycle

This is the easiest thing to do (if you live somewhere that recycles). In a two week span, I typically produce more recycling then I do trash. I keep a small trash can in my kitchen that is specifically used for my recycling. Having this designated spot helps remind me to recycle and is very easy to keep up with.

Tip: if you do not live somewhere that you can recycle then do some research and find a recycling center near you or ask a friend that has recycling at their home if you can bring your recyclycing to their house.

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2. Metal/Silicone Straws

I am the type of person that requires a straw to drink anything (yay for sensitive teeth). Metal straws are super trendy right now and are very easy to use in your everyday life. I have some I keep at home and I have a travel pack that I keep in my purse. Keeping them in my purse has helped me not use straws when I go out to eat or when I go to QuikTrip for my fountain Dr. Pepper.

Metal Straw Pack 

Travel Silicone Straws 

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3. Tumbler Cups (water bottles)

I love reusable water bottles and have way too many for one person. I typically use a stainless steel tumbler cup when I am at home and take them pretty much everywhere with me when I leave. It is so easy to take it with you and you can use them at fast-food restaurants and at gas stations when getting a fountain drink (saves you some money too).

Bubba Cup 

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4. Microfiber Cloths

Paper towels can be so wasteful (and expensive) so, I try my best to use as few as possible. I bought a pack of microfiber cloths to keep in the kitchen and bathroom for easy cleaning. They work amazing and are easy to wash (throw them in with a load of towels). You can find them pretty much anywhere and they work on many different surfaces.

Microfiber Cloth Pack 

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5. Reusable Cotton Rounds

Cotton rounds were an essential thing I kept in my bathroom at all times and I was using about 4 a day. I found some reusable ones on Amazon and I switched over to them about a year ago. I LOVE them and will never go back to the throwaway ones. They are easy to use and incredibly easy to clean. The pack comes with a mesh zipper bag that you put your used ones in and you just throw it in the washer with a load of towels.

Reusable Cotton Rounds

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6. Reusable Storage Bags

Storage bags are an essential item in my kitchen. I use them to pack lunches, snacks, and to store food. I was going through a lot of them since I pack my lunch and snacks every day for work. So, I bought some that are reusable and I love them. I like them better than the throwaway ones and now basically only use my reusable ones. They are durable, leak-proof, and easy to clean.

Reusable Storage Bags Set 

Reusable Storage Bag Set #2

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7. Reusable K Cup Pod

If you have a Keurig or single-cup coffee maker I highly recommend looking for a reusable pod cup.  K-cups are incredibly expensive so, having a reusable pod cup saves you money and is better for the environment. They are easy to use and very easy to clean.

Tip: DO NOT PUT THEM IN THE DISHWASHER. IT CAN MELT.

Reusable K Cup Pod Set 

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8. Reusable Grocery Bags

I have been using reusable grocery bags for as long as I can remember. My family shopped at Aldi’s growing up we kind of had to have them. Throughout the years I have gotten so many different bags for free from fairs and events so I have quite a few of them. I also keep a compact one in my purse just in case I run in somewhere unexpectedly and I also keep about 5 in my car at all times. They are better than plastic or paper bags because they hold a lot of products, they are durable, and are easier to carry.

Reusable Grocery Bag Set

Compact Reusable Grocery Bag Set 

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9. Reusable Produce Bags

These are key item especially if you buy a lot of produce. I do not buy a whole lot of produce so I have a set of 3 bags but I love them. They are small so they do not take up whole lot of space and are easy to use/clean.

Reusable Produce Bags Set 

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10. Reusable Travel Bottles

Travel is a big deal in my life and something I do as much as possible. I typically do not check luggage when flying so I need all the space I can get and also have to have items that are the TSA approved size. So, reusable travel bottles/containers are important. These help save money (travel size items can get expensive) and are simple/easy to use.

Reusable Travel Bottles Set  

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Let’s Wrap It Up

In today’s world, it is very easy to use things and do things that are better for the environment. I love being able to do my part and hope this helps people try something new. What are things you do that are good for the environment?

Thanks for reading as always and please feel free to like and comment.

Kels

Self-Care: more than just face masks and bubble baths

I think we have all heard the term self-care one time or another. The trend has really taken off in recent years and I take part in it quite regularly. Self-care isn’t a selfish thing and it doesn’t have to be something you do alone. There are so many different ways to incorporate self-care into your daily life. Yes, I love a good face mask and bubble bath but there are so many other things you can do. 

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What is self-care? 

Dictionary definition: the practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress. 

Essentially self-care is just taking time to take care of yourself in some way or another. To me self-care is doing something for yourself because you want to not because you have to. 

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Self-care Ideas

I am no stranger to the act of self-care so, I thought I would share some of my self-care activities with you. 

1. Bake/cook 

My whole family knows I love to bake and I almost always have something that I made sitting on my kitchen counter. Baking and cooking is something I have gotten more into since I got my own place. It is very calming to be in the kitchen with music on making something that sounds good. It is also very satisfying when you make something that comes out just right. 

Tip: find and try new recipes. Pinterest and facebook are great places to find new and exciting recipes. I used to be afraid to try making new things because I was scared it would turn out bad. I have come to realize that I am only doing this for fun and for myself. So, if I make turns out bad I laugh about it and then throw it in the trash can (and let me tell you, I have made some pretty bad things). 

2. Sleep (naps, going to bed early, or staying up late) 

I am the queen of naps (my sister comes in at a close second). Taking naps is one huge way I like to treat myself. I used to be able to take really long naps (2+ hours) but now I am lucky to get an hour. Even though I do not nap as long anymore, I still take them frequently. They help me reset and I often times find myself to be more productive when I wake up from a nap. 

Going to bed early and or staying up late is another great way to take care of yourself. I am much more of a morning person so I tend to go to bed early and wake up early. Doing this helps me feel refreshed and helps me start or end my day on a good note. 

Tip: set an alarm or timer to ensure you do not sleep too much. This is great when taking a nap or getting up at a decent time. 

3. Clean house

Since I have moved into my own place I have found that cleaning can be very therapeutic. I enjoy seeing the process and love the finished outcome. Cleaning helps me relieve stress and makes me feel calm. I feel more at peace in a clean house and it helps boost my mood. 

Tip: Try to do a little bit of cleaning everyday. It will help you keep on top of cleaning and not feel like you are doing a chore. 

4. Watch TV (Netflix, Hulu, etc.) 

Everybody loves a binge session right? I am no stranger to that either. Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video have some really great stuff. I love surfing these streaming services looking for different shows or movies to watch. I have watched hours upon hours of Netflix, Hulu, ect. so, I try to limit myself as best as I can. Too much TV isn’t good either but watching TV is a great way to wind down especially after a stressful or long work day. 

Favorite shows to binge watch: Gilmore Girls, Friends, Stranger Things, and Gossip Girl 

5. Read (for fun)

While in college I was doing so much required reading for my classes that reading for fun was not even an option. Once I started working full time I knew I wanted to get back into reading the books I actually wanted to read. I started out slow by reading a chapter or two every night before bed and that has sense evolved into finding more time to read during my day. Reading is a great way to immerse myself into a different world and helps me connect with other people. 

Tip: to do not waste time reading a book you’re not interested in. Life’s too short to read a bad book. 

6. Puzzles or games

I am a person that can sit and work a puzzle for hours. When I lived with my parents this is something my dad and I would do all the time. It is very calming and I feel like time goes by faster when I am doing a puzzle. Playing card games and board games is also a great way to self-care with a family member, friend, or significant other. It gives me a chance to step away from my phone and do something that is fun and stimulates the mind. 

Favorite games: Rummikub, Skip-Bo, Phase 10, and Sequence. 

Puzzle Tip: I highly recommend getting a puzzle board. It has drawers for pieces and allows you to put it away when not working on it.  Yes, they can get expensive but I think it is so worth the money. 

7. Listen to music or podcasts 

While I was in college I would travel home on weekends a lot. So, I was in the car for long periods of time. During that time I got really into listening to podcasts. Podcasts are a great thing to turn on when you are doing seemingly mindless tasks. I love to listen to them while cleaning, cooking, or while doing my hair and makeup in the morning before work.  I listen to mostly true crime podcasts, so I really have to focus on them to follow the story. So, listening to them helps me forget about everything else going on for a while and is a nice way to kind of refresh/reset my mind. 

I enjoy listening to music and it is a great way to relax. I love to turn on music while working out, taking a shower, or while cleaning. Similar to podcasts it helps me clear my mind of stressful things.  

Favorite podcasts: Best Case Worst Case, Crime Junkie, and Box of Thoughts 

8. Eat

This girl loves to eat so, food is another way I treat myself. Two ways I like to indulge is by trying new restaurants and or eating my favorite junk food. Tying new restaurants is one of my favorite things to do. I love finding new and exciting places in my town to eat it. Me and junk food have a love hate relationship and we go back and forth a lot. Even though I try to not let myself eat a bunch of junk food I do like to give myself a treat when needed. Sometimes a girl just needs a big bowl of ice cream after a hard day. Am I right or am I right? 

9. Drink coffee

I used to hate coffee and now I can’t get enough of it. My morning coffee is the most relaxing part of the my day and one thing I really look forward to. I am usually not a person that will go to Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts for coffee because I can’t get over how expensive it is. However, I will use it as a treat to myself occasionally and it is really nice when I get it. 

10. Exercise (meditation, take a walk, etc,) 

Exercise and me have never been friends but it is something I have come to really enjoy. At home workouts, meditation, and walks are things I have been doing recently. Youtube is a great place to go to for home workout videos and doing them has really helped with my stress levels and has helped me reduce some of my anxiety. I am new to the meditation game but am really liking it. Meditation helps clear my head and helps me refocus. There are loads of workout and meditation apps out there. I recommend downloading some and giving them try. You can always delete them later if you do not like them. HAHA. 

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Let’s Wrap It Up

Taking care of yourself is an essential part of life. Take time out of your day everyday to do some form of self-care. I promise you that it will help your mood, your stress levels, and change your outlook on life. What are your go to self-care practices? 

Thanks for reading as always. Please feel free to like and comment. 

Kels 

The Girl with the Red Balloon (book review)

I teach 6th-grade social studies so needless to say historical fiction is my jam. I came across The Girl with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke sometime last year while browsing the ebooks my local library offered. I added to my TBR list and went about my way. During this time of quarantine, I have found myself having more time on my hands and finally decided to borrow it from the library and read it.

DISCLAIMER: THIS BOOK REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. 

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Synopsis

This synopsis is from Good Reads 

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My rating/beginning thoughts

I am giving this book an overall rating of 3.8/5.

When I first read the synopsis I was not totally sold on the idea of magic and historical fiction mixing but decided to read it anyways. I am really glad I did. This book is a heart-wrenching story about time travel, romance, family, and what one girl would do to help preserve history.

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What I liked (could contain spoilers)

1. 3 points of view

This book is narrated from 3 different points of view. At the beginning of each chapter, it tells you which point of view is being expressed. Ellie, Kai, and Benno are the characters who tell us the story. It was easy to tell which character was speaking and they all complimented the story nicely and in a way that helped develop the storyline and helped me understand things better.

The three points of view:

Ellie: a time-traveling Jewish girl from the states who went to Berlin with her German class and ends up going back in time to East Berlin when she grabbed the string of a red balloon.

Kai: a Romani boy who fled his community in London to help save his litter sister. He finds himself in East Berlin working for the balloon maker and helping people escape to West Berlin and find freedom.

Benno: a Holocaust survivor and Ellie’s grandfather who tells about his time in a Jewish Ghetto, his family, and how he got himself out of an extermination camp alive.

2. The history

It’s no secret that a historical fiction book would have some history in it right? I think Locke did a great job of adding in historical pieces where necessary and they helped me better understand the story. Some key historical things mention were the Lodz Ghetto, East Berlin, the Berlin Wall, and the Chelmno Extermination Camp.

Locke did a great job describing what life was like in East Berlin and how awful it was. She described the fear the characters felt in such a way that made my heart hurt for them and anyone that lived there during the time Germany was split.

When we hear from Benno’s POV he is mostly in the Lodz Ghetto with his family. His narrative made me so incredibly sad every time we heard from him. Locke explained the conditions in the ghetto in such detail that it made it really hard to comprehend that this actually happened to people. Benno eventually ends up at the Chelmno Extermination Camp and I almost had to skip this chapter because it was so hard to read. This short chapter adds so much to the story and really paints us with a good picture of how Bennos fits into the magic side of the story.

3. Friendship and family (main theme)

I personally think friendship and family are the main themes in this book. Locke did such a good job showing these relationships in the book and I think all of the relationships developed well throughout the story.

Ellie, Kai, and Mitzi (friendship): Kai and Mitzi are both runners (they help people get the magic balloons needed to escape to West Berlin). They take in Ellie when they realize she is a time traveler and tell her they can help get back to her own time. So, these three spend a lot of time together in a safe house. During all that time they really form a fantastic bond and a real friendship even though they are from different times.

Ellie and Benno (family): At the beginning of the book (before Ellie time travels) Ellie explains that her Grandfather did not like the fact she was going to Berlin and she really felt bad about it. So, when she saw the red balloon (her grandfather told her stories about red balloons helping people) she knew she needed to take a picture with it for him. As the story goes on you realize all her grandfather went through and lost during the Holocaust and you start to understand why he didn’t want her going back there. Towards the end of the book, you realize that Ellie came into contact with the person who saved her grandfather from the extermination camp. I think Ellie needed to go back in time to figure these things out for her to have a better relationship with her grandfather when she gets back to her own time.

Kai and Sabina (family): These two are siblings and like any older brother Kai wants to protect his little sister. Sabina has magic in her blood and he brought her to Berlin so she wouldn’t be put in an institution or have people use her magic for evil. Throughout the book, Sabina does not play a huge part but in the end, Kai realizes she not a little girl anymore and she can do some pretty awesome things.

4. The use of hard topics 

This book deals a lot with topics that are not easy to discuss let alone write about. Locke did a great job of incorporating those hard topics into the storyline in a way that did not romanticize them or make them feel less then what they are. Some of the topics include genocide, the Holocaust, racism, death, abuse, ect. They were written in a way that made me express sympathy while reading.

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What I didn’t like (could contain spoilers)

1. The romance 

I normally love it when romance is in YA novels but this one did not sit well with me. Ellie traveled to 1989 from present-day and when she gets there she is 16 (same age she was when she left her time). Throughout the whole story, Ellie and Kai (balloon runner) fall for each other and begin a romantic relationship. I found that part to be incredibly weird, unnecessary, and honestly, it made me uncomfortable. In 1989 Ellie hadn’t even been born yet and Kai was I believe 18. So, it just seemed weird to me that Locke would have them start a romantic relationship I couldn’t stop thinking about the difference in age.

2. The abrupt ending

One of the main questions Ellie has towards the end of the book is if she will remember the things that happened to her while she was in 1989. So, I started to wonder that too. They finally find a way to send her back and she grabs the balloon to travel back to her time and the book just ends. It literally ends with her grabbing the balloon. Uh hello, I want and NEED to know more. Does she remember? What does her grandfather/family say when she comes home? Does she seek out Kai in her time? Like there are so many unanswered questions.

I thought the ending added in the perfect opportunity for Locke to write a sequel. When I noticed that there was a second book in the Balloonmakers series I got very excited. Sadly I was let down. I checked out the book and found that it takes place in the 1940s and was about two magical siblings and how their magic plays a part in helping America during WW2. I am sure it ties into book 1 at some point but I abandoned this book at 12% and did not finish it. I couldn’t get into it and life is too short to read a book you’re not into.

3. The underdeveloped secret society 

Throughout the whole book, we hear about this secret society of magical people that write equations in blood on balloons to save people. That sounds very interesting, right? Well, sadly this whole part of the book is underdeveloped and we do not learn much more about them. I think Locke missed an opportunity there and I think she could have added a lot more to the storyline if she expanded on them a bit more.

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Let’s wrap it up

All in all, I really liked this book and devoured it very quickly. At first, I was not sold on the idea of magic and historical fiction mixing but I really think Locke did a fantastic job writing this book. The storyline was captivating and the history in it made me remember how much I like learning about World War 2 and the Holocaust.

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Thanks for reading as always. Stay tuned for more book-related posts. Please feel free to like and comment.

Kels

How to stay productive while working at home

When spring break 2020 began I had no idea what was to come. In the middle of my much-needed break, the governor of KS made an executive order to end all in-person classes for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. My teaching life was about to change drastically. I now found myself working/teaching from home. Once I finally came to terms with this new temporary normal I asked myself “How does one productively work from home?”

I have now been working from home for a while and have found a system that works for me. I figured I would share my tips with you in hopes of helping someone else.

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1. Make yourself a routine/schedule

The first thing I did when I realized I would be working from home was to print me a new monthly and weekly calendar. This has helped me keep track of meetings, due dates, etc. I highly recommend doing this or using your calendar app. I have found that my dates and times tend to run together when I am not leaving my home regularly (I was late to close on my home because of this). HAHA.

The second thing I did was determine a schedule for myself. I am a teacher so, I live for a good schedule. I made a schedule that worked for every day of the week but also allowed me some flexibility if I needed to change something. Even though I am okay with having to change my schedule on an as needed basis I try to keep it as consistent as possible. Consistency is what helps me stay on track with my work (I really like routines).

Here is a look at what my daily schedule looks like.

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2. Change out of PJs/have a morning routine

When I first realized I would be working from home I got excited thinking I would stay in my PJs all day and get to sleep in till my start time (8 AM). I soon realized after a few days that doing that was not going to work for me.

I decided to ditch the PJs and started to set my alarm for an earlier time. Now, I wake up at 7 AM (at the latest) and spend about an hour milling around the house before sitting down at my desk to begin working. During this time I change out of my PJs, get ready for the day (brush teeth, wash face, etc.), make coffee, and read or meditate for 15 minutes. Having downtime in the morning before work is key for me. It allows me time to mentally prepare for the day. This helps set me up for a successful work day.

Once I started doing this I noticed that I was much more productive during my personal work time in the morning. Doing this allowed me to really feel ready for the day and like I was actually going to work.

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3. Make a to-do list

The first thing I do when I sit down at my desk in the morning is to make myself a to-do list. This gives me a chance to prioritize what needs to get done that day and a place to write everything down. I am the type of person that needs a hard copy of everything so digital to-do lists or calendars generally do not work for me. I love the feeling of marking things off a to-do list and feeling like I am making progress with my daily tasks.

If you are a paper-pencil person like me I recommend getting yourself some good stationery.  Never underestimate the power of good pens and a cute notepad (and as a teacher I can never have too many pens or notepads). My favorite pens are the Papermate Ink Joy Gel Pens and I get all of my cute notebooks/notepads from Dollar Tree.

If you are a digital person, here is a blog from Lindsay Kolowich about 10 to-do list apps. 

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4. Schedule yourself breaks and a lunchtime

While working at home it can be very easy to eat your lunch while working or work without taking a proper break. I found that if I step away from my desk and eat lunch in my kitchen I am more productive in the afternoon.

During my workday, I try to give myself two 15 minute breaks and an hour for lunch. Adding in this downtime has really boosted my productivity and I am getting more accomplished during the day.

Tip from my mom (she worked from home regularly even before the quarantine): Use a timer to help you remember to take a break. She set’s a timer for 1 hour and is really focused and working during that time and when the time is up she takes a 5-10 minute break. She will get a snack, fold laundry, take the trash out, ect. Something to get her up and moving. Doing this helps her make sure she takes a needed break from work related things.

To put it simply: Be kind to yourself. (Give. Yourself. A. Break.)

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5. Have a specific end time

When the school year first started I was staying after school until about 4:30-5:00 PM working and planning lessons. I would go home totally exhausted and would get nothing accomplished at home that I need to. Slowly into the year I decided to start making myself leave at 3:20 PM every day, so I could have more time at home. So, during the school day I started to do things differently to make sure I left at the time that I wanted. The same thing applies when working from home. It can be very easy to work late.

Key tip to end on time: Prioritize your daily tasks. 

I decided that I would end my day at 3:00 PM. I walk away from my desk, my work computer, school calendar etc. I will still answer emails on my phone until 7:00 PM but I do no other school related work. Doing this has really helped me be more productive around the house. I am getting more cleaning done, reading more, watching more Netflix, and generally doing more things I enjoy in my free time.

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Let’s wrap it up.

Working from home was a big change for me and it took me a while to get used to it (I do not like change). This is a system that works for me and I have been using this since week 2 of working from home (week 1 was a hot mess). I don’t think I could ever work from home full time but for now, I am liking it and I am liking the system I made for myself.

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Thanks for reading as always. Please feel free to like and comment.

Kels

 

Again, but Better (book review)

Again, but Better is a contemporary novel written by Christine Riccio. Christine is a YouTuber who apparently is very well know. I have never dived into the BookTube community and I went into reading this book never having heard of this author. So, with that being said I had nothing to compare to.

DISCLAIMER: THIS REIVEW COULD CONTAIN SPOILERS. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

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Research Phase

After reading the book I knew I wanted to write a review on it because I liked it so much. So, I decided to do a little research and read some other reviews on blogs and on the website Good Reads. I could tell right off the bat that there was A LOT of really bad reviews of this book (I’m glad I read the book before reading reviews). I did not let these negative reviews change my rating or review of the book. I already knew my thoughts on the book but, wanted to see what other people had to say. And let me tell you, people are mean, incredibly harsh, and very critical. I really do think all of the critical reviews are because Christine Riccio is one of the most popular BookTubers on the internet.

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Synopsis

This synopsis is from Good Reads

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 My Rating/beginning thoughts

I am giving this book an overall rating of 4.5/5. I’m not kidding when I say that I LOVED this book.

I was walking around my local Walmart and when I happen to find myself in the book section yet again. I saw Again, but Better and was instantly drawn to it because of the cover (it’s stunning). So, I grabbed it off the shelf and began to read the synopsis. After reading the blurb, I instantly knew I had to get this book and it landed in my cart. The story line of this book is something I am very much interested in. I love contemporary YA novels and this one fit that category perfectly.

Relating to a fictional character is something I never really thought about before this book. There were so many parallels between me and Shane (the main character) that I started to wonder if this character was me. I will say that the main thing that drew me to this book was the fact that I related to the main character so much. I knew this was a book I could not pass up and I am glad I choose to buy it that day.

Some ways Shane and I relate: 

1. I did a study abroad in London in 2018.
2. I love travel and adventure.
3. Reading and writing are two of my favorite hobbies.

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What I liked (could contain spoilers)

I pretty much enjoyed everything in the book but there are a few key things that suck out to me.

Characters: I think Christine Riccio did a fantastic job of using a variety of characters through out the book. Shane and her flatmates (Pilot, Atticus, Babe, and Sahra) are all relatable characters and each contributed to the story in their own unique way. Riccio did a nice job of adding supporting characters to help add to the story. She gave us enough details to know about them but not too much to over power the story line.

Setting:  I really loved that there was so many different settings in this story. Through out the book Shane and her flatmates travel to different countries/cities in Europe. Being in London they are close to a lot of things and they really took advantage of that. The group travels to Paris, Rome, and a few other places in the book and I really enjoyed following them on their adventures.

Even thought I really liked the characters and settings, there were times where I thought they lacked the needed details. While reading the book there were parts that almost felt flat or dull and left me wanting/needing to know more. So, I think Riccio could have added a bit more to both aspects

Writing style: Lastly, I LOVED Riccio’s writing style in this book. It was very easy to follow and easy to read.

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What I didn’t like (could contain spoilers)

Even though I liked most of the book there some things I did not care for.

Crazy parents: First off, Shane has some crazy controlling parents. I found that it was hard for me to read the parts with her parents because of how verbally abusive they were towards her. The abuse seemed to be somewhat normalized and I think it kind of hurt the plot of the story. Her parents also controlled her to the point of them picking her major in college (I can’t fathom having someone control me like that). Her parents were only in a small portion on the book but their behavior overpowered a lot of other aspects in the book. So, her parents did not sit well with me (I actually think I started to hate them as the story went on).

The come back: Secondly, I HATED the way Shane came back into Pilot’s life in 2017. Pilot is the love interest of Shane while they are in London. Pilot had a girlfriend during their study abroad so nothing came of the relationship and eventually the two had a falling out (Shane never shared her feelings). In 2017 Shane decided she wanted to see Pilot again even though she HAS NOT SPOKEN TO AND OR SEEN HIM IN 6 YEARS. So, what does she do? She just randomly shows up to his work place and basically begs him to go to coffee with her and eventually he gives in and goes (even though they both have a significant other). Like what? While reading that whole part my brain just kept screaming “STALKER.” The whole scene just felt like it was not very realistic and honestly just rubbed me the wrong way.

The magic:  In the synopsis it mentions a “touch of magic” at the very end. At first I was intrigued by that but was sadly let down. I was expecting something a bit bigger and Riccio seemed to just gloss right over it like it was nothing. Part two of the book starts off in 2017 and then after three chapters, Shane and Pilot were magically back in 2011 and getting a do over?  It just didn’t flow as well as I had hoped and left me confused for a bit.

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Let’s wrap it up

All in all I loved this book and cried at the end (yes, I’m that girl). I am a sucker for a good love story and thought this book ended very well. I highly recommend this book to people that like YA, New adult, and or contemporary novels.

Thanks for reading as always. Please feel free to like and comment.

Kels

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Link to buy:

1. Amazon 

Christine Riccio links: 

1. Website 
2. Youtube