Some of the Best Things in Life are Mistakes: September 2014

Title: My Princesses Learn to be Brave

Author: Stephanie Rische

Illustrator: Heather Hayworth

Genre: Children's/ Christian Values

I was thrilled when I opened the mail and saw my latest book to review! It was two brightly colored children's books from the My Princess series. Each book in this series by Stephanie Rische starts with this message in rhyme the inside cover:

What makes a princess? I’d sure like to know. Could I be a princess? I wish it were so!

It’s there in the Bible, so I know that it’s true. We are God’s children — You and me, too!

Since God is our Father, the King up above, We are all princesses, The ones that he loves!

The series is about two girls: Grace and Hope who pretend to be princesses. In each story they run into a problem. In Learn to be Brave the girls run into a bully. The girls remember the story of Esther from their Bible lessons and use that knowledge to help them solve their problem.

I would recommend this book to any mother of young daughters. The pictures of the characters in these books are inviting to young girls. Moms will love the values that are reinforced by the Hope and Grace. It is a great example to your children of how they can use their knowledge of Bible stories to help them in their daily lives.

I also received a copy of My Princesses Learn to Share by Amie Carlson. I also give that book the same fantastic review. The book has the same characters, Hope and Grace. The girls find themselves in another bind but again use their Bible knowledge to solve their problem!

I highly recommend both books for your little girls!

The first week back to school was a success! As always, the first week was long and tiring but it was very exciting. I love my new class!

My van all loaded up and ready to head to school to set up

I moved from middle school to fifth grade this year so that meant moving to a new classroom. If you are a teacher, you know how much effort goes into setting up a new room for a new grade level. Here are some pictures of my room when I arrived two weeks ago

Here is what it looks like after I added my touch to it...

The hallway outside my classroom

I teach at a Christian school where all of the Elementary classrooms have the same theme. This year's theme is F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely On God) so there are plenty of frogs around the room.

I wrote each of the student's names on the frogs

View from the hallway (Rug $19.99 from Ikea)

I have 18 students in my class so I felt placing the desks into 4 groups made the best use of the small space (Curtains from Ikea $14.99 a pair)

Table signs hanging over each group of desks- signs can be found at Teachers Pay Teachers

Continuing the Frog theme with my Birthday chart

This Fun Frog printable was FREE on Teachers Pay Teachers

I purchased these Frog themed Classroom Rules posters from Teachers Pay Teachers

One of my middle school students last year drew this scientist for me.

The empty bulletin board will be filled with speech bubbles and pictures of the kids. The kids will write their goals of the speech bubbles.

My cursive alphabet has a science theme. This is an easy way to incorporate more science into your elementary classroom. I purchased them on Teachers Pay Teachers.

I love working at a Christian school! I can openly share my faith! You can print the poster on the right for FREE on Teachers Pay Teachers and the poster on the left for FREE on Teachers Pay Teachers.

I love having a podium. The bar stool is from IKEA.

FREE printable from Teachers Pay Teachers hanging on the front of my podium.

One of my pet peeves is when people don't use these correctly. So I have these posters hanging on the walls. I printed them for FREE from Teachers Pay Teachers.

I purchased these Sterlite file boxes from Walmart and decorated them with an editable file from Teachers Pay Teachers.

Every time the students check the time they see this sign.

I will be super busy the next few weeks with my class and with my additional coaching duties but I plan to post about some more of the fun ideas that you can see in my classroom!