Calling All Teachers & Parents: Summer Reading & Writing Resources! [Part One!]

I'm really excited to launch the month of June with my students tomorrow. We're wrapping up our last big unit of the year and then we'll be ready to start our "end of year reflections." They'll dig out their writing portfolios and reflect on every piece of writing that they did this year. After that important work, we'll  launch our discussions around summer reading and writing. I absolutely love sending my students off with my summer reading and writing kits. I devote at least a weeks worth of time to this valuable work and I find ways to make it fun and exciting versus the dreadfulness that some kids assume summer reading and writing can be.

The teacher inside of me wants to use this space to preach how important it is to have your kids reading and writing as much as possible over the summer. The extra practice is invaluable. Notice how I also added in "and writing" - don't forget about the writing practice, too! The simplest little projects can go so far!

I'll be sharing some of my ideas for the summer reading and writing kits here soon. In the meantime, here are a few resources that I wanted to share:

1. Pottery Barn Kids Summer Reading Challenge- I'm sure you know that your local libraries and bookstores have awesome summer reading challenge programs. There are also so many great ones online, like the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge. I stumbled upon Pottery Barn as I was looking up something completely unrelated to this topic. I found it fascinating that they offered a summer reading challenge! They offer great book lists, progress trackers, and links to many activities to do at home. Click here to read more!

I LOVE these tips from Pottery Barn Kids! 

2. PBS Video: Use crafts to strengthen your child's reading muscles. This was a recommended link on the Pottery Barn Kids page. The short video showcases a few crafts to strengthen writing skills, alongside summer reading. The ideas are super adorable. Creating a reading tree, where each tree leaf  marks the each book you read. Creating a flower or train story wheel based on fun story prompts. Make sure you click here to check it out!


3. End of Year Mason Jar Gift: This obviously isn't related to summer reading and writing, but it is a cute end of year gift that your kids can help make for their teacher. I saw it featured on one of the link parties we participate in and I couldn't help but share it here, too! Mason jars painted like pencils... how adorable! And so easy! Click here for more information!

Tonight we're linking up with The Creative Collection link party! Click on over for many more amazing ideas! 

25 Things I Love About You!

I received an email from Pinterest the other day and was intrigued. Then, I landed on this page tonight and became even more intrigued. Create a board with your favorite mom memories. Who wouldn't want to do that!? I'd really like to participate, but I think I'd cry through every pin/post/memory. I've written about my mom on this blog quite a few times and I love doing so. This challenge just might be calling my name. 

Will you be taking on this Pinterest challenge for Mother's Day? Think about your favorite mom memories and pin them... her famous recipes, best quotes, magic home remedies... things that make mom mom. Submit your board by Wednesday, May 7th and if your board gets picked by Pinterest, you'll receive a gift card from Teleflora so you can treat mom to a bouquet! 

Of course, I'll keep you updated and let you know if I decide to take on the challenge! 

We are linking up with Creative Geekery tonight, as we take part in the Pin It Party! Head on over to find more great stuff! 

30 Before Thirty Challenge: A List!

Last week I blogged about my 30 Before Thirty Challenge. I'm excited about this challenge and will plan to dedicate a monthly post about my progress to keep you updated. The goals on my list aren't necessarily life goals or bucket list items...those goals would include babies, buying a house, and lots of traveling. These are more mid-range goals that are achievable in this 8 month time frame. They're things that I always want to get around to doing, but never do. I also want to work towards these goals, but still live in the now. 

My goals focus on honing skills, cultivating memories, experiencing culture, growing our blog, making a home, and becoming a grown up... 

Today I'm starting the April Photo a Day Challenge. Consider taking on the challenge with me, or follow 730 Moments on Instagram. #FMSphotoaday has over 3 million tags!

Welcome April! Photo a Day Challenge!

I love April for 3 reasons...

1. Spring is {hopefully} in full effect: warm weather is much more consistent than March and we begin to see green grass, leaves on trees, and flowers sprouting!
2. Spring Break: inhale...exhale...time to take a breather!
3. April signals my three month countdown to summer break. Woot woot!

My love for photos, combined with the excitement of beginning the month of April, has urged me to take a on a new challenge: April Photo a Day!

I found this challenge through the Fat Mum Slim blog, an Australian blogger, who loves photos just as much as I do and creates a different photo challenge list each month. So fun!!

Here's how Chantelle outlines the challenge:

Playing photo-a-day couldn't be easier. It really couldn't. Here’s how to play:
♥ Grab your camera or phone or photo-taking-device.
♥ Look at the monthly list to find the prompt for the day. {The number corresponds to the date of the month}.
♥ Take a photo using the prompt as inspiration. So for March the prompt for day 1 is ‘yellow’. So take a photo of something yellow. Colour prompts are my favourite, it’s fun to see all the photos in the hashtag turn yellow.
♥ Now you’ve taken a picture, it’s time to share it. This is the fun part. You can share to whichever social media platform you like, for me I like Facebook and Instagram best, oh and Twitter too. Make sure you add the hashtag #FMSphotoaday to your caption so people can find you, and others know what you’re doing.

Here are suggested prompts to help with each day:

1. SOMETHING PURPLE: Find something purple in colour and photograph it.
2. IN MY HAND: Put something in your hand, or take a photo of something you carried.
3. SHAPES: Triangles, circles, squares, hexagons… find shapes!
4. GOOD TOGETHER: What goes good together? You and him? Peanut butter and toast? Show us!
5. NOT MINE: Take a photo of anything that isn’t yours {but perhaps you want it to be}.
6. A TASTE OF SPRING/AUTUMN Whatever the season where you are, share it in a photo.
7. WHERE I’D RATHER BE: Where do you wish you were? Back in bed? At home? On holiday? Get creative!
8. HOBBY: What’s your hobby?
9. DARK: It could dark in colour or dark in nature {spooky eh?}.
10. MY FAVE PART OF THE DAY: What’s your favourite part of the day? Share it.
11. 3 OF A KIND: Can you find 3 things that match, belong together or have something in common?
12. ON MY LEFT: Look to your left, what’s there? Take a photo.
13. MORE PLEASE!: What do you want more of in life? Chocolate? Sunshine? Coffee? Love?
14. DIRTY: Take a photo of something dirty.
15. I’M READING THIS: What are you reading right now?
16. MY VICE: What are you addicted to or just don’t want to give up?
17. SOMETHING I LEARNED: What’s something you’ve learned in life?
18. GOOD: It’s Good Friday, show me something good.
19. MONEY: Money. It is what it is. Share it {I mean a photo of it, not actually your money}.
20. EGG: Happy Easter. Share a photo if an egg, If it’s not your religion, any egg will do.
21. CLOSE: It could be close {as in near} or close {as in shut}.
22. FOUR THINGS: Pick four things, any four, and take a photo.
23. ENTRANCE: A door, a gate, a walkway… share a photo of an entrance.
24. A POP OF COLOUR: Find a pop of colour as you go about your day; a flower, a sign, a toy… anything.
25. REMEMBER: In Australia it’s ANZAC Day, a time to remember. Australian or not, share a photo of a memory or how you reflect.
26. ENJOY THE LITTLE THINGS: It’s about the little things. Share a photo of something small that makes you joyful.
27: UNDER MY FEET: Where did you go today? What did you stand on?
28. CHAOTIC: Show me chaotic {busy/hectic/disorganised}.
29. CONTRAST: This is our photography prompt for the month, I’ll write a post on it soon.
30. SOMETHING SILLY: Show us something silly.

I plan on completing the challenge through my personal Instagram account and through 730 Moments Instagram account, too! Take on the challenge with me! Slow down and enjoy the small things...

Don't forget to hashtag #fmsphotoaday so that we can all see what you're capturing!

Amanda and I are taking part in the "Be.YOU.tiful Lifestyle Link Party" this week. Click over to Fry Sauce and Grits to read more!

30 Before Thirty Challenge!

Ok, I'm doing it. I've been considering this post for a while and I'm finally committing... a list of 30 things to do before turning 30! I have 8 months to complete the list before I turn 30 in November. 

I’ve thought about this list a lot and I wanted to make sure it encompassed things that would be fun and also challenging. The list will include tasks that involve learning, adventure, travel, being active, and "just for fun stuff."

I'm starting with three things tonight... 

1. Chop my hair off. It's been very long for the past few years!
2. Plant my own garden. Grow something!
3. Send a few handwritten letters to loved ones each month. 

...More to come this weekend! 

Happy Fat Tuesday: What are YOU giving up?

Happy Fat Tuesday! The night before Ash Wednesday.  This year, I'm asking you to think about your life, and try to give up ONE thing for Lent?  Some years, I go all out, and others I forget to give up anything.  This year, I'm actually giving up two things.  Two things I love more than most other things (not people...just things...):  CARBS and SHOPPING.

I think the second will be a whole lot HARDER than the first.  I'm determined to spend the next 40 days doing other things than stopping in the store for new clothes (which I sure do not need).  TJ Maxx is my guilty pleasure.  Instead, I'm going to save my money and live off the pretty things that are already hanging in my closet.   

You know I've begun the T25 Workout, as well as the 31 Day Squat Challenge.  This is the next challenge I give myself.  I want to lose weight, and the only way it is going to work is if I cut out all the stuff that's bad for me.  I know I can do it.  I apologize to all starting from now: I'm going to be cranky at times.  I really, really don't mean it.  

What are you giving up?  Make the commitment in the comments section below.  I'll be sure to update you on how things are going throughout the month.  Who's with me?