Mustard Seed Reads

Desk Pets

Desk Pets

This post contains affiliate links. Desk pets are all the rage in elementary education right now, and I can totally understand why! My students LOVE their desk pets almost as much as this 90's kid loved her Tamagotchi! The best part about this whole concept is that the possibilities are endless, not only for classroom management, but also for utilizing them academically and socially. So How Does It Work? In my class, community and building relationships is a priority. We start out the school year brainstorming expectations together and creating a class contract. The first week of school, students adopt a desk pet and are given a dome for them to live in (I like to Velcro these to their desks). They name their pet, fill out a certificate, and make it official. I use this FREEBIE by Kinder and Kindness. Throughout the year, students can earn points on Class Dojo and then spend these in our class store each Friday. The first thing they must purchase for their desk pet is a HABITAT! Where will their pet ... Read more

He Hears Our Hearts

He Hears Our Hearts

It has been four years since I began this blog. Shortly after embarking on this new adventure, I met my husband in September 2019 (and this blog was pushed to the end of my to-do list). At the time, I felt as if I had truly given up on the idea of love ever happening for me, but as I lay in bed sick one Sunday afternoon, I decided to give swiping on Bumble one more try. I came across Jerrad, recognized him from high school (even though he's MUCH older than me… this dorky 7th Grader knew who that Senior on the state basketball team was) and swiped right. This little bee buzzed right into his beehive, and every prayer I've ever prayed has been answered since that moment. To give a quick rundown... We got engaged in February 2020, married in August 2020, pregnant in January 2021, and welcomed our sweet baby girl into this world on September 11, 2021. I can’t believe she’s about to be TWO! Talk about a WILD few years! In my last post, less than a month before meeting Jerrad, I included the scripture from ... Read more

In the Waiting

In the Waiting

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. - Psalm 37:7 I don't know about you, but I am not very good at waiting. Just last week, I was sitting in a doctor's office (for what seemed to be an unreasonably long time), and I began to feel a bit frustrated. We've all felt it at some point. Waiting forever in a line at the post office, at a red light, on food to come out at a restaurant... surely this isn't just me?! In life, we are ALWAYS waiting on something. A 5-year-old is excitedly waiting to start Kindergarten. A high school senior can't wait to graduate. A college graduate anxiously awaits their first job. Becoming a homeowner, falling in love, starting a family, a healing, retirement - it's never-ending. As an educator, I can attest to the fact that, if we're being honest, we are usually always on the countdown. I have been counting down the weeks until school starts again because I love my job and the promise of a new beginning. But...I also know there are 78 school days until Christmas break ... Read more

Bitmoji Library Rules

Bitmoji Library Rules

I know we may not want to think about it right now, but school starts back up next month, and I have the cutest, editable printable for you to get back in the swing of things! Bitmoji Library Rules! Just visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store to download your FREEBIE preview and the first three rules are yours to customize however you choose! You'll have the power to add/change rules, Bitmojis, colors, and more! If you love them and want to save some time creating more, you can purchase the full pack (16 rules plus a welcome slide, ready to customize and print) by visiting the link below. Adding Your Own Bitmoji There are a few different ways to do this: Printing To change the print size, go to File - Print Preview. I hang my posters near my circulation desk in a limited space, so I print mine as "Handout - 2 slides per page" in Portrait. But if you want your posters larger, just print as "1 slide without notes" in Landscape. Displaying Since these posters are in Google ... Read more

He Alone Is Able

He Alone Is Able

As I was spending time with God in His Word this week, the same idea kept popping off the page to me - "He alone."  Just like everyone else in this world, I struggle with different issues, and, by nature, I try to control them.  I worry.  A lot.   What are some things you worry about? No matter what it is, He tells us in Matthew 25:34, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own." And so, even though I've known it my entire life, it hit me - He alone is able.  The same God who performed miracles in the Bible is still our same God today. He can calm my fears, give me strength, and fill my heart with peace.  He alone will direct my path in the most perfect way.   Unfortunately, I won't be able sit on my throne and have all of my dreams handed to me on a silver platter.  He alone is ABLE to do that, but it doesn't mean He WILL.  God calls us to be active participants in following our ... Read more