Have you been thinking about starting your own business? Maybe making some extra money on your lesson plans or becoming a consultant or independent coach?

It's totally do-able!

Here's a guide to get you started. All of the resources I have used to help create my business are here in one place. WARNING: There's a lot of information here.

It can be overwhelming weeding through all of the junk people offer you as help once they find out you are thinking of starting a business. What is good, and what isn't? Should you buy courses or just figure it out yourself?

I remember not knowing what I didn't know. Not knowing where to begin was the worst part. Do I start a blog, build a website, or??? Who do I connect with? How? Why? When? Who is my customer? What do I want to provide for my customers? What am I passionate about? HELP!!!

I'm here to help you. So, here you go.

I have assembled all of the resources that I have used at one time or another that were helpful to me. I am not an expert...

Cookin' Up a Fabulous Summer

My husband is busy cooking' up dinner on the grill. The water in the pool is sparkling and warm. We've got a nice fire going and twinkle lights in the yard. The kids are picking out a movie for dive in movie night. My summer has begun! That's why I'm sitting here making a plan and setting goals for back-to-school prep and planning.

Planning for Back-to-School?!

What?! Goals for back-to-school? I just got done with this year! What are you talking about? I'm going to soak up some rays and chill. I got it covered. No plan needed. Right?

You Deserve a Break

Well... yes and no. I'm all for a break - 100%. But at some point, prep for back-to-school has to begin. Start your summer with a plan, so you can relax first and be super productive later.

You'll be the together teacher come fall if you do a plan now for what needs to get done at the end of your summer. Plus, you'll be able to relax, put school out of your mind for most of the summer knowing you've...

Summer reading is often an assignment, and for many students, it's the only reading they'll do all summer.

In my house, it's a different story. My kids will put off their required summer reading as long as possible because it comes with an assignment and often the books are not to their taste. However, reading for pleasure is a different animal altogether.

My kids and I have long lists of books we want to read someday and someday happens a lot over the summer. I'll spend a lot of evenings scolding them for staying up too late, begging them to put the book away and go to sleep and threatening to take their books and hide them so they'll rest. It's fun to read "just because".

Just because what?

Well, because the books are of their choosing. And, because there are no assignments attached. And lastly, because we will trade them around and share favorite parts out loud, talk about them on road trips and just enjoy reading for the sake of reading. That's the best part.

How did I get kids...

My Secret Love for Paper

I have to admit in our world of "going paperless", I love paper. The textures, colors, ink and all of the possibilities make me want to create something beautiful for someone I care about. I can't live without it, and I know I am not alone.

With all of our push to go paperless, paper and related products sure are popular. Colored paper, patterned paper, washi tape, fancy markers and colored pencils, wall paper, heirloom paper ... We even have stores just for paper products. The Paper Source.The Paper Seahorse. The Papery. Paper Emporium. The list goes on.

Why? Is it just me or are we rebelling against the "tech revolution" just a little? Perhaps.

Actually, I have a theory about it.

You're surprised. I know. Stay with me here. All of our techie devices are great. I wouldn't get rid of my computer or iPhone any more than I would get rid of my washing machine. They have become that essential to me.

However, we are sensory beings.

My devices only deal with...

Looking for some summer fun to send home with your students or to use with your own kids? Here's a fun activity for families.

Rate Your Parks

One summer when my kids were all still young, we got the neighbors together and made a plan. Twice a week, we committed to a park day. We mapped out all the parks in a 15 mile area and assigned each a day and time on the calendar.

Then, I created a park rating sheet. Each child got a copy. As we visited parks, each child went home and rated them on various criteria.

At the end of the summer, we had everyone rank all the parks. I gathered the results. The park that won overall got a last visit from us all to celebrate with a picnic! Yippee!

Get your FREE Rating Sheet here!

If you try it out with your own kids, post your results below.

Teach joyfully,

Lisa

Student Responsibility

When Fisher and Frey wrote about the gradual release of responsibility in 2008, I remember thinking, "It's about time someone talked about it." Every day, I encounter great teachers who intentionally do this. It's part of the craft of teaching.

Parenting and Teaching

As parents, our job is to teach our children to become independent. We teach and train our children to become happy, healthy, independent adults. We teach, model, assist and then support our children as they try, fail, adjust and try again.  This is why I am always surprised when the gradual release of responsibility is even a question in education. It works. Why would we do anything different in education?

"I won't do anything for you that you can do for yourselves."

A fellow educator tells his students, "I won't do anything for you that you can do for yourselves." That includes trying something new. As a parent, I know my children will only do what is expected of them. If I pick up after...

The Secret to Making Summer Reading Fun

A Few Tips for Summer Homework

1. Summer homework should not be so cumbersome that kids feel like they never got a break from school. They will just come back resentful. Family vacations and togetherness come first.

2. The point of summer reading should be to get kids to read, but more importantly, to help them love to read. (If reading becomes a punishment or a chore, we have just shot ourselves in the foot.)

3. Be creative. Summer reading should mesh with your curriculum for the beginning of the year, not be an extra that is out of place. (I know I am successful if kids are excited, plotting and planning for the beginning of the year.)

Here's how to make summer reading meaningful and fun.

Entering Kindergarten

Summer reading for incoming kindergarteners is a family affair. Parents need to participate by reading to their child. Start with the Very Hungry Caterpillar and as many other Eric Carle books as they can get their hands on over...

The Brain Dump

 Time: About 3 Minutes

When you get stressed out by how much there is to do, do a brain dump. Get a pad of paper. Start writing down everything you need to do or are trying to remember to do as fast as you can. All of it. Get it all out of your brain and on paper.

Schedule It

Time: About 10 Minutes

Now, take all of that stuff on your pad of paper and schedule a time to do it. If you have small tasks that can be grouped together, do it. Put it all of your calendar.

Note: Anything that is urgent, set aside and do it as soon as you are done with this step or put it on your schedule for later that day.

The 10 Minute Tidy

Time: 10 Minutes (You can do a 2 Minute Tidy if you are tight on time.)

Every day, do a 10 Minute Tidy or a 2 Minute Tidy. I like doing this at the end of the day. But, it can be done whenever you're feeling overwhelmed and things have gotten cluttered or disorganized. Your class can do this with you at the end of the day if you wish. I do this same...

Welcome to Week 4!

Creating a Classroom Culture: Wrapping It Up

Micro-management will kill any culture faster than you can blink.

This is it! You've planned, trained your students and now it's time to trust them. No micro-managing allowed.  Once you have done your job and trained you students, they should be ready to take it on. Will there be problems? Yes! Expect it. Accept it. Be prepared to re-train or use your phrase and curiosity, as needed. If you expect there to be problems, then the problems won't upset you. You'll be able to be calm and work your plan.

As you train your class, gradually release responsibility to them in each area. Before you know it, your class will be self-monitoring and running smoothly. The only way to do this is to dive in. Stay on top of your game and stay involved.

Build trust every day by being trustworthy. Staying involved tells students you care and are invested in them personally. Monitor learning constantly. Be available, ask questions,...

Welcome to Week 3!

Creating a Strong Classroom Culture

What is our identity?

Here's where we get down to brass tacks. Words have meaning and power. We have to use them intentionally as we work to create a class culture. Decide on what the identity you want your want your class to have. Who are you as a class? Or who do you want to be? Saying things like: "Caring about each other is important here."  "As learners, we are inquisitive and hard working." These statements make important assumptions.  We are committed to being learners, and we are all caring people here. These are powerful ideas. We want our students to be learners, to be helpful and to participate. So, how do we promote the ideas about the culture we want to create and get students on board?

The Power of Words

Your words have power. Use them carefully and intentionally. I suggest coming up with some key phrases for how you will speak to students when they are: struggling, annoying, mean, joyful, successful,...