Amy

Save Big at the TpT Extra Bonus Sale!

September 11, 2020 by Amy Leave a Comment

TpT wants to support teachers during these crazy times, and that’s why they’re throwing an extra Bonus Sale! It’s a one-day-only sale on Tuesday, September 15, and you can save up to 25% with the code EXTRABONUS. Every resource at my shop A Nest in the Rocks will be on sale because I want to help you find the resources you need.

Here are a few of my favorites:

The Three Little Pigs Mock Trial — Three Little Pigs Mock Trial

Over the summer I updated my Three Little Pig Mock Trial resources. Both have the same content that’s received rave reviews, but they feature cleaner lines, better clip-art, and more pages.

I know that many of you are teaching under crazy conditions right now, and I wanted to make sure that you still had access to this fun way to teach bias, the American justice system, and critical thinking. This product has been used by elementary teachers, law professors, and even scout leaders, so it’s already very versatile, but I wanted to find a way to make this still accessible to you even if you were working digitally. To make that happen, there’s a new digital-only format that allows students to learn about courtroom roles, bias, and then imagine what each person would say throughout the trial and type it into the slide show. This resource is Google compatible and can be used individually, discussed in bigger groups while you share your screen, or however you can imagine!

The print version has also been updated.

This bundle has been really popular lately. The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart features almost lyrical writing and lots of ethical questions. Your students will be engaged from the first page in this modern survival story that pits boy-against-disease, boy-against-mountain, and explores themes of friendship in a variety of ways.

This resource includes a variety of lessons to make your teaching load lighter. The discussion questions are open-ended to encourage student engagement and are reformatted for comprehension or assessment. Also included are creative writing prompts that take a variety of forms.

The unit study involves mapping, research, geography, poetry studies, and more. Links are included to make research easier and safer for students.

The book club activities include both teacher planning and student work pages. The teacher planning pages include ideas for guest speakers, field trips, costuming, recipes, and more. Student pages include art projects, printable labels, and party ideas.

Finally, the printable posters feature quotes from the book that are designed to make you think. These could be purely for decoration or could become discussion openers, story starters, or essay topics.

Squint is the fabulous story of a boy with an eye disability and a complicated home life who has big dreams and learns to see others and himself from new perspectives. In this day and age where bullying, tolerance, and acceptance are buzzwords, this is an important story, and Squint opens the door for discussing these issues in fun ways.

Like with The Honest Truth bundle above, you’ll find discussion questions, creative writing prompts, and book projects in this bundle; but this Creative ELA Bundle also includes hexagonal thinking activities. This resource includes printable hexagons with seven different analysis pages. Some are intended for use before reading and the rest for during and after; all can be used individually, cooperatively, or for assessment.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library Printable Escape Room — Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Printable Escape Room

Looking for something different? This printable escape room for Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library challenges students to solve the same kinds of puzzles that Kyle Keeley and his friends do in the book, all while giving you the opportunity to assess their comprehension and critical-thinking skills. A digital version of this resource has been created for you using TpT’s Digital Creation tool, which is compatible with Google Apps.

Pin this video to share the deals with your friends!

There you go – the most popular resources this week from A Nest in the Rocks! I hope that, whatever you choose to purchase from TpT’s Extra Bonus Sale, you find something that will bless you, help you, and make your teaching life a little easier. Don’t forget – use the code EXTRABONUS to save up to 25% on Tuesday!

Happy shopping!

Enter to win a $10 TpT gift card here – just in time for sale shopping!

What are you currently needing as a teacher or homeschooling parent? Let me know in the comments – maybe I can help make it happen!

Encouraging Hearts & Home Blog Hop – September 9, 2020

September 9, 2020 by Amy 1 Comment

And Now, for This Week’s Encouraging Hearts & Home Blog Hop!

Join your Encouraging Hearts & Home Co-Hosts each week for encouragement and support for your heart & your home. We hope to provide a space that builds each other up and lends a helping hand along the way. With all the negativity in the world, let’s shine a positive light!

The post with the most views from last week:

Use the form below to share your family-friendly posts this week, and please consider these nice things you can do:

Follow and/or subscribe to your host’s blog.
Visit a few other bloggers and show them your support. We all love getting comments, and who knows what inspiration you may find? Be sure to share the love–that’s what a blog hop is all about!
Check out our Encouraging Hearts & Home Pinterest board where each host pins her 10 favorite posts each week.
Join us every Thursday!
If you are interested in co-hosting, contact Linda at Apron Strings & Other Things!

NEW! Anaiah Press’s StayCay Subscription Reading Box

September 9, 2020 by Amy Leave a Comment

Are you reading more than normal? I’m sure trying to! Good books make the perfect escape in the midst of these travel-limited times, which is why Anaiah Press’s new StayCay Subscription Reading Boxes sound perfect!

Click to share with your friends!

Anaiah Press has teamed up with Salty Sisters Gourmet
Popcorn to bring you a fun staycation
experience. Each box includes two great
Anaiah Press books (selected by our staff
based on your reading preference) two
delicious flavors of Salty Sisters popcorn,
and one–two bonus items to help complete
your staycation. You’ll get a new box every
three months! AND readers can choose
from 4 different customizations based on
their reading preferences:

All Romance: sweet contemporary, historical romance, and romantic suspense books
Sweet Romance: sweet contemporary and historical romance books
Young Adult: YA romance novels
All Adult and YA Romance: an assortment from all of our romance categories for adults and teens

I haven’t gotten one of these boxes, but I’d really like to. The only problem I see is the timing – they only come out four times per year! I could use one of these about every other week.

To find out more about the StayCay box, go here.

Let me know in the comments below – which one would you or are you going to order?

Take the Lead by Shelley Shepard Gray – Review

September 8, 2020 by Amy Leave a Comment

Growing up in foster care, Officer Traci Lucky had a rough start to life, but things are looking up now that she’s found a place in Bridgeport with two sisters she never knew she had. One night while on the job Traci finds Gwen, a pregnant teen caught up in a dangerous world of drugs, and takes her straight to the hospital. There Traci encounters the oh-so-charming Dr. Matt Rossi, who surprises Traci with his compassion—and his movie-star good looks.

A busy ob-gyn with a huge, meddling Italian family, Matt Rossi hasn’t had much time for love in his life. All that changes when he meets the beautiful Officer Lucky. He’s intrigued by her strength and the kind heart she tries to hide beneath her tough exterior.

When Matt confides that he needs to learn to waltz for his brother’s wedding, Traci reveals that her sister happens to be a ballroom dance teacher. Next thing they know, Matt and Traci are juggling busy careers, helping young Gwen with her pregnancy and personal safety, and learning to waltz together. But when Gwen’s escalating problems threaten to put all of them in danger, they wonder if they’ll ever find time for a little romance too.

Shelley Shepard Gray excels at telling stories with heart and truth. Her new series, the Dance with Me series, is about three sisters reunited as adults. Take the Lead releases today, and it’s a compelling look at how we should treat people around us who may appear to be different than we are.

This book brings so many questions to the surface: what role should our families play in our relationships? At what point does danger trump our ability to help other people? What informs our identity, and can we change it? What is a family?

These are all crucial issues in today’s turbulent times, but Take the Lead isn’t a heavy book at all; instead, Gray addresses these questions with her signature sweetness and care. The story certainly invites readers to ponder their own reactions to these issues, but at no point does it feel scary or overwhelming. Despite the seriousness of the plot, Gray keeps the plot moving and the reader invested without bringing the mood down.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book – and the one that kicks off the series, Shall We Dance? They’re really fun, lighthearted romances – perfect for the stressful days we’re living in. I love how the sisters are learning to bond and relate to each other all while making a home together and in their new relationships.

Take the Lead is a bit different than the other books by Gray that I’ve read, however, and I feel that I would be remiss in not sharing how. This one is published by a secular publisher, and while there are still references to prayer, faith, and God in the story, major life lessons are without named spiritual lessons. Also, several characters are often reaching for alcoholic beverages and some, being romantically involved, reference spending the night together – in ways that mean that they haven’t but aren’t opposed to the idea. Both of these references are kept light, but it is a departure from Gray’s other scripture-filled stories.

I can’t wait to read Save the Last Dance, the final story in the series, though. If it’s as good – and as timely – as the two that came before it, I’ll be pre-ordering it as soon as possible. If you’re looking for sweet, romantic, lighthearted reads, perfect for a fall getaway or a pandemic distraction, Take the Lead is the perfect choice.

To read reviews of Shelley Shepard Gray’s other books, click here.

I received a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

It’s a Hashtag Sale Just for Hero Teachers: #HeroDeals

September 5, 2020 by Amy Leave a Comment

Teachers are heroes – and you deserve deals to match your service. That’s why I’ve put my head together with a team of teacher sellers to find a way to honor you for your tireless service, love, and time you are pouring into your students this year. It’s time for #HeroDeals.

We are hosting a Dollar Deals sale on TPT on Sunday, 9/6, and Monday, 9/7, where hundreds of bestselling items will be marked down to only $1.

Simply search #HeroDeals on TPT those two days to find tons of gifts that will keep on giving throughout this school year and beyond.

And thank you–we see you, we support you, and we believe in you.

You’ll find loads of great resources on TpT by searching for #HeroDeals. I’m marking these two resources down to only $1 during this sale:

Have you read The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise yet? It’s a fantastic story by Dan Gemeinhart, the author who also wrote The Honest Truth. Gemeinhart’s lyrical writing style and deep characterization makes for a memorable story – and provides great opportunities for discussion and creative writing. That’s what you’ll find in this ELA resource: discussion questions for every chapter, formatted for you as the teacher and for the student in a way that works well for homework, cooperative learning groups, or assessment. Included are creative writing prompts in a variety of styles. Both are available in print and digital formats.

I love teaching about the first Thanksgiving on American soil by the European settlers – I’ve been to Plimoth Plantation three times! That’s why I created this resource for teaching elementary kids about the Mayflower Compact. The idea is that you teach them the structure and purpose of the original document and then they can create their own. I used it around Thanksgiving time, but many teachers like to use it towards the beginning of the year to help their students create class or group rules. It contains information about the original Mayflower Compact, a version of the Mayflower Compact in modern English, and printables for creating your own in a variety of styles. Create Your Own Mayflower Compact is available in both print and digital versions.

Pin this image to share these HeroDeals with your friends!

This sale kicks off tomorrow – Sunday, September 6, and runs through midnight on Monday the 8th! I know it’s a long holiday weekend, but take a few minutes to search #HeroDeals on TpT to snag great deals on the resources that will make your job easier.

Teachers are heroes. Thanks for everything you do.

Need more creative ideas for teaching about Thanksgiving? Go here to find fun ideas that I’ve used when teaching first grade and fourth grade in public school AND whole families in a homeschool setting. Try these activities and then ask your students to discuss or write about their thoughts and feelings about their experiences.

Make Mine Homemade: Spa Products You Can’t Live Without

September 4, 2020 by Amy Leave a Comment

I’ve been fascinated with soaps and lotions and all things scented and wonderful since I was a little girl. There’s something extraordinary about the way that those pretty packages of self-care love can make us feel. That’s why I’m so excited to share about Make Mine Homemade, a small shop locally owned by Tina Barbour. Her products are amazing!

I’ve been using Make Mine Homemade for years. One of the first products I tried was Herbal Healing Salve, and it remains one that goes with me everywhere. It comes in a small tin, and we keep containers of it in the house and the bag we take when traveling so that we’re never without it. The stuff is amazing! It’s a green salve full of herbal wonder, and I’m in awe of it’s healing properties. It’s perfect for skin ailments of all (basic) sorts. It soothes sunburns, relieves itching, eases pain, and kills germs. We’ve applied it to simple rashes, bug bites, paper cuts, deep cuts, sunburns, and everything in between. Not only does the issue immediately feel better, but minor ones are often healed by the next day. We never go hiking without it – it’s perfect for the sort of scrapes and bites you acquire out in nature.

That’s not Make Mine Homemade’s only wonder product, though – there are many! My new favorite is Cool Hottie, a roller bottle full of good stuff that’s totally amazing. I applied it one morning while having cramps, and voila! they ended immediately. When they returned a few hours later, I applied it again with the same effect. I won’t be without this one again – It’s awesome!

I love the Whipped Body Butter, too, and look forward to putting it on every day after my shower. It’s rich and creamy and seems to make my skin sparkle somehow. If, for some reason, I miss a day, my skin feels noticeably drier. I’ve used two lavender scents so far and enjoy them, but I’m counting the days for when the weather cools enough to be able to go for the orange cream (citrus essential oils make your skin sensitive to sunlight). We’re almost there, baby! Bring on cooler weather and orange oils!

I recently bought the Soothing Heat Pain Roller to try. The label made it sound like an herbal alternative to Ben-Gay, and with athritis plaguing my feet and my husband’s back always an issue, we’re feeling our ages. Since I’m not eager to smell like the stereotypical old person just yet – no offense to anyone needing those products – this was very interesting to me. The results, while it’s only been a week or so, have been just as interesting. While it doesn’t provide the same instant relief as Cool Hottie, I’m noticing that my foot is bothering me less each day, despite the fact that my husband and I are running more – and running up hills, which puts pressure directly on my problem joint. I’d say that’s a win!

A product that we’ve enjoyed taking advantage of is the Shop Small Random Acts of Kindness packages. These are so fun! I think they started after the pandemic hit, and they’re a great way to send encouragement to someone, whether it’s to someone else or yourself! Each one includes two big sample products from Make Mine Homemade, as well as an item from another small shop plus a few small surprise items. You can share information about the recipient, like that she loves lavender or is a young kid, and Tina will tailor it towards that person a bit. She will even pass along notes! We’ve done several of these, and there’s just something about happy mail that brightens the day, and at only $10 shipped, they’re quite the deal.

If packages are your thing, then you’ll want to check out the monthly ones. Make Mine Homemade puts together a special themed package each month for $20. I ordered the August Monthly package as my first one, and it’s great! It came with a DIY elderberry kit – Make Mine Homemade is rather famous for elderberry syrup -, a Rosey Glow Lip Shimmer balm (MMH lip balms are awesome! Pink and sparkly is fun and mocha latta tastes amazing!), a hand sanitzer spray, plus a sample of Detoxifying Cleansing Grains. From other shops was a bracelet, a vinyl sticker, a temporary body tattoo, a bag of tea, and a piece of organic candy. The whole thing even comes in a sparkly, reusable pouch. Fun and a great deal!

Tina at Make Mine Homemade is super generous. My orders always come packed neatly in bags with extras and samples. I love being able to see what other products are like.

Interested in Make Mine Homemade? Pin this image to save it and share with your friends!

All of the products from Make Mine Homemade have been stellar. Knowing that the products you’re putting directly on and into your body are of high quality, safe, and nourishing is very important to me, and MMH products are all of these things. They feel great, smell amazing, and work wonders. With all of that going on, it might sound like the prices are going to be high to match the reputation of the products, but they’re more than fair for the quality products you get.

So as we move on into a new school year with ever-changing rules and laws and living conditions; as we try to figure out how social to be and how to support each other safely, consider starting by supporting small shops like Make Mine Homemade. I love that she’s reaching out to encourage others, and her products can definitely be a pick-me-up for anybody. Whether you’re looking to encourage your child’s teacher, the sick neighbor down the street, or shop ahead for Christmas gifts, consider ordering from Make Mine Homemade.

You’ll definitely make someone’s day brighter – and healthier.

Want to know about special organic soaps that are amazing? Find out more about our field trip here.

I have not received any compensation for writing this review – I just love the products and enjoy sharing about them.

Encouraging Hearts & Home Blog Hop – September 2, 2020

September 2, 2020 by Amy 4 Comments

And Now, for This Week’s Encouraging Hearts & Home Blog Hop!

The post with the most views from last week:

And Now, for This Week’s Encouraging Hearts & Home Blog Hop!

The post with the most views from last week:

Encouraging Hearts & Home Blog Hop – August 26, 2020

August 26, 2020 by Amy Leave a Comment

And Now, for This Week’s Encouraging Hearts & Home Blog Hop!

The post with the most views from last week:

And Now, for This Week’s Encouraging Hearts & Home Blog Hop!

The post with the most views from last week:

Now Available: Three Little Pigs Mock Trial in Print & Digitally

August 17, 2020 by Amy Leave a Comment

I love planning our book club events; I mean, I really love it. They are some of my very favorite lessons to plan and to hold. Still, the boys surprised me when they asked to hold a trial in connection with one of our books a few years ago, but I dug in and created a whole mock trial plan. We put the Third Little Pig on trial that day for his attack on the Wolf, and the boys couldn’t have been more excited! I loved seeing their faces and how engaged they became in the lesson.

That kind of engaging, interactive lesson is what I shoot for – and this pandemic-quarantine had me stumped for a while: how could we turn this kind of creative thinking loose in a digital way? How could we still put the Third Little Pig on trial?

So I’ve created a digital version of the trial that is compatible with Google Apps. It has a landscape layout to maximize ease of reading and is full of color. The lesson still asks you to discuss bias and point of view with your students, but this version also includes that throughout the lesson. Going forward, it still teaches about the people involved in a criminal trial and what their responsibilities are – but it’s fully interactive. Most slides have textboxes where students can respond to the information presented. When the trial begins, students can type in what they think each lawyer, witness, or person might say. This gives them the opportunity to consider the bias of each speaker, to think critically and creatively, and to see how one character might respond to another. There are also slides for students to consider the evidence impartially, as a jury should, and to write their verdict.

I’m really excited about this new digital version because it can be used by anyone, anywhere! Did you know that I’ve heard from many people about how this resource is being used – everywhere from elementary school to pre-law students and even with scouts studying citizenship? It will still work beautifully for your book club or co-op, but it’s also perfect for cooperative learning, whole class events, or even classes working in a paperless or 1:1 format. It’s exciting to see how this project has grown!

That made me want to spruce up the print version – so I’ve worked on that, too. The new, updated print version has almost twice as many pages. It has all the same components, but many are included in different versions so as to be accessible for students of different ages and abilities. Additionally, they have all been reformatted for a cleaner look.

I’m going to work on updating the mock trial product for Goldilocks and the Three Bears next, so if these mock trials are something you can use, stay tuned!

I’m almost finished choosing books and planning book club events for this year, too. That means making lots of plans since I don’t know which events will be in person and which might have to be digital, but I’m so excited to read and dig into these new books with the kids! If you’re looking for creative ways to have fun with literature or to encourage reluctant readers, stay tuned for this year’s plan – and find more about our past adventures here.

Pin this image to share this mock trial resource with your friends!

Want to know more about the benefits of mock trials? Find out five reasons they work here.

Have you used a mock trial with your students? Share about your experience in the comments!

TpT Pop-Up Sale! One Day Only!

August 17, 2020 by Amy Leave a Comment

TpT wants to support teachers, and what better way than by having a Pop-Up Sale? This school year is hard enough – don’t spend more money than necessary. Take advantage of this one-day-only sale to get the ready-to-use resources that will streamline your workload. Use code BTSBONUS20 to save up to 25% on August 18th ONLY.

TpT has been working hard to give digital options to teachers, and the new digital tool makes it possible to turn any pdf into a resource that’s compatible with Google Apps. All of my already-created resources are available with this new tool, and I’ve used this tool to turn the bestselling products from my store into resources that are digital and ready-to-go just for you.

I’m also hard at work creating new digital resources that will make your job easier and engage your students in thoughtful, meaningful learning. My first resource of this kind is the Three Little Pigs Digital Mock Trial Project, and there are more on the way!

Here are some other resources that I think will make your work easier:

Squint is a fantastic book with diverse characters and feel-good lessons. It’s perfect for the unrest and troublesome times in which we’re currently living.

The Honest Truth is about a boy trying to determine what real truth is in the midst of heartache. The prose is amazing and there are great – and fun! – lessons to be learned from studying this story.

Shine by the funny Chris Grabenstein is a wonderfully sweet middle-grade story. Journey with Piper through a year in her new school, where she tries to make friends and win an award, all the while learning what it means to shine. These creative book projects are perfect for your book club, co-op, family, or classroom, and they’ll encourage your students to have fun with literature, all the while digging into the meat and rabbit trails connected tot he story.

Whether you need to help your students understand why rules are necessary or are prepping your Thanksgiving lessons early, this look at the Mayflower Compact will help you achieve both goals. Have your students read about the Mayflower Compact and then write their own. This resources includes different versions with different levels of scaffolding to support students of with a variety of abilities.

Remember, the TpT Pop-Up Sale is happening tomorrow, August 18, ONLY! Save up to 25% with the code BTSBONUS20. All of the resources at A Nest in the Rocks are included!

Have you returned to school? What does school look like for you right now? I’d love to know! Comment below and share!