Fidget Spinner Craze

              Fidget Spinners- Useful or Distraction?  

Okay, the masses are all arguing about these Fidget Spinners!  Kids can't get enough of them and teachers and parents are banning them! There are articles instilling fear in people from their is deadly lead levels in them or they are creating more chaos in the classroom.   You can see Snopes article on the lead HERE.  There are also parents screaming of all the dangers. Let's be real if your child is young and putting this in their mouth they probably shouldn't use it.  Like all toys you as the parent need to set the expectation on how to use the item!  

You can read about schools banning them HERE. Now you all know I am a teacher and I do have to say that if every child came to school with one there would be zero learning occurring.  There are even a couple students in my building that have brought a doctors note stating they need the spinner for concentration.   We even had a crafty little 2nd grader in his very 2nd grader writing try to write his own doctor letter on wide rule paper, wrinkled and ripped.   Give him A for effort for trying and it provided humor for us, teachers!  

My school did make a rule and prevented students from bringing them and playing with them whenever they wanted.  However, if you are a creative teacher and want to teach and reteach ways to use them in the classroom then I think you can capitalize on this craze and become the cool teacher in school!  I think if you have center time you might be able to use fidgets or if you are racing for math facts.  

I have created a Pinterest board with several ideas on how to use your fidget spinners with learning!  There is also a ton of stuff you can purchase on Teachers pay Teachers.    My kids enjoyed it tremendously at home and I am printing and laminating some of the work for next school year.   You could have your students earn a day to bring fidget spinners to school where you incorporate it in the day.  The possibilities are endless!   So my son worked on reading his sight words as fast as he could while his spinner was spinning.  My daughter worked on multiplication facts as fast as she could.  So using a fidget spinner for any fluency work is a great idea!   You can be the cool teacher who says read as many words as you can but stop when the fidget stops spinning!                                                                              

Thanks to Oriental Trading for the Gold and Emoji fidget spinners.  My kids are enjoying them.  Oriental Trading also has other fidget  toys you can purchase as well. We got these glowing spinning tops and my kids have been playing with them for two days straight.   They love them when it gets dark outside!  You can race to see if you can get these spinners all spinning at once or once again you can create a race with sight words or math facts!  

On Oriental Trading, they have fidgets that also are great sensory items!  We love the bumpy balls and glow balls.  There are so many options   

Don't be afraid of all the hype for Fidgets.  If we teach our children the appropriate ways to use them then they become a tool to use and not just an annoying toy!  I have to admit that I have fun with spinners and fidgets and I think you will too! 

     

Ephesians 3:17 Prayer

Today I have already met with a prayer partner and had an awesome time praying and feeling the victory!  Then as I sat down to do my devo time with God he had me praying more.   So this scripture is from one of Pauls prayers.  The scripture just popped out at me.  One it made me pray for all the kids from kids camp last week, two it had me praying again for my church, and 3 it had me praying for myself and my family. 

I will be sharing this devo with my church family tonight.   I use the S.O.A.P method, s- scripture, o- observation, a-application, p-prayer.

Here is my brief SOAP on this scripture!

S- Ephesians 3:17- Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust him your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.  

O- Paul is speaking here and praying for spiritual growth. 

A- Not only am I praying for myself but my heart is praying for the kids at camp- that what they learned last week and what they experienced would give them a drive and hunger and thirst for more of Christ.  That they would be still and know their God more each day.  God that you would help drown the distractions of the world and stay connected to each of them and they connected with you. I am praying that each moment at camp is one more root- deep down in God's love- that our kids would be strong, and bold, and obedient to what the Father asks of them.  

Not only that for the kids at camp but for our Riverside church family.   I want us to know when Christ is the root in our hearts- we experience his love and He keeps us strong!  No trial will get us down because we walk in Victory with HIM! 

P- Jesus, thank you for this scripture which guided more prayers!  Thank you for this example of prayer.  Help me continue to pray more and more for our kids, our church, my family, and anyone else you place on my heart.   Lord let us rely on your strength and your love.  GROW our roots deep, deep, deep in your love!  In your name Jesus!   AMEN

  

American Journey- Dog Food Review

Description

American Journey is full of nutritious ingredients that fuel your pet’s everyday adventures. The Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food formula features real, deboned chicken for the protein and amino acids your dog needs for leaner muscles, and the exceptional flavor she instinctively craves. Delicious sweet potatoes and chickpeas are included to give your pup energy that lasts. With wholesome fruits and veggies like carrots, dried kelp and blueberries, your dog is getting beneficial fiber, phytonutrients and antioxidants. Omega fatty acids are plentiful, including DHA, an omega-3 that supports healthy development of the brain and eyes. These omegas come from several sources like salmon oil and flaxseed, and they help keep your fellow adventurer’s skin and coat healthy. This recipe is grain-free and has no corn, wheat or soy, which makes it a great choice for dogs that are prone to food sensitivities. American Journey is made in the USA and available exclusively at Chewy.com.
Key Benefits
Grain-free dog food that’s also free of corn, wheat, and soy to help food sensitive pets avoid fillers that might upset their stomach.
Nutritious fruits and vegetables like blueberries, carrots, and dried kelp provide vitamins, minerals, antioxidants for immune system support, and phytonutrients.
High-protein dog food with real, deboned chicken is not only delicious for your pup but full of amino acids that help maintain lean muscle mass.
Salmon oil and flaxseed provide omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, including long-chain DHA, which helps support your dog’s skin and coat health and brain and eye development.
Includes fiber-rich chickpeas and sweet potatoes for energy that lasts throughout every adventure.

My Review:

Thanks, chewy.com for sending me this food in exchange for an honest review.  I was not paid for this review and all opinions expressed are 100% my own.  

My dog has enjoyed treats by this company but for some reason, Kiah ate this food very slowly.  She appeared to not like it.  It would stay in her bowl most of the day.  This was very different for my dog as she usually loves all her food and treats.  Maybe she was just spoiled with that human grade food of the Tylee's that she was being stubborn.  So for my Kiah we will not be ordering the American Journey - Chicken and Sweet Potato food.  There are several other flavors available that might be worth trying! 

The four-pound bag is $13.99 on Chewy.com

Do you do prizes at Children's Church?

 I have had candy rewards for kids church activities for the last few months and thanks to Oriental Trading I have three amazing treasure chests full of great prizes. I was not paid for this review and all opinions expressed are 100% my own.  

If you are tired of spending money on candy rewards then you should look into the many great options Oriental Trading offers!    Candy adds up really quick and kids have enough sugar in their diets...plus we already do a snack at church.  

Let's chat about the assembly of the treasure chests.   They each came with a paper sheet explaining the easy steps.   I was able to put together all three treasure chests in just a few minutes.   You have to fold some cardboard and fit it in securely!   It was very easy.  

Next thing to review is the little prizes the kids can pick out of it.  There are so many different ones in each box.  There are bouncy balls, yo-yo's, frisbees, other fun balls, sensory items, little fish, pencils, notebooks, bracelets, kazoos, and so much much more! So far the kids have won prizes during Bingo games, memorizing scripture, and other fun games and participation in the lessons.   There are over 100 prizes in each treasure chest so these should last m some time, and only $20!!!!   This is by far a great deal! 


                          

What are some ways you do prizes in Sunday school or Kids Church? 

Tips for Designing Your Outside Kitchen Area

No matter whereabouts you live, the chances are high that you have hosted or been to a barbecue, or several barbecues. By the end of barbecue season, you will be experts on what has worked, and what hasn’t – and that is not purely a food based assessment.

Creating an appropriate space for your outside cooking is not simply a matter of stoking the fire; with entertaining at home becoming a cheaper and healthier alternative to dining out, the extra thought you apply to its design will pay dividends. Here are five key areas to contemplate before you make any decisions:

1.Built in or portable

This decision is entirely based upon how long you think you will stay at your current home. While built in units and appliances can look the business, have a look at modern and stylish portable grills and ovens from Fontana Forni for a pizza oven for sale. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but they're also incredibly functional and can be moved – want to take the party to a different part of the yard, no problem!

2. Built-in cabinets

How close to your house is your outdoor eating area? Do not underestimate how annoying it is to have to keep going inside for forgotten ingredients; build cabinets which can hold your produce while cooking – maybe even invest in a fridge! Make sure they’re weather resistant, though.

3. Counter-tops

How much prep work will you do outside? Have a think about the key dishes you like to serve, and whether it will be of benefit to have countertops. Again, you need to think about the materials used to suit your climate, budget and how long you think you will be at the property.

4. Lighting

Ensure that you have adequate lighting to complete the task in hand. Remember that you will need task lighting for your grill so that you can check that the meats are cooked properly. You may also need it for your food prep area to prevent accidents! You will also want to consider the ambient lighting around the general area – nobody wants floodlights, but equally, your guests will want to see what they are eating.

5. Flooring

You will want flooring that is practical for cleaning. Concrete is the ideal as it is relatively cheap, hard wearing and weather resistant. Avoid gravel like the plague – there is nothing worse than having to pick old food out of it – you want something that you can sweep.

With the basics covered above, you may want to think about some extras that can add a real sense of luxury and style to your area:

• Add a sink with running water near the food preparation area.
• Add a fridge to your space, it doesn’t have to be fully sized, an under or over counter fridge would be very useful.
• Add a dimmer switch to your lighting to change the ambiance as the evening draws on. You could even add disco lights, depending on your style!
• Have a built in under counter trash facility – you don’t go to people’s homes for dinner and see trash around the eating area, so why have it just because you are eating outside? You can hide your trash can under the counter, behind a cabinet door.