Free eCard Digital Colors of Fall, a Perfect Encouragement for the Teacher in Your Life

For a limited time, get the "Fall Is My Favorite Color" eCard from Brevity on TPT free. It's part of the 8 Encouraging eCards for Teachers, Summer and Fall Collection now on sale for $3.00. Celebrate the colors of fall with this cheeful greeting pack.

Coming Soon: Looking for a fun fall read? 

Mark your calendars for an autumn book giveaway perfect for lovers of cozy mysteries and noir. Tell your local librarian, too, because the stories in this anthology all feature "Cozy crimes in libraries."

The giveaway begins Thursday, October 25 at 12 a.m. EST and ends Saturday, October 27 at 12 a.m. EST. Stop by Christian Teacher, Public School during the contest window to claim your entries! The prize is a paperback edition of Shhhh. . .Murder!, featuring "Bookish Dreams" by Amy Ballard and twenty-three other stories.

In "Bookish Dreams," assistant librarian Emma and her English bulldog Billy help solve a murder in the old library building across town. There's a smattering of romance, a pile of old National Geographics, and plenty of small-town charm for readers who like a happy ending.

Get the Kindle edition for $2.99 or the paperback for $12.95. Like what you read? Leave an Amazon review, and don't forget to follow Amazon author Amy Ballard. Your reviews help make this launch from Darkhouse Books a success.

Goodreads users, follow Amy Ballard there, too.

Pinterest Boards Full of Back to School Goodness for Teachers

If you're like me, you're already scouring your Pinterest boards for fresh teaching strategies for the new school year. It seems like I'm constantly digging for helpful articles on organization, classroom management, lesson planning, and content area resources. Then in the middle of the school year, I head to Pinterest for glimmers of inspiration to help me get through the tough stuff of school. Whether it's a promise from the Bible or a funny baby animal meme, there's something in my boards to put a smile on my face.

In case you're looking for some Back-to-School teacher goodness, here are links to some of my favorite boards! Enjoy!

Classroom/Content
Elementary
American Lit
Teaching HS (primarily ELA-focused)
Google Awesomeness
Writing Fiction
Teacher Supplies (Okay, I love this one!)
Classroom Decor
Classroom Management
Teaching Vocabulary
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality

For the Teacher's Well-Being
Christian Teacher, Public School
Smart, Professional Clothes
Painting
Healing Garden (Take a walk in my garden! It's soothing!)
Healthy -Ish Snacks
Blessings (Can I get an "Amen"?)
Books to Read in My Nonexistent Reading Nook When It Rains
Teacher Gifts
The Florist Shop

I hope you enjoy these Pinterest boards. Have a favorite teacher-pinner? Share the boards you return to again and again!

Encourage a Teacher by Sharing Christian Teacher, Public School

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Galatians 6:9

There are days when we all need a word of motivation and encouragement to keep us going. In this new year, build someone up by using the social media buttons to share this blog with a teacher in your life.

Let's pray today that God will guide and bless us

• in our personal walk with Him
• in the use of our time
• in our lesson preparations
• in our classroom management
• in our communication with colleagues, students, and parents
• in our skill as teachers
• in our continuing professional education
• in our vision for the future.

Praying for Russian Christians

"Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body." Hebrews 13:3 (NASB)

I've noticed a huge uptick in views from international readers, especially in Russia, over the last few weeks. I hope my readers overseas know that this blog is intended for you as well as for teachers in American public schools. My heart breaks for Christians in Russia right now. I am praying for you.

Here in America, if a student asks me about my faith, I can answer him. If a student asks me to pray for her, I can do so outside of class time. I can take hand-me-down clothes my kids have outgrown to a neighbor's house and speak to my neighbor openly about my faith in God. I can stand in the public square and give my testimony.

The rights of Russian citizens to share their beliefs with those around them have been greatly diminished by new anti-terrorism legislation recently signed into law by Vladimir Putin. Evangelists need permits. House churches are banned. Christians will suffer discrimination reminiscent of the Cold War years. What's a Christian to do?

I know that in times of tribulation, the Church has historically been strengthened and purified by its trials. God does not lose control when earthly governments turn up the heat on His followers. He is still our shepherd, and we are still His sheep, and He knows us by name.

I wish I knew the names of the Christian teachers and evangelists in Russia for whom I am praying. Readers, I hope you'll join me in praying for our friends in other countries hostile to the Gospel. They need encouragement right now. May God send it to them through our prayers.

Encouragement Through Cards

"Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing."    

                                                          I Thessalonians 5:11 (NASB)

In my community this July, it's a busy time for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and baby showers. I found myself yesterday going through my greeting card organizer, desperately seeking the perfect card for each occasion looming on the calendar. With Idaho Core Coach Network meetings coming up and teacher work week starting on the 15th, I don't want to get behind on the celebrations.

Chalkboard Blessings Anniversary Cards

I had cards that would work for most of the special events coming up, but I couldn't find a single anniversary card in my hoard. Fortunately, Dayspring Cards had the perfect box of cards for me. I chose the "Chalkboard Blessings" set of 12 cards for just $5.99. With the Customer Appreciation sale going on, I was able to use a coupon code (THANKYOU) and save 25%.

I hope you take advantage of the sale to replenish your card supply, too. Using the affiliate links here helps support this blog. Dayspring also offers many beautiful and free eCards in their studio.

Let's keep encouraging one another in Christ.

New Free Thank You ECard: You Brightened My Day

You Brightened My Day eCard

Here's a new eCard from my store, Brevity, on TPT. It's free to download and share, and the square shape makes this one easy to post on social media. Enjoy!

Planboard, a Really Good Free Online Planner

The 2015/2016 school year, now blissfully over for my district, was the first year I used an online teacher planner exclusively. Planboard by Chalk.com has been user-friendly and efficient. (See my comparo to Commoncurriculum here). After a full year of Planboard lesson planning, I'm still a believer. A plus I'm appreciating today is the easy migration of one year's plans to a new year. Allowing that I'll be tweaking those plans here and there, adding standards, etc., my plans for the whole of next school year are ready to go.

The only major negative with Planboard is that it (still) does not allow you to print or share unit plans. Today I emailed their IT about the matter, and Planboard's people promptly got back to me: They're (still) working on it.

Unit plan sharing aside, Planboard is free and has lots of bells and whistles, while remaining intuitive.

This year I plan to use the Sticky Note feature to paste a Bible verse at the top of my plan for each day. It'll take a little time, but that word of encouragement for my teaching day will be worth it. What favorite verses should I add to my planner? Please share!

ESV Single Column Journaling Bible, Summer Garden