Hi Reader, It's hard to believe, but here we are, just a few weeks from the finish line. You've taught lessons, wiped tears, tied shoes, cheered kids on, and probably answered a thousand questions a day. You've shown up, even on the hardest mornings. And you've created a space where your students feel safe, seen, and inspired. That's not small. That's magic. These final weeks can feel long and emotional- full of energy, excitement, and exhaustion. But they're also a time of celebration,...
26 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! I hope you feel appreciated every day as an educator, but this week especially. 💕 Ople: The New Teacher App I'm excited to share about a new mobile app I recently came across that is made for teachers. Ople is designed to connect educators so they can share what works in their classrooms. It was first released in October 2024, is currently available in North America, and will be available worldwide soon. Ople is similiar to Instagram and TikTok...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, For years I struggled with teaching my students about social studies. It's the reason why I started creating Passport Adventures for my students. But today I want to share with you another resource that has made a huge impact on my class. 🤯 Recently, Jess Wurzbacher, connected with me on Instagram (gotta love social media!) to tell me about Reach the World. She's the manager of the K-12 programs for this incredible organization. Reach the World uses global networking to connect...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Hope you're doing well! I just wanted to let you know that my revised edition of Passport Adventures: Holy Week and Beyond is now ready to be downloaded for free. This lesson is all about showing kids the modern day places in and around Jerusalem where the events of Jesus's death and resurrection took place. It contains 22 pages of slides, 13 videos, and a drawing activity. Click on the picture to download the lesson This lesson was written for early childhood, but could be used...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, I just wanted to hop on real quick and give you a few updates on what's coming for Passport Adventures. In two weeks my class will be...🚢 CRUISING to the Bahamas. I'm very excited about this classroom transformation and can't wait to share more on how to make kids feel like they're really cruising...did someone say unlimited ice cream cones?! 🍦 I've been doing a recap on Instagram the last few days about how to do a Flight Day with students. In case you missed it, here is one of...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Did you know that Stockholm, Sweden has the world's longest art exhibit? It can be found underground in their subway system! Many of the subway stations there have been painted and decorated in their own unique ways, making riding the subway so much more enjoyable. My class pretended to travel to Stockholm this week. Now, we don't have subways down here in south Florida, so I had to show them some pictures and videos of ones in New York City. We took a look at several different...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Have you heard about how children in Japan are resonsible for cleaning their school at the end of the day? Japan is known for being a clean country and I love how Japanese children are being taught to take ownership in their schools. My students have cleaning responsibilties each day, such as putting away items they were using, wiping down our tables, chairs, etc. They surprised me though this past week! I was reading them the book This is How We Do It: A Day in the Lives of Seven...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, What do carrots, a stuffed animal, and a highland cow from Scotland all have in common? They help children use their imagination! Here's a fantastic article about the benefits for kids when they use their imagination. It boosts creativity, independence, and problem-solving. There are so many benefits from using imagination. I believe most kids don't get to use their imagination as much these days, so it's important for me to have times in our classroom for them to do so. The...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, My class "traveled" to Greece this past Friday. They had their one item from the packing list, the lesson was up on our smartboard, and we were ready to start learning...and then the school office called our room. "Mrs. DePasquale, *Emily's mom (name's been changed) is here to pick her up early for an appointment. Please send her to the office." Emily's shoulders dropped as she was clutching the one item she had chosen to bring in for the lesson. It was her swimsuit top because she...
3 months ago • 1 min read