This letter is from Fadlo who improved a lot throughout the year. I’m so proud of you and I want you to keep it up….It’s true I always write on top of your agendas to be positive just to remind you Have a great Summer!

Since school is over and summer time has started, I know a lot of moms who start panicking about the summer vacation, because they don’t know how to keep their kids occupied while moms need to get something done.

I can suggest a few tips of how you and your kids can have quality time together yet a relaxing one.

First, I think it’s great that there is a summer break because parents don’t get to spend a lot of time with their children in winter  and summer time is their chance to catch up.

Contact moms of your child’s friends and have a gathering or an outing together.

Take your kids shopping with you, or if you feel stressed when they are with you then go to a place where there is a place for the children to play while you shop freely.

Cook together or have them help out on the house chores. Give your kids responsibilities and duties.

Even though it is summer time, it doesn’t mean that there are no rules, actually this is the time where you should set the rules and have them abide by them.

Make a schedule. You and your kids don’t have to go out everyday. Make them read books, or play video games. Make sure they don’t play video games daily. 2 times per week is enough.

Have your kids do sports. like basketball, swimming, biking, etc….

A day at the beach is a great idea for a family outing.

A picnic in the park or a barbecue  is also another fun family outing.

If you feel you need time alone and your kids are a handful then enroll them in summer camps. Summer camps are fun and very beneficial at the same time.

     I know summer break scares you moms but don’t worry this is part of your role as a mother to spend quality time with your kids so you can bring the family closer! Have a wonderful summer everyone

    Letter number 3 is from Mounir, a very bright and polite student. Mounir I will miss you more and I definitely accept your invitation to your restaurant. For those of you living in Lebanon, I’m sure you know Mounir , the best Lebanese restaurant located in Broummana. Well it’s for Mounir’s family, my student! I wish you a wonderful summer Mounir! Take care xoxo

This letter is from Betty.Betty you are beautiful and I will never forget you either. You were one of the quiet students in the class. You are so polite and adorable. I will miss you so much. Have an amazing summer!

Thank you Tarek! It’s true I always try to think of positive things and think happy thoughts. I hope you’re going to do the same . Have a wonderful Summer!

       Yesterday was a tough day for me. My students have left they took their belongings. I was left alone in class removing everything from the walls, posters, bulletin boards, books, borders, papers etc….

   It was a great year for me I was so lucky to have such wonderful students who really appreciate what their teacher does for them. Well I guess everything has an ending just like Nelly Furtado sings, “ Why do all good things come to an end?” ….Everything has a beginning and an ending…This is life ….

The next 20 days I am going to be posting a letter a day from each student that they have written me the last day of school. Hope you find them amusing to read  

I walk into class today and find my students writing on the board expressing their love to me. It was truly an emotional day for all of us. I found it too sweet that I thought of sharing it with you….

I mentioned in my previous post that I will show them a slideshow….I showed it to them and frankly I didn’t expect this reaction. My students burst into tears and hug me and of course I started crying as well. I guess we got really attached to each other. We really did have a great year and I had amazing students! I’m so grateful! ….xoxoxo

Oh dear, two more days left and it will be time to say Good bye! I’ve been too emotional this week and so were my students. I always like to do something special with every class I teach. Every year I throw a party for them and prepare a slideshow of all the events and memories we shared throughout the school year.

The slideshow is going to include fun events like the Christmas show photos, our morning routine (exercise, meditation) laughter yoga, activities, art, random photos, our healthy food, etc….

I prepare the slideshow on a power point presentation and I include a song. UsuallyI like to put “Time of your life” by Green Day, and I’m trying to find another song that will go with the slideshow, I was thinking “Photograph” by Nickelback I wish I could share it here but I don’t include photos of my students for security reasons.

So tomorrow we are going to be watching it together then on Friday which is the last day of school I’m going to give the CD for each student as a gift. Believe me they will appreciate it a lot.

I found this really interesting post on Ken Lauher’s website, a feng shui consultant. The question a visitor asked him was very interesting and beneficial to parents so I thought i’d share it with you it says:

A blog visitor posed a question about a Feng Shui mattress in the master bedroom that I’m sure many parents wonder about.

Wisma writes:
I am currently sleeping on a mattress without a bed frame because occasionally my kids will sleep with us and they feel more comfy lying on the floor. After reading this post, I found that sleeping on the floor is not good; is it true? If so, I would need a new bed but will still keep the old mattress. Will it affect the good feng shui? As you said, a new mattress will give new energy. Thank you for your advice.

A Bed for Better Health

I would tell Wisma that investing in a bed, or at least a headboard and bed frame, would be good Feng Shui. The bed should be elevated above the floor to permit the chi to flow beneath it. A bed on the floor can affect health and fertility. The Chinese believe that “ling,” an embryonic form of chi, resides under the bed and enters the woman’s body at the time of conception.

Even if Wisma is not trying to conceive, permitting the chi to flow under and around the bed will give everyone who shares the bed a better night’s sleep.

A headboard will also promote a sense of stability in the home, but a footboard is not necessary.

Of course, if you’re sharing a bed with children, the children’s safety is the primary concern. Soft mesh bed rails, sold at baby supply stores, can keep the children safe in the bed while still offering good Feng Shui.

A New Mattress?

Unless the mattress is more than seven years old, is uncomfortable, or Wisma senses negative energy in the room from the mattress, it’s not necessary to purchase a new mattress.

Feng Shui a Child’s Bedroom

While it’s perfectly natural for children to gravitate to their parent’s bedroom and this is okay, Wisma may want to make some changes in the children’s rooms that will promote a better night’s sleep in their own beds.

Make sure the children’s beds are in the command position of the room, and paint the bedroom in light, soothing colors to promote yin energy. A Himalayan salt lamp gives off a soft glow that helps children who may be afraid of the dark, but will not keep them awake with harsh light.

Thanks Ken for the beneficial post! Keep it up

This is a big issue to every teacher. Sometimes teachers without noticing give more attention to certain students leaving most probably the shy and quiet students behind. Part of being a successful teacher is treating all students equally…and that is one tough task!

Tom Daly says:

If you have a kid in your class who is on the verge of failing and doing everything in his power to disrupt your classroom, you can’t get around the fact that you need to do things a bit differently.  That’s just the way it is.  You can’t treat everyone exactly the same.  You must be creative if you want each of your students to succeed.

And that also means being firm about what you have to do.  Your other students will respect that.

It’s all how you handle it.  If I had tried to explain it away to other students with a half-hearted or apologetic tone, then I would have opened the door to more problems.  But when you’re confident and firm, you immediately gain respect.

That is on the academic level however don’t show love to one student more than the other. Treat them all the same. Praise them all. Sometimes the low achievers need motivation more, so praise the high achievers and motivate the ones who are struggling. It is logic anyway!

Don’t forget you are their role model and your students look up to you. Be a great example and earn their respect!