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School Lunch Ideas for Busy Families
I don’t know about you, but I run out of ideas for my kids’ lunches—especially ones they’ll actually eat without wasting food. I also don’t want them getting tired of the same old thing every day. With school starting soon, I thought I’d share my Pinterest board full of school lunch ideas. These are quick, easy, and inexpensive options that your kids will (hopefully!) love. Along with ideas from the board, I also send leftovers with my kids. Our cafeteria has microwaves, so it’s super easy for them to reheat food. If your school doesn’t have microwaves, I’ve got a tip for you… Some time ago, I found metal thermoses…
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Back-to-School Time! Give Them Back to the Teachers!
It’s back-to-school time!Some schools have already kicked off their first day, while others are just around the corner. Teachers have been hard at work—prepping classrooms, carefully planning lessons designed to stick (like a catchy TikTok sound), and praying over their rooms and every single student who will walk through those doors. It’s a bittersweet time. They’ve spent the summer getting things done at home, relaxing, taking professional development courses, and being with their own families. Now, they’re shifting back into full-blown school mode. Let’s pray for them—for wisdom, patience, love, and guidance as they welcome each child into their classroom. There are kids who are genuinely excited to return. They’re…
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Special Education-High School
High school special education is my favorite. I do miss the endless hugs from elementary students—but in high school, I get something just as sweet: “I love yous.”Almost daily, as students leave my room, I hear:“Bye, Mrs. Carnahan! I love you!”“Bye! I love you!”And they’ll hear me shout back—loud and proud—“I love you! Bye!” Just like in elementary, I’m here to help anyone who needs it. I’m not built to support only the students with IEPs. I’m built to serve—to lift burdens, lighten loads, and help both students and teachers understand what’s being asked of them. When I first started teaching high school special ed, students were embarrassed about their…
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Elementary Special Education
Special education isn’t one-size-fits-all—for students or for teachers. Every day is a pursuit of progress, and each classroom comes with its own unique joys and struggles. Take, for example, a multiple-handicap unit. Or elementary special education—which is a glorious, beautiful beast of its own. When I taught elementary, I worked alongside two general education teachers, supporting any student who needed help—regardless of whether they had an IEP. I would pull students into my classroom in small groups, track their progress, and gather data on those who were struggling. I listened when they needed someone to talk to and stepped in to calm them when behaviors began to escalate. Elementary-aged students…
