Inspiring Change and A Challenge

Dear Amazing You,

It's Friday.  It's the last day of July.  This week the inspiration emails have all been about change.  Change is one of those tricky things we have been conditioned to fear.  I like today's quote in part because when we just let go with change we suffer so much less than when we fight it the whole way.  I'd love to here what kind of change is happening with you and how you are feeling about it.

And now for the Friday Challenge.  I'm inviting you to practice "the art of elimination."  So the challenge is responding with action to the question, "What can I take away so that my life is calmer, simpler, and more what it was meant to be?" I read a great little blog post HERE about this topic.   Miachaelangelo said that his David was in the stone clamoring to be freed.  What part of you and your life is just clamoring to be freed from the material or emotional or social or financial stuff that is trapping you and keeping you from being a beautiful masterpiece?  I would honestly love to hear your thoughts on this!


Have you seen what Brave Teachers is up to these days? 
I'd love to have you join in the fun! Check these out:

• Personalized Professional Development is having a HUGE sale.  For Individual Subscriptions go HERE.  For Whole School Participation go HERE.
• I am scheduling school consulting and coaching dates as well as workshops for all of the 2015 - 2016 school year.  Email mail and we will connect about what I can do to best support teaching and learning in the upcoming year at your school.
• Brave Yoga:  Breathe, Stretch, Relax continues at ACoT for a few more weeks on Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30 - 10:45, $8.  
• Every Saturday, 9 - 10 a.m. I'm guiding yoga at Grace Loyal Oak UCC, 3285 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, Norton 44203  for $8
• Kids Yoga Adventure at Columbia Woods Park, Wednesday, August 5, 10 am.  Kids and their adults are invited to join games, stories, and creative adventures.  Suggested Donation $5.  Bring a yoga mat or beach towel
• Saturday, August 8, I will be in my studio from 10:30 - 6 p.m. as part of BAM!  Barberton Art Mart.  Vendors and musicians and artists will fill the street and ACoT in downtown Barberton.

Have an amazing weekend filled with wonder,

Brave Teacher Mim

Why Subscribe To Personalized Professional Development?

"If we always do what we have always done, we will always get what we always got."  {Henry Ford}

I'm creating Personalized Professional Development to give every teacher everywhere the opportunity to imagine what is possible, receive real inspiration to inspire best learning in their students, and to share love with teachers who may be a bit bruised.  I'm asked why should we choose Brave Teachers Personalized Professional Development.  Here are some of my answers:

1.  Why not?  It would be sad if your staff never tried anything new with their students.  What is keeping you from trying something innovative for yourself?  

2.  Do you every walk away from a professional development day asking yourself if the presenter has ever worked with children and if they have has it been in this century?  I am an elementary teacher who has worked in real classrooms and with real children in a variety of settings over the past 18 years.

3.  Have you every walked away from a great training on total overload unable to assimilate it all?  Personalized Professional Development is delivered in small manageable bits.  You will have time to process and try out ideas before the next bits come at you.

4.  Have you ever walked away from a PD event feeling like it was a total waste of your time?  My ideas and content are mostly fresh spins on what we already know.  Not every bit will apply to every teacher, but I can assure you it will never feel like you wasted your whole day.

5.  Do you want technology to work for you instead of the other way around?  Brave Teachers Personalized Professional Development will do just that.  It isn't a boring screencast.  It is a mashup of articles, videos, printables, lists, and podcasts delivered electronically--all created with a handmade warmth.

6.  Have you ever wished you could afford a teaching coach?  Subscribe at the Premium level and you will have email access to me all year long for your burning questions or when you just need some extra encouragement or inspiration.  I will help you personalize the resources I provide to your unique situation

For the next couple weeks I'm offering great deals for teachers who have an open heart and an open mind for the upcoming school year.  Look at your choices HERE.


You choose from three different focus modules:

• Heart and Soul of Your Classroom:  Social/ emotional education
• Doing Differentiation Differently
• Teaching Young Minds Without Losing Yours

Read more about them HERE


You choose the level

• Premium gives you extra access to my email coaching all year long and care packages for you, too.  It's currently $179 for the whole year, and on August 9th will increase to $229.  SUBSCRIBE NOW
• Basic gives you access to all 30 email newsletters in the module you choose.  It is currently $129 for the year, and on August 9th will increase to $169.  SUBSCRIBE NOW

I can't even express to you how excited I am to work with you this school year!  This one very well may be the best school year ever!

Huge Sale on Personalized Professional Development

I wanted to share this over here.  I would be so grateful if you would pass this along, too.  Thanks!

HUGE SALE on Brave Teachers Personalized Professional Development now through August 8, 2015.

• Choose from three different learning themes
• Makes a great gift for a teacher you love {See individual subscriptions}
• Makes a great gift for a whole school staff {See whole school subscription packages}
• 30 content driven electronic newsletters delivered by email throughout the school year
• Great opportunities for additional real support from a real teacher
• See a sample here
• Contact Brave Teacher Mim with any questions
• Betcha' this will be the best investment you make in the 2015 - 2016 school year

If you want something you've never had, you have to do something you have never done. {Unknown}

Some Inspiration, A Challenge, + Exciting News!

Dear Amazing And Courageous You,

Who doesn't love a little Jane Austen to inspire them on Friday?  My favorite part of this quote is that the will of others does scare me, but that fear no longer stops me.  Courage is moving me forward, and I hope it is moving you, too.

Now onto the Friday Challenge. The challenge today is. . .SPEAK TO YOURSELF WITH LOVE AND KINDNESS!  Let your internal voice be the way you speak to the people you love and cherish the most.  When negative thoughts arise, have a standard answer.  Something like, "Darling, you know that isn't the truth.  You are loved and precious.  Own it."  Remember this is a journey so honor the process.  Are you up for the challenge?

Exciting Brave Teachers news! 

I wanted you to be the first to know that Brave Teachers is offering Individual Subscriptions to Personalized Professional Development.  Betcha' this will be the best investments teachers can make in the upcoming school year.  Get all the details HERE. {There is a special price through August 8}  This would make an amazing gift for any teachers you may know!

Whole School Subscriptions are available HERE 

• This week I'm hosting two art workshops at ACoT--Papermaking on July 28, and Book Art on July 30.  These are going to be so much fun, and I would love to have you join us!  Get details or sign up HERE
• See several pieces of my art at the first anniversary show at Nine Muses Gallery.  Opening reception, this evening, July 24.
• Brave Yoga:  Breathe, Stretch, Relax continues Tuesday, July 28, at ACoT for $8 per class.
• Saturday, August 1, 9 - 10 a.m. I'm guiding yoga at Grace Loyal Oak UCC, 3285 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, Norton 44203  for $8

Have a wonder-full and adventuresome weekend,

Brave Teacher Mim

 

Monday Challenge: Create Ripples

Dear Amazing, Courageous, and Strong You,

I have been saving this quote for a special day, and today is that day.

I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.  {Mother Teresa}

I thought it would be fun to have a little fun challenge each Friday. {I was painting this Friday so for many of you this has become the Monday Challenge!} The challenge today is. . .CREATE A RIPPLE!  Take one little step today that is going to make your corner of the world a changed place.  Take food to someone you have been meaning to visit, pay for groceries for someone in front of you in line, put a free box in front of your house and give away things you don't need, take someone's kids for a few hours so they can have a little breathing room, buy something locally made or grown.  Oh, man, this list could go on forever!  I hope that is enough to spark your ripple creating mind!  {I would love to hear what you are doing via email or FB or the Brave Teachers website comments}

Have you seen what Brave Teachers is up to these days?
I'd love to have you join in the fun!
Check these out:

• Have you seen the two fun art making workshops I'm doing at ACoT?  On July 28, there is Papermaking from 11 - 1.  Make as much as you can.  It's earth friendly art that is great for cards, books, collages, scrap books, and so much more.  Get details and sign up here. Then on July 30, there is Book Art from 11 - 1.  There will be a variety of samples, instructions for a few simple books, and then lots of time to create the books you want.  Here you will find details or sign up.
• No Brave Yoga again until July 30th.  I am out of town!
• Have you check out Personalized Professional Development HERE?  Have you shared it with your favorite school principal or administrator?  I would be so very grateful if you would take 5 minutes and share a link with someone who might want to invest in their school this way next year.
• NO papermaking at ACoT until July 27

Wishing you an amazing week making lots of ripples!

How Creative Can you Be?

I love creativity.  I love recycling/upcycling.  I save Altoid tins.  I've obsessed about what to do with them for years.

I wanted to share an art book I recently made, because I thought it might spark your creativity for what you could do with such things for yourself or your students.

I made a book titled Curiously Strong Change.  Here are some photos:

Tag!  Your it!  What has this sparked in you?

Top Tips for Igniting Creativity Mojo

It takes a huge amount of creative energy to be an amazing teacher.  Sometimes the creative stream seems to have dried up and become a harsh desert.  Here are some of my best ideas for bringing back that creativity mojo.

5.  Unplug for as long as you possibly can--a day, a week, a month.  All that access to the world and crazy cat videos does not fuel our creativity.  Quite the opposite.  Turn everything off and take a little break.  I used to do this one day every week.  You will be amazed what your brain will do when it's not constantly thinking about facebook.

4.  Take a little artsy/craftsy class or workshop {Did I mention I'm teaching 2 later this month.}  It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive.  And the less it is something you "usually do" the better.  Find a Wine and Canvas event, and drag a friend with you.

3.  Take a nap.  Sometimes I actually go to sleep thinking about creative problem solving, and it's crazy what I come up with the next day.  Sleep is essential to creativity.

2.  Grab some old art or craft supplies and see what you create.  Let it flow.  It doesn't have to be anything you ever show to anyone.  I LOVE to grab a few old magazines, scissors, glue, and a big piece of paper.  I'm amazed by what becomes clear when I glue all those little phrases down.

1.  This is my number one best tip:  Go for a walk in nature.  If possible do this alone.  If possible make this a regular part of your life.  It will change the way you see the world, your problems, your body, and so much more.  Let yourself just relax--especially your mind.  I can't tell you how many times I've been driving home from a couple mile walk in the woods and an idea will just pop into my head.  It's amazing.

I want to point out that most of these ideas are FREE.  That does NOT make them easy.  It's all about stepping outside of your regular routine.  That is always a little tricky so BEST WISHES!

Another Friday Challenge

If you life this poster you can get inspiration delivered to you in box daily.
{Click Summer of Inspiration in the sidebar}

If you want to join the Friday Challenge, head on over to my website:  www.BraveTeachers.com

The challenges are deceptively simple, but they can really change your life!

Two Cool Workshops for Teachers and Other Humans

I'm guiding two great workshops this month at ACoT.  They are perfect for teachers!  You can use what you learn with students of for your own creative expression.  They are open to EVERYONE--so bring your sister, neighbor, kids, best friends!


July 28, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., PAPERMAKING

Enjoy the process of making your own paper from recycled scraps using a dip method.  This paper is great for collages, book arts, cards, and other creative endeavors.  It's fun to make with children in a classroom, too.  After a demonstration you will be able to create and experiment and make as much paper as you like during this workshop.  $20   Sign up HERE

Creative Workshops For Teachers and Other Humans

7/9/2015 18:05:43

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I'm guiding two great workshops this month at ACoT.  They are perfect for teachers!  You can use what you learn with students of for your own creative expression.  They are open to EVERYONE--so bring your sister, neighbor, kids, best friends!


July 28, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., PAPERMAKING

Enjoy the process of making your own paper from recycled scraps using a dip method.  This paper is great for collages, book arts, cards, and other creative endeavors.  It's fun to make with children in a classroom, too.  After a demonstration you will be able to create and experiment and make as much paper as you like during this workshop.  $20   Sign up HERE

July 30, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m, BOOK ART


Have you ever wanted to make cook books for sketching or journaling or gifts.  This is the place for you!  We will learn simple book techniques that even young children can make.  I will show you a variety of samples of various cutting and sewing methods, and then you will create until your heart is content!  Most students will make 3 - 6 books or booklets.  $40, all materials are included.  Sign up HERE

A few samples I've made for our workshop!

I look forward to sharing these workshops with you!  It would be extra fun to make paper at the first workshop that you use to create books in the second workshop!  Do you have questions? Contact me

Edible Cars

The six year old I live with and adore has a book about making toy cars he borrowed from the library.  He has been admiring the section on edible cars.  Finally we started making them, and now we can't stop.  He keeps making hovercrafts.  This is super fun on a rainy day.  I think it would be really fun at school, too!

Apple-grape mobile
Berry mobiles in background

Cherry-berry-mobile

Chocolate treat mobile

The Green Machine 

Once you get started the possibilities are limitless!  Do you enjoy playing with your food?

Art Blog Is Back

My art blog is back!  CHECK IT OUT!

I'm excited to have a home for my art happenings to land.  I share current work, and I let you know where I am leading workshops and special events

Hollyhocks 2
Available at my studio in ACoT $145