Writer
Do you teach music or know someone who does?
If so, check out Plank Road Publishing’s Music K-8 magazine.
In this issue, I’m sharing tips on how to teach music without a budget. So, if your budget has been slashed, you’ll love these tips for how to do more with less. You can check out Music K-8 here.
My new children’s story “Team Jesus” is now available. You can read it for free in KidsView magazine. KidsView is especially for kids from 3rd to 6th grade (or ages eight to twelve).
You can read “Team Jesus” here.
Every kid can get stuck on “I can’t.”
Sticking to it means turning it into an “I can’t, yet.”
Building resilience and tackling obstacles is part of the learning process.
Does your child have the tools to overcome, learn, and grow?
Learn more about how to help kids build these skills. Check out my article: Turning “I Can’t” Into “I Can”: 6 Tips for Tackling Challenges. You can read it in Oak Meadow’s journal, Living Education, here.
“Follow your dreams” is a common saying. But what happens when your dream doesn’t come true?
This is the premise of This Dream Is Not for You by Wade Joye.
Have you ever known that feeling? Ever pursued a dream, assuming it would work out, and it didn’t?
Here’s a bit more from the inside jacket of This Dream Is Not for You:
“In our schools and universities, media and culture, and even in church, we are taught to dream big, work hard, and find true happiness in living our dreams. And so we spend our lives chasing. But as we chase our dreams, we can be met with exhaustion, anxiety, and disappointment. Our circumstances may put our dreams in jeopardy, or even shatter them – and we’re heartbroken.”
Joye brings his perspective on what some churches or Christians will say is a “calling.” If you’ve spent a lot of time in a tradition that uses this word to describe a paid career, you may find his perspective to be a breath of fresh air. Or, maybe even a surprise.
I like the word discernment, which I believe only appears once in this book. And, if you’re trying to discern if you should keep pursuing a dream or a goal – or if you should wait it out – unfortunately, this book doesn’t really speak to that. This book speaks more to the overall fit of how dreams fit into a Christian’s life. And, while Joye doesn’t have any easy answers, his overall conclusion is that if dreams are given to Christ, there can be a lot of pleasant surprises on the other side.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
My short story for kids, The Worst Day Ever, is now available in the August 2023 issue of Kids View magazine. Read it online here.
It may be summer, but it isn’t too early to start thinking about next school year.
What kind of musical field trips might be in store for your child next year? And if you’re a teacher, what kind of trips could you plan?
Here’s more on music trips and mobile permission slips.
Are you starting a small business?
Do you dream of becoming an entrepreneur?
If so, it’s important to know your target market.
Increase your chance of success as an entrepreneur by knowing your target market. Check out my full post at StartUp Mindset here.
If you’re a manager, would you know if your team was unhappy? It’s important to recognize the signs of low morale. Learn the red flags before this problem gets out of control. I discuss this at StartUp Mindset here.
Have you been eating from a ghost kitchen?
You may have without even knowing it.
I serve up the details on ghost kitchens here at StartUp Mindset.
Whether your small business is new or well-established, having the right team in place is crucial to its success. This is especially true of the people in charge – those responsible for building morale, implementing policies, and making tough decisions.
Most of us have had a terrible boss at some point in our lives, but what about the good ones? What do they have in common, if anything?
At StartUp Mindset, a top 50 entrepreneurship blog, I’m talking about How to Be a Good Supervisor. You can read the post here.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “You can do it if you put your mind to it.”
If you’re thinking about starting a business, you might not know how important it is to plan. You’ll need to know how to plan before you can put your mind to anything.
I talk about how to set business goals at StartUpMindset. You can check out the post here.
If you’re taking a field trip, you’re probably thinking about safety.
If you’re taking a field trip overseas… there’s a few more things you need to know.
I have a handful of tips for successful travel planning overseas! I share these tips on the Mobile Permissions field trip blog here.
It isn’t too early to think about 2023! I’m proud to share some self-care tips for educators in the upcoming issue of Music K-8.
Ever sit and think about success? Maybe, maybe not. Join me with my friends at Oak Meadow as I offer up some thoughts on goals, obstacles, values, and identity. You can read the full article here.
I’m thrilled to share with you that Oak Meadow’s fall journal is now available! Oak Meadow is based in Putney, Vermont, and they’ve been a trusted homeschool curriculum provider for years. So, if you already homeschool – or you’re thinking about homeschooling – check them out!
They offer a free journal and this issue’s theme is Weaving a Hybrid Life. You can check out the entire issue here – and my ideas for “Adventures in Homeschooling” – here.
Remember the days of being a kid on summer vacation? Not having a care in the world was the best thing! Perhaps, though, your child has hit that spot where they’re saying they’re bored! I offer up some cheap ways to prevent summer brain drain (and keep your child occupied) at the Shine-a-Light Press website. You can check out my tips here.
Are you new to homeschooling? Are you loving the pace of learning online or still trying to find your stride? No matter which camp you are in, you’ll enjoy the free insights from Oak Meadow’s Living Education free online journal.
This edition focuses on how life has changed due to the pandemic, and more importantly, how we can thrive in the midst of it. I offer up a ton of FREE places where you can learn online! This includes amazing places to learn online about art, music, history, and more! You can check out the Living Education journal here and you can check out my “Resource Roundup” here.
If you’ve ever caught the acting bug, you probably understand why theatre goers and actors all over are aching for the time when it will be safe to lift restrictions, and the “show will go on” as normal.
If not, you may be wondering why all the creative types are missing the arts so much right now.
Either way, join me and my friends at Shine-a-Light Press to get some perspective on why the arts are loved, and what the arts truly do here.
Are you interested in homeschooling or incorporating theatre into what you already have going on with your homeschooling family?
If so, check out Living Education, a magazine published by the folks at Oak Meadow. Based in Vermont, Oak Meadow provides independent learning and homeschool options for families interested in something besides traditional public school education. Living Education is a free publication that you can sign up for, and the current issue can be found here. You can check out my article, “Homeschool Theatre: Why It Matters” on pages 24 and 25.
Erin Shelby 