Life Updates and New Resource!

Life Updates:

Hello there! I’ve been a little MIA these past 2 years and wanted to give a little update (and also dispel any rumors)!

After noticing I no longer have my Facebook or Instagram pages up, a couple of you reached out asking if something happened. I’ve heard everything from “Did ASHA cancel you?”, “Did Facebook ban you?”, to “Are you still there?”

Yes! I’m still here and no, no entity took down my social media accounts. Here’s a bit of what’s has happened over these past 2 years:

When the pandemic hit and schools shut down, I started doing a bit of school with my then kindergartner. We finished out that year and… surprise! For someone who said I would never homeschool my children, I realized I really enjoyed it…so much so we continued it into the next year! And then the next! That fall my husband and I also began classes and the loads of paperwork needed to become foster parents. In March, we became licensed foster parents and in June, had our first placement…a precious 3-month old baby girl. Oh how I wish I could show you what a little beauty she is…but you’ll just have to take my word.

Between homeschooling, caring for our (now) 4 young children, I knew I needed to be present and focused. Personally, I really struggle doing this when I have my social media accounts up. You may handle social media like a champ…setting boundaries, listening to your alerts to sign off, and stay off, etc.

I, on the other hand, have never been able to get a quite a good grip on it. So…I made them inactive for a week. A week turned into a month and that month turned into 2 years now! Maybe once the kids are a bit older, I’ll go back to them…I don’t know! But I have enjoyed the freedom it’s given me to focus on the here and now!

What I do know is that, during these past two years, I took a break from Speech Peeps to focus on the above. Meanwhile though, I’ve had idea after idea pop into my head for resources, blog posts, time-savers, and therapy tips and tricks. I’ve jotted them down and am now in the process of making those ideas come to life.

I guess what I’m trying to say is…never say never! When I pictured my life, I really never thought I’d be homeschooling or fostering. But when you commit your life into God’s hands, it’s not really you leading is it? God is so good. Throughout the last two years, He’s stretched my view of education (changing it really), and provided learning experiences for me in both homeschooling and fostering that ultimately can be used to serve my students. You might have heard the expression “When we plan, God laughs,” but I think this verses summarizes it best: “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21.

Survey on Ideas:

So…if you got through all of that and are still here, I would really love your help! I’m looking for input on what YOU would like to see. What resources or posts would help you? I’ve created a short survey and would very much appreciate you taking the time to complete it so I can serve you and your needs best! I’ll choose two winners to receive $10 TeachersPayTeachers gift cards!

Click HERE to take the quick survey to be entered to win!

New Resource and Sale!

Last, but not least, I have a new resource line I’m really excited about! And it’s just in time for the huge Teachers Pay Teachers Sale on August 2nd and 3rd when you use the code BTS22!

While working this year, I really needed something quick and easy to gather data and show parents their child’s progress. Enter Articulation Excel Data Charts.

These spreadsheets make it easy to enter in data for your students and then automatically populate to create functional, visual charts to show parents, administrators, or keep in student data binders. Our time is precious and it’s never been easier to see how our students are doing with easy charts like these! Even if you aren’t an excel guru (like my husband who helped me create these resources), all the complicated work has been taken out of them so all you need to do is enter in a “1” for a correct response or a “0” for an incorrect response!

Click HERE to watch a short video on them!

And don’t forget, this along with my entire store is on sale August 2nd and 3rd when you use the code: BTS22!

Blessings,

Nicole