One of the most popular questions travellers ask themselves about their destination and travel plans is "is it safe?". The question of safety can cause people to be anxious and filled with worry. Worry is the ultimate kill-joy. But it doesn't have to kill the joy out of your holidays and travels.

There are some very simple, practical things to be mindful about and to do to put your worries at ease so you can travel safely and enjoy it to the fullest. Whether you are travelling alone or with someone, or even in a group, here are tips to keep you and your belongings safe while you travel, so you can have a good time!

It feels like half of the world is travelling during the summer and Europe is one of the top most popular destinations. Personally, I think summer is not the most ideal time to travel, but I’m a teacher…so I have little options! While summer means everywhere will be super busy and pricier, it is a great time to enjoy the sun, the heat, and feed off the buzz! Because let’s face it, Europe can be surprisingly cold up until mid-May! When summer hits, you can finally ditch the three extra layers and work on your tan!

What makes picking and packing outfits for Europe so nice is that no matter how many countries you are visiting, in general the whole continent has similar weather and temperature averages, but double check the forecast just in case. Here are some ideas and key things to keep in mind as you pack up for a trip in the Summer.

It's mid-June and most schools are either done or wrapping up! Something I really like to do as the school year starts to wrap up, is have a 'real' moment with the kids. With grade 12's I find and read articles about life after high-school and do anonymous Q and A's on topics that would concern a high-school graduate. They love it.

With grade 6 this year, I did something similar to a fellow teacher, because I loved the concept. I call it Whiteboard Words. It is meant to build up your students and end on a positive note. You will probably need two periods to complete this, and all you need is a class full of students, a whiteboard and a marker (traditional chalk board would work just as good!)

Step One: Being Creative

To begin, every student gets a piece of paper. On that paper they have to come up with a neat name that alliterates, such as Cool Craig, or Fabulous Felicia. Then you collect all these names and put them in a container of some sorts. You will be picking the names out randomly, and who ever you pick must step outside for a couple of minutes while you write their neat name on the board and then get the rest of the class to contribute positive, describing words about that person.

Describe the activity to the students, emphasize that ONLY positive adjectives and descriptions are acceptable. You can warm them up by having students list some of their favourite and unique adjectives. Words and phrases like "awesome, polite, cool, trustworthy, fun, great dancer, friendly, outgoing, enthusiastic" etc.



 

              Step Two: Positive Vibes

Once you have about 6-8 words (you can do more!) then ask the student to come in and come up to the board. I have my students read the words out loud, because speaking them out loud has an even bigger impact than just reading the positive and encouraging words. After they finish reading, I usually ask them, "How does that make you feel?" And they always reply "Good!" and sometimes with a big or sheepish smile on their face.

Sometimes, you will have some students that is harder to come up with positive words for. This is why I prefer the teacher to control the marker and write the words out, because then I can insert a word once in a while, to make sure all students get at least 6 positive words written about them.

Step Three: Record the Moment

To finish off, I take a quick photo on my phone, and maybe because this is grade six, but not ONE student has refused to stand by the board and have their picture taken, and only ONE who wanted to hide their face. There are three reasons I believe other grades (particularly higher ones) shouldn't have too much trouble with this either:

1. Because all of the class is doing this, the more shy and insecure students don't feel like they are being particularly singled out


2. After they read the positive words about them, there is usually a boost in confidence and self-image, which allows me to take a quick picture which at another time, I probably wouldn't be able to.


3. I strategically choose the shier students a little later (not so random after all!) so they have a chance to see many other students do it before they do. If you pick a shy or insecure student right off the bat, it will be too much for them and it will set the precedent for the following students.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall, the students really enjoy this activity, and other classes were excited to do it once they heard another class had done it. No matter how the year went, and how your students did, it's activities like these that students will remember the most, and if what they remember is their classmates think they are creative, smart, kind, and friendly, then that's a good thing!

 

What kind of lessons or activities do you do at the end of the year? Do you have similar activities that maybe you do at another time of the year? I'd love to try some new things for next year! Let me know in the comments below!

In May we spent 4 amazing days in Greece, two days in Santorini and two in Mykonos. We already shared what it was like on the island of Santorini in our previous post, and now we shall talk about the most popular island of all: Mykonos.

Have you ever been so excited about stuff that you couldn't wait to share it with others? Not just friends and family but everyone? I've been feeling that a lot lately. I enjoy taking care of my skin and health overall, and when I find something that makes life easier, healthier and happier, than I can't resist sharing it.

Clicking on the product pictures or links will take  you to where you can purchase and order them yourselves! Some of these links are affiliate links, which help run this website with the newest and best features to keep bringing  you the best content I can! I only recommend things I use myself and love!

Alright! Let's start with beauty and make up products!

Greece was nothing like how I always imagined, but it is absolutely wonderful, and has become my husband's top favourite country so far! The islands of Greece are a rugged type of beauty, full of rocky cliffs, breath-taking sights, and winding roads. The people are friendly, the food is delicious, and the lifestyle on the islands is different than anything I have yet experienced.

Santorini vs. Mykonos:

We went to both Santorini and Mykonos, and I will state right off the bat that there is no way to compare these two islands. They are both very different in their vibes, culture,  and lifestyle; even the way the islands are geologically shaped affects their character. This is a two-part blog series that will focus on each island individually, and today we begin with our first stop: Santorini.