I cover a variety of topics on the My Book Boost blog. Today, I’d like to highlight some of my favorite posts about eco-related topics.

10 Habits of Eco-Friendly Teachers

Compost Stew Book Review

What Can and Can’t Be Recycled?

What Can Be Recycled: School Edition

Earth-Friendly Toolbox

Being an Imperfect Tree Hugger

5 Easy Ways to Be Eco-Friendly

Simple Indoor Recess Activities

Greening The Holidays

Eco-Friendly Dining Out

Carbon Fee

The Reducetarian Solution

America’s Climate Century Book Review

2030 Book Review

I Rarely Use Pens Anymore

Juice Concentrate

Hello From 2030 Book Review

Reusable Containers For Snacks

Solar Cell Phone Charger

Polar Bear, Why Is Your World Melting Book Review

Plastic Free Book Review

Click below to see some of the environmental resources I’ve created:

To see more great environmental books and information, follow me on Instagram by searching mybookboost.
~ Carrie

Happy Holidays, everyone!

I’ve written a few Dinner Conversation Starters that were inspired by Christmas songs. These can be used before Christmas or on Christmas day. They are great for kids or adults.

Christmas Conversation Starters:

• What  were  Christmases  like  long, long  ago?   Song: It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams
• What  if your birthday is on Christmas?   Song: My Birthday Comes On Christmas by Spike Jones
• What  do  you  think  it  means  if  “the  weather  outside  is  frightful”?  What  would  you  do  if  the  weather  outside  was  frightful?   Song: Let It Snow by Dean Martin

Click directly below to see my TPT resource with five more conversation starters/writing prompts, in case that’s something that interests you. May your holidays be magical and filled with great conversation.

~ Carrie

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As the holidays approach, I always enjoy decluttering to hopefully make room for the new items we receive.

Here are a few ways to make decluttering more fun:

One in each room

Try to find one item in each room of your house to donate, sell, recycle, or throw in the trash. As an added bonus, you’ll get some exercise moving from room to room.

 

Set a goal

Try to find a certain total of items to find a new home for. Maybe you decide you think you can find three (or ten) items in your house to declutter that day. I usually keep a tally on a piece of paper when I have a certain number of items I’m aiming to delete from the house.

 

Reward yourself

Reward yourself with something you enjoy doing after you do some decluttering. Maybe you decide you can have your coffee or watch a show after you’ve found an item to declutter.

 

Eco Mindset

I also try to have the mindset that it’s better for the planet to not have unnecessary things around the house that we don’t value or we’re not using. But, it’s definitely a work in progress around my house.

Do you have any tips for making decluttering more fun?

~ Carrie

p.s. I enjoy posting on Instagram. Follow me there by searching “My Book Boost”.

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I keep a couple of books in my substitute teaching bag, but the one book I couldn’t live without is The Turn About Think About Look About Book by Beau Gardner.

I found this book at a consignment store years ago. It’s truly, truly a gem! As far as I can tell, it’s not in print anymore, but you can find previously-owned copies online.

What makes it great for subbing is that even if you only have time to read a couple of pages, that’s okay. There’s no story, so it’s great for filling in time. Typically, I don’t have time to read the entire book, so I tell the class that if I sub in their room again, I can keep reading it.

Kids are very engaged as they look at the book and try to see how the picture changes as you turn the book four different directions. It’s also great for building vocabulary in a meaningful way.

Do you have a book that would be great to keep in a subbing bag?

Click here to follow My Book Boost on Facebook. I love to post information for teachers, homeschooling families, and parents!

~ Carrie

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As I try to reduce the use of plastic in my life, I’ve started using pencils for every day use.

Pencils are fun to write with. Using pencils for list-making and even in my journal has become habit for me. Strangely, it wasn’t really a conscious decision. I just slowly replaced pens with pencils.

Plastic is made from fossil fuels and doesn’t break down for thousands of years. I’m not against all plastic, but I try to reduce, especially in areas like this where there’s an easy swap.

If you love pens, not a problem. Maybe there’s another place in your life where you can reduce your plastic use, especially single-use plastic.

I do use my electronic pencil sharpener a lot. I haven’t figured out if the electricity it uses is erasing many of the environmental benefits of using pencils instead of pens. I could probably try to use hand sharpeners more often, but I haven’t reached that expert level yet.

There are a few places I still prefer to use pens. I sign school papers and reading logs with pen. When I have to take a lot of notes at a meeting, I prefer a pen because I might not be able to sharpen. Although I’m realizing that I could take a hand sharpener with me, so I may give that a try.

My favorite pencils are the Yoobi brand I’ve found at Target. They’re a nice hard lead and seem to last awhile before needing to be sharpened. I’m not a fan of soft lead pencils, so I usually donate those if I find them at my house.

What are your thoughts on pencils vs. pens?

Click here to follow My Book Boost on Facebook. I love to post information for teachers, homeschooling families, and parents!

~ Carrie

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