Instagram story viewer> @buildingbrilliance> Posts

Kelly Bates

@buildingbrilliance

37.3K

followers

701

following

Teacher turned homeschooler 👦🏼👧🏼🧒🏼👶🏼
Motherhood, teaching, books, and cute farm animals.
Co-Owner @hellowhimsyco

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

I had the privilege of serving with @rayofhopeportraits yesterday in celebrating and spoiling this beautiful little girl who is leukemia warrior.

My sweet friend @amywinsorphotography recently started a non-profit, @rayofhopeportraits, that brings larger than life photo sessions to critically ill children and yesterday was the first time I had the honor of witnessing the magic first hand. It was beautiful in every possible way.

Yesterday was emotional in all the ways, but knowing the family outside of the session made it even more special. Gracelyns’ mom Megan student taught at my school years ago, and I’ve watched Gracelyn’s journey as Megan has shared online. Megan is such an amazing teacher and mom, and her strength and grace are inspiring! Here’s a behind the scenes of @megsvc beautiful daughter, Gracelyn’s photo session. It was a gift to witness her joy yesterday! Continuing to pray for healing and hope! by @buildingbrilliance

28

3

3 years ago

Not our usual WHIMSY content….

BUT! With our boys’ bdays only 17 days apart.. Kelly and I decided to do a combined bday party! We went with a DINO CONSTRUCTION theme to make both boys happy and we think it turned out so cute! 🚧🦖

These little besties had an amazing day 🤍 Also.. how lucky and amazing is it that my bestie and I get to work together AND raise our kids together?! Truly so special🤍🤍🤍

#celebration #birthday #dinosaur #construction #party #kids #motherhood #parenting #diy by @buildingbrilliance

30

1

3 years ago

Tired of your kids mixing all the colors and ending up with brown artwork?

We hosted a Halloween party for our kids this weekend. They insisted we have games and crafts, so I spent a week cutting out these cute little ghosts so they could have a paint station.

Rather than setting 12 kids loose with every color of paint possible, I gave them 4 colors that really didn’t matter if they got mixed. Their little ghosts turned out so cute!

The photo is of my 5 and 3 year olds final project (I forgot to take pictures of the other kids).

Also, if you mix in a drop of dish soap to your washable paint, it makes it even easier to remove later.

Have you tried limiting your kids paint choices to see how it turns out?

On a side note, we are going to have fun seasonal paint kits in our shop @whimsyandwhiteboardskids when we officially open it up next week!! ❤️

#TeacherMom #ClassroomHack #MomLife #HomeschoolMom #MakeLearningFun #Homeschooling #iTeachThird #iTeachKinder #TeachersFollowTeachers by @buildingbrilliance

39

5

4 years ago

Some of my favorite childhood memories are baking cinnamon rolls with my grandma!

Baking is sometimes like that. It’s more about the experience than the actual food.

In this precious new story by @vanessagarciawriter and @cardinalrulepress we experience the love between a grandfather and granddaughter as they bake up history, geography, and life lessons, as well as delicious treats.

Papan means bread in Spanish and it’s the perfect nickname for a papa who loves to bake bread. He takes his granddaughter on a tour around the world as they bake up different breads and learn about the history and culture of the bread they are baking.

Together, they gain more than a meal, they grow in love, with every loaf!

You can check out this book on the @cardinalrulepress website (link in my bio).

Do you have a special memory of baking with a loved one?

#GoodReads #BooksThatTeach #PictureBook #ClassroomLibrary #NewAuthor #iTeachToo #CardinalRulesPress #TeachersFollowTeachers by @buildingbrilliance

62

4

4 years ago

Loooook what just came in the mail! 😍

The Magic of Me series by @authorbcummings just added another beautiful story to its lineup!

My Magical Moods is a beautiful story to teach kids how to cope with their big feelings when they are feeling low or overwhelmed.

The sweet poems in each page give tangible and practical ways for kids to calm their nerves, fill their buckets, and improve their moods.

Thank you Becky for another beautiful story!

If you have kids who are feeling all the feels and need help to recenter themselves, snag this one for your collection. ❤️

#TeacherMom #ClassroomLibrary #ITeachThird #HomeschoolMom #BooksThatTeach
#iTeachK #MomOf4 #HomeschoolLife #TeachersFollowTeachers by @buildingbrilliance

3

4

4 years ago

If I could sum up motherhood in a tv show quote… 🤣🍞

We are finally starting to get some solid routines down that are making #Homeschooling so much easier, but still…by the end of the day, there’s not much of me left. 😅 Physically, mentally, emotionally…I’m drained!

I genuinely love this season of life. LOVE it, but still…is it bedtime yet? 😅🤣

Sooooo how did your week go?

#MotherhoodBlogger #MomHumor #MotherhoodUnfiltered #HomeschoolMom #MomOf4 #iTeach3rd #iTeachKinder #Homesteading #TeacherMom by @buildingbrilliance

110

5

4 years ago

Have you ever had to do something that you reaaaaaally didn’t want to do?

Beto’s mami is getting remarried and she is making him wear a guayabera. He absolutely doesn’t want to, and tries everything to get out of it.

He and his mother pass negotiating notes to each other as he tries to find an excuse to wear something, aaaanythjng, different.

As he learns more about the tradition of the guayabera, and why it is important to her, will mami convince Beto to wear it for the big day?

This new #picturebook by @cindylrodriguez71 is an adorable disagreement between a mother and son that students can easily relate to. The dialogue teaches students about the importance of tradition to families, while teaching about a potentially unknown Latin American tradition of the guayabera (wedding shirt).

Thank you @cardinalrulepress for sharing this sweet story with me!

#Goodreads #ClassroomLibrary #BooksThatTeach #ReadingSpecialist #DiverseBooks #iTeachKinder #iTeachThird #TeachersFollowTeachers by @buildingbrilliance

3

36

4 years ago

42

9

4 years ago

Probably the number one argument against homeschooling that I hear is that kids are not properly socialized and end up “weird”. 🙄

We all know that one weird homeschooled kid who couldn’t possibly have turned out weird if they had gone to a traditional school, right? 🥴

I mean, I can’t blame them, because I’ve ignorantly thought, and said, the same thing.

But simply learning outside a traditional classroom doesn’t mean that a child never has human interactions where they learn how to be “socialized”. It doesn’t mean that they don’t get to learn and play with other kids. It doesn’t mean that they will be “weird”. With homeschooling on the rise, it is easier now than ever before to find groups and activities for homeschooled kidsto participate.

In fact, because we don’t require as many hours a day to finish school, we get to spend a lot more time visiting parks and museums, participating in extra-curriculars, having play dates with friends, spending quality time as a family, and exploring activities that we are interested and that fuel our hearts.

A wise veteran homeschool friend once told me “Our kids will only be as weird as we are.” And honestly, if my kids turn out my kind of weird, well, I guess I’m okay with that. 🤷🏼‍♀️

#HomeschoolMom #HomeschoolJourney #MomOf4 #TeacherTurnedHomeschooler #iTeachToo #Homesteading #MotherhoodBlogger #HomeschoolLife #HomeschoolBlogger #HomechoolCommunity by @buildingbrilliance

146

23

4 years ago

Here’s hoping we can get everyone’s circadian rhythms synced before school starts…🤣😴

My husband is an early bird. I am a night owl. Naturally, we ended up with both types of children, so now I’m just a permanently exhausted human. 🤣

Also, peep that tiny smile he’s giving me at the end. Apparently he thought my face looked funny. Or he had to fart. Either way. 🤣

Anyone else marry their opposite when it comes to sleeping?

#MomLife #MomOf4 #HomeschoolMom #SendCaffeine #TeacherMom #MotherhoodBlogger #Homestead by @buildingbrilliance

283

10

4 years ago

If you were to ask me what my number one recommendation for a back to school picture book is, I’d tell you this one!

Have You Filled a Bucket Today? has been my favorite since I first read it 11 years ago, and it will probably still be my favorite in 11 more years!

I have used this book the first week of school to help introduce the classroom culture of kindness that I want us to have all year long.

If you’re unfamiliar with the idea of bucket filling, the premise is simple. Everyone walks around with an invisible bucket. All day, your bucket is either filled or dipped into. When you show kindness, you fill not only others buckets, but your own in the process. You can never fill your own bucket by dipping into others. Simple acts of kindness add up to fill buckets and in turn can fill your own.

The message is simple enough that it’s easily understood, but complex enough that it really sticks.

After reading this book, I like to set up our own interactive bulletin board where students can add notes to others buckets, either as they notice them filling others or as they were filled by others.

I love how this gets students to pay attention to acts of kindness that see it all around them.

Want the link to the board I created? Send me a DM!

Thank you @cardinalrulepress for bringing this amazing book to life!

#BucketFillers #GoodReads #BackToSchool #ClassroomLibrary #TeachersFollowTeachers #TeachersOfInstagram #ITeachToo by @buildingbrilliance

74

15

4 years ago

The good news is…I know what to expect. 😅

The bad news is…I know what to expect. 😅

But for real…this kid can come any time now. I’m ready. 😅

My other kids were born on their due date, 14 days early, and 10 days early. I am currently 6 days from my due date, I’ve been ready for weeks, and just waaaaaaaaiting. 🤣😅

Anyone else have a wide range of when their kids were born?

#Motherhood #HomeschoolMom #TeacherMom #Pregnant #MomLife #39WeeksPregnant #MotherhoodBlogger #Homesteading #MomOf4 #HomeschoolMom by @buildingbrilliance

94

9

4 years ago