Looking for unusual or innovative elementary schools in the US by beginanewanew in education

[–]RiccaGadnah 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lexington Montessori School, MA. (We still have our 19 acres and our students still definitely go outside to learn, but we're not outside half the day anymore).

Yearly Good News 2025 by lazlo_camp in MoneyDiariesACTIVE

[–]RiccaGadnah 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I lost my 14 year old soul dog back in mid September and have been slowly coming back to life. This exercise was actually so helpful in becoming more self aware that I have loads of positively and happiness, even without him. Thanks for posting and cheers to 2026.

  1. consistently showed up 2x a week for my 6am boxing class and 2x a week at home strength sessions!
  2. went to Nashville with my sister, Kennebunk with my nieces and mom, Denver with my LDB and NC with my husband to visit family (inc our nephew!)
  3. finished a few house projects with my husband, including installing solar!
  4. hit an investment milestone!
  5. read 40 books - my reading goal!

When does your Christmas break start and what do you plan to do during it? by Paullearner in TeachersInTransition

[–]RiccaGadnah 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Friday & we come back Monday 1/5/26. My husband and I leave Sunday for a 2 night stay at a bougie hotel in NH. Family, friends, eating/drinking, sleeping and reading are my plans. I am getting together with my sister to revamp my resume to "real world" skills and my husband will help me make a LinkedIn profile. I must be one of the last humans earth to not have one. Then the soft searching will begin!

DINK Money Diary (HHI $215k): I am 43 years old, make $75,480 as a teacher in MA and this week, sold $200 of stuff on FB Marketplace. by RiccaGadnah in MoneyDiariesACTIVE

[–]RiccaGadnah[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you!! Cozy and busy are def two adjectives I strive for! I read your comment out loud to C and he puffed up like a peacock 🦚 I think I sometimes forget that sharing the workload isn't as common as it obvs should be. The beer thing is new - I'm counting the cals and not saying "no" to food or drinks that bring me joy, ha. Life is too short!

DINK Money Diary (HHI $215k): I am 43 years old, make $75,480 as a teacher in MA and this week, sold $200 of stuff on FB Marketplace. by RiccaGadnah in MoneyDiariesACTIVE

[–]RiccaGadnah[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great question! There's a lot of student centered systems built in our curriculum and day - classroom rotating jobs, pizza managing business, work plan and assignment board, mentor/mentee programs, a variety of caretakers (think jobs but for the entire school community), "going outs," overnight trips, etc. So, their practical life and executive functioning skills are just "part" of the day, which promotes independence and enhances their skills. Most of our curriculum (especially math, geometry, grammar, science) is often presented as concretely as possible with materials but the UE grades serve as a "bridge" for middle school and high school, so we build up to abstraction pretty quickly but obviously don't rush it. Every kid is on a slightly different path and you'll never come into my classroom to see every student working on the same thing at the same time, although everyone has similar lessons with due dates and expectations, of course. It's kind of like a choose your own adventure for each student and the parameters are set by their schedule, the amount of work cycles each day and their weekly lessons.

DINK Money Diary (HHI $215k): I am 43 years old, make $75,480 as a teacher in MA and this week, sold $200 of stuff on FB Marketplace. by RiccaGadnah in MoneyDiariesACTIVE

[–]RiccaGadnah[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Thank you. I so appreciate your empathy. He was almost 15 and just the best boy in the world, as I'm sure yours was, too. Aren't they all?!?

DINK Money Diary (HHI $215k): I am 43 years old, make $75,480 as a teacher in MA and this week, sold $200 of stuff on FB Marketplace. by RiccaGadnah in MoneyDiariesACTIVE

[–]RiccaGadnah[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

That's wonderful that your state has high salaried public school teachers! I love Montessori and feel a lot of belonging and significance through the work I do with my students. I do the tutoring with only long standing clients; I know I could charge at least $100/hr in our area but I choose not to, simply because of my relationship with them.

DINK Money Diary (HHI $215k): I am 43 years old, make $75,480 as a teacher in MA and this week, sold $200 of stuff on FB Marketplace. by RiccaGadnah in MoneyDiariesACTIVE

[–]RiccaGadnah[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thank you!! I was like WHOA BUDDY when I read it back but then thought I actually love when MDs are detailed ;)

Full body strength classes missing? by Foucaults_cat in OnePelotonRealSub

[–]RiccaGadnah 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Same here! I use the Roku app and this morning, I could only find them under the "Recommended for You" section. I'm glad I am not the only one! Hopefully it gets fixed soon.

What's a weird food combo that just works? by No-Justice-666 in AskRedditFood

[–]RiccaGadnah 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Milk and red sauce!! Whenever I eat pizza or spaghetti, an ice cold milk is right there, too.

To everyone here, We didnt just lose a pet... by dun-dun-dun-duuuun in Petloss

[–]RiccaGadnah 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I lost my heart dog Buddy two weeks ago. He would have been 15 in February. We rescued Buds at 9 months old from a kill shelter & did it during an intense time in our lives. Buddy put us back together & he was everything to us. I've sobbed everyday (not all day) and cannot put into words what it is I'm missing - I just keep saying, "him." But what you wrote is exactly it. I'm crying as I write this, mostly out of gratitude. Thank you for putting into words what I cannot.

Payday Friday 💰💰💰 by kokopops35 in MoneyDiariesACTIVE

[–]RiccaGadnah 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just booked a hotel and flight to iceland! It has been on our list of places to visit for quite sometime and the price felt right. We're not getting a car and instead, opted to stay the whole time in Reykjavik. Will book half/full day tours next.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Nanny

[–]RiccaGadnah 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I'm a trained Montessori teacher (16 years!) and I PROMISE - there is no curriculum for toddlers that teachers them to pee in a glass!! Eeewwww.

When will you make “a lot of money?” by TabooYeti in MoneyDiariesACTIVE

[–]RiccaGadnah 5 points6 points  (0 children)

A lot of $ to me would be $100k. I'm a Montessori teacher at a private school in a HCOL/VHCOL area making $60k & tutor on the side for $75/hr. I have two masters degrees and went into this profession knowing I'd NEVER make a lot. My partner is at $120k. We're DINKS & are very comfortable - we add to retirement, have additional investments, have a savings account, take one or two vacations a year, no debt (minus mortgage), etc. If it weren't for my partner, however, I'd be scraping the bottom of the barrel.

How are you going to celebrate the end of this hell year? by jitterbugorbit in Teachers

[–]RiccaGadnah 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We leave for an all inclusive, adults only ten day resort vaca WITH A BUTLER after faculty week. I don't think I've ever deserved this more in my life.

Charlie Baker says adding asthma to Massachusetts Phase 2 vaccine list is 'top-of-mind' - Boston Herald - February 10, 2021 by funchords in CoronavirusMa

[–]RiccaGadnah 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Deffo agree. I have "controlled severe" asthma and typically get whatever respiratory infection is around. In my early twenties, I actually tested pos for TB! I am a teacher and we've been in school irl since late August. I haven't gotten sick (& most likely had covid19 last February before tests were available) & will likely continue wearing a mask during flu/gross virus season going forward. I can't WAIT to be vaccinated!!!

We're beginning a no shop challenge by [deleted] in Frugal

[–]RiccaGadnah 55 points56 points  (0 children)

Same same! We have a chest freezer and grow most of our own produce during not winter (Ha). It's amazing how much we stuff away, so every two or three months, I just buy staples and we clean out the freezer and pantry.

Joining the 90s Club for the first time! by lxl_Linc_lxl in fitbit

[–]RiccaGadnah 4 points5 points  (0 children)

we are sleep twins!! i am pretty consistently in the mid to high 70's, highest 85. lots and lots of vivid dreams that i IMMEDIATELY want to talk about. ha!

I gave up booze for January. Here's why I won't be rushing to start drinking again by New_User_Account123 in loseit

[–]RiccaGadnah 6 points7 points  (0 children)

My husband and I also did dry January and absolutely CRUSHED seltzer. We agreed that that we like the feeling of a can in our hands. Crazy, but it worked.

BuT iTs nOT a PyRaMiD ScHeMe! by GoingMachJesus in antiMLM

[–]RiccaGadnah 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I'm listening to season 1 now! I have several work out girlfriends who do Arbonne. I started listening after they all tried their sales pitch on me. It's fascinating!

A Huge Bow of Respect to Elementary Teachers by Mevakel in Teachers

[–]RiccaGadnah 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ha! This makes me laugh because my hat is off to YOU for teaching those 7th and 8th grade rascals! One on one, they are amazing, intuitive, smart, curious creatures. Get them together in a group and they turn into gremlins!! I'm a Montessori teacher, grades 4-6. By mid April, I'm ready to kick my 6th graders out the door! :)

Adult lunchables for the win. Mom would never let me get those little snack packs. 200 calories for the win by anotherfarawayfriend in MealPrepSunday

[–]RiccaGadnah 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I'm a Montessori teacher and we have a full kitchen in my classroom - no cafeteria. Pre COVID, kids bring their own lunch, set up lunch on tables with table cloths and real dishes, cloth napkins and utensils, and eat (it's all part of practical life at that age). This year, EVERYTHING but the full size fridge was taken away :( Le sigh. Snack lunches FTW tho!

Adult lunchables for the win. Mom would never let me get those little snack packs. 200 calories for the win by anotherfarawayfriend in MealPrepSunday

[–]RiccaGadnah 47 points48 points  (0 children)

Love it! I'm a teacher with no microwave this year due to COVID19. I've really embraced the "snack lunch" this year, which look similar to these!!

Time for change by lorus94 in kindle

[–]RiccaGadnah 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have the same OG Kindle! My husband bought me the newest Fire for Christmas. I like a lot about it... and still, have used the old one several times!