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As a recently retired OCT (Ontario College of Teachers) teacher and lifelong learner, I am excited to bring my passion for helping others into a new role that aligns with my skills and experience. About Me Hi, my name is Barb. I’m a certified life coach, recently retired OCT teacher, and lifelong learner passionate about helping others reach their goals and navigate life’s challenges. Over the course of my teaching career, I mentored countless educators, supported individuals through difficult situations, and developed a deep understanding of how to foster growth and resilience. I'm always a work in progress, learning and growing as I strive to create my best life—just like the people I love to help. With 30 years of marriage and raising two wonderful children, I’ve gained invaluable insights into balancing personal and professional commitments, overcoming obstacles, and creating meaningful connections. I know firsthand how essential it is to have a strong support system — and how difficult it can be when that support isn’t readily available. Now, as a certified life coach, I’m excited to bring my experience and empathy into this new chapter. Whether you’re looking to achieve personal growth, build healthier habits, strengthen your family dynamic, or need practical support tailored to your unique situation, I’m here to help. I provide personalized guidance and create resources to empower you to move forward with confidence. Learn more about me by checking out some of my personal blog posts . Ready to take the next step? Click here to connect and discuss how I can support your goals! “I am incredibly grateful for the support and guidance Barb has provided. Her encouragement and insightful strategies have truly helped me boost my self-esteem and gain a more positive outlook on life. Barb has an amazing ability to listen, understand, and provide the right tools to help me navigate challenges with confidence. Thanks to her support, I feel more empowered and capable of achieving my goals. I highly recommend Barb to anyone looking to build self-confidence and achieve personal growth. ” ~ Nada A, Oakville, ON

Growing Hearts and Minds - Life Coaching and Support - Lifestyle and Wellness - Educators - Parents - journey - path forward Your journey matters. Let's find your path forward - together! Educational Support for Students and Families: Does a student in your home need support with setting goals, time management, organizational skills or motivation? Do you need assistance with providing assessments, lessons or learning activities to help you homeschool or work with your children? I can help your child to reach their full potential. For Educators: Are you looking for assistance with long-term planning, lesson creation, custom teaching resources, or crafting thoughtful report card comments? Let me lighten the load so you can focus on your students. For Parents: Do you need help managing daily tasks, setting and reaching goals, or navigating stress and emotional challenges? I’m here to provide support and coaching every step of the way. Life Coaching : Are you ready to set meaningful goals and build healthy habits in areas like nutrition, fitness, self-care, stress management or meditation? Let’s work together to create a plan that works for you. "Barb always helps me see a different angle to the problems I face, often ones that provide a better solution than I'd been leaning towards. She helps me come to conclusions myself that were likely buried beneath my pride and guilt." ~ Alison B, Waterloo

Contact me for a free and complimentary 30 minute consultation Click "Buy Now" to pay for a 1 hour session: Growing Hearts and Minds barb.elvidge@gmail.com

Meditation & Journaling - Goal Setting & Habit Building - Motivation & Organization - Positive Mindset - Emotional Support - Coaching - Mind-Body Alignment - Meaningful Change - Personal Growth - Health Goals - Lifestyle Changes - Resilience Life Coaching My journey of personal growth has been a cornerstone of my life. Over the years, I’ve embraced transformative practices like meditation, journaling, reading, and listening to inspiring podcasts. These habits have brought me profound breakthroughs, reducing stress and anxiety while nurturing a deeper sense of love and acceptance for both myself and others. One of the most profound lessons I’ve learned is the power of the mind-body connection. By aligning my mental and physical well-being, I’ve experienced greater harmony, vitality and resilience in my daily life. Whether it’s using mindfulness to ease tension, practicing gratitude to cultivate inner peace or setting intentions to stay focused, I’ve come to appreciate how deeply our thoughts, emotions and actions influence our health and happiness. As a certified life coach, I’m now channeling my passion and experience into helping others achieve their goals and create meaningful change. My coaching approach combines practical tools, emotional support, and personalized guidance to help you thrive in all areas of your life — physical, mental, emotional, and social. How I Can Help You I offer personalized coaching sessions tailored to your unique wellness goals. Whether you’re looking for ways to reduce stress, build healthier habits, or achieve a more balanced life, I’m here to guide you every step of the way. Here are some of the ways we can work together: Mind-Body Alignment Explore the mind-body connection to manage stress, ease tension, and cultivate inner peace. I’ll help you develop mindfulness practices that fit your lifestyle, making it easier to maintain calm and focus during life’s challenges. Goal Setting & Habit Building Whether you’re working on personal growth, health goals, or lifestyle changes, I provide guidance, accountability, and strategies to help you stay motivated and create lasting change. Together, we’ll break down your goals into actionable steps and celebrate your progress along the way. Motivation & Organization Struggling with time management or motivation? I provide tools and resources to help you improve organization, streamline scheduling, and stay on track with your goals. Emotional Support & Positive Mindset Coaching Sometimes, we just need someone to talk to — someone who listens without judgment and helps us see the bigger picture. I’ll help you navigate anxiety, chronic pain, and other challenges while focusing on cultivating a positive mindset and building emotional resilience. Let’s work together to help you thrive in every aspect of your life. Click here to schedule a free 30 minute consultation and start your wellness journey today!

Here are some things you can try at home to help your child improve reading skills, free resources, reading strategies, decoding, comprehension, decoding skills, science of reading, blending, word games, sounding out, phonics, letter and sound recognition, word patterns, rhyming, reading materials Helping Your Child With Reading Here are some things you can try at home to help your child improve reading skills: Let your child see you reading and talk with enthusiasm about books. Read with your child, maybe in a comfy chair or with a stuffy. Develop letter and sound recognition: Play word games that focus on letter sounds, like "I Spy" using beginning sounds ("I spy something that starts with /s/!"). Use magnetic letters or letter tiles to build and manipulate simple words, reinforcing sound-letter connections. Help your child recognize word patterns, such as rhyming words or common letter combinations (e.g., "sh," "th," "ing"). Work on decoding skills: Model sounding out words slowly and then blending the sounds together (e.g., "c-a-t... cat!"). Encourage your child to sound out words rather than guessing from pictures or context. Ask your child questions about what he or she is reading: What is the story about? Tell me about the characters in the story? What do you like about the story? What would you change? What do you think will happen next? Why? What have you learned? Offer a variety of reading materials; fictional stories, factual books, comics, graphic novels, poems, online stories, joke books, magazines, etc. Browse for reading materials at the library or in bookstores. Respond to a text: Draw a picture, comic or alternate cover page. Write a letter to a character, a journal entry by a character or sequel story. Create a crossword puzzle, word search or book review.

Prices & Hours Before school care for Shanty Bay P.S. - $ 2 0, 7:30-9:30 After school care for Shanty Bay P.S. - $20, 3:50-6:00 Morning kindergarten readiness classes - $20, 10:00-12:00 After school homework help and literacy & math support - $20, 4:00-6:00 Evening and weekend one-on-one online tutoring - $50/hr (Email for available times) PA days and March break programs - $60 per day, 8:30-4:30 ($10 to extend for one hour, either before or after) Payment can be made by e-transfer upon registration.

Lesson Planning - Long Range Planning - Resource Development - Professional Mentorship - Report Cards - Coaching - Time Management - Stress Management - Boundaries - Support for Teachers - Teaching Strategies - Classroom Management - Work-Life Balance Mentoring for Educators With over 20 years of experience teaching Kindergarten to Grade 5 and ESL in the Ontario public school system, I understand the demands of education and the unique challenges educators face. I’m here to provide the support you need to thrive in your teaching career. How I Can Help You I offer tailored mentoring services to help you succeed: Lesson Planning : Create lessons customized to your specific needs and curriculum. Long-Range Planning : Develop comprehensive plans that align with your goals and requirements. Resource Development : Produce or gather high-quality resources to enhance your program. Report Cards: Help to craft meaningful and personalized report card comments that are aligned with curriculum expectations. Resumes & Interviews: Assistance in writing resumes, creating professional portfolios and preparing for interviews. Professional Mentorship : Guidance in achieving work-life balance, managing classroom behavior, and designing effective programming. Professional Coaching: Support you to set goals and achieve them, prioritize and manage your time, and develop strategies to help manage stress and maintain boundaries Let me help lighten your load so you can focus on what you do best—supporting and inspiring your students. Click here to contact me for a free 30 minute consultation and let's start a conversation about how I can support you!

Structured Literacy Tools - Decodable Texts - Math Games - Lessons Plans Activities - Ebook Library, free resources, free websites, language, students, teachers, parents, educators, education, Free Resources: Lifestyle & Wellness Parents Educators Students Some of My Favourite Websites for Language Structured literacy tools from UFLI Foundations Toolbox Decodable texts from Flyleaf Publishing Collection of videos featuring celebrities reading stories from Storyline Online Some of My Favourite Websites for Math Math games from Tang Math Virtual math manipulatives from Toy Theatre Math games by grade with Math Playground Math drill games with Tux Math Math challenges with nrich Some of My Overall Favourite Websites for Students Lessons, games, activities and information from TVO Kids Lessons, videos and games from PBS Learning Media Worksheets and resources organized by grade and topic from K5 Learning Extensive library of e-books, activities and resources from Oxford Owl Also check out the Free Resources for Educators. Click here to connect and discuss personalized resources and strategies to support your educational journey.

communication strategies, attachment styles, crucial conversations, communicating with partner, couples counselling, improve relationship, marriage counselling, connecting with partner, navigating conflict, setting boundaries, help with housework, validation Effective Communication Strategies: Attachment Styles & Crucial Conversations Understanding Attachment Styles in Communication Attachment styles, formed in childhood, shape how we connect with others express our needs and handle conflict, especially in romantic relationships. By understanding these styles, we can improve communication and strengthen relationships. Communicating with an Avoidant Partner People with avoidant attachment value independence and may withdraw during emotional conversations. Here are ten things a secure partner can say to foster connection and set boundaries: “I respect your need for space, but I also need to feel connected. Let’s find a balance that works for both of us.” “I notice you tend to pull away when we have serious conversations. Can we agree on a way to check in that feels comfortable for both of us?” "I don’t expect you to be emotionally available all the time, but I do need to feel like I matter to you. Can we find small ways to show that?" “I understand that expressing emotions is hard for you. I appreciate any effort you make, and I’ll do my best to listen without judgment.” “When you withdraw, I feel distant from you. Could we set a time to reconnect after you’ve had space?” “I want us to be a team. How can I support you in a way that feels good for you?” “I’m not asking for constant closeness, just reassurance that we are in this together.” “I value our relationship and want to work through things with you. What’s a way we can communicate that feels safe for you?” “I need emotional connection to feel secure, just like you need space to feel safe. Let’s talk about how we can meet both of our needs.” “I love and appreciate you, and I want to make sure we are both feeling fulfilled in this relationship.” Communicating with an Anxious Partner Anxiously attached individuals often seek reassurance and fear abandonment. Here are ten things a secure partner can say to improve connection while setting healthy boundaries: “I love you, and I am here for you. You don’t have to worry about that.” “It’s okay to have feelings, and I want to support you. Can we talk about what you need in a way that feels good for both of us?” “I understand that uncertainty can feel scary for you. Let’s talk about ways to build trust and security together.” “I will do my best to reassure you, but I also need space sometimes. Let’s find a balance.” "If you ever feel unsure about us, please talk to me. I’d rather reassure you than have you worry alone." “I care about you deeply, and I want to respond in a way that makes you feel safe. How can we communicate better?” “I am committed to you, and I also need time to take care of myself. Taking space doesn’t mean I’m leaving.” “Your feelings matter to me, and I want to understand them. But I also want to make sure we both feel heard.” “I appreciate your passion and emotional depth. Let’s work on ways to express our needs without overwhelming each other.” “I love you, and I want us to have a strong relationship. Let’s build habits that make us both feel secure.” Applying Crucial Conversations in Relationships In the book Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, and Switzler, the core idea is that high-stakes conversations require awareness, emotional regulation, and clear communication to maintain both mutual respect and understanding. The guidelines can be applied in all types of crucial conversation, however the examples I am providing here are focusing on more intimate relationships. When discussing difficult topics, keep in mind three key elements: What I Want – Be clear about your needs and goals. Before entering a crucial conversation, it’s essential to get clear on your own needs and desired outcomes. Ask yourself: What is my main goal in this conversation? What do I really want for myself, the other person, and the relationship? Am I focusing on winning the argument, or am I aiming for a meaningful resolution? A common pitfall in tough conversations is becoming too focused on being “right”, which can escalate conflict. Instead, the book suggests staying curious and open to learning rather than proving a point. What the Other Person Needs – Acknowledge their perspective. Effective conversations require mutual respect and psychological safety, so the other person feels heard. To do this: Actively listen without interrupting. Ask open-ended questions to understand their thoughts and emotions. Watch for emotional cues—if they seem defensive or shut down, it may indicate they feel threatened or unheard. Instead of assuming their intentions, state what you observe and invite them to share their perspective. Example: Instead of "You never listen to me!" Try "I feel like my concerns aren’t being heard. Can we talk about how we can communicate better?" How to Maintain the Relationship – Ensure communication builds trust and connection. Difficult conversations can quickly turn into arguments if people feel attacked, unheard, or dismissed. To maintain the relationship: Check for safety—if emotions run high, pause and reset before continuing. Use contrasting statements to avoid misunderstandings. Examples: "I’m not saying you’re wrong, I just want to share my perspective so we can find a solution together." "I’m not saying you can’t spend money on things you enjoy, and I’m not trying to control you. What I do want is for us to have a plan so that we can meet our financial goals together." "I don’t want you to feel unvalued or think I don’t appreciate your effort. What I do want is to find a way to make this process smoother for both of us." Stay flexible—if your approach isn’t working, be willing to adjust. The book highlights that when people feel safe, they’re more likely to stay in dialogue instead of shutting down or becoming defensive. This is where the “STATE” model can help: S hare your facts (stick to objective information). T ell your story (explain how you’re interpreting the situation). A sk for their perspective (invite them to share). T alk tentatively (stay open instead of making assumptions). E ncourage testing (work together to find a solution). By balancing clarity, empathy, and respect, you can navigate difficult conversations while strengthening, rather than damaging, relationships. Navigating a Conflict with a Partner Scenario: Your partner often spends long hours at work, and you feel neglected. You don’t want to start a fight, but you need to express your feelings and work toward a solution. How to Apply the Three Key Considerations: What I Want: I want to feel more connected and valued in our relationship. What They Need: My partner might feel pressure at work and need support rather than blame. Maintaining the Relationship: I want to communicate in a way that encourages change, not defensiveness. How to Say It Using the STATE Model: Share your facts: "I’ve noticed that over the past few weeks, we’ve barely had any quality time together because of your long work hours." Tell your story: "I’m feeling disconnected, and I miss spending time with you." Ask for their perspective: "How are you feeling about our time together lately?" Talk tentatively: "I know work is demanding, and I appreciate how hard you work for our family. I’m wondering if we can find a way to set aside some uninterrupted time together?" Encourage testing: "Would it help if we planned one evening a week where we do something together, just the two of us?" Why This Works: Instead of accusing your partner (which could trigger defensiveness), you focus on expressing your feelings while creating a collaborative solution. Setting a Boundary Around Housework in a Marriage Scenario: You feel overwhelmed by managing most of the household chores while your partner doesn’t contribute as much. You don’t want to nag, criticize or create tension but need to set a boundary to ensure a more balanced division of responsibilities. How to Apply the Three Key Considerations: What I Want: I want more help around the house so I don’t feel exhausted and resentful. What They Need: They may not realize how much I’m doing or might feel unsure about what needs to be done. Maintaining the Relationship: I want to express my needs without making them feel criticized or defensive. How to Say It Using the STATE Model: Share your facts: "I’ve noticed that I’m handling most of the housework lately, and it’s starting to feel overwhelming." Tell your story: "I’m feeling exhausted, and I don’t want to start resenting the imbalance. I really need us to share these responsibilities more." Ask for their perspective: "How do you see our division of housework right now? Do you feel like it’s fair?" Talk tentatively: "I know we both have a lot going on, and I appreciate everything you do. I’d love to find a way to make this feel more balanced for both of us." Encourage testing: "Would you be open to sitting down and dividing up tasks so we both feel supported?" If Your partner is dismissive or resistant and responds with something like, “I already help when I can” or “Just tell me what you need,” you can reinforce your boundary by saying: "I appreciate that, but I don’t want to have to ask every time—I’d love for us to have a plan where we both take responsibility for certain tasks so it doesn’t all fall on me." "I know you’re busy too, but I need a partner to keep our home running smoothly. Can we find a fair way to divide things up?" To ensure follow-through, suggest specific actions: "How about we each take responsibility for certain daily and weekly tasks? For example, I’ll handle laundry and meal planning, and you can take care of dishes and garbage." "Would you be open to alternating certain tasks each week so it feels more equal?" "Can we check in every Sunday to adjust if needed?" Why This Works: It frames the conversation around teamwork rather than blame. It acknowledges their perspective while standing firm on your needs. It shifts the focus from a one-time complaint to an ongoing, shared responsibility. Setting a Boundary With a Partner that Needs a Lot of Validation Scenario: Your partner has an anxious attachment style and often seeks reassurance, especially when you are busy or need some alone time. You are feeling overwhelmed and want to set a boundary around personal space while still maintaining connection and security in your relationship. How to Apply the Three Key Considerations: What I Want: I want a healthy balance between personal space and connection while reassuring my partner that I love them. What They Need: They crave security and reassurance in our relationship. They fear distance means rejection or disinterest. Maintaining the Relationship: I want to express my needs without triggering their fears and instead foster understanding and trust. How to Say It Using the STATE Model: Share your facts: "Lately, I’ve noticed that when I take time for myself—whether it’s reading, working, or just decompressing—you sometimes seem upset or worried that I’m pulling away." Tell your story: "I want you to know that when I need time alone, it’s not because I’m upset with you or don’t want to be around you. I truly value our relationship, and having time to recharge actually helps me show up as a better partner." Ask for their perspective: “Have you been feeling like I’m pulling away? What’s going through your mind when I take space?" Talk tentatively: "I could be wrong, but it seems like when I take personal time, it might make you feel anxious. Is that right?" Encourage testing: "I want us to find a way that works for both of us. Maybe we can come up with a small check-in routine so you feel reassured while I still get my needed alone time. What do you think?" Why This Works: It offers reassurance first and encourages open dialogue. It frames the boundary as a positive by explaining that personal space helps me be a better partner rather than making it sound like a punishment or rejection. It creates a collaborative solution through finding a compromise. For more strategies on improving your relationship, check out my blog: Transforming My Relationship by Transforming Myself . Final Thoughts Whether navigating different attachment styles or having crucial conversations, effective communication is key to healthier relationships. By practicing these strategies, you can create deeper connection, mutual understanding, and lasting change. Your journey matters. Let’s find your path forward—together. Click here to contact me for more personalized support!

Helping your child with math - Tips and support for educators, parents and students, shapes and patterns, measurement, mathematical thinking, math games, sorting, problem-solving games, real life math, money, counting Helping Your Child With Math Here are some things you can try at home to help your child improve math skills: Look for shapes and patterns at home or during daily activities. Have children help with measurement, for example when cooking, sewing, building, etc. Ask your child to explain the math skills they are working on or how they got an answer to a math question. Model different approaches to mathematical thinking. For example when counting a group of objects you could line them up, put them in groups of five or ten, or move them while you count by ones or twos. Play card, dice or board games that involve counting, adding or other math concepts. Compare and sort by height, length, weight, speed, cost, etc. Point out ways that math is part of real life as situations arise; money, music, art, construction, cooking, etc. Have tools such as a ruler, scale, calculator and measuring tape available to use to solve day to day math problems. Help your child find appropriate number and problem-solving games online. Check out these math games from Tang Math .

Growing Hearts And Minds

Language Activities and Resources - Art Lessons - Other Freebies, free resources, free websites, team building activities, ontario curriculum, language lessons, write the room, subitizing, addition strategies, students, educators, parents, teachers, education Free Resources: Lifestyle & Wellness Parents Educators Students Some of My Favourite Websites Collection of language resources from Spel-Lang Tree Learning resources aligned with Ontario curriculum from TVO Learn Art lessons from Deep Space Sparkle Language lessons and resources from Read Write Think (scroll down to the bottom to select grade) Lessons, activities and resources shared by teachers from Share My Lesson (searchable by grade, subject and resource type) Check out my Facebook Group, Busy Women Finding Balance , a supportive space for women to share struggles, wins, and practical strategies for reducing stress and creating balance in our busy lives. As a bonus for joining, you’ll get free access to my 18-page goal-setting workbook, Beyond the To-Do List! It’s designed to help you reflect, prioritize, and take action—one step at a time (you can find it in the Files section). Some of My Own Freebies (shareable Google docs) Write the Room - Beginning Blends (for gr. 1-2) Personal Thesaurus (for gr. 2-5) Subitizing Dot slides (for gr. K-2) Addition Strategies Practice (for gr. 1-2) Team Building Activities (for gr. 2-5) Supply Teacher Toolkit (for gr. K-6) Sample Learning Skills Comments (for gr. 1-6) Also check out the Free Resources for Students . Click here to contact me and start a conversation about how I can support you with custom resources and strategies to lighten your workload!