The Literacy Corner – Update #5

It’s about time for another update on what’s going on at Degrees of Maternity from a literacy perspective. And if I can be honest, that’s really all I do around here — literacy. And, I LOVE IT! Literacy-mindedness is my state of being and literacy advocacy is a HUGE component of my purposeful mission in life.

So . . . 

Let’s do a check-in on what I’ve been up to (outside of visiting with you in these blog posts.)

Private Tutoring Services

The private tutoring has been a little slow this initial start to the kickoff, which I began in June 2024 (just last month). I started out with 4 students and am now down to 1. And, that’s really been okay with this being my first summer of private tutoring. I didn’t know exactly what to expect but heard that summer tutoring can be somewhat slow and unpredictable due to a variety of factors such as: summer vacations, students needing downtime, involvement in other activities like camps and sports, etc.

So, I am really pleased with how this first school-break tutoring term turned out. I feel as though I’ve gained some valuable first-hand experience on how “summer break” tutoring can go, and this knowledge will help me to better equip myself for future tutoring during the months of June through August. Furthermore, I’ve been able to conduct tutoring sessions every week, and the consistency in tutoring has been beneficial in helping me to fine-tune my tutoring skills even more.

Tutoring Employment

As my private tutoring has been dwindling down, my tutoring for the company I work for is ramping up. I just received all of my back-to-school employment paperwork to complete for the ’24-’25 school year. And, I’ll have a few hours of asynchronous online coursework to complete before being paired up with my new roster of students for this upcoming school year. My sweet spot for scheduling would be about 15-20 hours of tutoring a week. 

Furthermore, I will also have an opportunity to do ELA tutoring at my dear friend’s academy this upcoming school year. Student volume will depend upon the need. But, I will always make time for the student scholars who are a part of her wonderful academy. SO EXCITED! 

Link to the “Tutoring Services” page

Book Reading Challenge

So, you know how I told you that “I have challenged myself to read one book per month during the summer.” Well . . . the challenge is still on. Yes, I’m going to do this thingy. Before the end of June, I finished my first book, Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger. IT WAS SOOOOOOO GOOD! I’ll be reading it again someday and may even do a review of it on this blog. We’ll see. But, if you’re somewhat curious, go read about it on Google — check out the synopsis, reviews, etc. And, if you’re really, really, curious about it, go to my blog post, entitled The Literacy Corner – Update #4, and purchase it from my affiliate link by clicking on the book image which will take you to the Amazon listing. 

But for this month, I’m reading The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg. Oh my, my, my. This BOOK is what’s powerful! It’s giving me a whole new perspective of why we do the things we do. It’s teaching me the importance of routines and the need to establish good ones — from the beginning preferably. But, it’s also giving me insight on how to break down routines leading to bad habits and a way to replace them with routines that lead to good habits. (Click on the image below for more info.) 

(This post contains an affiliate link.  As an Amazon Associate, I can earn from qualifying purchases if you choose to use the Amazon.com link above.  Please read my full Disclosure for more information).

Although I didn’t start this book at the beginning of the month like I ideally should have, I’m currently on page 164 and have a little over 130 pages left to read. Hey, light work. This is such an awe-inspiring book (for those who are ready to make habit changes) that I’ma knock it out easily in the “less than a week” timeframe remaining. Hold me to it.

The Degrees of Maternity Newsletter

I warned you, didn’t I? I mean . . . I did tell you that the Degrees of Maternity newsletter is getting a facelift. But, you may not see a whole lot of difference in this month’s issue, because I’ve been face-lifting a whole other online residence of mine. (I’ll be discussing that one in the next section.) 

Yes, there will be some changes to the newsletter. Of course, I won’t be changing the focus off of life-improvement content I provide every month. No, that will remain there. But, I will be changing the name of the newsletter and changing the family name. The format and look of the newsletter may also be due for a bit of freshening up. Again, we’ll see. Nothing’s set in stone on this reno.

But hey, here’s something I’d like for you to do if you haven’t already. I’d like for you to sign up for the Degrees of Maternity monthly newsletter that’s distributed to improvement-minded folks like yourself. You can’t get the next issue from this blog site, but you can get it by clicking on the link below and signing up. Hope you take advantage of this free offer.

Link to Sign Up for the Newsletter

Degrees of Maternity TPT Store

Okay, so you know how I mentioned in the 4th “The Literacy Corner” update that I would be working on my TPT store? Yeah? Well, I followed through on that statement and some. This project has been a labor of love this month. I mean LABOR but of love. I’ve been laboriously keeping the nose to the grindstone on this one.

As a matter of fact, as soon as I’m done with this blog post, I’m getting right back at it. Here’s what I’ve done thus far:

• Updated the store banner (talked about this in my post, entitled Time to Get My TPT Store Ready for School)
• Updated my “About the store” section
• Added a “Featured resources” section
• Added my social media links
• Updated 157 product covers
• Updated 138 product titles
• Updated the thumbnails and previews on 12 of my products with about 160 more products to review and possibly do thumbnail and preview updates on

Whew! I’ve been at work!

And, I would love, love, love for you to take a look at the store and give me your honest feedback on how it looks and what I can do to make it better. And, if you happened to check out the store before I made the changes this month, let me know if it looks more in line with the times or if I should have left it alone. (Just so you know — I ain’t changin’ it back, regardless. Too much sweat and almost tears have been expended at this point. Hee. Hee.)

But seriously, I’m all about the life-improvement stuff in all areas where my personal and professional fingerprints have landed on things, so let me have it. And keep in mind that my products are catered to the elementary school-aged learner. Therefore, I’m trying to give an aesthetic that would appeal to those individuals who serve those age groups of learners.

Oh, and I could sure use a “Follow” from you at the store site, even if you aren’t interested in purchasing anything from the store at this time. Believe me, a “Follow” goes a long, long way. That type of outward acknowledgment gives me a little pick-me-up to keep pressing even when business looks a little lackluster.

Furthermore, please feel free to pass my store link along as well — to a parent, homeschooler, teacher, tutor, or any educator/instructor who works with young children in any capacity. They’re sure to find the perfect little incentive, reward, or learning tool for their kiddos.

Degrees of Maternity TPT store 

An Educational Opportunity

I have a way of talking about things before they’ve had a chance to really take root. Sometimes, that’s a problem (especially when that “thing” doesn’t come to fruition). However, it may also be considered a “leap of faith” way of being. I am a faith-based person, afterall. And, I do tend to look at the positive side of things rather than dwelling in the negative.

So, with that being said and without giving too much away before it’s even set in stone, I’ll just give you this tidbit:

Very, very soon, I may have an opportunity to participate in an educational opportunity that will highly influence the trajectory of what I do professionally going forward.

And if it doesn’t pan out, no harm, no foul. I’ll just come back in the next update and let you know that it didn’t work out.

If it does work out, then I’ll be designating at least a blog post each month to tell you how this new and unexpected journey is going. 

But for now, I choose to look on the oh-so-bright side and dream big for future big things to-come.

Until next time . . .