The Thinkers Cottage

Have you ever put your heart into something, only to feel like it completely missed the mark? I’ve been there recently, and I want to share what it taught me, because I think it might resonate with you.

I poured everything into launching a community event that I believed could truly help. But when it went live, the response was… quiet. Honestly, it felt like a bit of a setback. But as I sat with those feelings, I realized something important: sometimes, things don’t go as planned, not because we’re on the wrong path, but because we need to learn, grow, and adapt along the way.

This experience reminded me of a few things I think we all need to hear:

✨ It’s okay to struggle. We all face challenges, and sometimes the road gets bumpy. It doesn’t mean we’re not cut out for this—it just means we’re learning.

✨ Your value isn’t defined by one moment. Whether you’re juggling work, family, or trying to make something special happen, remember that one setback doesn’t define you. You’re so much more than that.

✨ Keep going, even when it’s hard. It’s easy to doubt ourselves when things don’t go as planned, but that’s exactly when we need to dig deep and keep moving forward. There’s so much more ahead.

I’m sharing this because I know I’m not alone in these struggles. If you’re facing something similar, I want you to know you’re strong, capable, and so worthy of everything you’re working toward. Let’s keep pushing forward together. We’ve got this. ❤️

Many of you have reached out these past few months to ask how you can help our friends in Ukraine. I’m very thankful to those of you who have helped. When my students and I were in Kyiv 3 years ago, we had an amazing teacher, Oksana. Her 14-year-old daughter, Milena, is coming to spend the school year with us, and we are thrilled to be able to offer her a chance for a normal start to her crucial high school education. There are extensive legal and travel fees associated with bringing her here, and I found out recently that I will need to travel to Poland to meet Milena and bring her to Texas. This was an unexpected expense, and I will need to take unpaid leave from my job. We would really appreciate anything you can do to help. Take a minute to watch this touching video my students made about Oksana and what she means to them.

Bring Milena to Texas, organized by Carrie Hoke In 2019, our Russian class had the incredible opportunity to study abroad in Kyiv, Ukraine. Our teac… Carrie Hoke needs your support for Bring Milena to Texas

Bonjour!

For those that were waiting for the update on when the classes for French 1 and 2 will be offered. You wait is over! ❤

Classes will be on Mondays with French 1 from 1-2:30pm and French 2 from 3 - 4:30 pm.

Space is very limited in the fall so be sure to reserve your student's spot.

You can either PM (Amanda J. Burt) or email me at [email protected] for more details.

Looking forward to hearing from you! Hope everyone has a safe and happy summer!

Just a quick "Stay tuned for more info"

Thinkers Cottage will be offering one level one class this year.

It will be for the French Class.

More details coming this week but space will be very limited.

One of the things I love about teaching French at The Thinkers Cottage is that I have the freedom to change things up a bit. So instead of a traditional Chapter 3 test my French 2 students cooked and explained their recipes in French! Great job class! These kids impress me every time!

I love doing cooking classes with my Russian students. Today we cooked borsch, one of my favorites. We also had Russian tea. It was a great success!!

Last year’s awards arrived late for obvious reasons. We are so proud of all our high-achieving students!

The National Russian Essay Contest:
1 Silver Medal
8 Bronze Medals
6 Honorable Mention

The National Latin Exam:
Level II:
1 gold medal, Summa Cum Laude

Level I:
1 gold medal, Summa Cum Laude
1 silver medal, Maxima Cum Laude

Intro Level:
1 Perfect Score!!!
2 ribbons for Outstanding
Achievement
4 certificates for Special Achievement

Considering adding Language to your Fall school schedule and want to know more? Mark your calendars.....Thinkers Cottage will have a booth at this upcoming event! See you there!

French Can Take You around the World!

There are so many reasons to study French. Dream with me for a moment and let’s explore a few of them.

The Facts:
- French is the most frequently studied language after English
- 175 million French Speakers in more than 50 countries
- 2 million people speak French as a first language in the U.S.
- Discover the uniqueness of many cultures from around the world
- More than 30% of vocab derived from French, so it can even improve your English skills

As you plan your future, French can lead to careers in manufacturing, finance, law, government, education, science, journalism,advertising, telecommunications, tourism and hospitality. Plus benefit you in working with international agencies. Did you know that the majority of U.S. exports are to countries having French as a national language? Approximately $1 billion in commercial transactions take place between the U.S. and France every day.

It is amazing that through one language, French, the richness of these diverse regions can be learned and experienced. French is associated with renowned artists, literary giants, medical, scientific, and technological advances.

Imagine with me…….yourself as a fluent speaker of the language, communicating in French with people all around the globe. Be it serving in with a missionary group, Doctors Without Borders or negotiating a business deal for a multinational company.

Being a French speaker, open doors to opportunities that become possible just because you have chosen to communicate in French.

Come enjoy the adventure that awaits you at The Thinkers Cottage! Registration for fall is now open. Register thethinkerscottage.com today!