Movie Monday- Friday Journals

Every Friday we have journals and word work.  News 2 You is one of my FAVORITE materials in my classroom.  The news articles are great and the worksheets that go along with them are fantastic.  Each day we read our news and then do 1 or 2 worksheets that go along with it (we will do them together first as a group on the Smoothboard Interactive Whiteboard)

On Fridays my students do the word sort, labeling and vocabulary words.  I know that I have mentioned before.. but I have to say it again.. I have 2 AMAZING paraprofessionals who work with me! They make sure all of these little behind the scenes things happen.

Independent students- get the worksheets
Students that need a little bit of support- outline the areas that need to be cut
Students that need even more support- materials already cut out and in buckets

Have questions.. just email me!  Do you have weekly/daily journals?  Next blog is going to be Make it Monday (and Saturday I had a Pinterest birthday party! I can't wait to share what we did!)

Magnificent Monday- Lose It!

I must preface this blog with... I am very happy where I am and with the body that I have.  Now, would I like to lose some weight.. of course.  Would I like to eat healthier.. you bet.

So, the first of the year came around and everyone is making New Year Resolutions.  I am all about goals.  I teach special ed, I like data collection and tracking progress... so goals are my style.  My husband and I sat down and wrote goals for the year and near future.  They were ones over career and of course one of my own was over weight loss.  You can find our progress on my other blog Dreams and Adventures

There are things that I want to accomplish, and losing weight is a big factor in a couple of them.  January 1st I created a profile on Lose it! and downloaded the app.  January 2nd, I started logging my food intake and exercise.

Lose it! Is a Fantastic app!
-Easily track food
-Easily track exercise
-Set weight loss goals and it will tell you how many calories you can eat a day
-Love that if a food is not in the system you can take a picture of the barcode and it will find it for you
-it gives you a breakdown of daily nutrients
-you can find friends and help motivate them
-You can win badges as you log what you have done

On the website
-There are forums that you can join
-There are challenges that you can join
-There is also a premium (that I would like to eventually purchase because I LOVE it!)

So, here to new goals! This picture was taken this summer.  I am already down 7 pounds since the beginning of the year (January 2, 2013 is when I officially started!).  I have not given up the things that I enjoy eating, but I have worked on portions.  If I bite it, I write it!  I also do not eat after 8pm (and if you know me.. this is  hard thing to do!) Do you have an app that is helping you reach a goal?  

Thanks Lose It! for helping me reach some of my weight loss goals!

Mail Call Monday!- Elaine J. Roberts, Ph.D.

I love that I have a schedule for when I want to publish blogs!  I have to admit.. I am LOVING my mail call Mondays.  I have some of the coolest friends who do some amazing things!    Today my guest blogger is Elaine J. Roberts  I met Elaine at Podstock several years ago and have enjoyed her being in my PLN ever since.  I appreciate your kindness towards my classroom, her never ending support, and she is just all around amazing!  Read more about Elaine at the end of this blog.

Success

The first weekend of the New Year has come and gone. There are those who have already given up on their resolutions while there are those who are continuing to find resolve. Then there are some of us who are late starters. Oh sure, you might want to call us “procrastinators,” and you could be right. I’ll think about that. Later.

But I do want to talk about resolve and resolutions. I applaud those who are encouraged by small steps of success. In fact, I’m encouraged by them. They evince resolve.

There are literally thousands of quotes about of “success.” Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other. Abraham Lincoln
The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will. Vince Lombardi
Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as
by the obstacles which he has overcome. Booker T. Washington

We make resolutions every day. We resolve to continue to do something or not do something every day. We deride ourselves when we fail; we are unfailingly guilty of failing to forgive ourselves for a lack of resolve.

But those are successful knows that success is not one radiant event. True success is achieved by small steps. Two steps forward and three steps back. If you look at the selected quotes, you can see that success requires resolve and, according to Lincoln, the resolve to succeed.

How do we measure success? Perhaps based on our resolutions if we have made resolutions that are measurable. People who resolve 10 pounds by a specific time frame, provided the time frame is reasonable, are more likely to succeed and then their success feeds their resolution so that a minor setback is truly a minor setback.
Why? Because they know they can succeed because they have been successful.

So if you have not yet made any resolutions, there is no need to give up on 2013. Start now. Right now. If you have started and failed already, there is no need to give up on 2013. Revisit your resolution to make sure it is achievable and perhaps take smaller aim.

Robert Browning once wrote, “Ah! but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?”

It reminds us to keep reaching. To keep trying. To be resolved. To accept that success comes with hard work. That success requires resolve. And that we just need to keep trying.
Keep reaching.

A little bit more about Elaine:
Accomplished and recognized lead in P-12 educator Professional Development programming and curriculum design with exceptional complementary skills in business and strategic partnership development. Well-established network of professional relationships among educational and development organizations nationwide. Clear and consistent record of leading successes in curriculum design, publication, marketing, and sales. Skilled manager with the proven ability to attract and retain top talent among course and workshop facilitators. Very strong analytical, problem solving, interpersonal communication and presentation skills. Visionary leader with an earned reputation for producing high quality programming spanning the needs of educators from Pre-K through the university level.

Passionate about learning with a focused yet nuanced understanding of the changing dynamics of today's increasingly global and digital classroom. Intuitive and collaborative problem solver able to master new systems, challenges, and responsibilities. Approaches situations and problems with focus yet an open-minded approach, managing diverse ideas and agendas to tease out a solution that meets if not exceeds the expectations and needs of the customer. Works decisively, striving to achieve effective, clearly communicated, and transformative solutions.

Specialties: Professional development, system change, online and blended learning, partner relationship development, P-12, K-12, higher education, teaching
You can follow her on twitter or one of her blogs here or another of her blogs here

Make it Monday- Bed Buddies

With Christmas finished and the cold weather upon us (at least here in Texas it has been pretty stinking cold!) Anyway, I really wanted to sew this year.. and money has been tight.  I remembered growing up my mom used to make bed buddies.  She made them using warm fuzzy socks and long grain rice.  I had gone to Hobby Lobby and found some wonderful bandannas for $1.00 each!

To Make the Bed Buddies you need
-fabric (I used bandannas because they were already a good size- VERY IMPORTANT- cut off the edges or test out your fabric first! It is going into the microwave.. and I found that the edges of the bandannas had some type of plastic in it.  Thank goodness I tested out before I got to sewing!)
-rice
-sewing machine

See my video for full directions.  Each one took me about 10 minutes to make.

On another note.  When I bought all of these awesome bandannas I found one that had flames all over it, perfect for my husband!  I ran home and put it together fast (as he was at work.. and I wanted to get it wrapped and under the tree while he was out)  I was SO proud of how it looked.  But if you notice my first VERY IMPORTANT message.. cut off the edges to the bandanna.  Wahh wahh (insert Charlie Brown Christmas right here) So, the present stayed under the tree.. he opened it.. and then I had tell the whole story.  Everyone else loved them though!

Happy New Year! A Few Reflections!

I have a blog all ready for December 31 for my Make it Monday blog (finished up the movie this morning!)  But I had to take a minute to reflect on this year.  This year has been a TOUGH year for many reasons.  I am very lucky with the people that I surround myself with, amazing husband, and amazing family.

This morning my husband and I sat down and wrote out goals for ourselves.  I will be sharing our goals and adventures at my new blog (don't worry.. I will still be updating this one.. but wanted one just for goals!)  You can find it here.

This year has been a crazy busy year (but then again.. if you know us.. we don't sit still well!)

William was busy this year!  He enjoyed being in the spotlight in several online articles.  He also loved having the chance to be on the Main Stage for Taste of Dallas.  He is an amazing chef that can turn anything into art.    I have been trying to keep his website up to date at Culinary Anarchy.

This summer West Nile was the big thing in the news.  Our family had its fair share of it during the month of August.  Who knew a little mosquito could be such a PAIN!  William recovered from that and is back to his passion.

This year I was honored with the title TCEA Teacher of the Year, 20 Educators to Watch by the National School Board Association, and also Most Influential in Educational Technology.  I still am in awe that I have these honors.  I also spent time traveling and presenting at conferences all over the United States.  It was such an adventure! This year was the year that I also thought I might move out of the classroom, but things do not always go as you have planned them.  I LOVE my classroom and we have done some super fun things this year!

Anyway.. back to this morning.  William and I have always told our goals to each other in passing, but have never written them down.  We sat down and wrote our goals for our careers, financials, health, short term goals, and just goals in general.  They of course include actually going on a vacation (we haven't been on one together since our honeymoon), pay off certain bills, keep a certain amount in savings and some other odds and ends.  I think the biggest goal/reflection was about careers.  I applied for several assistive technology positions/ instructional technology positions this summer.  I thought I was qualified and perfect for the job and that I would be perfect for it.  I did not get either position.  I don't think I am ever going to get over this... and truthfully I don't know if I can ever accept what happened.  But since I did not get that position I have felt lost.  I have always known what I wanted to do.. and how I was going to get there.. so I thought.  When I didn't get those positions I thought I didn't want to be an AT or an ITS... that is not the job for me because I didn't get the position here.  When William and I sat down and wrote our career goals.. it was the first time that I put down on paper that I want to be an assistive technology specialist or be a part of the educational technology world.  In other words, with that really long drawn out story, I know what I want to be!  I have lots of goals, but my career goal is to be an assistive technology specialist or an instructional technology specialist.  It was so nice to write that.  I don't know where I am going to be.. or how I am going to get there, but I know that is what I want to do!

What are your goals?  How are you reflecting? I do have to leave with my FAVORITE picture from this break.

I have the BEST family ever!

Movie Monday- Merry Christmas! #TexasSanta

As I mentioned in my last blog this year our finances have been tough.  So, when my husband called me out to the front Friday evening and there stood my parents I cried.  My husband had called my parents and asked if they would come down for a couple of days.  Wow.. kudos to my husband!

Here is the cool thing.  I know that you all have great parents, but I have the BEST!  My parents are Texas Mr. and Mrs. Claus.  On Saturday my parents got dressed up in their vintage Texas Santa costumes and we went to the Fort Worth Stockyards.  The look on kids faces as they saw my parents, the pictures taken, and just the overall happiness were fantastic!  My parents didn't charge for pictures, went through over 100 candy canes, and spread cheer to hundreds of people that we passed.  I am very lucky to have the family that I have.

I wanted to share the movie that I created.  Please.. please.. please share if you can :)  Also, my parents own a local bookstore in Canyon, Texas.  If you are ever in the area you should stop by and see them.  They are pretty awesome.  Buffalo Bookstore has a facebook page too and they post a quote a day (so go like them!)

Enjoy the movie.  I hope you have a very safe and happy holidays!  Next week is Make it Monday (and I already have started on the blog.. I am on a role!)  Merry Christmas!

Magnificent Monday! Crafting for the Holidays!

Tis the Season to be crafting.... this season has been a little tighter on the checkbook.  I know that most of the world is struggling financially.. and I am NO different (husband had West Nile virus this summer, so he was out of work with no pay for a month!)  Anyway, every year I enjoy participating in Secret Santa.  I also make over 100 ornaments to put in the boxes of all of our staff members.

I was super lucky to grow up with some great parents that encouraged us to give gifts from the heart.  The things I make might not be the best or the prettiest, but they come from my heart.  My first year teaching I didn't really fit in (but then again.. I am kind of an oddball.. and I don't fit in everywhere.. but that doesn't stop me!), but I knew that I wanted to do something for the whole staff . I knew that everyone enjoys getting something in their box.  That started my ornaments 11 years ago.  Each year I try to make them a little different so people don't have repeats.  This year I am a little more behind on my ornaments (thanks to being sick this weekend!)

Thanks to Pinterest and raiding my craft closet I came up with some great gifts!  See captions below each picture.  Want more information on one, let me know!

I saw these cute ideas on Pinterest.  I have seen them made with a larger frame.  For this one I found a little 5x7 frame from my craft closet.  Take out the glass.  The ornaments I found at the dollar store (even the jingle bell) Tied them on top with some pretty ribbon.  My friend Misty did a huge one that looked great!
http://theinspiredroom.net/diy/christmas-ornament-frame/

This is the start of our Christmas tree at school.  We are learning about holidays around the world. Each place we learn about we travel by google earth to check it out and then add an ornament to our tree about the place.  I will add more pictures about it to a later blog

This was one of my FAVORITE projects! It took maybe 30 minutes and cost less than $3!  I found a Santa hat at Wal-Mart and bought 3 yards of tulle.  I bought the tulle at Wal-Mart for  $.97 a yard, but I sure it would work just as fine if you bought the spool.  Use a wire hanger and start tying it on. I love how it turned out (see picture below)

Every year I have my class help me make a holiday shirt.  We have always done a Christmas tree, but this year we did a Santa! I love how it turned out!

This was my final project for my Secret Santa.  I was pretty pleased how it turned out!

I nabbed these light bulbs last year and I wasn't for sure what I was going to do with them.  We had an ornament exchange at work.  I hot glued 4 together at a time.  Then glued the 2 done pieces together.  I found these cute snowflakes to cover the hot glue.

These are my ornaments for this year. Very vintage (a little different than my usual ornament)  Found pretty scrapbook paper and used brown paper packages.  Cut out stars that I had drawn and sewed them together.

Of course I couldn't blog all of my holiday blog without including a picture of Mr. and Mrs. Claus!

What are your yearly traditions?  I also always bake (yes.. I wrote bake!) cookies or some other treat for our cafeteria staff, janitors, office staff, and bus drivers.  I have a feeling tomorrow night will be a long night, but one that makes me super happy to do!