New Adventure (A Not so Techy Blog)

I am the first one to admit I probably have over 50 different nail polishes in my closet.  I didn't ever paint my nails, but my toenails were ALWAYS painted!  Ever so often I had a gift so I could get my nails done (but that was always a special treat)  This past summer I was at a local conference and ran across a Jamberry Nails booth.  I skimmed through the catalog and look book that the consultant had and exchanged information.  A few weeks later I ordered my first set of Jamberry Nails and I haven't looked back!

"ABOUT THE PRODUCT
Jamberry has created the newest, most affordable and long lasting way to accessorize fingers or toes. Jamberry nail wraps are a solid film covering that can be applied directly to the nail to achieve a look not found anywhere else. This special material is both pressure and heat activated to create a watertight bond to your nail. The film is finished with a high gloss protective layer that prevents your nail wrap from chipping or scuffing.
This new nail treatment can be applied in just fifteen minutes at home on your own or with family and friends. With over 300 styles available, these designer nail wraps are made to last up to 2 weeks on fingers and 6 weeks on toes. With Jamberry nail wraps, achieving a salon look that was once reserved only to the professionals is now simple, affordable, and available to women everywhere through our growing network of consultants."  Jamberrynails.net 

Northern Flare

Things I LOVE about Jamberry

-They are affordable!  They have a special of buy 3 get one 1 free... which is only around $45!

-They look great on fingers and toes.  Each sheet can do 2 manicures and 2 pedicures

-They are super easy to put on!  All you need is a blow dryer (I do enjoy the Jamberry Heater much more though!)

-I love that there is no drying time.

-I love that when you take off the nail it doesn't kill your nail (I take mine off with baby oil)

This last weekend I had a chance to attend the Dallas Regional Conference where I learned even more about the company.  It was so inspiring to hear all of the stories of how being a Jamberry Independent Consultant had changed lives of these people.  Not only that, but it is based out of the USA and created by a family following their own dreams!

Team Cute Nails

Do you want to know more, purchase, or host a party.. let me know.  You can order directly from my site at akbusybee.jamberrynails.net   You can also check out my personal Facebook page where I will hold various contests and post information on specials and upcoming fashion! This new endeavor is going to help pay for various meds as we try to grow our family (but you can read more about my personal story here) 

Part of Team Cute Nails with members from the Jamberry Home Office

Tech Challenges

I wrote back in the first of August how I wanted to create Tech Challenges.  You can find that blog here.  I was inspired by so many people!  Such as Dave Tchozewski, Amy Mayer, Nancy Mangum, Angelyn Cheatham, Jessica Branch, Aimee Bartis and SO many more!  I just knew I was going to start these in October.

Well, it ended up being the end of October when I dipped my foot in to the Tech Challenge mode (just been a little busy getting everything figured out!)

Please feel free to use my ideas (but do credit back.. I have spent a bit of time on these getting them started)

Teachers had about 4 days to create and send me their posters.  I put little treats in their boxes today if they took the challenge!

Today I sent an email to staff with my first Tech Challenges.  I know that not everyone is going to participate...but I know that I enjoyed creating them and I can't wait to help teachers accomplish them.

Each month there will be 4 challenges.  

Non-Negotiable- This challenge will be something that is either required by the school, or required by the district.

Science based

Web 2.0 Tool

Data Driven

The challenges are fun, but there are prizes involved too! Each challenge has a specific logo that will be attached to a certificate that I created.

Complete the 1 Non-Negotiable- logo for the certificate

Complete 2 challenges-Logos and some goodies in their box (I am contacting the companies that our challenges are about to see if they will send swag for me to give to teachers)

Complete 3 challenges-logos, goodies in the  box and a free jeans pass

Complete all 4 challenges- logos, goodies in your box, a free jeans pass and I will take the class for 30 minutes!

If all 4 are completed the names will go in a drawing and there will be one winner chosen each month that will get an hour lunch.

Now, I don't just have awesome teachers on staff... I have some pretty amazing support staff (paraprofessionals) that I think we sometimes forget about.  I decided that I wanted them to have 1 challenge a month too.  This challenge will be somewhat like a challenge a teacher has, but I know that there are time constraints that are involved.

If they complete their challenge they earn a free jeans pass.  For every 2 they earn I will cover their lunch duty for 30 minutes.

I love that my principal is on board with this!  I am also excited that hopefully with a little nudging even more technology will be used.  I have already enjoyed meeting with teachers and even doing some co-teaching!

Want to see what the challenges are for the month of November?  Check them out here.

How do you get your teachers excited about using tech. What supports do you put in place to have both teachers and students be successful?

My goal is... even if a teacher does not do a challenge, that possibly their way of thinking changes a little bit.  I work with some pretty amazing teachers!

I leave you with a product from my first tech challenge.  This one was submitted by my school nurse!

Magnificent and Movie Monday

What a whirlwind year it has already been!  I have been neglecting this blog.  I am pretty excited that this next week that I don't have ANY meetings (insert a knock on wood here!)

Magnificent Monday- Liveslide by AtlasLearning
I heard the buzz about LiveSlide this summer at ISTE.  I quickly signed up for the wait list ready to find out more about the product.  You can find out more about the AtlasLearning company here.

After talking with @ipadsammyI am SUPER excited to use this product!

LiveSlide is a product that works across platforms.  I have to admit, this is one of the things that is most exciting to me!  As we have various devices in each classroom

LiveSlide offers the availability to set up classes and create a more interactive environment for your students. The ideas are limitless for using LiveSlide in the classroom. 

Things I am excited about:

-The ability to quickly poll the class to see where the students are

-The option to upload and use my own PDFs and pictures (but there are also some fantastic backgrounds included!)

-The ability to quickly add a slide while interacting with students

Did I mention that there is a replay and note option... and it is ACROSS platforms!  This next month I will be in classrooms more, and I can not wait to showcase it!  Be watching for a follow up blog!

Movie Monday
I have 3 movies to share!  I want to finish completely decorating my lab before I take a video showing it off.

I made a commercial using iMovie about using devices

I made another iMovie with actual directions for using various devices in school

I created a how-to video over Tech or Treat Challenge using Big Huge Labs.  Want to see my whole challenge?  Check out this document

How has your year been?  Are there things that you have fallen behind on.. or caught up on?  On another note.. I became a Jamberry Nails Consultant!  Interested in purchasing nails, let me know.

Mail Call Monday- Most Asked Question about Unique

I can't believe that we are about to start our fourth week of school!  Although I have been teaching for 12 years, I feel like a brand new teacher this year!

I have mentioned in my previous blogs that I am no longer in the LIFE (Living in a Functional Environment) Classroom.  I am now our campus ITS (Instructional Technology Specialist) I just thought I was done with the acronyms! One of my main fears when I left the classroom is that I would not be relevant anymore in the field of special ed.... but with my copious videos and my blogs that I have posted I still get questions (and this makes my heart happy!)  I am also the mentor for the teacher that took over my classroom (who is rocking it out!)

One of the main questions I get is about my Big Idea poster

I absolutely LOVED using the Unique Curriculum and News 2 You.  It had so many resources, ideas, lessons and so much more.  Although I used the Unique Curriculum, I still had IEP's that I had to cover too. This is why the Big Idea board was  created.

Title- Was the Big Idea from the Unique Unit that month

Subtitle- Was each subject I focused on in class

Bullets- First bullet- The big idea for that subject

              Second-Fourth bullet were more IEP based

              Second bullet- Level 1 focus

              Third bullet- Level 2 focus

              Fourth bullet- Level 3 focus and extension activities

Each of my students was on a different level.  Unique is set up this way, but so is our standardized testing.  

Having this Big Idea board not only helped those that entered the classroom see what the different students were working on, but it also helped keep me on track!  Working with so many different grade levels can be a challenge at times (well worth it), but being organized in every way possible is important.

Do you have questions for me?  Have you checked out my youtube page?  Would you like to be a guest blogger for my Mail Call Monday?  Let me know!  You can find me on twitter @akbusybee or email me akbusybee@gmail.com  I LOVE hearing from readers!

If you want to read a few more of my Unique and News 2 You blogs, you can find them here:
Unique Curriculum

News 2 You

Lesson Plan Writing

Next week is Movie Monday and I hope to actually have a video up of my new office and classrooms!

Make it Monday- Preparing for International Dot Day!

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter.. you know the chatter is about #DotDay.  This Sunday marks the 10th anniversary of The Dot (one of the best books!)  I have written about International Dot Day several times and have had T.J. Shay even guest blog for me!

This weekend our school will be celebrating (along with over a million people) International Dot Day.  We are inviting families to enjoy festivities at school that will allow them to be creative and Make Their Mark.  My partner in crime (our Amazing Art Teacher- Alex Alkire) and I decided that we needed new shirts this year.   Last year we made Dot Day shirts using sharpies and rubbing alcohol.  It worked pretty well.. until you washed it.  This year we stuck with easy (and they turned out great!)

Dot Day 2012

Do you have a Dot Day shirt yet?  Here are 2 ideas for you to use!  The first one is uber easy... and the 2nd one takes a few more steps.

Shirt Number 1
Materials:
-shirt of your choice
-fabric paint
-circle stampers

Finished product

 Step 1- choose your colors

Fabric paint and circle stampers

 Step 2- Stamp Away! We put placemats in the middle of our shirts so the paint would not bleed

Ms. Alkire adding some sparkles to her shirt

Step 3- Let it dry then it is ready to wear!  When I wash this shirt, I turn it inside out.

Shirt 2- Thank goodness for Pinterest!  Ms. Alkire found this blog with a cool tutorial for a do it yourself hand-dye t-shirt

Materials:

-white t-shirt

-Elmers glue (the directions say the blue gel.. we use regular Elmer's glue and it seemed to work

-Rit dye

-gloves

-bucket

Step 1- Create a design on your shirt using the glue. Something we learned.. if you put a drawing underneath the shirt to trace, it will bleed through.

 Step 2- Let dry for 24 hours

 Step 3- Prepare your dye.  I did this outside.  I put about 3 cups of water in the tub and the full package of Rit

 Step 4- Let shirts soak in the tub for 10-15 minutes.  It was pretty cool to watch it change color

 Step 5- Let dry completely (I sure do love that we have space in our backyard to do this!)

 Step 6- Rinse- I rinsed it in the bucket first with a little dish soap.  I realized; however, that not all of the glue had come out yet.  I threw it in the washing machine on a gentle cycle.  I then washed it one more time regular with a little bit of soap.

 Step 7- Take them out and let them dry!  I will probably wash the shirt on its own for a few more times.  There is still a little residual glue left (when we do this again we are going to try with the original directions of the blue gel)

Overall I LOVE this idea!  I can't wait to showcase our super crafty shirts!

Have you created your own Dot Day shirts?  How are you celebrating Dot Day?  Have you signed up at the Dot Club?

Mail Call Monday- International Dot Day

My favorite station that Alex Alkire thought up!

It is only 27 days until the 5th Annual International Dot Day!  Last year was my first year to participate in International Dot Day, but it won't be my last (and truthfully.. I think every day should be Dot Day!)

What is Dot Day?

International Dot Day, a global celebration of creativity, courage and collaboration, began when teacher Terry Shay introduced his classroom to Peter H. Reynolds’ book The Dot on September 15, 2009.

The Dot is the story of a caring teacher who dares a doubting student to trust in her own abilities by being brave enough to “make her mark”. What begins with a small dot on a piece of paper becomes a breakthrough in confidence and courage, igniting a journey of self-discovery and sharing, which has gone on to inspire countless children and adults around the globe. (The Dot Club.org)

I have written several blogs over it here and here.  I even had the FOUNDER T.J. Shay write a guest post for me too!

Finally got to meet T.J.Shay and Becky Conners! Some of my amazing Fablevision Friends

Last year our school celebrated by having a Dot Day Celebration and invited students to make their mark at different stations (glow stick station, coffee filter station, thank you for helping us make our mark note station and of course a cookie station!).  Some of the staff even decorated our own Dot Day shirts to wear as part of the celebration.

Only some of the staff that celebrated last year from our school

But the reason that I love Dot Day the most is because of the reminder that no matter how big or small you are, you can make a mark in this world.  I am a believer (this is my motto) that every man, woman, and child that I come in contact with has some bigger greatness inside them... even if I can't see it.  It is so very important for us to BELIEVE in all those that we meet.    Last year my students created a video to celebrate the day.  

Want more information?  Check out the International Dot Day facebook page connect with others through twitter using #dotday and sign up at The Dot Club.  But most importantly.. Connect the Dots and encourage those around you to Make their Mark and see where it takes you!

Love a Reynolds' Wrap with Paul and Peter Reynolds

 Have you celebrated Dot Day before?  Do you want to get connected?  Check out these other resources:
I could not talk about Dot Day and also mention Angela Maiers with Choose2Matter
The Busy Librarian talks with Shannon Miller
Shannon Miller
Kelly Hines

Tech Challenges and Goals for 2013-14

We are just days away from the first day of school, and I am so excited about my new adventure as the Instructional Technology Specialist on campus!  I do know a couple of things about myself:

1. I am a believer

2.I am extremely patient

3 I am EXTREMELY passionate about using technology (are you shocked)

Now, the believing and patience go hand in hand. I know that as long as I remind people that I believe in them and that I am patient that we accomplish a ton together.  The 3rd thing is a little harder... only because I get so excited about different things.

Something that I have been mulling around is doing tech challenges for the staff at my school. I realize that everyone is super busy, so I want to make them fun and meaningful.  Thank goodness for google and twitter to get the ideas flowing.  I connected with Cynthia Treichler who pointed me to Dave Tchozewski.  He had created some great challenges for his schools.  You can find them here  As I did a little more digging and  Amy Mayer posted a GREAT resource of Simple Sticker Staff Development Project

So, taking those all in mind I created my first challenge this summer.

Here are my ideas for this year:

Each month there will be 4 challenges. I realize that not everyone is going to be super excited about trying technology.. but hopefully these challenges will help staff think outside the box!

Challenge 1- Will be a non-negotiable.  This challenge will be whatever is required by the district or the school.  Everyone will complete this challenge

Challenge 2- Web 2.0 tool.  This will be over a web tool that would work in any classroom.  I don't want any of these tools to be add ons, but to be helpful to instruction

Challenge 3- Data based- This will vary month to month as what educators are working on 

Challenge 4- Science based

I plan to release each of these challenges at the first of the month allowing staff to work on them at their own pace and time (and this way I can enter classrooms and help them with these challenges too!)  Now, it is all fun and games for completing a challenge.. but there have to be some goodies involved too.. right?

I am going to do something like what Amy does with badges (still working on how I want to do it)  If the teacher completes challenge 1 they get the badge (what is in the circle on the challenge page.. but I think I might change this to squares so they look more like apps)  A staff member completes 2 challenges they get a little item.. complete 3.. bigger item.. and complete 4 challenges they get a goodie (have ideas for prizes.. PLEASE let me know!) and get their name in a drawing.   Still working out ideas for prizes and goodies!

You can find some of the challenges on a Pinterest board Nancy Mangum and I created for a Collaborative Project Session  that we presented on at Podstock (well.. I helped virtually).

With all that being said.. I have some big ideas next year.. but I know that I need to tone it down some too (not too much.. but I don't want to scare people right away :)

I am going to stick with the same blog themes I had last year- I will blog at least every Monday

Magnificent Monday- Favorite tool/app/website or anything at the time

Movie Monday- Something for the classroom or a tutorial

Mail Call Monday- take email questions or have guest bloggers

Make it Monday- share a how to one of my crafts

My Goals for this year-

1. Cut down on emails to staff (I am going to go for one a week.. of course I will respond as needed.. but will save all my excitement for tools to one a week!)

2. Be conscious of my time on the computer and other devices.  Yes, I want to be connected.. but do I need to be connected 24x7 (some days I think yes!)

3. My last goal would be to lose 15 more pounds!

What are your goals this year?  Do you use badges/challenges with your staff or students.. what type of goodies do you have. Do you have any words of wisdom for new Instructional Technology Specialist?