Take Care of Yourself - a Good Cause

One thing many teachers find themselves reminding their students of throughout the day is "who are you supposed to worry about?" Response: "yourself." Or perhaps we word it slightly differently. My own class motto has the wording "Take Care of yourself." However, do we as teachers ever stop and take care of ourselves? My co-teachers and I have had several reminders to do that in the past couple of weeks. Yes, we've been exhausted. But there have also been unexpected deaths and hospitalizations. 

Over this weekend I have learned even more so how important it is that we take care of ourselves - and maybe even perhaps be sure we don't say "worry about yourself" because sometimes other need us to worry for them. 

One of my co-workers has been in and out of the hospital for the past two weeks. She has Cystic Fybrosis. We're hoping to see her smiling face tomorrow morning. I had her class make cards for her on Friday and they were so excited. Also, coming up at my school is Relay for Life.

Relay for Life is a way to help with any and all kinds of cancers. I certainly can name too many that affected my life through various people. 

One thing my father always taught me is that no matter your position in life, you always have enough to give. I am fortunate to work in a school where my principal supports that. Tomorrow, I am setting up my Stella & Dot jewels for teachers to stop by and shop. 20% of the proceeds will be donated to Relay for Life. If you would like to contribute to the effort, go ahead to my link (especially while you are watching the Oscars tonight and getting inspired by all of the style) and shop. I'll then contribute 20% of all purchases made from now until midnight Tuesday night (2/28 EST).

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You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello

Goodbye All My Children (I took it hard back in September). Goodbye One Life to Live (I'm really very sad about this). Oh and goodbye Robin from General Hospital (I know, really it will be 2012 when she finally leaves, but I've been in mourning). Maybe my afternoons will be filled with more time, however less entertainment.

Goodbye Stabler from Law & Order SVU.

Goodbye Blackberry; Hello iPhone.

Goodbye living with the parents; Hello glorious own apartment.

Goodbye old blog template, hello NEW one. Doesn't it look great?! Clean and simple. Designer Blogs does a great job.

Hello new Teacher's Notebook shop - see that pink circle in the upper right corner, click on it, it takes you there. Right now there are just some freebies while I feel it all out.

Hello new Facebook page - see the teal circle in the upper right hand corner, click on it, it takes you there. I'm still struggling on that one. I used to remember how to get the blog linked up and get my blog button image, and now nothing's working.

Hello to teaching a Professional Learning to my coworkers (stay tuned about that) and after-school to 4th graders.

Hello to turning 30 (yikes, I may take that harder than I think).

Hello swimming laps again (I love it).

Hello organizing - can we say - Container Store

I hope you've enjoyed this small little introduction to my new surroundings in the blog world. In the real world, my cousin sent me this (it's quite interesting, the ways in which our world is changing) article titled:

 21 Things That Will Be Obsolete in 2020

1. DESKS
The 21st century does not fit neatly into rows. Neither should your students. Allow the network-based concepts of flow, collaboration, and dynamism help you rearrange your room for authentic 21st century learning.

2. LANGUAGE LABS
Foreign language acquisition is only a smartphone away. Get rid of those clunky desktops and monitors and do something fun with that room.

3. COMPUTERS
Ok, so this is a trick answer. More precisely this one should read: ‘Our concept of what a computer is’. Because computing is going mobile and over the next decade we’re going to see the full fury of individualized computing via handhelds come to the fore. Can’t wait.

4. HOMEWORK
The 21st century is a 24/7 environment. And the next decade is going to see the traditional temporal boundaries between home and school disappear. And despite whatever Secretary Duncan might say, we don’t need kids to ‘go to school’ more; we need them to ‘learn’ more. And this will be done 24/7 and on the move (see #3).

5. THE ROLE OF STANDARDIZED TESTS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
The AP Exam is on its last legs. The SAT isn’t far behind. Over the next ten years, we will see Digital Portfolios replace test scores as the #1 factor in college admissions.

6. DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION AS A SIGN OF DISTINGUISHED TEACHER 
The 21st century is customizable. In ten years, the teacher who hasn’t yet figured out how to use tech to personalize learning will be the teacher out of a job. Differentiation won’t make you ‘distinguished’; it’ll just be a natural part of your work.

7. FEAR OF WIKIPEDIA
Wikipedia is the greatest democratizing force in the world right now. If you are afraid of letting your students peruse it, it’s time you get over yourself.

8. PAPERBACKS
Books were nice. In ten years’ time, all reading will be via digital means. And yes, I know, you like the ‘feel’ of paper. Well, in ten years’ time you’ll hardly tell the difference as ‘paper’ itself becomes digitized.

9. ATTENDANCE OFFICES
Bio scans. ‘Nuff said.

10. LOCKERS
A coat-check, maybe.

11. I.T. DEPARTMENTS
Ok, so this is another trick answer. More subtly put: IT Departments as we currently know them. Cloud computing and a decade’s worth of increased wifi and satellite access will make some of the traditional roles of IT — software, security, and connectivity — a thing of the past. What will IT professionals do with all their free time? Innovate. Look to tech departments to instigate real change in the function of schools over the next twenty years.

12. CENTRALIZED INSTITUTIONS
School buildings are going to become ‘homebases’ of learning, not the institutions where all learning happens. Buildings will get smaller and greener, student and teacher schedules will change to allow less people on campus at any one time, and more teachers and students will be going out into their communities to engage in experiential learning.

13. ORGANIZATION OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES BY GRADE 
Education over the next ten years will become more individualized, leaving the bulk of grade-based learning in the past. Students will form peer groups by interest and these interest groups will petition for specialized learning. The structure of K-12 will be fundamentally altered.

14. EDUCATION SCHOOLS THAT FAIL TO INTEGRATE TECHNOLOGY
This is actually one that could occur over the next five years. Education Schools have to realize that if they are to remain relevant, they are going to have to demand that 21st century tech integration be modeled by the very professors who are supposed to be preparing our teachers.

15. PAID/OUTSOURCED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
No one knows your school as well as you. With the power of a PLN (professional learing networks) in their back pockets, teachers will rise up to replace peripatetic professional development gurus as the source of schoolwide professional development programs. This is already happening.

16. CURRENT CURRICULAR NORMS
There is no reason why every student needs to take however many credits in the same course of study as every other student. The root of curricular change will be the shift in middle schools to a role as foundational content providers and high schools as places for specialized learning.

17. PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE NIGHT
Ongoing parent-teacher relations in virtual reality will make parent-teacher conference nights seem quaint. Over the next ten years, parents and teachers will become closer than ever as a result of virtual communication opportunities. And parents will drive schools to become ever more tech integrated.

18. TYPICAL CAFETERIA FOOD
Nutrition information + handhelds + cost comparison = the end of $3.00 bowls of microwaved mac and cheese. At least, I so hope so.

19. OUTSOURCED GRAPHIC DESIGN AND WEB DESIGN
You need a website/brochure/promo/etc.? Well, for goodness sake just let your kids do it. By the end of the decade — in the best of schools — they will be.

20. HIGH SCHOOL ALGEBRA 1
Within the decade, it will either become the norm to teach this course in middle school or we’ll have finally woken up to the fact that there’s no reason to give algebra weight over statistics and I.T. in high school for non-math majors (and they will have all taken it in middle school anyway).

21. PAPER
In ten years’ time, schools will decrease their paper consumption by no less than 90%. And the printing industry and the copier industry and the paper industry itself will either adjust or perish.

Happy 2012!

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You Know You're a Teacher When + Warm Fuzzies

Way back when I first started blogging, Abby from the Inspired Apple hosted a linky party for "You Know You're a Teacher When..."

I still believe in everything I wrote in that post. However today, via Pinterest of course, I found this that a former coworker of mine had found. I had to share it.

Oh I believe so much of these also ring true.
Laminating - I love me some laminating. There is something about cutting it that is so therapeutic to me.
April 1 - umm probably my least favorite day to be around kids.
Totally sing the ABC's in my head when figuring out telephone numbers or info in a dictionary.
And my favorite, and probably my brother's biggest pet peeve of mine, I feel the need to constantly correct grammar.

And well since we're going way back here and looking through an old post I thought I would also catch up on some awards I received, as well as need to reciprocate with the giving.

A while ago I mentioned that these two lovely bloggers:

Leslie at Jack of all Trades

 

and Liz at First Grade Frenzy

nominated as one of their Top 10 blogs. Right after I posted that sweet Miss Kindergarten, Hadar, did so as well, so I definitely want to thank her too!

In addition to the above three blogs, the following also are in my Top 10 (and I feel I must say, it is so very hard to narrow this down, so what I did was strictly stick to the bloggers who I began reading and getting inspired from). Some of the blogs listed below inspired me or even commented that I should begin my own blog. Once I had done so, some of the bloggers have continued to support me from day one. 

 
Thank you all for making me become a Top 10 and for being part of MY TOP 10!

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A Segment I Like to Call 'Really!?!'

Did anyone think of Saturday Night Live with Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler? If so, that's right where I was going! If not, warning, my humor is dry and sarcastic but I am sweet as can be. So what I'd like to do here is a little segment updating you on my week, my thoughts is this crazy world of teaching, and maybe make you chuckle. 

 Why is it that being useless makes you more tired than actually working? After a two week hiatus of subbing my long-term stint began today. I have to be honest and say I had a sick to my stomach feeling the whole morning (really, I was glad I had those book baskets from the Dollar Tree in my car still - ya know for my non-existent classroom - just in case)! Was it finally the realization that a full-time job may not come its way right now? I don't know. 

My position is in EIP. Well there are no EIP schedules yet (Really?! We've been in school for 5 weeks), so especially for me who doesn't even have a computer, there is not much to do. Fortunately, one of the other first-grade teachers from last year also had a baby and so this year she is doing EIP part-time,  so it was nice to catch up with her. Otherwise, I spent my day in an AP's office getting the books ready for the new barcoding system in our Literacy Center (Really?!, I mean Really?!). I felt like such a waste. Yet, I have been home since the faculty meeting and haven't moved a muscle (for REAL - I am pathetic, the gym is on my floor. Really, just suck it up and GO there). Maybe it's because I am also bummed that almost everything in the new Missoni line for Target is sold out (Really Target, I mean plan for the high demand! You've only been building it up for over a month now. Really!?! I hope you restock tonight so I can bust a move there after school tomorrow Really, I hope you do, please)!

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Pinterest Made Me Do It!

I've been inspired all summer. I've been collecting supplies and staring at them sitting here. Now, I am LOVING my creations. I am sure you have seen them floating around Pinterest and Blogland. Two projects involved magnets. One involved crayons. One involved stickers. Three involved my hot glue gun. I love that thing.  

I think I will start with the one I think was most unique. I found these AWESOME bingo wooden chips by Tim Holtz's line in the scrapbooking section at both Michael's and Joann's (1. Please tell me you are familiar with his stuff! 2. Aren't they cool?!) So they have numbers on them, going all the way up through the double-digits. Immediately I thought - MAGNETS. They have got to be turned into magnets. I mean, not only can these be amazing little decor items, but what about math centers? Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division - take the first number and do that operation using the second number. Pull two numbers and do the operation. The possibilities are absolutely endless.

Here is the other magnet project - which you have seen around. I used scrapbook stickers. These stickers are just the letters themselves. I peeled them off, stuck them directly onto the magnet, put a drop of hot glue onto the bottom of the clear stone and you can still see the letters perfectly. NO Mod Podge involved! Super easy! There are even bigger upper case letter that I think I will put onto a larger size magnet and use a larger size stone. I like the idea because it will be nicer to have the two different sizes for upper case and lower case. 

Here is my crayon wreath, which again I know you have seen, but it's just my version and I think it is SO pretty!

Last but not least, here is a gift for my friend I took to her birthday dinner last night that everyone got a laugh out of. The flower pot was from Michael's. The label says "30 Sucks!" and it is stuffed with Tootsie Roll pops. I made the label on my computer and am happy to share it if anyone is interested. You could also use Blow Pops and do "30 Blows!" Likewise you could insert any age. This was very easy to put together. I just got a styrofoam ball that fit right into he pot and started sticking the lollipops inside. I did cut the "stems" as it got lower around so that it would "fit" better. 

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Halfway There!

Do you celebrate half-birthdays with your kids (maybe not your students but your children, if you have them)? We sometimes recognize them in my family, more by mention than anything else really. However, my dad's college roommate who we remain good family friends with to this day has a daughter who I share the same birthday and when we were younger every now and then we would get to celebrate our half-birthdays together at the beach (because we live in different states, so celebrating regular birthdays never really got to happen). Well today is my half-birthday! And I always remember what is the 6th month from another month because a teacher of mine had them set up that way (six and six, rather than in one long list - so August was always next to February for example). Anyway, these six months lead up to the big 3-0. So, since I have finished having my pity party from last week (kind of, last night I had a small break down) - it's high time I get busy living (wrong movie I know, but Morgan Freeman was in both of them)! Without further ado, here is my list, written to myself. (and if you are really looking for a teaching aspect of this particular post, this would be a great writing activity, especially even in the form of writing a letter to themselves).

Part 1. Small Things

1. Get off your behind and get it back in the gym - you didn't lose 55 lbs. two years ago for nothing! Plus you live on the same floor as the gym in your building. Seriously? Zero excuse. 

2. Meet People. I know it's scary, but can we at least try?

3. Get dressed every day. Duh, it seems simple and I know it's comfortable to lay around in pajamas, but I think it's nicer to actually get dressed. 

4. Put on  Okay, we will work on getting dressed and out the door before we actually deal with the makeup part. I mean, maybe having a job helps with all of that. 

5. Keep doing what your doing - the perfect job will come, well I don't know about perfect, but clearly we like routine so one is bound to happen. 

6. Pay off ALL bills - that may take a while, again the job thing will help with that cause the whole paycheck thing helps with that.

7. Keep being creative ALWAYS.

8. Be yourself always, no matter how anyone else makes you feel.

9. Read more. You used to like it.

10. Shop less <-- I seriously just typed that?! But I think it will help with some other numbers listed above.

Part 2. Big Things.

1. Take more vacations, you used to like to travel. Do it again - Jackson Hole, New England, Vancouver, Portland, Australia, New Zealand

2. Hike

3. Raft.

4. Maybe, maybe attempt to go back up in a helicopter with Ryan (maybe) *note for readers, my brother is a helicopter pilot in Alaska, first time up with him, I got sick :(

5. Go Visit Ryan in Alaska

6. Do a half-marathon or triathlon, or something to that effect.

7. Learn to sew with a machine

8. Learn to be more handy.

**This remains a work in progress..perhaps a more official one will be available in 6 months and some of these items will have been taken care of. 

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Advice to New Teachers

As I was reading some blogs last night to try and get some inspiration going again I saw a post on Simply 2nd Resources a post for advice to new teachers. Well I sure thought I could take any advice I could get and I am still "new" so to speak. As I kept reading though, I thought back to last year which was technically my first year. However this year will be (when I ever do get a classroom) my 5th year in a classroom - two years as an assistant, one year student teaching, one year subbing, and one year in my own room. Here I am. While I feel like these to posts: My Goodbye Speech and The Top 10 Things I've Learned (so far) are some good advice and I may take from there I wanted to participate in this linky party over at Fun in Fourth.




1. GIVE IT YOUR BEST AND YOUR ALL, BUT NOT ALL OF YOU. Your best will not be perfect. As a perfectionist this was hard to learn and I still work on it, but I would often spend 11 hour days at school - sometimes people don't notice even if you want them to. You're not being paid to do it and even though it's cliche you WILL burn out. GO HOME!
2. ASK FOR HELP AND ACCEPT IT. Don't be ashamed. It's nice to think you can do it all, but the truth is this is a hard job and no one can do it on their own. It really does take a village. Find a mentor, a friend, a co-worker across the hall, even if it's someone on another grade level (I was in a trailer last year and there was only one other person out there in my grade. I didn't want to disrupt her, but I had a 3rd grade friend that could watch my class for a few if I needed to go to the bathroom). It helps. 
3. DON'T GOSSIP - make friends with your team but know when to be quiet. This will take you far! 
4. BEG, BORROW, STEAL. - I mean that in the kindest way. Build your files up your first year. I saved everything - every handout, every copy, any extra sheet there was, any email with an idea someone sent. If I get a job in 1st this year I am set! And especially with all the wonderful blogs too! 
5. SMILE. People are watching you - not just 20 kids but all the other teachers and administrators. 
6. For some kids YOU are the best part of their day. ALWAYS remember that. 
7. BE CONSISTENT. With rules and procedures - and remember there is a difference between a rule and a procedure. A procedure is in place for how our class runs. A rule is set for classroom management and there is a consequence. 
8. BE PREPARED AND ORGANIZED. Kids like to know where they are going and what they are doing. They like to know what time things are and what their schedule is. If they know the routine it helps the class run smoothly. 
I think I will end here. A lot of things have been said. If I think of more I will add to the list. 

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Blog Mixer!

I learned of this because Yearn to Learn let me know I had been featured (and I was like, really?!) - Thanks so much Jack of All Trades (a blog you should definitely all check out, Leslie is super fun and creative).

 Come along and play, here are the rules.
In your link up find the following:

1.  A blogger who is a "New Kid on the Blog"
(Let's say someone who has blogged 2 months or less and has less than 200 followers)

2.  Post a blogger in your same grade level

3.  Post a blogger in a different grade level

4.  It's all about the button. Find a cute blog button and post it.

Without further Ado:

1. New Kids on the Block: Along with Jack of All Trades who I mentioned above, I have also got to mention Rambling about Reading, she is so sweet with her comments, but has also got some wonderful ideas and a little bit of everything. 

2. Same Grade Level: The Teacher Wife. I know this year she will be in second grade, but when I started blogging, she was teaching first just like me and I was so inspired by her blog and creativity that I started my blog. 

3. Different Grade Level: What the Teacher Wants is another blog that got me going in the beginning

4. Blog Button: This is one of my favorite blog buttons. It is simple and clean, but very much my style! I would take it and put it in my classroom!

I truly wish I could list each blog I read. I truly wish I could keep up with each blog I follow. To see them all check my blog roll, titled "Why Recreate the Wheel" on the right side of my blog. 

Thanks again Yearn to Learn for hosting. 

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Did you think I would ever GIVEAWAY something?

I know! I know! My blogging friends may disown me. In fact one has. But that's okay. I can take it!

As I mentioned last week, I reached over 100 followers last weekend. I realize to some 100 is nothing, some are honoring 300 and 600, 700. Truly those numbers are amazing and do inspire me to continue blogging and learning how to do more. However, I appreciate that it took a little more time to reach my number of followers. I don't always have fun, printable, freebies for you. I don't have a TpT store. What I do have are my stories, my experience, and my ideas. Sometimes you get some of my deeper thoughts or my ramblings. I thank you for listening and reading. I love this community. 

Since all of you have supplied me with more materials and resources than I ever could have imagined I wanted to gift you a little something fun - 

How about $25 funky bucks? Lol. Okay, so have you heard of EmTanner Designs?

I am telling you, we - and by we I mean my friends I have made on her facebook page - joke about how we could be her customer service people because we have so much of her stuff we are able to answer other facebooker's questions -but I am telling, I am tons of her stuff and I have given a lot as gifts. Here's just a small sample: 

see the two plates - the brown one comes in just about any color you want and is totally customizable; the initial one is just that - pick your initial and color. These are melamine, durable, and dishwasher safe. 

(ummm, ignore the wine, teachers don't drink) ;) see the calendar and the notebook looking paper - you can have them say whatever you like. They are dry erase AND magnetic. My calendar says, 'so much to do, so little time...'; see the clipboard - days of the week on the front and the month on the back - it is wet erase (meaning you use a vis-a-vis) on it. If you look on her site I also have the 'Grocery Getter' clipboard.

dry erase calendar-this one with grommets, hanging by my desk at school

lunchboxes - or crayon and marker boxes, whatever - these are durable and totally wipe clean.

mousepads

She does cutting boards (wedding gift); waterbottles; on the go mugs (awesome teacher gifts); I mean she has something for any age, any size, oh and the most adorable cell phone cases. You have to see them. And of course this: 

I actually had her do this for me on a tote bag. I love it! Okay I could post tons more, but you go over there and check it out for yourself. Oh and there are sales all the time - if you like her on facebook (I'll warn you, on fb she tells it like it is and is no-holds barred) but she passes out coupon codes for 20 and 30% all the time. 

I'm not going to have you go through hoops on this one. I just like good ole' sincerity so if you follow me fabulous and thank you. I appreciate your readership. If you feel like telling someone about what I do over here, cause you've been inspired or learned something, that's great, too. If you are bummed I don't have more printables for you...well there are some amazing blogs listed to your right (haha). If you want to enter, leave a comment letting me know what you would get. I love to get ideas from others. You have until Wednesday night at 9 p.m. est. 

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Fun, Followers, & Giveaways!

I hope everyone had a Magnificent Monday. It is just hot beyond hot here in the south. I think it's like that almost anywhere in the country, although my brother who lives in Alaska loves to point out that it is not hot there (we are keeping track of the fires though).

Let's get this day rolling...
Anyone up for reading by the pool? On a float in the pool? I've got a book for you - The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller.

Lots of the authors from TBA will be hosting this read along beginning on June 27th. You've got plenty of time. Thinking of Teaching is the brains behind this operation who pulled this all together.
She'll be participating and leading everything. Jennifer from Rowdy in 1st and myself are hosting the first week with the Introduction and Chapter 1. 

So come on, you've got plenty of time! Join our read along and book club. 

As long as we are listing off other's blogs, I am sure you know of Ladybug's Teacher Files. She's one of the ones who got me going. She has some amazing technology tips for adding numbers to your comments, flair to your comments, and even shadows to your pictures. I've tried them all this morning. I am not so sure on the shadows because it even added a shadow to my signature. Thoughts? We'll see. You should try some of her tutorials. 


Now here's a blog that is relatively new, she's already reached 100 followers, has a giveaway going on NOW, but more importantly is an amazing resource, so definitely go Step into Second Grade with Mrs. Lemons. 

(I learned about her from our own Miss Kindergarten - who I think is just fabulous)


And, finally, if you hadn't noticed - I reached over 100 followers this past weekend. That in and of itself is unreal to me. I know others have a lot more, but I appreciate that it's taken three months and it's been slow and steady. Hopefully those of you who follow come to read.  So yes, it has not gone unnoticed and I will show some more love a little later in the week. Stay tuned...and thanks!

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