RAOK

I have officially discovered that reading blogs can be addictive! You can just bounce around from one blog to another and then forget where you even started! Which is what happened to me tonight. I got on to check the blogs I am following and then from one went to another and then stumbled across a blog that allowed a small thought way back in the back of my mind to come crashing to the front!

I want to partake in RAOKs, random acts of kindness. I have been thinking about this for some time, but just haven't acted upon it yet. Well today is the day!

Mique over at {30 Days} pushed me to rise to the occasion. I found her site through a linkup blog (sorry I couldn't go back and find where, hence the previous statement) and have spent hours looking at her ideas and other blogs that she linked up to.

So now to begin.

Mique does a RAOK on the 14th of every month, which started out as a birthday gift to her son. His birthday is on the 14th and this helps her to make sure that she does it every month. She has also asked others to join her on these days. Perfect! My step-mom's birthday is on the 14th also, and what better way to honor her. She would be so proud and excited about this project. I have also decided to add another day in the month. The plan is the 14th is set aside for a bigger RAOK and the other one a smaller project.

I have not decided yet if I am going to blog about this project other than this one. It may take out the randomness. Since many people that I will be doing this for, probably read this, it might defeat the purpose. I am not sure yet, might have to get back to you on that one! Some of the RAOK may not be anonymous and those may be blogged about.

The point is, I am ecstatic about this idea and can't wait to get started.

What are some ideas you have for an RAOK?
What is a RAOK you have received yourself?

"Stealing" Ideas

With my ceiling in my classroom almost back to normal, I am eagerly waiting for the green light to get back in there. I am anxious to try out some of the new ideas I have collected over the summer.

One of the ideas I found involved one of my greatest *heart flutters* I collect quotes. I have them written down everywhere: in a notebook in my purse, in my phone, my random notebook, my quote notebook, random scraps of paper, on my computer, a Pintrest quote board etc. So when I was roaming around Pintrest (probably when I should have been sleeping,) I came across a Reading Graffiti Wall, and fell in love! Then not only did I fall in love with the idea, but the entire blog! She had me sold at the giant Superman! AND she had some pretty cool links to visit also!

I often share quotes with my students and have even had some give me quotes. I tend to treasure these quotes the most. One of my students last year gave me this quote:

 

Anyway, I am totally going to do this in my classroom this year. Shouldn't be too hard to implement or up keep. The hardest part will be trying to find a place to put it where the students can reach it easily.

This may also be a good way to show examples of figurative language and voice in writing.

So many good ideas out there!

 

P.S. While in college we watched a video of Harry Wong, who is a classroom management god, and the biggest thing I remember is he said to "steal, steal, steal" ideas from other teachers. Good thing I was given that permission, because there are some way more creative people out there with ideas better than mine! Thank you Jordon for allowing me to "steal" your idea!

Mockingbird Memories

“Real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.”  

-Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

On July 11, 1960, 53 years ago today, one of the best pieces of literature was published, To Kill a Mockingbird. I am not alone in saying that this book is one of the best books ever read. I read it in high school and then read it again later in life. Most likely I will be reading this book again in my life time. Then unlike most book/movie combos, the movie was pretty great too!

I have a special story about this book. My step-mom, Sandy, had never read it, and I felt that it was an abomination. I told her she should read it and I even found her a used copy to read. When I asked her about it, she said she just couldn't get into it. I asked her how far into it she got, knowing that she probably hadn't given it much of a chance. I was right. Her response was somewhere along the lines of page 5. 

So in the summer of 2011 I again asked her to read it and told her that in a way it helped pave the way for her grandson and the life he has now. (Way to pull on the grandma strings huh?) I left my childhood home with her sitting on the porch with her copy and started my five hour trek across the state.

Two hours into my trip I got cell service and called to check in. She was half way through the book! By the time I made it home, I had a text saying it was the best book she had ever read. I guess so if she read it in about five hours! I now have her copy.

That October my step-sister Ali, Sandy's oldest daughter, bought us tickets to see the play together for my birthday. Sadly, Ali was not able to go with me because Sandy was in the hospital. At the time we didn't realize it was the beginning of the end and I hadn't yet gone home to be there. I went with another good friend and despite the circumstances I enjoyed the play very much! It is by far the best play I have seen.

So not only is it a great piece of writing leaving us wishing that Harper Lee had written other books, it holds a special place in my memory and heart.

AND.... I have named a sweet kitty that loves me Atticus! If I could have a cat, I would totally take him home, but he has to live out at the ranch with his kitty family.

Summer Lovin'

Wordy Wednesday is here again and I am gladly participating! Plus today is a lackadaisical kind of day with Titan Ted in surgery and the heat keeping everyone indoors so as not to fry like an egg, so I don't have too much going on to blog about.

How do you know it’s summer, and what does summer mean to you?

Teachers everywhere know it is summer in about April. Once state testing and spring break is over, the students are already headed to summer vacation.

Truth be told, teachers aren't much different than the students, they just know how to handle it better.

What does summer mean to me? This summer I have been asked what I have been doing all summer and I respond with, "Whatever I want!" I have been busy all summer but it has usually been busy on my own terms.

Summer means: sleeping in (although the ol' internal clock often says differently,) taking naps, and catching up on things that were neglected during the school year, which is pretty much EVERYTHING. Oh and reading like nobodies business.

I have very much enjoyed my reading time this summer. I have read at a coffee shop, next to the pool, in the mountains,  in front of the A.C, on my new couch, on the porch swing and even in bed on lazy mornings.

One thing that people don't understand about teachers during the summer is that we are constantly planning. We can't even go shopping without thinking about school and if the item found in the dollar bin could be used for something in the classroom. Yard sales...gold mine!

I love my job, but I do love the break that I get to rest, relax and plan for the next year.

P.S The song that would accompany this post would be "Summer Lovin'" belted out by the outstanding cast of Grease!

What's On Your List?

Recently I joined a blogging group and it has a 31 day challenge to improve your blog. I am loving it! Todays challenge is to write a list post. I love lists! Then I got to thinking about what I would write a list about and all I could think about were other lists I had going. So I decided to do my list post about lists!  (Hee hee, a list about lists!)

Here are a few lists that could be found at any given time on any given write-on-friendly surface:

• Books to read
• Does this list ever get smaller?

• Books I have read
• people tease me, but you won't be finding me reading the same book twice by accident! (cough Marilyn cough)

• Groceries
• on going on the side of the fridge

• To do list
• both at home and at school

• Ideas of things to try
• usually for school especially this time of year

• Bucket List

• Movies
• Thanks to Netflix! Not only is this list of ones to watch, but a good way to check if I have watched it or not and how I felt about it

• Blogs I am following

• Chores around house
• sometimes this is the only way I can get stuff done. I mean come one, who doesn't get satisfaction from seeing this: clean bathroom

• Food diary

• Things to pack
• I am going on a trip this weekend and one has to make sure they pack their underpants

• Book Wish List
• because there aren't enough unread books on my bookshelves

• Songs to buy from ITunes
• I like to use buying songs as rewards, usually for a workout goal, so I have a nice list of wish list songs to work towards

• People to send snail mail to

• My favorite list of all time can be found here.

Lists are a big part of life. Even as I am writing this, I am coming up with even more lists that I use and have in my life, especially at school. Even sometimes when I am bored I will make lists that are silly such as: things you find in a bathroom, songs that have one word titles, etc.

Even this challenge probably has a list written on a fast food bag, receipt or junk mail somewhere written by someone!

What are some lists you make?

P.S. If you need help thinking of a list to write, you could write one about how awesome I am! ;0)

Ms. Wilson, Don't You Have a Game We Can Play?

Good news! I heard today that my ceiling in my classroom is fixed! Which means I can get in there soon. Just knowing that it is fixed eases my anxiety.

Tonight I decided to work on my bucket list and also do work for my classroom. While watching Law & Order: SVU I am making my own flash cards.

Late in the year I came up with a brilliant idea with the help of the students I tutored after school. I have always struggled with how to get students to be more fluent with their math facts. It comes down to the fact that they just need to memorize them.

During tutoring I had each student pick a multiplication fact that they wanted to work on and we made flash cards. We practiced those for awhile and then I had a light bulb moment! I made fact families with each of the facts. It amazed me that students would know what 4 x 6 was but you ask them 6 x 4 and the acted like you just asked them the meaning of string theory.

Eureka! So for the rest of the year, every day we practiced the same 5 fact families.  I am convinced that it may just work!

Beginning this year I am going to hit the road running. I am going to work on five math facts at a time, equaling 20 math facts a day until they get them down and then we will move on to the next set.

Now I am trying to think of fun ways to practice these. My last class LOVED around the world, but there were a few students who weren't always successful. It did at times motivate a few of the students because they were tired of loosing. I want to turn it into a sort of game with a fun name. So far  I have come up with:

Math Warriors or Math Gladiators with a possible "fact" thrown in there. I was thinking of some fun "pump-you-up" kind of music to play at the beginning and get them all pumped up. It's still in the works though.


Any ideas? Either for a song to play, name for the game or game?

Blue Mug

Oh what a Sunday! I found a new *heart flutter* while visiting an old one!

I started out the day at a swim meet supporting some former students. I realized how much I missed this time in my life, both summer swim team and high school swim team.

I miss this more than a fat kid misses chocolate cake.

I had plans to take Titan Ted in to get checked out, but Honda likes to enjoy the Sabbath. So plan B was to explore an "orange sherbet" coffee shop. I found The Blue Mug and found my new little piece of heaven! I. LOVED. THIS. COFFEE SHOP! I loved everything about it.

While reading the website, the first line says,

"Think Frank Sinatra + the smell of fresh roasted coffee + relaxing music + local artists = happiness"

 

It is like my heart speaking! I did not actually hear Frank Sinatra, but did enjoy the music that was playing. I danced in my seat to songs from the 50's such as "Teenager in Love" and "Jailhouse Rock." Best part, listening to the barista sing along. He and I could be good friends!

 

I really enjoyed both baristas and how they treated the customers. At one point this little boy came in with his mom and the male barista was so friendly and treated him like he was a super star. I also got to chat with this little guy as he waited for his mom to get her drink.

 

I got my treats and found a seat and sunk down into an amazingly comfy chair with my book. There were books for people to read, cards and games to play. I took joy in the decorations and atmosphere. Plus you could drink free water out of a mason jar! I dig mason jars!  

 

 

Plus a place that has this to share with its coffee consumers, can't be all that bad!

 

 

I wish that this coffee shop was in my town and not forty minutes away. I guess that will just make it even more of a treat when I do get to go!

 

As I was leaving, I found this outside:

 

Well said!

 

Do you have a favorite coffee shop?