A Summer for Teachers: How to be Purposeful

As a fellow teacher, I understand the desire to kick up your feet and just RELAX. And what I'm about to share will still allow you to do that, as it is just as important to be well taken care of as it is to be purposeful. The summer before my first teaching job, I spent most of it looking for a job and then purchasing anything that I thought might make my classroom community-like. As a first year teacher, I think this is very necessary, but there are additional ways to start preparing for the new school year.

1. Relax- It's definitely your vacation as well, so take some time during your summer to do a few things that are both enjoying and revitalizing.

2. Read- Just like how we encourage our students to read, we should be demonstrating this. Whether it's new books for the following school year that you will be teaching, New York Times Bestsellers, or educational books, pick up something and get to it. It so rewarding to be able to read that book that's been on your nightstand for the past year waiting to be opened.

A few great reads to look at:

The Learning Habit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Different Learners

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADHD Does Not Exist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Dylexia Empowerment Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Light We Cannot See

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Rosie Project

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Professional Development- As I'm writing this I am listening to a webcast for  "Cool Ideas to Teach Independent Reading," put on by edWeb. There are a lot of different resources that are available to teachers that are free. Most won't allow you to get credit, but I find it's better to be ahead of the game and help others understand, then feel frustrated and overwhelmed when new ideas are being discussed. I also took the Google Education Conference over that summer that was wonderful! A few other places to look are

4. Start Planning- Purchase your Erin Condren Teacher Planner and start to it. Of course some of you teachers work in groups and may wait until the first few weeks of August to start planning. I still recommend working on classroom management ideas, book groups, and anything else that you can do. This will make those first few weeks a dream.

5. Remember how amazing this profession is- I understand that year after year of teaching can be physically and emotionally draining, take a few minutes each day to find something that you love about education. You never know, it just might spark change next year.

Hopefully we all relaxing and enjoying our summer, don't let the next school year sneak up on you.

Book Review: The Learning Habit

This week I finished reading The Learning Habit, for a small book it took me a while to finish reading it. It was packed with information, but most nonfiction books take me a week or two to finish. Although I thought this book would solely be about how to learn, I found that it actually was more of a parenting book. I really enjoyed the helpful stories and illustrations the author used to highlight each point in the book.

 

 The book is titled so because of a study that was conducted on what made "good learners." Essentially the book discusses what the findings were on creating good learners with grit, focus, and structure. An approach called Empowerment Parenting develops kids who are capable and confident. It stresses the importance of having a structured environment: chores, solid 8 hours of sleep, a designated homework time, limited media consumption, and family time. It also encourages parent to praise effort and not the child so instead of saying "Great Job Dana," "That was a great try at shooting the basketball," is a preferred compliment. This way it is encouraging the behavior that you want in you child.

 

The topic on media consumption was particularly interesting. I have strived to limit the exposure of TV with Peanut, but every so often I give in whether it be due to sickness or me being exhausted. This book really created an impact for how damaging prolonged exposure to media can be.

 

 

I found this book to be a great read and full of wonderful information. Each tool that is encouraged is followed with several short stories to help readers understand how to approach Empowerment Parenting.

 

What is on your Summer Reading List?

 

Google Apps for Education Seminar Review

A few weeks back I attended a virtual seminar put on by the good people at Google. How wonderful it was to be able to listen to gifted speakers and teachers discuss technology in education. I learned a whole lot and was encouraged by the move that education is making toward incorporating technology into the classroom and school.


It has always been a difficult line to walk advocating online participation with the popularity of social media and privacy issues. I remember as a child practicing my typing skills at home as I created birthday cards for friends. A few times I played online games, mostly Solitaire and Mine keeper, but for the most part stayed out of chat rooms due to their "potential" of danger.

I find now as a parent the hard line of incorporating technology skills into her learning, but also minimizing the addition portion of it. I've been reading several books that link hours of technology use to decline in student's performance and ability to attain to tasks.

I felt that this seminar did a great job of showing educators and others, how to positively set up classrooms that use different modalities of learning and encourage students to have idenpendent learning. I enjoyed a concept where students have shared tablets, but have their own passwords which allow them to have their own 'playlist' of activities that is tailored to their learning style and needs. I find this to be especially beneficial because creating a community where students are all working on different things allows there to be more acceptance in the classroom.

I'm also really excited about the new Reading Rainbow program that is put on by Skybrary.

 

 

 

There are so many exciting things that educators are now able to do and parents as well when blending learning with technology.

 

 

What educational apps do you find to be the best (We love Endless Alphabet)?

 

 

 

 

Book Review: The Husband's Secret

Book Review: The Husband's Secret

There's no secret that this is a popular book. I know several people who have read and enjoyed this book. It's a quick and enjoyable read.  I decided to give it a go after looking on Lauren Conrad's website and finding her post on Fall Reads. I love her website because it gives a few favorite reads each season.


The Husband's Secret is about three women and how their stories intertwine. Cecilia, Rachel, and Tess are ordinary women with no link between them until the husband's secret is revealed. Great character development as you will find yourself really understanding these women and their actions. Moriarty does a fabulous job of creating real women on whom you believe are your friends. A quick read.

As I was describing this captivating plot to my husband, I realized that it is similar to a Lifetime movie, lot's of twists and turns, to captivate you but ends on a predictable note. The Epilogue is my favorite, which I believes saves this book from being like too many of those one note Lifetime movies.




Have you read The Husband's Secret? What are your thoughts?

Health and Fitness

Hooray!! Glad to be back to this. I always look forward to it.

Eat

We are in the second week of the Emeals planning. Its going really well. I love that I don't have to meal plan. If I don't like something or I know it won't be a family favorite I just modify it. It's great because the meals are based on what is on sale at Safeway. It's been such a life saver. Not so much a time saver, but I am learning to adjust my schedule.

Do

I've been doing lots of running. I've been trying to get up early and go for a run. Its's so quick and I feel great the rest of the day. However, I have been experiencing some tight knees. I've been bad with my stretching and yoga. I tried Blogilates 100 burpee challenge and did not finish it. Boo! But hey I've got a challenge to complete. I'm so hard on myself due to my competitiveness that I am easily discouraged and I get upset with myself. But I can be perfect at everything, there's no fun in that. 

Think

I'm currently reading:

And loving it so so much!!

Next up are:

It's hard to get some of my reading in. I've fallen far behind on my Bible reading plans lately and am excited about getting those completed. But these books are so tempting to read instead. Until I finish my plans, they sit quietly on my nightstand. 

How is your week?

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Book Review: The Little Book of Diet Help

The Little Book of Diet Help was definitely little. It could fit in your purse with no problem.

Which also made it a super quick read.

There were definitely some interesting points in the book, but I found it to be lackluster.

It focused a lot on acupressure.

While I found this interesting, I also found that it was a little overkill.

The pages of this book were filled with either quotes, acupressure, helpful hits or information about a hormone.

Although thought-provoking, it was no more that a quick read. 

It won't waste your time, but I wouldn't put it on the top of your reading list.

I gave it 3 out of 5 hearts.

Not a horrible book, but just not what I was looking for.

Although if you haven't read many health books.

This would be a great one to start with because it is not filled with a ton of information.

Alright...I'll give it 4 out of 4 hearts.

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A Spot of Bother- Book on CD

I've been listening to books on tape lately and it has been wonderful!

It is definitely different. I have a hard time listening as I always want to do something else.

I began with Mark Haddon's A Spot of Bother. I have read his The Curious Incident of the Dog at Night, which I loved. 

This book was great too. Awesome character development. It follows a family in England and all their disfunctions. The husband is an old man convinced he is dying of cancer. The wife is having an affair with her husband's former work partner. The daughter is struggling to decide to get married or not. And the son is gay also trying to figure out his love life. It is very interesting, but very good. Several times I was caught with my mouth open!

I give it 4 out of 5 only because I had a hard time listening, but very very good.

Reading: A review of Rosie

Rosie by Anne Lamott

      I just recently finished another beautiful novel by Anne Lamott. As I have mentioned before I love her writing for its honesty and purity. The story is about a paranoid mother, whose love for alcoholism is great, but never outgrows her love for her only daughter, Rosie.
   
      The novel is surrounded by loss and misery and is highlighted with several moments of joy and love. Throughout the book, Elizabeth, Rosie's mother, continues her indulgence in alcohol and self-pity, but manages to raise a beautiful, curious daughter. Elizabeth is often neglectful and drunk and although she is lonely, she loathes the company of others. She hates to wear her heart on her sleeve.
     
         In this novel, the reader will enjoy the directness of the heartaches and elation of motherhood. The characters are so real and their personalities so raw, it will feel as if they are more than acquaintances in your life.


           I highly recommend this book, as I do with all of Anne Lamott's books. An exquisite novel!! What a joy it is to get to know the character of Rosie and her mother, Elizabeth!






sidenote:   After posting on this, I just realized that this is the first book out of three about Rosie. Oh dear...I'm hooked. I better start saving for Crooked Little Heart and Imperfect Birds.