One Word Resolution Linky

I am linking up with Primary Powers for the One Word Resolution Linky.   I should have NOT read the other great links before I started writing, because I found some fabulous words that I loved.  I love Sarah's from A Sunny Day in First Grade... BE.  And I love Angela's from The Daily Alphabet- TRY.  So many times I have been so glad that I tried something.

I am a little scared of the word PATIENCE, because I will never forget the teacher who used to teach next to me having a HORRIBLE day, and she said to me, "Well, I prayed for patience today, and God gives you tests to strengthen your patience if you ask for it."  I remember thinking: note to self... Do NOT pray for patience.

Anyway- my word resolution for the year is ...

Hope, for me, goes right along with faith.  I believe God gives us the gift of hope so many times and the faith to believe He will be with us every step of the way while we trust in Him.

My hope isn't even just for the biggies- but just finding little things to hope  for and look forward to- like a snow day, or finding the coffee cream that I love that's always out of stock, or something turning out better than I thought.  You never know!  That's the joy of hope.    And even when that snow day doesn't come, there's hope for another.  It doesn't end.  That's why I love hope.

Thank you, Casey Jane for this fun Linky! Happy New Year to you all!

QR Codes for Sight Words

I made a QR Code Sight Word Video Read the Room Packet that I have loved. My students have had so much fun with it, so I hope yours do, too.

Here is how I am using it.  I  made 36 sight word cards, each with a QR code that links to a video to go with that word.  I put each of the YouTube videos on ViewPure, so that there are no ads, comments, or distractions.  The words I included are:  a, all, am, an and, are, at, be, can, come, do, for, get, go, he, I, in, is, it, like, look, me, my, no, of, off, on, see, she, the, to, up, we, what, who, with.

I also made 12 cards with QR codes that link to sight word songs which have lots of sight words. This picture shows some of the words with the codes and some of the songs with the codes:

I printed the cards on card stock.  You could also laminate them, but I was too impatient to wait wanted to use them right away. I cut the cards apart, because I put 4 words on a sheet.  Then, I chose 12 cards to put up around the room- eight sight words and 4 sight word song video cards.  I am using this as an independent center for one of my groups.  I have 4 students in a group, and one with five.  Each student has an iPad (I have 5 in my room.) and a clipboard with the recording sheet.  The students find a sight word, scan the code, and watch the video.  Then, they record the word they watched, and go onto another word.  They also watch one or two of the sight word song videos. On the recording sheet, they fill in the star beside the video they watch.  They LOVE this!  It is  independent, quiet, and FUN!  WIN WIN WIN!!!  After a few days, I change the words that I have up. The children can keep the same recording sheet, or get a new one.  I printed the recording sheet front/back to make it easier to manage for the children.

   

Another way you could use this packet is to put the pages together in a binder so the children can scan and watch throughout the day, any time they finish early or have extra time.



You  could also print these sight word cards out and send them home for extra practice at home.
Parents can download the free QR app and watch the videos at home!

My favorite QR Code app is called QR Reader for iPad by TapMedia Ltd.  It is free, and the thing I like best about it is that to scan the code, I the children only have to hold the camera over the code- not click anything. It is really sensitive and picks up the code quickly so it isn't frustrating at all.

Merry Christmas!

Fourteen in '14 Linky!

Thank you so much Kristin, Traci, and Hadar for hosting this fun linky!  I love to see what everyone's been up to all year and get to know all of you out there better!  Here are my favorites from the year.

These are some of my very favorites.  They are up in my house to remind me all the time...



My favorite clothes are these ridiculously comfortable fleece pajamas lounge clothes that I basically put on the moment I walk though the door.  Every day.  It's a beautiful gray pair of big, oh-so-soft fleece pants, and an equally soft zip up jacket.  And that is exactly one of the reasons I do not have a blog like Sheaffer's Pinterest Told Me To.. it's probably more like Walmart Told Me To.  #sorrynotsorry.  How's that?!  OK- I love my Loft jeans, too. That's a little better.

We aren't good about going to movies.  My kids just go.  Why don't we just do that?  But I have seen so many previews that I say, "OH that looks good." And then...  we don't see them.  I do like the Hunger Games movies.  And I do want another Nicholas Spark's movie.  

I am going to try to get past my all time favorites of Will and Grace and Seinfeld, which I can watch at any given moment, and move into the "now."   Jeff and I love watching Biggest Loser and Gold Rush.  We love any sort of home remodeling show.  AND our newest love this year was House of Cards.  Can't wait til February.  I am afraid I may need to take a day off and watch the entire series in one sitting to find out what Claire and Frank are up to...



This is a tough one.  I am going to say that one of my favorites this year was a discovery on our vacation in Florida.  We went to Castaways for a quick dinner, and ended up staying forever because they had a wonderful band there and wonderful people.  Loved it.  

I had my first facial ever.  LOVED it.  My sweet, sweet friends Amy and Holly got me a facial and a trip to Albany for my birthday.  We had such a perfect time.  If I were ever rich and could have facials and massages every week- and a cook to make healthy food for me, I MAY be the nicest person in the world.  I can't imagine!    



OH and I ran (walked/ran) my first 5Ks this year with my daughter Emily.  They were so much fun. And she was so sweet to baby me along.  I did do better the second time, so I'm looking forward to more.  She runs them all year.  I need the sunshine and some warmth.  

(This was the Glow Run- no sunshine, but it was beautiful!)

My favorite gift is my family.  Honestly.  I am not a flower, candy or "thing" person at all.  I am so thankful for my parents, who always listen and really, truly care- and are there for us all the time, helping us and just being there, for my sister and her family, and for my sweet husband and children who are just my best gift ever.

                                     

The favorite things I have pinned at the moment are my Crockpot Food Ideas.  I have big plans over break of actually going through these pins and finding some great winter dinners.

  My favorite (that I can't even find and don't know where I got it...) is putting a stick of butter in the bottom of the crock pot and putting four  chicken breasts on top of it. Then, sprinkle one packet of dry Italian dressing over the chicken and squeeze the juice of two lemons over that.  Ta-da!  After it's in the crockpot all day on low, you can pull it apart with two forks and it is fabulous!  It's great on rolls or over rice- or just to eat.  SO EASY!

Back to my clothes, you should SEE my pretend closet on Pinterest.  It's really something. Of course I'm pinning them while I am sitting there in my comfy fleece so-  whatever.

One of my favorite blog posts this year was Bond, Number Bond,  posting about the Secret Agent Number Bond song that Rocking Dan Teaching Man wrote about my idea.  That just made me so happy.  Those are the really fun moments about blogging that I just love.

         

I am so happy that I started this blog.  I have met the nicest friends here.  Real friends who I just love.  Thank you all for being there.  I can't tell you how much you all make me smile.  

These make me happy whenever I look at them because we had a heck of a time with selfies...and such a wonderful time in Florida! We hadn't been in such a long time, and it was great.  

I don't have only one.  I have to say just so many times I have really laughed.  I love those moments.  I have  had so many blessings this year.   

My 2015 goal looks suspiciously like my 2014 goal- and probably like my goals since 1982...  eat better and exercise.  Hmmm.  But really.  That's my goal.  And drink more water.  How are those for original?!



Hope.  It's all over my house.  I just love hope.  

And that goes along with faith.  I just love faith, too.  I feel so blessed that I have hope and faith. 

And then, of course...



Love.   And I just love all of you for making blogging so much fun and so rewarding for me.

Have a beautiful, happy, healthy 2015!