Wednesday Link Up

  

So, I'm a little late to the party, but I thought I'd link up with Katie from Queen of the First Grade Jungle for:

PS Looks like Katie hasn't posted yet...this is last week's link and not an official link-up.  Boo.

 

Week 3  

This is my 3rd week of vacation so Katie and I are not quite in sync.  Although I have not been very good at making progress size-wise, I think I have done a pretty good job becoming more active.  I am active for 50-60 minutes four times a week, which is double what I was doing when school let out in June.

I enjoy Pilates classes, Zumba, weights and cardio at the YMCA, and walking (usually around town at the touristy spots or the beach). Usually one of each per week.

My walk on Monday evening was at beautiful Balboa Park. I was hoping for a sunset shot but the clouds rolled in about an hour before I got there.

I also wear my Fitbit daily but since I have been in my swimsuit lately and it can't get wet, I am down on steps this summer.  I am frustrated with this because although I enjoy lounging around and reading tons over the summer (and jumping in the pool in between) I HAVE been more active.  Also, Pilates and weights don't count as steps--you actually have to be "stepping"!

My goal next week is to tell you all that I have kept better track of my food intake and made a negative weight change.  I am hoping that this link-up will make me more accountable.  I am not competitive so I'm not a big fan of "challenges" but if you want to be a Fitbit friend, I am willing.  :)  Here's to a healthy week!

A Little Motivation for a Monday

Okay, so I am motivated today!  This will be my third week of summer vacation. My daughter was in a theater performance that kept us pretty busy the first week, and last week my husband was also on vacation, so we enjoyed ourselves around town both as a couple and as a family.  That was very nice, but it is time to mix some business with pleasure.  The weather in San Diego has been all over the place so far, too! Weird! My summer is pretty short, and my current hole is pretty deep (so to speak)!  I did spend one day in my classroom last week, cleaning up some piles and putting stuff away, but I need to spend more time in there AND here at home.

So today my goal was to clean off my desk.  I wish I had taken a "before" picture so you could really see what a disaster I had to deal with; but doesn't it look nice now? I even detailed my computer--looks like brand new!  I went through several piles of papers and put things in their place--including a LARGE stack of school work that I reorganized because I want to put them into binders.  Now I just need to decide how to subdivide those binders!

I also am the "keeper" of a few iPads that will be shared with my team when we go back to school.  The devices are "hand-me-downs" from the 5th grade team, who has one-to-one devices all day long.  Having recently received a MS in Educational Technology, I am a believer in one-to-one and using them in a variety of ways through the school day, but I will take my small group set once a week and smile. That is likely all we will get for quite some time.  I am not jealous!  Anyway, the devices are loaded with apps that are not necessarily appropriate for my primary students, so I have previewed their content and am prepared to make recommendations on what needs to be added and removed when we return.  I have also been scouring my brain, Pinterest, and previous coursework to find and develop lessons to use right away with my kiddos.  In the process, I have decided to write a grant on Donor's Choose to request another set of six (then I will have one-to-three; ideally, I'd love to have 2 students per iPad).  I have not finished my request but I am developing my proposal and I'll share when I finish.  In the meantime, I am open to any suggestions you may have as to lessons, apps, or even management with second graders.

I also finished a smutty romance novel (what else is summer for!), lounged by the pool for a bit, and enjoyed a sunset power walk in Balboa Park.  All in all, I'd say it was a productive day!

Currently

OK, OK, I know it is already the 18th and I'm late to the party, but I am trying very hard to post more often and there has not been much going on in my classroom this last week.  Why not hook up with Farley for January Currently???

So...
I am listening to my husband watching one of those cop hidden camera shows, which I ususally don't like since I have loved ones in law enforcement.  They face so much crud each and every day!  People, just do what you are told and be polite--these are people with families, just like you, trying to keep everyone safe and do their job!!
That was my PSA for the day, sorry, and yes, I know there are "bad" cops out there, just like there are "bad" teachers, but it is not the norm!

Loving that I have one more day to the weekend (and I'm taking Wednesday off for my daughter's conferences--this week should fly by!

Thinking that I'm glad to be getting some school work done with a whole day left in the weekend, though I'm taking a bit of a break to write this.

Wanting pizza for dinner, but my husband is on some whacka-doodle diet, so that's not likely.

Needing to clean off more of this mess that I call a desk.  I even thought about posting a picture for you, but that would have been too embarrassing!

Yes!  I am slowly but surely making some organizational progress.  I am currently living a life of clutter, but I am working on it!
Maybe I should grade some tests I have procrastinated about since before the holidays next so I can check that off my list, too.
I wish I had a Fairy Godmother to wave her magic wand and instantly meet all of the goals I have set for this year personally and professionally.  Wouldn't that be nice?

I'm looking forward to some fun with my class next week for MLK day even though I have students who don't celebrate holidays.  I purposely plan our Long Ago & Today unit around February to catch those holidays within history education.  I am motivated by having seen Selma this afternoon!
Enjoy your weekend!

New Year, New Plans

Well, we are now a week into 2015 and, I figure, among all of my other goals for the year, I better write a post!   There's no better time than now to link up with Art with Jenny K. and give you a peek into myself and my blog!

I first had a wild hair to start a blog the summer after I enrolled in grad school for Educational Technology.  My thinking was that I may need to begin a blog as part of an assignment so I wanted to get ahead of the game; and of course I was going to start with a BANG!  Needless to say, I never needed a blog for class...

I actually started out with a blog design that I liked from The Honey Bunch.  I chose one from their premade designs, one that no one else would have.  As a native Southern California Girl, the sunshine was perfect, the colors were all me,  and the little accents were super cute!  Erika did a great job, don't you think?  I loved the look of the design and the price was reasonable for what I thought I would use it for.  So I thought for a while about a clever name that would go well with the sunshine and made a decision to purchase this little cutie!

The title of my blog comes from beginning a master's program and continuing teaching (at the time, my 17th class), as well as a wife and mother of two girls--a teen and pre-teen.  What was I thinking?! Thus, Me & my Bright Ideas!

I am My home and classroom are still recovering from trying to stay afloat during my classes.  This is the year I will get it all back together!  It might take some time, but I will conquer the disarray eventually.  I also intend to keep up with this little blog more.  I am very proud of receiving my Master's Degree last May and managed to complete the program with straight A's--something I never imagined I could do!