Crazy Eight

Oh, cool. Now my blog looks even better.

Blogger has added this lovely light blue color to highlight my links and has also added nice blue accents under the titles and around my picture.

This makes me especially happy since I’ve been trying for about a week to add different elements to no avail. I still can’t figure out how to make a links heading on the sidebar or how to categorize my growing list of blog entries. The failed attempt to add a cute counter was, admittedly, all my fault.

I was just beginning to lose hope when Blogger made me feel good again! So sad, it doesn’t take much does it?

Anyway, here’s a toast (with one of A.M.’s Wednesday night $1 beers) to blog entry number eight!

2005 Christmas Card (Spoiler)

Here it is, the 2005 Christmas card photo!

We took the kids down to the beach a few weekends ago when the weather was still unseasonably warm. We had a great time! We were the only brave souls in bathing suits on the beach that day. We built a four foot tall sandman and even dipped our feet in the water!

For my friends and family this may spoil the annual surprise, but I think the photo turned out great this year and I was anxious to show it off!

For the techies, the picture was taken in black and white and the features were colorized using Print Shop Photo Pro. The finished product was then uploaded to Snapfish and my photo cards should arrive in about a week.

The real surprise will be how long it will actually take me to address and mail all the cards! Maybe I should have used a Happy New Year Sign!

Better Quote Site

Ok…I’ve been outdone by my favorite blog.

Plugged In Teacher posted a new searchable quote site, Wikiquote. Browse for quotes in films, TV shows, literary works, and even electronic games. Quotes are available in several different languages and new quotes are being added daily.

Also, check out other free projects by the Wikimedia Foundation – Wikipedia, Wiktionary, or Wikinews

Click here for more information about Plugged In Teacher, a new blog dedicated to helping teachers get the most out of technology in the classroom.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

Well, it’s that time of the year again! No, not the family holidays or the first snowfall-- that time of year when all college students, especially seniors like myself, are busy pounding on their keyboards hour after hour, churning out final papers.

My eyes are glazing over and my desk is stacked high with reference books and overflowing with cardboard coffee cups. I get out of my pajamas only to go to class. This semester will be over with only four days left before Christmas!

Some helpful advice for others whose butts are stuck in front of the computer night and day:

1. Easybib – a free online paper citation tool that allows you to fill in the blanks to create an MLA or APA format bibliography that is Word-ready.

2. Quotationspage – searchable quotations to add to that paper or to jump-start an introductory paragraph.

3. Kimskruises – when you feel like you can’t type another word, click here and start planning a cruise for winter break!

For The Love of Books

While sitting in my pajamas one Saturday afternoon, I flipped on the TV and saw a children’s book author reading a picture book aloud to a group of adults, mainly teachers and librarians. I’m sorry that I don’t remember the title of the book now, but she read the book aloud and it didn’t seem to be a very well written book. Then, she played an instrumental tape of jazz (scat) music and read the book in time to the beat. The words seemed to jump right off of the page!

Esmé Raji Codell is an author and teacher who has written several children’s books and adult books including Educating Esmé: Diary of a Teacher’s First Year and How To Get Your Child To Love Reading. All of her books are currently available on Amazon.

Her website, Planet Esme, is jam-packed with children’s book titles, teacher resources, illustrations, and information about her new venture, Bookroom, a private, non-circulating library and literary salon in Chicago.

This website is a must for parents and teachers who are looking for ways to inspire young readers.

The Ron Clark Academy

I first saw Ron Clark on the Oprah Winfrey show after he won Disney’s 2000 Teacher of the Year. Since then, I have read both of his books and visited his website countless times.

Ron Clark’s latest educational venture is the opening of The Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. This innovative middle school (5th – 8th grade) will offer a wealth of opportunities for a select number of low-income students. The Ron Clark Academy is currently accepting applications for exceptional teachers. Visit Mr. Clark’s website for more information or to make a donation.

Also, look for a made-for-television movie about Ron Clark to be aired on TNT early in 2006.
  

Online Shopping Deals

This year’s Christmas shopping is nearly complete. I usually try to finish up by Thanksgiving. After that, my schedule gets pretty tight with final papers, projects, and exams along with all the kids’ school activities and the Christmas parties that start the first week of December!

I did all of my shopping online this year and was able to save a lot of money on gifts and shipping charges by using dealcoupon. Search this site for discount codes for many online retailers and sign up to be notified when new promotions are added for your favorite stores.

Welcome to the Beach!

I am a thirtysomething college student who will begin student teaching in the very near future. This blog will contain posts on everything you'd expect (and some things you wouldn't!) from a wife, mother, college student, and beginning teacher from the Jersey shore.

One thing you shouldn't expect are daily posts. I'll do my best to update at least once a week. Enjoy!