13 in '13 and Book-ish Unboring List

13. Article of Clothing: Well. Clothes aren't as fun when you aren't in shape (fixing that in 2014, right?). So we'll say ...

12. Favorite Movie: Is there a Goodreads equivalent for movies? I know you can sign in to IMDB but that just seems clunky to me. Can't remember what I necessarily saw this year. Just saw The Desolation of Smaug yesterday and of course it was awesome. MEAN CLIFFHANGER ENDING that for some reason I just didn't see coming. Been too long since I read the book. ;0
11. Favorite TV Show: Psych! We've waited so long!


10. Favorite Restaurant: I'm pretty easy. Firehouse Subs. Panda Express. Don't do fancy very much. I did try Ruth's Chris when a friend was visiting but EGADS I thought I would die of embarrassment because I didn't know we were going and at the time? Wearing the Leia shirt you see above. Was quite good, though.
9. Favorite New Thing: my WALL OF BOOKSHELVES. :)
8. Favorite Gift: pics from my niece Winnie.
7. Favorite Pin: I spend too much time on Pinterest. It's just so easy when you can do it on your phone. So it's hard to pick. The one that still makes me LAUGH THE MOST? A year old today. And you'll think I'm strange. But go here. The original link is broken but the pin will still show the funny image.
6. Favorite Blog Post: Funny. Can never seem to figure out ahead of time what other people will like. Something I thought was awesome will get very few page hits and something I wasn't quite as excited about will get way more. We'll say ... There is a Bird on Your Head. I remembered to take pics!
5. Best Accomplishment: Surviving in one piece? It was a crazy year! Surgery. Presenting at a state level conference 8 days after said surgery. Getting campus Teacher of the Year (last year ... not winning any awards for 2013 fall semester :/). Family moving in and then leaving again. Not getting a new position I really thought I wanted :(. Leaving the house that has been home for over 20 years. Building and moving in to a new place. Two new family members. Would love for 2014 to be a bit ... calmer. Too much to ask for?
4. Favorite Picture: For as many photo blogs as I semi-follow (and community ed classes I have taken) I am SO BAD at taking pics. And then keeping them organized. For now we'll say these. Favorites from my FB wall. Pretty rare I ever take one I like. Then family. And the living room of my new place.

3. Favorite Memory: This one is hard, too! My parents taking care of me when I got appendicitis (pain not a good memory but hey ... even if you did have a significant other (which I don't ... boo :P) it's still nice to have Mom and Dad around when you feel so awful. And they were so much help). Hanging out with my youngest brother before he left for two years. Time with nieces and nephews. Funny texts/FB IMs between siblings. So mostly family time. I like my job but mostly family time.
2. Goal for 2014: Scripture study. I think that if I can get my spiritual self back on track (not that I've been living badly ... just haven't felt as close to Him as I could with some devotional time) lots of things will fall into place ... both personally and professionally.
1. One Little Word: still the same as last year. Intention. I keep ... getting behind and not living with intention. Just scrambling to stay afloat.

Bookish UnBoring List
Sort of a bust. Not a complete bust as I finished about half.
1. Go to a comic store. Got the first time down the second week in January. Was going to collect all the SW (original storyline) ones that came out this year but I missed the second issue while out for the count with appendicitis and sort of lost steam after that.
2. R2D2 trash can. To go along with R2D2's Guide to Folding and Doodling!
3. Read The Twelve and run 500 miles with the Zombies, Run app.
4. Read Penguin and Pinecone and make a book trailer with the cool puppet I got at SeaWorld. Penguin on Vacation was pretty cute. And so was P&P ... up to a point. Then it was just a little strange.
5. Visit indie bookstores. Well, no. Didn't go on any trips and the only one in my area is now EVEN FARTHER away cause I moved. Next year? I want to visit my siblings in CO and WA.
6. HP Nook in new place. Fail. Dunno whether it was that my expectations were super unrealistic or the lame builder but it's too small. In my eyes, anyway. Dunno about the kids. They didn't explore it this trip cause it's still unfinished. Builder seriously just cut a hole in the wall under the stairs and left it. :P Will see about what I can do to save it in the next year.
7. Wall of bookshelves. BUILT! And they are beautiful! But since at least a third of my books are still mixed up in boxes in storage or the garage they are not ready for a pic yet. We sort of stopped unpacking when the holidays started. Expect shelfies some time in February.
8. Something Oz-ish. Nope. Didn't happen. Writing that one off.
9. Book art. That one will roll over into next year for sure!
10. A "tea party" in my new kitchen since I couldn't actually visit PEI? Not yet. We'll roll that one over, too.

Finally Friday Dec. 27

Enter to win a CD of DJ Inkers cards on yesterday's post.

Silly but it made me laugh.



Would prefer this with the bottle edited out and a book or DVD in there ... but I'll have to take it as is.

True.



Also made me laugh.



Nieces and nephews making me laugh this week as well. They'll be gone next week. Insert sad face here. And now a random question ... anyone ever heard of "ulnar nerve entrapment"? Cause the tingly pinkies is getting worse and worse and even though I would feel RIDICULOUS (I don't have the best relationship with my PCP ... though as of Jan. 1 I don't have to have his OK anymore so HELLO ALLERGIST) going to see a "specialist" about it. But it's definitely more noticeable over the last 18 months or so (and more the last 2) and if Google is to be believed it can cause permanent damage. But how often is Google to be believed?

 

Clip Art Fanatic & Celebrate with a Smile

So it's fun to give stuff away. And it's fun to use fun clip art. So here's a Win-Win.
DJ Inkers. Loved her stuff since the days before digital downloads or even CDs or even FLOPPY DISKS. In the move? We found a big stash of DJ Inkers BOOKS that I used to have to make copies of for snail mail letters. Am I dating myself? She has so many different offerings.

But snail mail. Or hand delivered cards. As much fun as digital art can be hard copy is even more awesome. MAIL. And being the person who is on top of things to be prepared WITH a card to send their loved ones. Ever find yourself late in the game wanting to be said person?

Here's your chance!
The CD is normally $39.99 but it's on sale right now (though 1/1) for $23.99. So use this opportunity to buy it for yourself ... OR comment below for the chance to WIN a copy. Sometime the morning of 12/31 I will put the number of comments into random.org and pick a winner. DJ Inkers will send the winner a copy of the CD! I don't necessarily see their rules but let's say US only just to be safe. And the comment topic? Oh ... the first card need you will have in the new year. Can't think of a January one but I have a brother and sister both with birthdays in February.

But maybe January will come and I'll realize last minute I forgot something. Behind for card getting elsewhere but not too behind to get one in the mail. ;)

Finally Friday Dec. 20

So I just noticed this never posted last week. Wonder what I did (or DIDN'T do ... must have gotten distracted with cute small ones). Anyway ... here it is. There will be another one on Friday and next week an updated "Reading Resolutions" activity as well as a couple other yearly recaps and such.







My friend did this whole series with Seuss the Elf. It was awesome. She needs to post the rest of them!

Next year possible craftiness.

Tired. Nap would be awesome but niece and nephew are here! And as long as nasty germs go away and keep people healthy three more are coming on Monday. Best weekend wishes!

Library Holiday Wish List

This is just a silly for fun list. Of course in real life I'd rather have all students have safe homes where they get read to each and every night and get enough healthy food to eat and time to play and exercise. And a school system that didn't try to test every last bit of creativity out of them.

It never ceases to amaze me how many other TLs have to deal with the same no-walls NONSENSE. What idiot architect (and yes, I know that's not a very nice word) ever thought it was a good idea? The only time it's good is when we have new book displays … I love to hear how excited the kids are as they walk by. All the other times when I have to yell (even with a microphone) simply to be heard over the general "hallway" noise by the kids right in front of me … well. You know how I feel about it. So like usual the top of the wish list is …


Now in previous years I have mentioned the Big Book Furniture. And Hogwarts Lego sets. And a hot cocoa maker (HA HA HA here in TX … usually). And an iPodcasting station.

This year the post is kind of dull cause I don't have any pics. And it's all about what I think a Makerspace might start out as.

Space for and then a big cabinet with doors that lock (for after school times … as much as I'd like to be able to leave it out for the after school peeps we do not have unlimited materials budgets) to hold:

book related puzzles;
colored paper (the pretty deeply colored kind … not the cheap kind … I'm a paper snob);
cardstock;
upcycled cardboard (ie tp and paper towel rolls, empty cereal boxes, etc.);
markers;
crayons;
colored pencils (and a decent sharpener that everyone promises to not come down with 50 pencils and proceed to sharpen all of them WHILE I am teaching … speaking from experience here :P);
pipe cleaners;
pom-poms;
glue sticks;
craft glue;
scissors;
craft sticks;
rubber bands;
electric circuits kits;
hand wipes (cause seriously … even with just glue sticks the little ones manage to make a mess of themselves :/); and
wipes to clean off the wood tables that don't ruin the finish (is that possible? Also allowable by Risk Management staff? :P).

Finally Friday Dec. 13

I heart this window so much. If not just today (as I'm writing, anyway) I'd had shutters installed I would have wanted it.



Very much something that other people worry about but come on. The number of people who still prefer hard copy (ME! ME! Though it is SUPER awesome to have an ereader when traveling. You never ever run out of books. Ever if you have wi-fi.)



Awesome quote. Do or do not. There is no try.



This looks tasty. Fattening, but tasty.



That's all. This week we had some fun with another class making Flat Gingys and getting excited about Flat Stanley. Started planning a new third grade project on future jobs and expository writing. AND ... we started inventory. We only have to do it every other year. It's such a pain. I guess an unavoidable and still important to maintaining the collection pain. But a pain all the same.
I can hear beeping in my sleep. :P

Throwback Thursday … Holiday Books

Back in December 2011 my sister asked for some suggestions of books to either buy or get from the library. These are not necessarily in order because hello, I am way too indecisive for that.

I posted this same list last year as well. I need some new suggestions, web reading peeps! The library wait list is taking too long and with moving/packing/unpacking I haven't been to the bookstore.


My Penguin Osbert

Is it the bowling pin penguin or the name Osbert? I love them both. What an idea ... get a penguin from Santa! Always have interesting discussions with little guys about the pros and cons of such an animal as a housepet.

Bear's First Christmas

I love this one for the pictures. So soft.

Uncles and Antlers

This one makes me laugh. Especially the Uncle from Texas and the one that looks like Elvis.

It's Time for Christmas

Love Duck and Goose. This is a little board book and my niece and I like to read it together. She has it pretty much memorized.

The Longest Christmas List

Greediness makes for funny times. And a writing prompt. !]

Mr. Willoughby's Christmas Tree

Upcycling at its finest. And, even more importantly ... the true spirit of sharing.

The Polar Express

Can I admit I've never actually seen this movie? Every year I swear I am going to dress up in my PJs and be an honorary 1st grader for the day. And then stuff comes up and I don't have time. :[ Liam Nissan's recording is quite good. Is that how you spell Liam Nissan? I should go look it up.

The Night Before Christmas

I just love James Marshall's illustrations.

Bear Stays Up for Christmas

I totally love all of Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman's books. The Bear ones happen to be favorites though they've got some other good ones as well. Anyway. MAKE SURE to get this one!

The Channukah Guest

We used to have a fairly large number of Jewish students at our school so it was looking for something for them that led me to this one. It's still my favorite Hannukah story (once I looked up the difference in the spelling ... I don't remember what it is, now). This one's pretty old but to have an older lady think a bear was her rabbi ... it's fun! Wish we could make latkes in the library. That would be cool. We always just have to compare them to McDonald's hashbrowns.

If You Take a Mouse to the Movies

Love Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond's circle stories. This is no different. Been working on If You Give a Reindeer a Rootbeer stories this week with 1st grade. Thank you Pinterest for first showing me the idea (which was actually done by a talented teacher but I just have to plug Pinterest because it's fun and useful for school!)

Llama Llama Holiday Drama

Love her paintings and love just saying "Llama Llama." Check out the YouTube reading if you haven't seen it.

Merry Christmas Mom and Dad

I loved (and collected) Little Critter books before I ever even knew I was going to be a librarian.

The Night Tree

The illustrations are what make this one. The soft lighting ... lights are my favorite part of Christmas!

Christmas Cookies

So this one ... really more for adults than children. And I only like the illustrations ... not super crazy about them. But I do love the definitions for different character traits and holiday traditions that are related to each cookie.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Remember this OLD movie? The book is better!

Let It Snow

This one is for a young adult reader ... but just look at the authors who contributed. Pretty good. I'd check it out of the library instead of buying it, though. Fun fluffy stories to read this time of year but not ones you'll go back to over and over.





(Later from Scheduling the Post Edit ... but none of you have seen these yet unless we're Goodreads Friends! ...)


Grumpy Badger's Christmas by Paul Bright





The Christmas Cookie Sprinkle Snitcher by Robert Kraus






Snow Bunny's Christmas Wish by Rebecca Harry





Just Right for Christmas by Birdie Black





Christmas Mouse by Anne Mortimer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A simple little collection of rhyming holiday vignettes. Lovely illustrations.


The Smallest Gift of Christmas by Peter H. Reynolds
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Roland learns the value of small things. A good lesson, for sure.


Is It Christmas Yet? by Jane Chapman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A little one is so excited for Christmas and the grown up in the story patiently explains he or she will have to wait. The little one falls asleep. Pretty cookie cutter but I can't dislike it because the bears are so cute.



The move has been going ... in the grand scheme of things? Quite smoothly. In the day to day can you find what you need? Ah, well. Thought we decluttered already. Apparently we will do it again.

Finally Friday Dec. 6

Hello!

This bag is awesome. Like really awesome. Make sure you click through if you can't see the embedded widgets on Feedly or Bloglovin.




It's a different kind of bookshelf. But I love the retro look and it makes me want to go back to Europe for a longer visit. (JEALOUS OF MO WILLEMS WHO CAN SPEND A SABBATICAL YEAR IN PARIS. Just had to throw that out there. Even though I speak Spanish and not a lick of French past croissant.)




And I was TOTALLY GOING TO DO THIS with the box from the refrigerator. And then the manager forgot to tell the workers not to fill the box full of construction junk. :(




Note to self … get some clear plates before January. And figure out how to make this more curriculum related than just a "story and a craft." Cause that's OK sometimes but not all the time. This is too cute. If nothing else for a display?

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Boxes. And yet I'm still opening my Lego advent calendar.

And egads. Terrible photos. What's up with that? My phone is not usually this blurry.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Book Related Holiday Craftiness #2

Time for another installment of the projects I'm drooling over as I try to inspire kids and staff, keep my head afloat at school, and get the new place organized.


So … Pete the Cat. He's pretty cool. We used the pattern from Deanna Jump and then … Holiday-Fied it. I blogged more specifically about it here and below this pic is a sign (3AM Teacher, Melonheadz, and DJInkers, if I remember the credits for the images correctly) to help collect data on the glyphs. In a comment on that older post we realized that the TPT packet where I first got this pattern is no longer for sale. To be honest I haven't used the pattern since … ever. Eyeballed looking at the pieces. I'd dare say you could, too … it's all based on thirds of a 9X12 piece of construction paper for Pete. And total freehand other pieces.)

Already had one class make Flat Gingys. We'll see if they remembered to actually write about their experiences. The "due" date was today.

I'd like to see kids do this for holiday cards. ;)




Not necessarily book-related but … could I convince a class to do this to talk about book related apps?


Gonna put it out there so I don't wimp out … expect a pic from my house of this one.

#IMWAYR Dec. 2

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading right now… who knows, you might discover that next “must read” book!

Our Kid Lit to YA version is hosted by Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers.
GREAT IDEA! Check out all of the What Are You Reading? participants for title ideas.



Last Week
Finished more than I thought I could. Some of it would probably better be called skimming. When I really get going I can "read" fast.

Truly confused by Counting by 7s. I loved it. Funny characters and just beautiful turns of phrase that make me stop for a second and be jealous of the author's ability! But … I'm not sure about kids loving it. Why do I wonder? Do they love it? I need to get a kiddo to read it and tell me what they thought! They loved Wonder and Out of My Mind so maybe.

Sherlock Holmes is always fun, even when (as is this case) the story seems a bit disjointed. The Ward could use some pacing help but was still interesting enough to keep me up too late last night.

Then also …

Blackout was … kind of disappointing, actually. Didn't HATE it but barely liked it. If that makes any sense at all.

All My Noble Dreams? LOVED. For me. Don't know of one kiddo that I could pass it on to (or the first book for that matter) but I just love this author's way with words. And I've always been fascinated with the time period and India.

And …
Champion by Marie Lu







This Week
Is the move (THEORETICALLY … #crossingfingersforsecondinspectioncausewehavetobeoutofthishousebySaturday). Packers come tomorrow. So … in honor of my new much longer commute (and all the trips we'll be taking back and forth with the stuff that "we" are moving ourselves, never mind the actual movers) … AUDIOBOOKS.

Except that several Christmas books are currently waiting or enroute (SHH! New place is actually outside the city limits … so when this card expires in about six months that's it, will either have to pay or be limited to the much smaller county library). And Sacrifice. And White Fire. Putting books on hold that I don't have time to read. It's a problem. Worse problems to have, though. ;)

Currently Dec.

Linking up with Farley!


 


Pretty for a Dec. Sunday evening. Even though it's making me feel guilty I haven't practiced in like a year. :(

I LOVE HOLIDAY LIGHTS. That is all there is to say about that.

I am moving this week. Out to the country. This house has been home for ... 2/3 of my life. I am more than a little freaked out.

Trying to remain calm that it will be worth it!

And also remembering that the kiddos at school need me to be there mentally as well as physically this week! Starting some holiday stories. Following up with the class that took home some Flat Gingys over the Thanksgiving week and hopefully hearing what they did. My 3rd grade RTI time group and finishing up our Google Earth Landforms iBook. Hopefully a book order or two coming in? I ordered them FOREVER ago. Or September, anyway.

Favorite tradition? Ham and cheese rolls wrapped in foil and warmed in the over (this is an important part). Hot cocoa (yes, even in TX when sometimes we're just pretending it's cool). Veggies and dip. Raspberry/strawberry jello. Shooting "hoops" from the kitchen table to the trash (the foil the sandwiches were wrapped in). Every year I can remember. Also decorating graham cracker houses. Who can pick just ONE tradition?

Lesson Idea Wishlist for the SALE

on Mon/Tues.

Click above for the link from Michelle at Teach 123. Seems like it could be fun and easily adapted/differentiated for different topics and students. I liked to start with something instead of from scratch. Leaves more time to read. ;)

Debating this is from Addie Williams. DO YOUR BEST. Makes me sad when kids are "OK" with a half-hearted effort. Our school started out the year with a baseball-themed effort scale but … it didn't take off. Would pizza work better? ;)

Silly to add this because I already have a K-2 set of blank interactive notebook templates. And a set of 3-5. And while I've used both I haven't used them A LOT (if the teacher does notebooks in the classroom the kids "get it" and it's an effective activity in the library … but for classes that have never done that sort of thing before? Less effective). But these look good, too.. especially for research lessons. By Shelly Gray.

I got one set during … the B2S sale, I think. Haven't been able to use them yet but they sure look fun and a Teacher Librarian can always hope, right? That some teacher will let me try them with the kiddos? This is by the Smart Chick.

And then of course there's the clip art. Kari Bolt, Krista Wallden, Educasong, Melonheadz, Pink Cat Studio … you name something they've done and I pretty much want it. Which is kind of silly.

What about you? Anything you are looking at? Or that you've used successfully? I want the next couple weeks to be good for kiddos in the library … and my own sanity in learning the new commute and organizing stuff from boxes and storage units into the new space. While still being able to read, get some holiday shopping in, and getting back in shape. And the builder finishing up some things.

What are the chances? :P

I've always been super realistic.