Christmas Crafts

I have been very busy with some of my inclusion classes making Christmas Crafts.  Check out the Christmas craft page attached to this blog for some cute ideas or check out Pinterest.  I love Pinterest!

No time for a manicure?

No Chipping and Strong Nails!
If you do not have time for a manicure, try the 14 day nail shield by Sally Hansen.  It was easy to apply and comes off with nail polish remover.  I paid about seven dollars for my kit and it had a few extra nail shields included so that you can practice without running out. 

sallyhansen 14-day-nail-shield

Pinterest

If you have not checked out Pinterest you should! Pinterest is a free virtual image board.  Start slow and just view boards that other have developed by selecting a topic that you like clicking on a board.The DIY pages are amazing!  Once you have  seen what it is all about, create your own boards.  This is a great way to share ideas with friends and create bookmarks of web pages that you might want to revisit.  If you spend hours- like I do- surfing the web, you will find this site a terrific way to feel like you have actually accomplished something!  My current boards include Eat Dessert First, Bridal Shower Ideas, Dinner Please, Virtual Field Trips for Teachers.  Be careful- this web application is very addictive.

Google+. What's the fuss?

I have started using google+. In case you are unfamiliar with what that is, it is basically the new site developed by Google which is somewhat similar to Facebook. You put your friends in "circles" which makes it very easy to organize your friends. It allows you to add photos
Like Facebook and it works well with other Google programs like Picaso for photos. There is a stream which would be the equivalent of your Facebook "home".
In my opinion, I can see it used more for work or professional purposes than personal, although that could be partly because only nerdy people have signed up so far...lol. Also, the security settings need to be improved. Overall, Google+ has a lot of potential and might someday be more popular than Facebook because you have to love Google!!

Summer Arts and Crafts

I made this after I took a trip to Hobby Lobby and checked out various sites on the web and YouTube on how to make bracelets.  I used 4mm beads to make the outer bracelets and a thin silver chain and thin leather to make the center bracelet.  Here is one website that is helpful:   http://www.rings-things.com/blog/2011/03/08/how-to-make-wrapped-leather-bracelets/

Word Art- A Must Have For The Dorm!

My new favorite website is tagxedo.com  for word art.  I have been a big fan of Wordle but now I have found something even better!  Tagxedo allows you to build your word art into a cute shape:

I spent hours trying to do this with Adobe- with no success.  This site was so simple and looks perfect for that sorority dorm room wall art!  I finally created something that my daughter liked and actually wants to use in her room and I did not even have to spend a lot of money...and my kids thought I had no hidden talents...web surfing IS my gift. :) Note to Moms: after you create the art be sure to let your child look at it before you print it to allow him or her to veto any unwanted words.

Tips for Using the Website:

Begin at the create tab at the top of the page

Repeat any words that you want to be larger than the others

Load your words or add an url or paste words into the box

Be sure to pay attention to the black arrows on the left column to change the color, orientation,font or shape.

Check out the options on the Word/Layout Options (I allowed for words to be repeated)

Then you can save, print, or share your word art.  I save mine at 16mp jpg because I was going to print a poster.



Changes

Since my last blog entry in March (sorry), my technology position was cut due to the school system budget.  I am returning to my roots: speech therapy.  I will be working with our older students which will be new for me because I spent 23 years working with the "little ones." 
So due to the changes in my employment, instead of helping teachers learn how to use technology, I am returning to teaching myself...and the occasional family member all about new and exciting technology.  My latest venture is Google+ which looks really exciting and is user friendly.  I am also hoping to spend more time with my blog which will not focus on just one topic, as I am pretty sure I am developing adult ADD. :)

iPad 2

I really am enjoying the new iPad 2.  A huge plus is being able to take photos with the iPad.  The new iPad is thinner and the cases for the first generation do not fit it well.  The only other drawback I have found it that without a cover it comes on automatically and therefore I have to charge it more often than I did my previous iPad.  Transferring my information from one iPad to another was easy but I am very familiar with iTunes which helps.  I did have to add my wireless key codes and add my email password in order for  those operations to work again.   I would like a iPad compatible printer next...just in case Santa is reading my blog....

Apple iPad Apps that Rock!

Apple  has a process for approving iPad apps which set it apart from competitors.  These apps can be as addictive as Facebook.  iBooks is a terrific app for reading and so is GoodReader.   If you enjoy games I really like Angry Birds, Cut the Rope, Azkend HD Lite, Pinball HD, and the Price is Right.  Finger Physics is terrific and also fun.  I have also found some free educational apps that are worth looking at: Solar System Lite. Mad Math, BB Magic Lite, ABS Phonetics, Miss Spider, Ace Combo, Kids Math, Ace Mathland, Make a Word Free, Alpha ABC, Square9 Lite, and Balloons. 
Hopefully, you will not be so busy enjoying you iPad that you no longer have time to visit any blogs...

It is all about the workout...

My Favorite Wii Games For Exercising

I do not like exercising but find that my Wii console makes working out kind of fun.  My favorite Wii games are:
*Gold's Gym Dance Workout- This is a combination of Latin Dance (like Zumba) and cardio boxing.  You can create your own workout and the moves are repetitive enough that you can follow along easily the second time you attempt the song.  The music is fun and you can keep up with your heart rate while working out. 

*Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus- I really like the weighing feature and body test.   I have found that if your balance board is sitting on carpet, your weight is lower... denial is wonderful.  I have an aerobic step for my balance board which really gets my heart pumping. I am able to use the Wii Fit Plus game to count my steps onto the balance board while I watch TV.  The balance games are fun for the whole family, although not an actual workout.  If you prefer yoga or strength training you will also find games to enjoy with these games.

*Wii Active- This game has some fun features and I really like the boxing, dance, and track titles.  The only drawback to this game is that the dancing is not hard enough and does not last long enough.  The same with the many of the other workouts.  I find that by the time I am using the correct arm and leg the game is over.

*Just Dance 2- Great music and a lot of fun.  At my age this is not a game I want to do if anyone is watching, but I am able to perform many of the dance moves.  This game is perfect if you have a teen in your home.

Wii Sports Resort and Dancing with the Stars are both a lot of fun but require more gaming ability than  than I enjoy for a workout.

 Have fun with your workout!

Do you have Teenagers?

Abbreviations you need to know:

LOL= Laugh Out Loud
BRB= Be Right Back
K= Okay
IDK= I Don't Know
JK= Just Kidding
Thx= Thanks
TTYL= Talk to You Later
U= You
PLZ= Please
BTW= By the Way
Cuz= Because


TTYL! lol

For All My Facebook Friends....

I am all about cybersafety and digital citizenship.  If you use Facebook, then you should pay a visit to your security settings.  Here are some items to consider:
Go to your "Account"
then "Privacy Settings"
You will see  "Apps  and Websites" in the bottom left corner
Choose to "Edit Your Settings"
I would look at each of the setting listed.  If you edit the "Apps You Use" section, you can click on the box beside any application listed.  You will want to do this for any questionable or spammy apps.
I would also take a look at the Public Search setting at the bottom.  I chose to edit these setting by unchecking the public search box.

Also under "Account", I edit my friends and create lists.  All of my friends are assigned a list.  Each list has different privacy settings.  With these lists I can limit what information the people that I don't  know very well can see, while allowing my closest friends full access to my Facebook pages.  Lastly, all of my settings are set to "friends only" instead of including "Friends of Friends".

Happy FB!

I Wish...

I wish I liked exercising and housework half as much as I do eating, my job, my laptop, my iPad, my Blackberry, my DVR, various TV shows and movies,  reading, Facebook, surfing the internet, the website "StumbleUpon", and sleeping....

Camp Sunshine

Camp Sunshine is a very special camp for children diagnosed with cancer in Georgia.  My son attended this camp for many years.  His first year, he had just started treatment for a malignant brain tumor.  I cannot say it was easy to leave him at camp attached to an IV pole, looking so sickly.  As a mom, I worried and cried for the entire week.  My son made friends, learned compassion instead of feeling sorry for himself, and had the time of his life.  Camp Sunshine is a blessing for families in Georgia impacted by pediatric cancer!

Camp Sunshine Website

Kids today...

My top ten teaching tools that I wish were around when I was in school:

10. The document camera-I  remember the "ditto" machine that we used when I first started teaching.  The    
       smell was as memorable as the smeared blue ink.

9. Email- no stamps needed!

8. Videoconferencing- Virtual fieldtrips to an aquarium beats the water treatment plant we visited every year.

7. Classroom sound systems- Background noise is no longer a problem.

6. Student response systems (voting devices)- very engaging!

5. Computers- It is hard to imagine we actually lived without them!

4. High Speed Internet Access- we have come a long way from just using an encyclopedia...

3. iPads- User friendly and  highly entertaining!

2. Digital media- so much better than a film strip...

1. Interactive White Boards.  My personal preference is a Promethean board, although a large screen TV    
    with a SMART overlay is not too shabby. Once a teacher has experienced teaching with one of these    
    boards, they cannot imagine teaching without one.

This is a link to the best school system around!