Updates All Around

Thanks to the wonderful ladies who set up the TPT Sellers Challenge earlier this month, I have been super busy revamping and refreshing many of my old products.  They gave me the motivation I needed to just get it done already!! 
I've also been busy trying to get into some sort of 'routine' with this whole health venture. Stay tuned.

The first product I updated was My ABC Book - Foldable Emergent Readers.

These are great for reinforcing letters and letter sounds while building self-confidence amongst your youngest readers. The text is repetitive, there are pictures to match each vocabulary word, and traceable text on every page.

I introduce each book as we work on each specific letter. We spend time participating in echo and shared reading.  The kiddos then head to their table groups to read, trace, and color their books.  As they finish, they pair up and buddy read or spend time at read-to-self. 

 The books remain in the students 'book luggage' for the next week until it is sent home to be read with family. 
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I also updated a sound-spelling product that I have renamed Building Words!

This little guy went from 32 to 80 pages!! I completely made over every single page of this product and provided three versions of each letter page for easy differentiating.  I provided a FREE sample in the 'Preview' section in my TPT store! Just click {{HERE}} to check it out!
 This packet was created when I was teaching first grade for the first time. I had several students who needed practice with sound-spelling and I wanted to provide them with an opportunity to be successful.  Even though there are harder words, the success comes when they sound them out phonetically! 

My students always ask me to help them spell out harder words and my response is always the same "sound out and write what you hear." How else are they suppose to learn? Trying is half the battle. 

When making over this product, I took into consideration several key factors that it was lacking. Differentiation, extension, and an alphabet line to provide for letter/letter sound support.  Through the years, my students have come into my classroom more prepared for multi-level style centers/worksheets and I wanted to provide them with just that. 

**Suggestions for use:  -staple or bind into a book for each student to use and work on independently {book cover provided below}
-print on cardstock (for durability), laminate each page, and bind together. students use expo markers to complete pages
-use pages in small group 
-used in a center rotation

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Now for #teacherskeepinitreal

Here it goes....the truth. Ugh! I have not started this health journey off well.  It's not that I'm not trying either. Don't get me wrong. It's just life. It's so busy and ever changing that getting into the routine of things is a little more challenging than expected. 
Let's see. I made my declaration of change SIX days ago and out of those six days I have only worked out twice. BUT here's where my mindset is changing. I'm proud of those 2 times. They were hard workouts and I pushed myself.
I will continue to increase how many workouts I do, as I can.

Eating is going better. 
Listen...if I could live off of chocolate chip cookies alone, I would. I seriously bake and eat dozens of cookies in a setting.  It's gross and it's a problem.
I'm happy to report that in the last 6 days, I have only consumed two cookies.
I can't even believe that! THAT is an accomplishment!! 

 I've been eating a lot of fruits/veggies and drinking a lot of infused water.  I like to drink a detox water. It's lemon, cucumber, and mint. Chop 'em up, let them sit in water overnight and enjoy! SO good! Warning: you pee a lot!!

A few recipes I've tried {click image for recipe}:

                                 

I'd love to try some more delicious recipes! If you've got a really good one, send it my way! :)

 

The better me!

2013 was the year of baby.  Starting in February last year, I began my 'go big or go home' workout routine to get my butt in the best shape I could come June (when we were going to start trying…yes, we had everything 'scheduled' out).  Like my dear friend, Kelley, I was athletic my whole childhood.  When I first got pregnant, I started doing some 'preggo yoga' but with morning sickness and such it didn't happen as often as I would have liked.  

Then, in October the 'tragedy' happened and well, I didn't do much.  Lies…I did nothing.  For the past 3 months I have not lifted a finger.

I literally carried a box of decodables from the front of my school to my classroom two days ago (which is practically part of the neighboring middle school rather than my actual campus) and my arms were sore the whole next day. 

 That is not okay.  At all.  When you're a smaller person every.single.pound shows.  I've gained 5 pounds (like I said, every pound shows) and have lost all definition/tone/athleticism.  In three months!  Last night was my 'no more' moment.  As I got ready for my nephews birthday dinner, I couldn't find anything to wear.  Not because I was being picky, but because I couldn't fit into anything. Confession: I wore a belly band. No more!

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So I wrote that top part BEFORE I went to my first workout in, well…you read.

Let me tell you, that workout was not pretty.  Even after 4 hours, my legs and arms are still jello.  I must admit though.  It felt oh so good!!  

My goal (I don't' make resolutions…I'm never good at keeping them, then I get depressed and throw the whole thing out. I have to make lots of little, short term goals) this month is to be healthy. That means working out no less than 3 days (any day after 3 is a *bonus*) a week, getting more rest, and eating as healthy as I can (whatever that may be).  

Eating healthy …. my goal this last week was to have a 'green' smoothie every day this week.  I accomplished that goal, so I'm going to continue it but this time I'm going to add a lot more veggies to my smoothies. :)  I use the NutriBullet and love it! It comes with three cups sizes, lids, removable handles, and tons of recipes!  So far, so good! The pretty tumbler and festive straw always help

This is a great reference for making smoothies.

Click image to see full image

Here are my two favorite's so far:

I also add Flax Seed and Chai Seed to mine for added boost! :)

Here's how I plan to keep it up…

1. I took pictures of myself for 'before' shots.  NO, you can't see them!!!!!!  I only showed my "biffer" (best friend for lifer) and any time I'm feeling lazy and need motivation she will only say this to me "before,"  but her snarl and glare will scare me enough into going! Ha!  Point being, find someone or something to be your constant motivation and accountability partner.  You need them. At least until you start making it a habit and go without any whining or retrain.

2.  Continue to set realistic short term goals.  I set goals by the day/week/month.  No more than a month though.  This way I feel a sense of accomplishment each and every day.  When I set long-term goals, I get unmotivated quick, especially without fast results.  Then, I get mad at myself and the downward spiral into unhealthy hell unleashes.  It is what it is.  

3.  Preparation.  This is key in my success.

Click the image to head to original image AND to find smoothie recipes!

I'm a lazy person.  I just am.  If my job could be just living, I would nail it!  But that's not my job or my life so preparation will save me.  I plan on preparing all my smoothies and lunches for the week on Sundays.  I will be more likely to eat better and continue my success if I'm prepared.  Just like teaching.  You are always a better teacher when you're prepared. 

Well, I'm going to be a better ME because I'm prepared. Dangit!

You're hearing (well, reading) it first here… 2014 will be the year of Kelly! :)

Feeling motivated and need some more inspiration?  Click below!