Happy 2013 and Currently...

As I am typing this, the clock is ticking toward midnight and the end of 2012. In less than an hour, it will be 2013. I am anxious to see what the New Year has in store for all of us...

So, of course, a new month means it's time to join in on Farley's Currently. I've been worried about this one. I knew it would be time to pick a new word for my One Little Word (OLW). I've been thinking a lot about "perseverance." Sometimes I need to remind myself to hang in there when the going gets tough--because it almost always gets better (and sometimes I don't even have to wait very long.)

Then I moved on to "appreciate." I NEED to stop and be more appreciative more often. I need to slow down and be thankful for the MANY blessings that I have. Even when things are difficult, I should be appreciative, because I know it could be worse (much worse). My struggles are few and my joys are many.

Then again, I've thought about the word, "consider." Consider the possibilities, consider the consequences, consider how lucky I am, consider how to persevere and appreciate... Nah, I just can't tie it all together that easily!

So I think I will consider it a little longer and commit by the end of the week. (That IS one more vote for consider, I see!)

I have truly enjoyed this vacation. I decided to just stay home and appreciate (heeheehe) the quiet, restful tone of no school. Get up when I want, stay up late, do school work, don't do school work... So many options! Aside from Starbucks, I haven't needed all that much to make me happy.

I want to design a "Stay Organized" plan. I know I am much happier when I get things done "on time." Why, then, am I often scrambling to finish report cards at three in the morning or looking for lost math tests under the couch when I am already late for school? Hey! Maybe my OLW should be "organize"! {Shudders} No, that's too much responsibility. I need to take smaller steps to success!

Well BloggyFriends, YOU have added to all that was wonderful about 2012. I wish I could e-mail anyone who has ever read one of my blog posts and say THANK YOU! But I'm having trouble getting one blog post finished and one little word chosen...

So, instead, I hope you will just know that I DO appreciate (keeping track?!) the connection that is built in the BloggyUniverse. Thanks for being a part of my little slice of it.

Three minutes left, so I will click "publish" for the last time in 2012...

                                                                                        

All of these cute New Year's graphics are from Ashley Hughes on TpT!

Warmest wishes for a wonderful 2013!

Now, it's your turn to link up with Farley, to share your own "Currently," to follow the Rule of Three, and to make some new connections...

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Joyful Day!

I am wishing you all things bright and wonderful on this special day!

Merry Christmas

  

Have a JOY-filled day!

I hope that you enjoyed a day filled with friends and family, love and laughter,
and plenty of JOY... 

P.S. Thanks to Ruby Slipper Designs for the happy graphics!

Teaching Kindness

I don't know about you, but I was SO glad to see my students today!

We start each morning with a handshake (with a different variation for each day of the week) and a "Good Morning." I have to admit I probably squeezed each hand extra tight!

We limited discussion about the events of last week and we got on with our day, but we were all a little subdued. It could have been because it was Monday. Or maybe it was the rain. Or maybe it was because it was just hard to forget what happened less than seventy-two hours ago...

And, still, I loved them a little bit more today. I was grateful to see their "tweenager" faces and I felt blessed to be their teacher and to be there, with them, on this day.

We have been trying to be more conscious of the thoughts, and needs and feelings of others in these twelve days before vacation.

      Font by Kevin and Amanda; Digital Paper by Surfin' Through Second (TpT)

Each morning, I have started the day off with a "challenge" of sorts--a suggestion, a prompt, a request to be kind to the people with whom they share their school day.


With a few sweet Melonheadz elves, two of my favorite Jen Jones fonts (HelloBasic and HelloFun), and my happy heart, we started with something easy: Sharing a smile.

The students were a little reluctant at first. I think it seemed odd to actually TALK about the need to be kind... yet alone the need to BE kind. After the first day or two, however, they got into the spirit and they tried a little harder to remember what we were practicing each day.

I am proud to report that they have really stepped up to the challenge! Today we worked on sharing kindness by making an effort. It was an "All Thumbs Up" day in PE--which means that ALL of the kids demonstrated good sportsmanship and worked hard in during their PE time with the PE Coach. No one got in trouble for an attitude problem or for talking too much. I couldn't have asked for a better start to this day!

With just four days to go, we continue to think about ways to be kind to each other and to other students and adults at our school. Just so you can see our journey, I've included the cards below. They are on our classroom door too to keep us focused on our path to kindness....

I hope that kindness is filling YOUR classroom today. And if you are lucky enough to be out of school already, I hope that you encounter kindness wherever you go today!