Looking Back on February

Before looking back, I want to reflect on my first day of the 23 days of Frugal Living:
Day One: Redefining Fruaglity

One of the first thing the Challenge addresses is how our society has the view of "more is better." Can't agree more. There's a misconception that things bring happiness and show you have money and the less things you have shows you are lacking and deprived.
"Some people call that materialism. But I believe it has more to do with what we think our possessions represent — success, esteem, status, achievement, or blessings. We rarely stop to enjoy what we have. It’s always a race to the next bigger and better thing." Very well put!
Other Ideas: 

- Enjoy What You Have: It doesn't matter how much it costs! As in it could be from a lift shop, or 3 years old. All that matters is if it makes you happy.  

- Redefining Frugality: Frugal living is the enjoyment of what you have and not the ablity to shop, use coupons, or penny-pinch. Find the value in all things like the physical world!

Basically, this journey will help save money and spend less because you aren't focused on material needs becuase you will use what you have.

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Made it through the second month of my three.six.five Happiness project. I think I have found out in the last two months that it might be a whole lot harder to change everything I want to at one time. However, instead of giving up, I know it is making me a better, well-rounded person over time. So I will keep going and keep putting in more effort!

For GET CLEAN, I tried and tried and tried. Just like at home, things tend to pile up pretty quick, especially with 16 kids in the mix! I had my desk cleared off pretty well until the last few days of the month, as grade cards were due. We did keep desks clean and kids were able to extra Reed Rewards at the end of the week. I did not get around to the clutter, and to be honest I am not sure that there will be enough time until summer to do so. But once again, I will try to keep focused on this task in upcoming months, since I would like to focus on getting ready for a new school year instead of cleaning all summer.

For GET ORGANIZED, it was a complete belly flop other than cleaning off my teacher resources shelf. The book shelf for the kids was kept straightened but were not labeled like I would like to. Definitely something to focus on throughout time. I really want my classroom to look like my friends': labeled boxes and totes, clean, organized resources and drawers. So much to do!

For NEW STRATEGIES, I probably did the best in this area. The kids loved the clickers so much that they begged for it everyday. It was a good way to do a whole class review before assessments. We used the flipchart for vocabluary words, however I did not get all the bolts and screws together for the flipchart. I got the resources together to start the reciprocal teaching so we will be starting that soon. The only thing I didn't touch much was the Mimeo, that will have to transfer over to the Technology area of life because I know it will help out with a lot of teaching tools. I found a lot of great interactive board sites on Pinterest though.

For USING TIME I did a lot better with using my planning periods for grading and planning uses. For study hall I did some extra work getting for assessments. After school I stayed longer on the days that I was able to, but a couple weeks in a row I had games to work, night classes, quiz bowl moderating, and other obligations. I also got there at 7 most days, to get things ready for the day. So I think I did well overall in this area, and will make sure I keep using my time wisely and efficiently.

Finally, for FUN IN LEARNING, I did not get much done. I think the clickers was the big fun for the month. Mixing in state assessment preparation and the real deal took most of the time away from this area. I do have more of an idea of what I want for the Boggle game and where to put it as well as what it will take to get all of my file games made.

Once again I will CONTINUE to work on ALL of the tasks for this past month. I did not do as well overall as I hoped, but I will keep my head up. However, I did better with Energy from January and I am excited about working on that even more this month. Lots of work to be done as well as focusing on Money for the month of March.

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For the Bucket List I only crossed off one item: DONATE. Yikes, right? Well I planned on getting more done but the date for starting Co-Ed Volleyball was pushed back until this Sunday. There are also some other things I would like to cross of this month. In addition, I saw that one of my favorite comedians will be in Lawerence during April and the Lion King Musical will be in Wichita over the summer. So even though I still have 49 things to go, I have a plan and I will do this!

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Maybe I slacked in the other areas because I still wanted to keep the Variety Book Challenge on track with only 29 days. And, well, I did! :) In February, I read 10 books agian: 9 from my list and 1 that was not, which may just also end up on the Top Books of the Year ironically! So the list below is updated with the books I have read in bold, along with the dates I read them in. Once again, see my book review site to see what I thought about each read.

(The New) Variety Book Challenge 2012

Animals:
- Stay by Allie Larkin 1/09-1/11- I’m Not the Biggest Bitch in this Relationship by Stephanie Klein
- The Purpose of Dogs by W. Bruce Cameron 2/01-2/22- Cesar’s Way by Cesar Millan
- Walking in Circles Before Lying Down by Merrill Markoe

Celebrities:
- High Voltage Tattoo by Kat VonD
- Confessions of a Guidette by Nicole Polizzi
- The Fame Game by Lauren Conrad
- Sliding Into Home by Kendra Wilkinson 1/12-1/15
- Elixir by Hilary Duff

Comedians:
- Life As I Blow It by Sarah Calonna
- Don’t Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings by Tyler Perry
- Seriously, I’m Kidding by Ellen Degeneres 2/11-2/12- I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell by Tucker Max 1/20-1/26
- Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man by Steve Harvey 1/04-1/07

Controversial:
- I am J by Cris Beam
- Unplanned  by Abby Johnson
- The Chosen One by Carol Williams 2/05- Tweak by Nic Sheff
- Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

Cultural:
- Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
- Sold by Patricia McCormick
- The Secret Daughter by Shilipi Somaya Gowda
- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie 1/04
- A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah

Historical Fiction:
- True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy 1/07-1/08
- The Dry Grass of August by Anna Jean Mayhew
- Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
- Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
- One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus

Inspirational:
- 5 Love Languages, Singles Edition by Gary Chapman
- How Did My Life Become a Game of Twister? by Mary Pierce
- 20 Someone by Craig Dunham & Doug Serven
- Worn Out Woman by Dr. Steve Stephens & Alice Gray
- Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst

Living Life:
- Full Frontal Feminism by Jessica Valenti
- No Regrets by Sarah Ivens
- Life After College by Jenny Blake
- twentysomething by Margaret Feinberg
- Life is a Verb by Patti Digh

Memoirs:
- Year of Yes by Maria Dahvana Headley
- Sickened by Julie Gregory
- White Girl Problems by Babe Walker 2/16-2/20- Save Karyn by Karyn Bosnak
- Happy Accidents by Jane Lynch

Overcoming Odds:
- The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon 2/20-2/26- Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
- Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
- A Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass
- Saving Max by Antoinette van Heugten

Romance:
- There’s Cake in My Future by Kim Gruenenfelder
- Overkill by Linda Castillo
- Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
- PS I Love You by Cecila Ahern 2/12-2/15- What Came First by Carol Snow

Science:
- The Secret Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot 1/20-1/29
- Forensics and Fiction by D.P. Lyle, M.D.
- Babies by Design by Ronald M. Green
- Bonk by Mary Roach
- Death’s Acre by William M. Bass

Self-Help:
- Single by Jody Ford
- Why Mean Love Bitches by Sherry Argov
- Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
- Make Peace with Your Thighs by Dr. Linda Mintle
- On My Own Two Feet by Manisha Thakor

Series:
- Women’s Murder Club by James Patterson
- Chelsea Handler Comedy Books
*Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang* 1/17-1/19
- Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
*Hunger Games* 2/08-2/11
*Catching Fire* 2/26-2/28
- Kay Scarpettta Novels by Patricia Cornwell
*From Potter's Field* -1/03
*Cause of Death* 2/05-2/08
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Trilogy by Stieg Larsson

Teaching:
- Choice Words by Peter H. Johnston
- Teaching with Love and Logic by Jim Fay & David Funk
- 32 Third Graders & One Class Bunny by Phillip Done
- 3 Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin
- Freedom Writers by Erin Gruwell

Time/Realms:- My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares
- The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
- 10 Best Days of My Life by Adena Halpern
- Time of My Life by Allison Winn Scotch
- Radiance by Alyson Noel 1/23-1/26

Extras: 

Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner 1/15-1/17 
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 1/26-2/04

Little bit of happiness: Yesterday during inservice we went through what we will have to make MTSS possible. In fourth and fifth grade wie will be doing a lot of different things we have never had to do before. I feel like we got so much done in our meeting, and a lot of stress was lifted because we were able to work as a cohesive team. Instead of taking on the challenges by ourselves we will be creating a rotating schedule, and I am excited for the possibilities next year!

Daily quote: Do not give up, the beginning is always the hardest.

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra