Update: Accountability 101 - THE FINAL REPORT

Today is the day.  September 1.  The day of accountability for my summertime checklist.  I really didn't dread today as I have in the past.  Feeling frustrated that my 'list' wasn't all done.  And the list grew... as it always seems to...  This year was of a different nature.  The accountability was different.  The results, maybe not so.

I did enjoy having a digital checklist this summer (even though the paper ones on post-its still creeped onto my desk).  And despite feeling plugged-in far too much this summer, I feel VERY accomplished with this list.  I got a lot done during summer vacation.  And even found time to reconnect with my kids and teach summer school.  Admittedly, some of the larger house projects didn't get done (either due to finances or a need of hiring someone to do them).  But I am pleased at the list of Personal Development items that were completed.  Especially time with my family as well as reading books for enjoyment.  That is something that I have missed, and really didn't even realize it until it wasn't there.

Now, I will revisit my quarterly goals (which were set in July and run through the end of September) that are a bit more streamlined.  And as school starts, encourage my 8th grade students to set those EIGHT goals for themselves (3 academic, 3 Personal Development, 2 Interpersonal Development) that we can measure this school year.

Will I do this again next year?  Right now, I'm not sure.  I may give myself another type of electronic challenge (again, accountability from an extrinsic source) depending on what my goals are at that point.  One thing that I do enjoy, is the constant nature of self-improvement.  There is always something that can be improved.  And today is always a good day to start.

THE FINAL LIST STATUS (As of Sept 1, 2014)

• Home
• Organize Under Kitchen Sink
• Organize Linen Closet
• Paint Kitchen and Hallway
• Organize Dining Room Reorganize
• Build Bedroom Wall
• Build Attic Stairs/Entry
• Build Bedroom Closet
• Organize Basement Closet
• Clean Basement Carpets
• Organize My Closet
• Closet Curtains (purchased, need to install)
• Help Kids organize rooms
• Glassware into storage
• Bulletin Board in Bedroom

• Yard
• Paint Bulkhead
• Fire Pit (dig out, border, pit, rocks)
• Screen House Office - replacement due to storm damage :(
• Organic Veggie Garden
• Side Shade Garden
• Trellis (Pallets)

• Personal Development
• Schedule Doctor Appt
• Life Insuranc
• Read 5 Fiction Books
• Inferno
• Divergent
• Insurgent
• Allegiant
• Four
• The Notebook
• Unwind
• Unwholly
• Unsouled
• Pieces
• Read 5 Non-Fiction Books (or Audiobooks)
• Smart Money, Smart Kids
• 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
• Start
• Book #4
• Book #5
• 30 day challenge
• Abs (day 15 - abandoned)
• Arms (day 15 - abandoned)
• Thighs
• Butt
• Shoulder
• Back
• Budget
• Annual Budget
• Emergency Fund Baby Step 1
• Sinking Fund +$2000 (status $800)
• Debt Snowball +600/mo (status $600)
• Eric's Budget

• Office
• Organize File Cabinet
• Organize Manuals
• Shred Documents
• Strong Box Break into Old and Purchase new
• Create Legacy Box
• Organize Bills
• Tutoring Business Cards
• Linkedin Account 
• Eric's Office
• Eric's Job

• Upload
•  TpT
• Essential Questions Blue/Purple
• Line of Best Fit Project
• Rule of Four
• DC POWs

• Worcester (AxiD Corporation):
• Furnace Cleaning (Scheduled August 8)
• Sprinkler Inspection (June)
• Alarm Inspection (scheduled August 8)
• Washer Service (scheduled August 8)
• Fire Extinguisher Inspection (June)
• Spackle Walls
• Hot Water Heater Moved (scheduled August 8)
• Exhaust Installed (Scheduled August 8)
• Carpets & Couch Cleaned (July 29)

• Canning & Household:
• Liquid Laundry Soap
• Powered Laundry Soap
• Liquid Fabric Softener
• Tomatillo Salsa (LOTS!!!)
• Red Salsa (pending)
• Pickles (no cukes in garden)
• Spaghetti Sauce (little tomato yield)
• Chili Sauce (little tomato yield)

• Thirty-One:
• CONFERENCE (end of July)
• Year Analysis ($25K in PV)
• Budget (Jan - June)
• RSS
• Set Goals

• Family
•  Jiminy Adventure Park Raincheck
• Tubing (tenative) - CANCELLED July
• Hartford Comic Con (July) - CANCELLED
• Boston Comic Con (August) - CANCELLED
• Jiminy Adventure Park - reschedule Fall 

• Scouts:
• July 3rd Firework Games (rescheduled to July 5th)
• Boards of Review 
• Star Review - A (At Camp)
• Personal Fitness - A
• Citizen of Nation - A
• Metalwork - A (At Camp)
• Climbing - A (At Camp)
• Tenderfoot Review - C (At Camp)
• Canoeing - C (At Camp)
• Nantucket Trip (August - tentative)

Caddy Control

The year is now in (relatively) full swing, and I am proud to declare that I may have just established the best routine in my (gasp) 18 years of teaching:
  

the table caddy of supplies.

Now that I may have completely jinxed this new addition to my class, let me explain the need for this corralled chaos.

This year, I've taken on the challenge of the Interactive Notebook, or at least my version of one.  In doing to, I've also found the need for more 'cutting', 'pasting' and highlighting items into my students' work.  I assumed that the kids wouldn't have most of their supplies for the first days, so based on my activities, I supplied tape, scissors, glue, and markers.

I also found that setting the stage with community building activities, table groups, and constant flux in those groups was going to be a huge portion of my 90 minute Math classes this year.  (Sitting for 90 minutes straight was going to be waaaaaaay to long for my 8th graders!)  So I started the year with six groups of four in all my classes (of course, the last class requires two groups of five, since I had 26 students, and made me scramble for two more seats... but that's for another blog).

Each table was numbered and students were assigned groups based on these numbers.  Each table was identified by a stenciled number taped to a cylinder.   This cylinder is actually a LIFESAVER.  Not only is it acting as a group marker, but also is used as a trash bin for the table.   It's transparent, so it's easy to see when they need to be empty (or I prompt the table to do so).  I also can use it to clip the frequent table re-groupings for identification (that will be the subject of a future blog post).

These cylinders were marketed as a (wait for it) microwave spaghetti container, complete with lid and strainer (on sale for $0.88 each).  They're very solid plastic, a resin perhaps, and I hope they'll last quite a while for their current purpose.

The other lifesaver is the SHOWER CADDY.  I have used various plastic bins in the past for materials in class, but they always had 'issues'.   My markers were stored in Parmesan Cheese containers (perfect size for a standard Crayola set, complete with lid, and transparent plastic).  My colored pencils can fit in a green nut container, washed thoroughly and without the lid.  But in the past, these containers were always tossed around, sent rolling off the table, or not replaced on the shelf after usage.  It was hard to keep track of, even when I tried to play the 'matching game' with colored stickers.  I didn't train the kids well enough, and it became too frustrating to maintain.  So when I say on Pinterest the shower caddy, I was IN LOVE!  When I found the perfect plain Jane caddy at Ocean State Marketplace in June, I JUMPED!  And they sat on the shelf for 3 months while I waited for the new year to implement my new system.

During summer school, I tried out the supply system with another method I saw on Pinterest, the Silverware Caddy.  I had accumulated 3 of them and filled them with supplies for my two 2.5 hour classes each day.  This was only for 2 tables and allowed me to try some things out.  It was OK, but I was looking forward to my Shower Caddy system and starting an adjusted system for the new school year. (and I also lost all 6 of my pencil sharpeners during the summer program and have YET to gather inexpensive replacements)

In addition to the green colored pencil holders and the Parmesan Cheese marker containers, the caddies hold the groups Graphing Calculators that are available (rather than kids always getting UP to get them), protractors for the group, six-inch rulers, scissors (tip down), and glue sticks.  I also am in process of gathering a tape dispenser for each group.  It may be too big for the caddy, but will be marked with the group number as needed.  One of the JOBS that I also have created for each group is CADDY CONTROL.  This student is responsible for making sure that the caddy is in good shape before the table is dismissed.  So far, the kids have been receptive.  I usually go through the list 'colored pencils: tip up (to protect the sharpened ends), scissors: tip down, trash: emptied, markers: cap up (to ensure they're on)', but the kids have been helpful in cleaning up their communal space and that makes my life just a bit easier.  Maintaining it will be a challenge, but it will also force ME to get into a good routine.

So far, so good (let's hope I didn't jinx it!)

Garden Chaos - Top 5 things I will do again!

I was debating blogging about this, when I realized that I really didn't document the season to truly capture it all... I vow to do better next summer!  Regardless, it's time for the

Top 5 things 

I vow to do differently next summer 

in my garden.

Tip #1: Plant early to reap the harvest early!  This year, we didn't get the garden planted until well after Memorial Day (I typically plant it April Vacation week, even though it's still fairly chilly).  Procrastinating at the beginning lead to a later harvest, and with travel and weather complications, less of a yield.  Next year, I will vow to be out there daily.  Monitoring and weeding - little by little.... a little becomes a lot!  The task won't be insurmountable and I'll get some exercise too!

Tip #2: Get the garden organized and spaced well.  This year, we completely struck out with this one.  We expanded the garden to both a front yard and back yard section.  We didn't plan the front well at all, and we over planted the back.  Though it's looked fairly pathetic for the last several weeks.  In fact, to the point of embarrassment for the area on the side of the house, newly converted from crappy grass to fertile soil.  The tomatoes were tall and stringy and the vining plants weren't trellised.  Next year, we'll consider the spacing required for the plantings as well as the overall aesthetic of the garden itself.  Curb appeal still holds true.

Tip #3 :  Check for ripe veggies DAILY.  Both the zucchini and cucumbers got away from us (it didn't help that I was not home for 3 prime weeks this summer).  So the canning process for the cukes has resulted in some true Hamburger Chips - with the diameter of the burger itself.  That made it a bit tricky to can (I needed to get the wide mouth jars) but should result in some great dills later this year.  Note to self:  be sure to note HOT on the label of the Jalepeno Dills.  They get exponentially hotter when canned.  Great if you like hot stuff, not so much if you aren't expecting it.  We also dehydrated some of the peppers, eggplant, and cherry tomatoes.  Hopefully the tomatoes will be like a version of a sun dried tomato to spice up soups and salads this winter.

Tip #4: invest in a food mill or blender.  I have
my blender/food processor method for tomato paste/sauce, but others in my household have much more finicky tastes (and are quite LOUD in expressing those tastes).  I should hold my own, but sometimes you have to pick your battles.  A food mill allows you to press the pulp through and extract seeds and or skins from foods like tomato sauce.  This year, I didn't have one, but I did remove the skin from the tomatoes (though my scalded fingers don't quite appreciate the effort).  I think that will help the sauce department.  I do wish we had more of a crop for my salsas and chutneys, but I suppose they will have to wait until next year.  This year's crop of made into sauce.  I can't WAIT for my fall chili!

Tip #5: Compost is the key to fertile soil and next year's crop.  We had two methods of amending the soil this year.  First, the basic compost pile in the corner of the backyard.  Yard waste, food wastes, grass clippings, weeds, shredded paper, it all was added to the pile, watered and turned frequently.   This is something that I've done for years, but this year as the first we had a prime crop of Red Wiggler Worms added in.  They did what they are made to do:  eat, aerate the soil, poop, and procreate!  And the soil was wonderful and the worms were plentiful - to the point that we took some out and added them to the compost bin outside as well as directly to the garden soil!  We added the 'Juice' to potted plants and they perked right up.  We supplemented the topsoil when we transplanted the seedlings with 'Worm Manure' and it was not full of nutrients for our infant plants.  The plants did grow quite tall and produced lots of fruit (the tomatoes were huge, but took forever to turn - we assume that was weather based, not soil nutrients).  The only drawback is only having 3 trays for the worms.  Once they are established, they do need frequent maintenance (adding food scraps, draining excess fluid from the tray, removing manure to add room for the worms).  Lets just say, these worms will remain in my basement and will be fed throughout the winter.  I'm debating how to store the 'Juice' during the winter months.  Part of me wants to store it and save it for Spring, the other part of me says it's too fragrant (with the cap off).  We'll have to see.  I do know, though, the worms are more than welcome to return to my garden next Spring if they will contribute to my Garden's Bounty again!

I vow to take better pictures next year, so a timeline can be chronicled.  But until then, I'm off to can some tomatoes and finish my sauce :)

My Bright Idea: Color Coded Towels

I was in a white phase several years ago.  A crisp bleached laundered towel was the way to go.  Neutrals were calming.  A bathroom was supposed to be spa-like, serene, relaxing.  My, how times have changed.

Now, our house has exploded into chaos with four teen/preteens who seem to carpet their respective rooms with everything they can get their hands on.  Clothes and towels have become the new carpet in their opinion.  Cleaning their rooms mean shoving everything under the bed or in the closet.  The four hooks in the bathroom are always left empty.  I got tired of opening the cupboard to find there were no towels, yet walking into the laundry room and finding TONS on the floor.  It was never-ending and equally frustrating...

So, after watching my older son be particular about the towels he picked (the towels had to match - either solids or stripes, mixing and matching was NOT allowed, beach towels were not OK to use after a shower but OK to use at the pool) and watching the youngest have piles of once-used towels on the floor that then became a bed for the dog - I had an epiphany:  Color Coding.

Everyone now has their own color.  Two bath size towels each for starters.  If yours are wet and you didn't hang them up after your shower, your fault.  If they end up on the bathroom floor, it's clear who's responsible.  It also makes it easy to identify on the road or poolside (when we branch out into more towels) and eventually, the kids might actually be able to take them on with them when they move out...

The kids got to pick out their own colors (adults ended up with the whites we already had).  Fortunately, there was enough of a rainbow of choices that no one wanted the same color.  And to help, our bathroom is white with color accents, so coordinating, though not the primary concern, still was achieved.  Win-Win!

Color has always helped me organize in my classroom with the variety of students, but extending it into my own home was always a challenge.  Getting everyone on board was tricky - but no teenager wants to walk through the house naked, so that's a big motivator to comply with mom's BRIGHT IDEA!