Accountability 101: How the Summer Projects Were Accomplished

Summertime is a time to rejuvenate and relax.  I look forward to reading a good book, sitting out on the porch, sleeping in, spending time with my kids and friends, traveling...

However, there are so many things that fall by the wayside during the school year, that it's also a time for me to get caught up on life. Renovations, annual repairs, doctors appointments, even squeezing in a long weekend vacation or two. I find that it's so difficult keeping up with the day-to-day items that I justify putting things off until later (usually a vacation week or summer), then get overwhelmed when I look at the long list that has been created.

Every year, I tape a LOOOONG piece of poster paper to the door and map out the summer, May through September, to see the big picture (as well as to see who is where and when).  I do a similar thing in January with the a new calendar, even going as far as color coding each kid's events (that lasts a little bit, mainly because I don't maintain it).  It's helpful for a visual thinker like me, but also to communicate to the rest of the household.

 I discovered two main obstacles in my attempt:

One - my to-do lists are WAY TOO LONG.  It is OVERWHELMING when I start putting everything in one place.  It is DAUNTING to start to chip away at it.

Two - my paper lists and post-its become crossed out and rewritten and despite the fact I can eliminate many of them as I accomplish them, I never feel as though I'm getting any momentum... then come fall, feel defeated (even if I have completed many of them!).  I have a post-it tracker in my office and a paper list in my calendar, but I really never have everything in one place.

This year, I'm going to try something slightly different.  I'm going to have a TOP 5 of the day.  Five main things that I want to get completed.  This is especially helpful for those little things, like calling doctors or scheduling appointments, that I remember at 11:30 on a Friday night and tend to forget when the office opens the following Monday.

So I'm going to keep an electronic master list here on this blog and check in periodically to track my progress.  I'll still use my post-it tracker and a goofy sticker chart for myself (that's the teacher in me too).  I even would be thrilled to say that each day I'll get one item completed from each facet of my life, though I don't think that's going to truly be feasible, but at least it's a start.


How many of these can I get finished by September 1?

• Home
• Organize Under Kitchen Sink
• Organize Linen Closet
• Paint Kitchen
• Organize Dining Room
• Build Bedroom Wall
• Build Attic Stairs/Entry
• Build Bedroom Closet
• Organize Basement Closet
• Clean Basement Carpets

• Yard
• Paint Bulkhead
• Fire Pit
• Screen House Office
• Organic Veggie Garden
• Side Shade Garden
• Trellis (Pallets)

• Personal
• Doctor
• Life Insurance
• Read 5 Fiction Books
• Inferno
• Divergent
• Insurgent
• Allegiant
• Pieces
• Read 5 Non-Fiction Books
• Smart Money, Smart Kids
• Book #2
• Book #3
• Book #4
• Book #5
• 30 day challenge
• Abs
• Arms
• Thighs
• Butt
• Shoulder
• Back
• Budget
• Annual Budget
• Emergency Fund Baby Step 1

• Office
• Organize File Cabinet
• Organize Manuals
• Shred Documents
• Strong Box
• Legacy Box
• Organize Bills
• Annual Budget

• Upload
•  TpT
• Line of Best Fit Project
• Rule of Four
• DC POWs

• Worcester (AxiD Corporation):
• Furnace Cleaning
• Sprinkler Inspection
• Alarm Inspection
• Washer Service
• Fire Extinguisher Inspection
• Spackle Walls
• Hot Water Heater Moved
• Exhaust Installed

• Canning:
• Tomatillo Salsa
• Red Salsa
• Pickles
• Spaghetti Sauce
• Chili Sauce

• Thirty-One:
• CONFERENCE!

• Scouts:
• July 3rd Firework Games
• Boards of Review

Happy Summer!  And here's to accountability and accomplishments!

When I finally became a townie...

I am a Navy Brat.  Our family moved every 4-6 years throughout my childhood.  I never had 'roots' in one place for very long to see the particulars of how a town changed over time; both politically, personality, economically, and even geographically...

But now, I have been established for almost 20 years in my career and raising my family.  I have managed my personal life, and navigated my career while living amongst the families that I work with.  It has been interesting, sometimes stifling, to rise, fall, and get back up amid my students and their families.  At first, I was worried of perception, then embraced my 'nerdiness'.  This is me:  mom, teacher, scout leader, neighbor, volunteer, business owner.  I'm not always warm and fuzzy.  I'm enthusiastic but not hyper (well, maybe disorganized and over-caffeinated).   I'm authentic, but not fake.  I'm assertive, not bossy.  I reflect, reevaluate and adjust, even if it stresses me out.  I will stand up for what I believe.  Take it or leave it.

I have made mistakes in rearing my children, allowing the 'system' to makes determinations, while managing my own classroom and the personalities that go along with it.  I have stood my ground with other people's kids if they crossed the line with me.  I have tried to negotiate the strong personalities and stand up for those who are not as vocal.  Even when I don't mean to, I also take on the 'Devil's Advocate' side of the conversation, always proposing and preparing for the worst case scenario, must to the chagrin of those in charge.

So I suppose this now makes me an official 'Townie', being transplanted into this area and allowed to thrive.  I can't run away and reinvent myself every 4-6 years.  I have had to find my voice, my personality, and learn how to navigate everyone else's.  It may have taken me 40 years to do so, but I'm hopeful that I can empower, inspire, and lead by example, for both my own children as well as others.

Get Your Finances in Order

Like many people at the start of the new year, I set my top 5 goals for the year.  Some were personal, others were with the family.  Some were narrow, some were broad.  Most had bullet points that I can use as a checklist.  You can read my entire blog post HERE.  

Goal #1: $$$$  Get your financial house in order  $$$

My first goal for 2014 of getting my financial house in order.  I had organized all the papers and done a 'month in review' budget for years, but decided that I needed a kick in the butt and accountability.  Enter Dave Ramsey.  I had come across his free podcast of his daily radio show that spoke of finances.  Dave has a very 'in your face' personality.  He tells it like it is... even if it's not what you want to hear.  And that's refreshing.  He had spoken about his method of getting out of debt and accumulating wealth.  It was different than the other information I had read about (mostly investing in real estate, that was out of my reach now, and in year's past).  He principals included a checklist - I LOVE CHECKLISTS! - that seemed like an easy road map to the goal I was trying to achieve.  

So, as a birthday gift to myself, I enrolled in his Financial Peace University that was being held at a nearby church.  Though I hadn't been a student in a class in a while, this was a bit of a commitment - 10 Saturday nights, plus homework - but I knew it was an investment in myself and my future!

Each week covers a particular area of this checklist, what Dave calls the 'Baby Steps'.  And the class has facilitators, but is actually a video presentation of Dave and his colleagues (so everyone essentially gets the same class).  It also had an online component, so if you missed class or wanted to recap the highlights, you could review the video at a later date at your convenience.  This worked out great when I missed class due to inclement weather!

The Baby Steps are no secret, Dave talks about them regularly on his radio show.  It's basically 'common sense' or what Grandma would have told you growing up!  They are as follows:

#1 $1000 Emergency Fund (available for EMERGENCIES)
#2 Pay off all debts (except the house)
#3 Fully Funded Emergency Fund (3-6 mo expenses in bank)
#4 15% into Retirement
#5 Kids' College
#6 Pay Off House Early
#7 Build Wealth and Give!

My journey began with Baby Step #1: $1000 Emergency Fund.  I have carried a 'savings account' that is linked to my checking, and always got nervous when it was below $1000, but never thought of it as something separate.  So a bit or reorganization, and that step is checked off the list.  It's there for EMERGENCIES, like the furnace breaks or you get a flat tire, not for a WANT.  That's something you plan for, in the BUDGET.
 So along with Baby Step #1, I also reorganized the budget and moved to an envelope system of money management.  The idea is to CASH FLOW your expenses, with cash, and not live on a Credit Card.  That was, and continues to be HARD!  But it's also changing behavior, and I certainly am a work in progress...

The budget changes month-to-month, and that's very different than how I had previously arranged my budget analysis.  Each month, you take your paycheck, before you get it, and tell you money where to go.  EVERY PENNY!  Of course, as a pseudo-perfectionist, doing this in pencil was a must, because it's a ZERO-BASED BUDGET.  No money is left over.  And I wasn't very good at that.  But once the basics were covered (Home, Utilities, Food, Transportation), and monies set aside for Sinking Funds (like auto insurance, home insurance, the dentist, Christmas/Vacation savings and those other bills that are planned, but not monthly), then the other bills (ie: DEBT, like credit cards) could be addressed.

So cross that one off the list!
#1 $1000 Emergency Fund (available for EMERGENCIES)

So on to the next step.  That's the step I'm on now, Baby Step #2: Pay off all debts (except the house).  It's taking care of all the debts I have (except the home mortgage).  This is daunting.  It was something that I was aware of, but since I used credit A LOT, and didn't pay down my balance, it was always there... never a zero balance.  And I didn't ever see one.  So now that the Envelope System is in place, the cards cut up (still working on this one... but most are and I'm not adding to them), and the budget has told every dollar where to go, what's remaining becomes the DEBT SNOWBALL.

The idea of the debt snowball list all debts and organize them from least to greatest balance.  Then, pay minimum balances on all your debts stack all extra money available (after that well organized budget) towards the lowest balance.  Once that debt is paid off, use that amount and put it towards the next lowest balance.  As the smaller debts are paid, the snowball gathers momentum and you FEEL like you are making progress towards tackling your debt.  And you are.  Slowly at first, but eventually, as the snowball gets bigger and bigger, the debt will literally melt away!  

So here is my debt.  YIPES!  $35,000 to start.  That's daunting.  And, sadly that doesn't include college loans, like most folks.  Those were actually the first that were paid off.  My debt is solely car and credit.  But the plan is in place, and I'm chipping away.  $4,200 paid off since February 1.  YAY!  

But the great thing, that I'm super proud of, is that I did purchase a used Truck and Plow in CASH!  A bit of planning, but that's the first major purchase since I started Financial Peace University.  It was due to savings as well as selling a ton of items with my friend Craig (Craigslist and Ebay are awesome for this).  Also hoping to add to the snowball this April with a Tag Sale.  Another thing is to change my tax witholdings to get more in my paycheck throughout the year, and a much smaller rebate next spring.  That extra cash will go towards the snowball, as well as funding sinking funds for budgeted expenses.


So the journey continues.  I hope to finish Baby Step #2 by the summer of 2016.  It's a big challenge, but with extra jobs, extra cash and lots of motivation (and some accountability here on the blog), I will tackle this!

Happy Budgeting!

 

Our Interactive Notebook, part 1

Now that my classes have had several chapters under their belts, I felt it was time to reflect on our most important organizational element in our classroom:   

THE INTERACTIVE NOTEBOOK.  

We've gotten into a fairly good routine both in how our class runs and what the expectation is for the layout of our interactive notebook, or INB, throughout the chapter.  It also has helped me in both communicating to students and parents as well as modeling study strategies that (hopefully) the kids will carry with them into high school.  Of course, many of our topics are of a Pre-Algebra nature, so if they literally carry these notebooks with them into ninth grade it could significantly help them in their Algebra class.  It also was a great piece of evidence for Parent-Teacher Conferences as well as accommodations for IEPs and 504s.  It's a WIN-WIN for everyone!!!

We are using the Big Ideas Math textbook series, a new one for our district this year.   The chapters follow the same type of structure, a student-driven activity day then a more traditional teacher-led lesson to solidify the topic they explored the previous day.  The notebook has become very helpful in grounding both types of instruction, as well as keeping the kid's material in ONE PLACE!

I required a spiral notebook in September.  Most kids brought in one similar to the one I modeled, a one-subject approximately 100 pages of regular ruled paper.  Next year, I think I'll model a 5-subject though, because we found that we ran out of space well before the end of term 2 in the smaller one.  College ruled (which I had some of as well) doesn't work well with most of the kids, as their handwriting is large (and messy...).  But many of the kids didn't realize the size of the paper rule they had.

The Cover Page

The cover page included a sticker of the business cards I had made up this summer.  They had a QR code to the homework web page as well as email contact info and office hours.  I definitely will have more of these next year, but I might just print them out myself rather than purchase them.  You can read that post HERE.  The interior title page was a graphic I found online, with other contact info and a space for the kids to CLEARLY print their name.  Another reason to have a larger spiral is to have only ONE of these... in multiple notebooks, the kids didn't put names on the inside (and then their covers ripped off...)

Inside the front cover (I forgot to circle the Marking Term... oops)

Table of Contents: the TOC

Maintaining a table of contents was stressed, but keeping up with it didn't always happen day to day as I intended.  We did find that we needed to actually assign the TOC to get it updated.  It generally consisted of the lesson topic that was in the book (ex: Activity 3.1 Lines and Angles;  Lesson 3.4 Indirect Measurement)  Each page was also to have a title, the date, and the page number (sometimes in color) in the upper corner of the page.  If this was done each day during class, it was no big-deal.  However, for some reason, the kids don't like not only doing this, but putting their names on tests, last names on ANYTHING... it's very frustrating.  I keep reminding them to autograph their paper... sometimes even HIGHLIGHT their name before turning a paper in...but I still have a pile of anonymous papers that end up ceremonially going into the trash on a regular basis.  (alas, I digress... I think this could be another topic for another day)

   Informational Papers & Flippers

In our first INB was also a prime place to put the informational papers that I usually give out within the first week of school.  These pages were shrank to half-sheets and made into 'flippers', to increase the surface area on each spiral bound page.

















Honestly, this took a while, both to distribute the pages to each group as well as modelling how to attach the papers (using my mantra:  a 'knuckle-size piece of tape')

The 'Knuckle-Size' Piece of Tape

Chapter Title

Each chapter also needed a 'starting point', so I used 4mulaFun's Unit Numbers from TeachersPayTeachers.com.  For my own organization (and sanity) I did write on my master copies, both the chapter numbers as well as the photocopy the pages in the color of the book (Big Idea's grade 8 is BLUE while the Algebra 1 is PURPLE).   Of course, that only worked when the paper was available in the teacher's room.  Something tells me that we're gonna run out soon, but then the kids can color them as they see fit.  This works great for after the chapter test, to keep them busy, quiet, and coloring can be very theraputic for some 'brain rest'.

We also had the left facing page for review material.  The textbook included items called 'What You Should Know' that typically covered standards from previous years.  This was a helpful place for these 8-12 questions.  Quick and painless.

Vocabulary Frodor Model

Yet another TpT idea that I came across last spring was the Frodor Model of vocabulary.  More interactive, and more summative, these models allow for student not only to put the definitions with the terms, but also create examples and non examples, formulas or illustrations to solidify their knowledge.  It was also VERY kinesthetic, which many of my kiddos need!  What I really didn't consider is how much focus they need to get these all cut out, glued in, and completed.


I expected by the 2nd chapter, it'd be easy.  But even now, beginning our 4th chapter, it's a struggle.  But if it's completed correctly, the data is ALL IN ONE PLACE and can be referenced and filled out throughout the chapter.  I have found that filling out some of the information BEFORE I photocopy, including which pages in the INB they go, is very helpful for our organization.




I also color code the chapter, not just the color of the book, but the color of the chapter.  Chapter 2 and 3 I tried to keep items GREEN for our Geometry topics.




Chapter 4, which is more Algebra focused is BLUE.

Chapter 4 Vocabulary - Graphing Linear Equations

In the next post, I'll show off the most functional part of our INBs, the Input/Output and how we've maximized this format for both the Activity and Lesson Days.  And in the future, some of the foldables we've created.

New Year = New Goals

The new year brings us a chance to reflect and renew for the upcoming calendar year.

Fortunately, in my line of work, I am able to 'regroup' on several cycles (academic calendar at school, seasonal catalogs for my direct sales business, calendar year).  But a disadvantage to that is that I never quite feel like I get my feet under me to get the ball rolling.

 I may not be completely organized (or even partially organized) but with new gusto I will send my TOP 5 goals for the upcoming year.  Putting them here will, I hope, keep me accountable, and will also help me to check in on a regular basis (and reset if necessary, despite the calendar I'm currently on).

#1 Get my financial house in order:  With a monthly budget (and sticking to it! *note, the spreadsheet link has fictional numbers), attending Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University this January, consolidating the debt with a home equity loan, and sticking to the envelope system, I have a big mountain to climb.  But I am determined and I hope that during the first 9 weeks of the year, I will be able to make great strides on this!  I consider this as a birthday present to myself - and a goal I'd like to make significant progress on in 2014.  The nerd in me is making some graphs and timelines and spreadsheets to wrap my brain around it, but I hope attending the class (with my beau) will also allow me not to complete this in isolation.  It's difficult to complete any task, let alone one that has a lot of emotional value, but I feel that this is my Number One priority this year, for the benefit of my family.  Getting expenses under control will also help focus on what the income needs are - especially on some of those 'fringe' jobs I have - and give me a goal on what those areas should bring in.

#2 Manage my time better: This one will be a tough one to actually benchmark.  It's a lofty goal, that will be able to be worked on in all the facets of my life.  I do have my favorite product (and comparable app for my phone) that I use frequently at school.  Read about it here on a previous blog HERE.  I shared the second one with a colleague at school, who worked with students who needed visual cues and lead time.  I also have found that I have been using my phone app more often - but not sharing it with the kids as often (for cleanup, reading, etc).  For the upcoming year, I'd like to be working more on an internal clock that this one, but also focus on a task at a time and give it my all.  If I am focused on a task, I can actually become quite OCD.  But if I have a long list (like cleaning or organizing my house) I notice that I can work for long periods of time, but it doesn't appear that I get much done, mostly because I flit from room to room and never quite get one section 'completed'.  I think I'll focus specifically on a 15-minute cleanup daily before I leave for work, cleaning off my desk each time I use it (both at home and at school), and working on school work for no more than 60 minutes at home.

#3 Focus on Family: Now that my kids are getting older, they are venturing out in their own interests.  As mom, I feel like it's partially my responsibility to remind them of the importance of family and family time.  Unfortunately, with some technical difficulties, one of our true family time events has been disrupted (watching movies together), but I hope to actually get that rectified today.  I also feel it's important for the kids to set (and strive towards) goals themselves, so we also are sitting down today to write down those goals and post them in their room.  Our goals are thematic:  academic, scouting, health/fitness/athletic, recreational/extra-curricular, and personal.  I'm curious as to what they decide as well as helping them create a timeline and smaller goals to reach the big picture.  Personally, I am setting aside one-on-one time each day with each kid and a 'date night' once a week. 

#4 Clutter Control: This tends to be part of issue with goal #2.  I have intention to clean an area, then it immediately seems overwhelmed by chaos (hence the title of this blog).  My two most recent chaos areas are the kitchen and the dining room/office.  I have been essentially 'banned' from the kitchen (no one likes my cooking, so I have relinquished that duty) but not it's clean up.  Some might say that I am giving up control, which is a HUGE step for me!   But some of the routine is just having a place for everything, and returning it when it's taken out.  So the control and the reminders may still be in place (putting items in the trash instead of leaving them on the counter, dishes in the dishwasher instead of in the sink).  The dining room is my undoing.  I have found that going vertical is helpful, as is stylish storage.  Because we use the same space as an office, a library, and a dining room, the table tends to be overrun with papers, books, and a serious catch-all for mostly MY stuff.  As I stated in Goal #2, a 15-minute clean before work as well as cleaning off the desk and table each night will be my benchmarks.  I should even rate myself weekly.  That would be motivation!  Of course, one thing I do need to remember to do is photograph the 'before' and the 'after' of my projects.  I would like to take one one 'minor project' each week (like a junk drawer, or a linen closet) and one 'major project' each week (like a child's bedroom or the basement family room).  I am reserving the garage for Spring Break.  That will certainly be a proud moment to post that 'after' picture! 

#5 Be Grateful: Though I saved this goal for last, it is certainly the most important.  I don't thank people enough.  I don't tell them how much I appreciate them enough.  I don't live in the moment enough.  And I think 2014, despite all my other goals, should center around an attitude of gratitude.  I will thank more people.  I will tell more people what they mean to me.  I will live in the moment more. 

Our close and extended family had a rocky 2013, from a health perspective, employment perspective, academic perspective, but the outlook is bright for the coming year.  We had many people support us and our endeavors last year, and this year, we are making effective progress towards that end. 

So cheers to you and your family!  Wishing you health, prosperity, and love in 2014!

SMART Goals

Have you heard of SMART goals? It's a way of pinpointing your hopes, dreams, and goals into manageable tasks. 

S- Specific
M- Measurable
A- Attainable
R- Realistic
T- Timely

In January, I made a list of goals, that I revisited every three months, assessed and revised.  I think that this kept my goals on a timely track, but also allowed me to revise them if they were too lofty, to make them more attainable in the timeframe allowed.

In my classroom, I had students set 8 goals for themselves (they are 8th graders) and we will be revisiting these goals this week.  I wrote about it in a previous blog HERE.



As 2014 approaches, I am not only looking to sum up the status of this year's goals, but also to set new goals for my personal life, my professional life, my social life, my spiritual life, and my financial life.  I also have goals for my kids and my students and would like to help coach them to setting and striving towards meeting these goals.

Only recently, I have come across some goals that are a much smaller window:  weekly and monthly.  In my experience, those were my 'checklists' rather than what I considered goals - but I'm starting to rethink that.  As long as those items follow the SMART goal checklist, I think that goals can be both super-short and longer term goals.  (right now, for example, my super-short goal consists of finishing holiday shopping and getting my sister's packages in the mail... I have been procrastinating on this one, and time is winding down to get it delivered on time!)

What type of goals are YOU creating for yourself?  Stay tuned to find out what MY goals are for the next year (and so see if I can check them off!)

Why I am thankful (for word problems)

As a teacher, I wish I had a dollar for every time someone has said "when are we going to use this in real life?"... I would be enjoying my days on a warm beach with a frosty drink rather than doing lesson plans now by the warm fire in my living room...

However, I have decided that to combat teenage apathy in the classroom I have a file folder full of real life situations where students can see algebra in action (and volume, and probability, and just basic money skills!).  I have noticed, though, that modern day kids have LITTLE KNOWLEDGE of how things work.  Unless it comes with a remote control or a battery.  (Even then they don't know HOW it works, just that they can get those emoticons and text-speak well before I can, lol).


So I made notes of the little things that I have to do in planning a trip, cooking a family meal (like Thanksgiving Dinner), shopping,  driving distances, and more.  I found that many of these are linear relationships that would tie in very easily into our classroom, in either pre-assessment, emergency substitute plans or vacation packet form.


So in my eternal quest to satisfy administration, simplify paperwork, and organize my chaos, I compiled a series of 'RULE OF FOUR' problems which tie in situations into algebraic representations.   It is also a part of my teacher evaluation goal on equations and functions.


The RULE OF FOUR refers to the Table Representation, an Equation Representation, a Graph Representation, and Words to describe the story.  Each of the methods of representation can make a connection to every other one. 


I try to highlight these when we begin our study of functions, and always try to create the other 3 when given one of the representations.  It is also helpful for my current eighth graders to model good strategies for their future endeavors into Algebra and beyond.  It always warms my heart when they return to tell me "we're doing that stuff we did in your class... it's SO EASY NOW".  (Glad that their brain has caught up to where the government officials believe it should be... but that's for another post).

I have a few up already, mostly Fall topics or consumer-based (phone plans, health club plans).  I had a laundry list of Problems of the Week and other State Testing Prep packets that will need an overhaul to fit this format.

Unfortunately, with a new curriculum this year, I am trying to find places for much of the packets and worksheets that I have created over the years.  Some of them have now been 'retired' from the classroom, but have found new life in the shared community of TeachersPayTeachers.  This weekend, however, one of the packets found new life.


This weekend, while my students were attending football games, family dinners, and traveling to balloon parades, they were (hopefully) completing their homework, the Rule of Four: Thanksgiving Applications.  I especially like the one where they have to figure out when to put the turkey in the oven based on cooking times per pound.  What I hope is that if the students 'don't get it', they ask someone from their family, and perhaps it will foster come discussion.  Of course, sometimes adults shy away from math ("I don't like math" "I hate math" and the BIG LIE: "I don't use math"), so it really makes me happy when the kids can show someone else how to do

I would like to add to my TpT store - setting small goals for myself, especially with self-made materials that I can't use in my own classroom anymore.  It's great to share them with other teachers...especially since I've gathered so many great ideas myself for sites like this and Pinterest.  Besides, at the same time, I could pay for a tank of gas or two.  It's be a win-win for everyone!


Here is the link to my store: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Stefanis-Hope

and the Rule of Four: Thanksgiving Applications