One Little Word

Happy New Year! I have sat down a few times to do some New Year's linky parties! I wasn't sure exactly what my resolutions would be. Then, I found the "One Little Word" blog post over at Sunny Days! I love it! 

Of course, I did mine and then read her word and almost cried. I thought she was so eloquent, and did such a great job explaining why she chose "revise." Seriously...you've got to go read it here! 

I wanted to change mine and just copy and paste what she said. :) But...that wouldn't really be helpful to anyone, haha! :) 

So...my "one word" is DO! 

I think my year for 2013 was "rest!" I sure did A LOT of that. To be honest, probably a little too much. :) This year was incredibly relaxing, and honestly, pretty easy. I love my new school, and since it's my 4th year, this year was a lot easier than other years have been. My hubby and I have relaxed, hung out, and not done that much productive stuff! Our house doesn't even have decorations...GASP! Don't tell my Pinterest boards!!! We literally just went today to Home Depot to get things to hang out pictures. And our eating has been very "relaxed!" Know what I mean?!?!?!?! 

So this year, I want to DO more. It might sound pretty simple...but to be honest, I'm not always the best at actually DOING things!! I tend to get distracted super easy, and there is nothing I love more than doing NOTHING!! Here are some things I am planning to do in the New Year! 

We are doing the 21 day challenge starting tomorrow. I'm SO excited. We really needed help getting our metabolism and appetites back in order. Of course, I would LOVE to lose weight. I need to lose weight. But even more importantly, I want to feel healthy. I feel like crap and I have no energy. Hopefully 3 weeks of ready made clean meals will help transition us into cooking clean meals! If not...there's always My Fit Foods take out!! :) 

At school, I like to think I do an okay job planning for and implementing semi-engaging lessons for my littles. But, there is so much more I want to do. Notice I didn't say PIN...or THINK ABOUT...or PLAN!!! Hahah! Because those things...I ROCK AT! But actually doing them, well that part is harder for me. Here are a few things I want to do, or do more of. 

I love Exit Slips. We use them alot in faculty meetings, and I have done them maybe one time with my kiddos. It's easy to say "who has time for that?!" Well...I have found that you just make the time. I don't have time for half the things I get done! You know what I mean?!?! You make time for the things that are important to you. I would like to use these at least once a week. 

 Isn't this amazing...a super easy way to assess your exit slips. 

She even has a FREEBIE that's just seasonal exit slips. How fun!!!! I know these would keep them even more engaging for my babes. I will probably just use post its at first, but maybe one day I will be that amazing and prepared!!! :) 

Along the same lines as the exit slip, is really getting my babes to think about their understanding. I made these Marzano posters to show our understanding, and I hung them up. I even got them to use them a few times...ha! They are better at remembering it than me, but I really want to talk with them about this more, and have some discussions about it! 

The final thing I want to DO is remodel our Reader's Workshop independent time. Of course, my top readers are engaged the whole time, use time to respond to their books, and become better readers each and every day. But this is not true for all my kiddos. I've always done stations, and I LOVE the Reader's Workshop model, but I have already learned so much about how I started it WRONG!! Hahah!! :) So, here are some things I'm going to do to revamp this time in our day! 

The first thing we are going to do is talk more about expectations during this time. I got really lax, especially towards the holidays. Littles were walking around (GASP!!), getting new books, and I'm pretty sure I heard a bit of talking, haha. So we will talk again about the expectations during this precious time in our day!

I also want to actually go through the process...at least 3 times a week. The WHOLE process...not part of the process....the WHOLE process. :) 

I'm not sure about then doing buddy reading everday, but it's the Share part I really struggle with. Like REALLY. I'm so ready for us to move in to Writer's Workshop, I leave this part out way too often. BUT...here come the exit slips! For those days where they only have time to share with a buddy, they can quickly write them on their exit slips. :) 

So there ya have it, a few things I want to DO to make 2014 my best yet!! :) I would love to hear yours too!! If you have a blog, be sure to link up with Sunny Days!