What are You Reading Today?

Today is Monday!  Let's READ a book!

Reading is such a huge part of my life.  I cannot remember a time when I didn't love reading.  I am always reading a book.  I am never NOT reading a book (I know- a double negative!).  As soon as I finish a book, I already have a new one picked out and waiting for me ready to take me on the next adventure.  I read for the pure pleasure of escaping my everyday hoo-hum life and entering into exciting worlds through the words printed on the page .  I actually have rules for reading.  Now, these are rules for my personal reading, not rules for classroom reading or professional reading.  That is my disclaimer.

Juliet's Rules for Personal Reading:

1. Never read a book that doesn't have a happy ending!  This is my most important rule, and I NEVER break it.  I have suffered enough in my life (details left unsaid).  I don't need to suffer in my recreation time.

2.  If a book is not gripping me, I skip to the end.  Yes, you guessed it, I read the end and then I put the book away and never think about it again.  If a book doesn't grab me from the start, I don't want to waste my precious reading time on it.

3.  I do NOT do book clubs.  I do not like to dissect what I am reading.  

4.  I do not usually read award winning books.  This kind of goes along with rule number 3.  I just don't like being "told" what to read.

5.  Murders are welcome UNLESS they are children.  That is where I draw a very firm line.  Nightmares, folks. 

6.  I don't like to read books that make me cry.  Sappy equals crappy in my library.

Maybe you're asking yourself right now what I actually do read.  I LOVE mysteries!  Murder is good. Crime is good.  Humor is good.  Romance is good.  Adventure is good.  If it has all of the above, then it is great!

I am currently reading the young adult fiction series Blue Bloods written by Melissa De La Cruz.  I am on the 4th book and loving the series.    The author's website states,"Within New York City’s most elite families, there lurks a secret society of celebrated Americans whose ancestors sailed on the Mayflower. They are the powerful and the wealthy—and in fact, they are not human. They are the Blue Bloods, an ancient group of vampires."  

Let me know what you are reading!

Even better, what rules do YOU follow when selecting your personal books to read?

We are linking up with Teach Mentor Texts for What are you Reading Monday?.

Five for Friday: Father's Day Fun, Summertime, & Projects

Hi everyone! Today I'm linking  up with Doodlebugs for one of my favorite linkies...Five for Friday! We've been working hard and enjoying some summer fun at the same time. Here's a peek at what's been happening around my house this week...

Sunday was Father's Day, and my husband wanted to take our little man fishing. He just turned 2 in April, so he wasn't very into the actual fishing, but he had fun watching daddy and looking at all the rocks. (Although his new-found love of throwing rocks in the pond probably didn't help the fishing...we didn't catch a thing!)

 

In a desperate attempt to declutter my jewelry box the entire top of my dresser, which was covered in necklaces, thanks to my Jane.com addiction, I started scouring Pinterest for ideas. Monday night, I whipped this little beauty up...

I'll tell you all about it in my next Monday Made-it post!

I've been hard at work on my new classroom theme, which I'm calling Perfect Patterns...bright rainbow colors and a variety of fun patterns with chalkboard accents! I am *super excited* about it!

I have a couple of Teacher Toolbox sets already done, one with chalkboards and one with white labels, because I couldn't decide at first.

     

I am SOOO close to having my Teacher Binder/Planner finished! The creative work is actually done; I just need to finish adding the editable fields in Adobe. It should be uploaded sometime this weekend. Be sure you're following on Instagram, because I will post there, and it will be on sale! I am really excited about this product, and about giving my other two Teacher Binders a fresh, modern look with their updates as well!

This summer has taught me one important thing about my son...he needs his schedule. Several days, I've either kept him home with me or dropped him off at daycare late in the morning so I could go to an appointment...It's never good. So, he's going to be spending the mornings, through nap time, at daycare most days. I'm sad that we aren't getting to do as many fun summer things as I had hoped, but on the plus side, I have plenty of "me time" to work on stuff like ^^that^^. 

Wednesday afternoon, when I picked him up after his nap, I took my little guy to the park, and we discovered what is apparently the only time of day *no one* wants to go! We had the whole place to ourselves for once! It was so much fun, and more relaxed for me since I could really just let him run free!

 So...today I am organizing my closet because, well...

...THIS! {hangs head in shame} I decided earlier in the week that I needed to get organized. A couple of closet organizers arrived yesterday...Thank you, Amazon Prime...and I am going to be hard at work today getting my shoes and bags organized, and putting away winter clothes. My husband is going to be very happy!

That's about it for my week...Busy, productive, with a little relaxation and fun thrown in! How about you? Pop over to Doodlebugs to link up with what you've been up to this week!

Tech Thursday: Tired of Junk Mail?

Technology Thursday is a weekly linky dedicated to all things technology related. Share reviews of websites or apps you've tried, tech tips that make your {teaching or personal} life easier, and helpful tutorials. Our hope is that this linky provides a place for teachers to share and learn new ways to use technology and engage students!

Be a rule follower!

Rule #1: You must include the image above and a link to our linky somewhere in your blog post.
Rule #2: Follow the Rule of Three...visit the two blogs who link up before you and the one immediately after you and leave some love on their pages!
Rule #3: This linky is not intended for product promotion. You may include products you've created in your posts, but they should not be the sole focus of the post. {Exception...freebies...because everybody loves a good freebie!}

Technology Thursday's Tip of the Week!

Tired of getting junk mail?  Don't want to give out your email address to another online company? Resistant to handing out personal information? Then this post is for you!

Each day I get about 100 emails.  Some go straight to junk mail, some go immediately to trash with a simple click of my trusty mouse, but very few actually get read.  This process is becoming more complicated since I seem to be adding more and more email addresses to my repertoire; I have personal email, class email, school email, TPT email, blog email, and the list goes on.  

There are now several options for those of us in this predicament.  All of the options fall under the category of  "disposable email services".  These services provide valid emails that expire after a certain amount of time. 

For example, I go to a car site that has a vehicle I might want to purchase.  The site wants my email address in order to give me a price.  I know they will be sending me useless emails or tracking my movements on the web if I enter my email BUT I really want information on the vehicle.  What to do, what to do?  

Before now I have just entered my personal email address and taken the email "hit" so to speak. NO MORE.  Now I go to one of the disposable email providers (listed below).  I get my valid BUT disposable email address.  Copy the email address and paste it on the website.  I am in!  It really is that easy.

Each disposable email site is set up a little different and has different time limits available for their "fake" emails.  Listed below are some disposable email sites but definitely not all.  (This site was very helpful in reviewing these services.)

10 Minute Mail:  Your email address pops up as soon as you enter this site.  You get 10 minutes before the email expires, but you can extend the email address for another 10 minutes.

Fake Inbox:  On this site you have to click a button to create your email address.  The button is labeled, "Create Random Email Address".  Once you click on the button, a valid and random email address is given to you.  The site gives you 60 minutes before the email expires and you can add another 60 minutes if needed.

Air Mail: Air Mail is more of a temporary email service.  You can receive email, check your inbox, and pick your username (to a point),  Air Mail lasts as long as you keep your browser window active.  Your temporary email address expires after 24 hours of inactivity or when you close your browser window.

Get rid of the SPAM!  Get rid of the JUNK!  Disposable email....who knew?

Let me know what you think!

   

    An InLinkz Link-up
   

Wordless Wednesday 6/18/14

We are linking up with Sugar and Spice for Wordless Wednesday!

Are you a book hoarder like me?

Two for Tuesday! Half Price Deals!

It's Tuesday!  It's Tuesday!  

I had to say it twice since it is Two for Tuesday when we link up this week again with The Teaching Tribune!  That means it's twice the deal for you!

I have 2 fabulous new products hot off the presses and ready for you to download for HALF price at my TPT store The Tech Crazy Teacher!  

These products are some of my favorites.  Even though they are new to my store, they are time tested in my classroom!

Looking for an easy to implement homework program? One that is already made and ready to go? Rapid Word is a complete fluency homework program designed for beginning readers in early elementary grades. It is ready for you to implement for the entire year!

Rapid Word includes words from the Dolch Pre-Primer to 3rd grade basic sight word lists. The words are divided into 31 weeks. The goal was to have 1 Rapid Word list for each week of school. A table at the bottom of each page allows parents to record their student’s times as he/she reads the weekly words to them.

On Sale Today for Just $3.80!

Lightning Words are super easy to use and so much fun! The object of Lightning Words is to increase students’ sight word recognition, increase the speed with which students’ identify sight words, and have a bucket load of fun while reviewing. 

We want our students to know their sight words “lightning fast”! 

The game only takes 5-10 minutes to play and can be used with a whole class or with small groups. The game can be differentiated easily by using the 220 sight word cards that allow all students to learn and be successful. 

Included are 20 different Lightning Words game sheets, 220 sight word cards, instructions to play, and 8 bonus editable flashcards

On Sale Today for Just $3.00!