Utilizing Technology

Last week was good up until Thursday...I was going to post about it but decided to just let it be and move on.  My students worked hard on researching their animals for our animal unit.  We are using my Spot On Research unit; my students have already identified the animal they are researching, discussed questions with their partners, and practiced taking notes.  This week we used our school's portable computer lab to conduct research.

My students {heart} using the lap tops!  They will search websites all day long if I let them, so to keep them focused and on task researching I give them a time limit on how often they should be taking notes.  For example after they were all longed on I told them they had to have notes from at least one website in ten minutes. I then continued to set time limits like this.  Once they all have notes/research information from at least three different websites and a text we will begin working on organizing their information.

I am linking up with Teaching Maddeness Flashback Friday 

(even if it is a few days late)

Utilizing Technology for Personal Gain:

I mentioned in a previous post that I use myfitnesspal.com to help keep me on track for my weight loss goal here.  Well yesterday after my morning weigh in I was excited to learn that I had hit my 20lbs loss!  I am so excited!

I started using this site back in July after seeing a picture of myself that I was embarrassed about.  I now have my hubby, friends, and fourth grade team utilizing this free online tool!  I know I have made the healthy change for good because the other day I ate a cupcake at lunch and decided to workout so I would have enough calories to eat dinner, in the past I would of skipped the workout and turn my day into a cheat day.  

Being a mother, teacher, and wife can be very stressful and at times we tend to put ourselves last.  I hope sharing this picture will show you that you too can find time to do something for yourself, may it be exercise, meditation, a hot bath, etc. We all deserve to find time for ourselves, even if it is 5 minutes :)