Recommitment

Well, so - I got 4 entries in and then nothing for almost 2 quarters. Definitely a big fat failure as far as blogging goes but alas - I can always resolve to do better.

I happen to love New Year's and New Years Resolutions. I used to be anti-resolutions, having climbed onto the "anytime is a good time to start fresh" line of thinking. However, I have since realized that I really love the idea of a fresh new year each January 1st. I've also refined my goal-setting and keeping track of progress so at the end of 2012, I actually got to see that I met lots of the goals I set at the end of 2011. Last year I didn't end up doing three of them, but I'm ok with that. I've realized through much trial and error that if I don't do something, it's because I'm really not that into it. And if I'm not into it, it's not gonna happen unless it's something that's required, like emptying the dishwasher or vacuuming (both formerly hated chores but ones that now I tolerate fairly well).

2012 was a big fitness year for me - I committed myself to at least 3 days a week of exercise in some format and with the exception of ONE week (the week prior to Christmas when I was writing report cards, grading tests, grading reading assessments, getting ready for Christmas and we left on that Friday for the holidays) I made that goal. I know because I started using an app on my phone call GymPact. You commit to a number of gym days or RunKeeper activities per week and when you log into the app, it tracks it for you (using the GPS). If you don't make it, you pay actual money (I do $5 a day so if I miss 1 day during a week, I pay $5). If you do, you EARN money from other users who didn't make their pact. I bought a fabulous new yoga mat with my earnings this year!

Aside from that, I bettered my financial position and finally sold the house that was a thorn in my side for 4 years. I did not start a book club or read all the Newbery award winners. I'll probably keep working on the second goal as I WOULD like to read the Newbery winners but that'll probably be more of a "life goal" rather than one to complete in one year. 

Here are my thoughts on 2013, in no particular order and not all related to teaching:

1. Be able to do at least 3 real strict pull-ups and string together 10 double unders (google it if you don't know what this is - I had never heard of them before I started Crossfit five months ago). I am almost to 1 currently. I haven't been able to do a pull-up since I was about 8.

2. Blog at least once a week about classroom projects, ideas, or education related musings.  I would really like to make this blog work. I'd LOVE to start generating some traffic and the only way to do that is to write! I enjoy writing so much and I rarely do it for myself anymore (reader's response journal comments don't count).

3. Build up my Teachers Pay Teachers Store to at least 30 items. I had my first sale in October and it inspired me to add some more items and some of them have sold a few times. Nothing major (I think I've made like $10 due to all the fees since I don't have a premium membership right now) but it's a small start. I'm considering paying the $60/year premium fee to be able to ditch the transaction fees. I feel that if I do this (commit money to the project) then I'll be more motivated to tweak all of my materials and get them ready to be uploaded and put up in my store. My eventual goal is to make it a little side business but realistically this will take several years I expect.

And that's what I've got right now.

We are tracked out from school currently so I have 18 more days on break before we head back for the 3rd quarter on January 22nd. I work at my school keeping an eye on the phones a few days during the track-outs so I was there this morning and generated my favorite thing - a to-do list - about what I need to get accomplished prior to kids returning. It includes my mid-year PDP review, grading the math pre-tests I gave before we left for the holidays, planning at least 2 weeks out into the quarter (mostly done already thanks to the 1/2 day planning day we had in December and the work I did today) and other odds and ends.  I'm also attending a district training on our science kits next Thursday but I get to trade a workday for it, which is nice.

2 1/2 more weeks but my brain is already shifting back towards school mode - I love third quarter for many reasons so I'm looking forward to getting my 23 4th graders back and diving into everything we have to learn the rest of the year.