Top 10 Posts of 2013- A Year in Review

Greetings Friends!
     As we all sit here in the final minutes of 2013, I can't help but reflect back over the year. It has been a good year, I think. There have been many ups and down, just as a good year should have. For, if we only have lots of ups, we would never know the downs. Something  that we all need in our lives.
     Last year I simply took the top 10 most viewed posts and linked you to them. After much thought, I think I will stick with a similar format. I will pull the top 10 most viewed posts and share them. I challenge you to think back over YOUR past 365 days and share some highlights of your year as well. :)

I wish you a very Happy New Year!
-Cheers!
Mr. Hughes

#10) A"MAZE"ing Plural Nouns!
I have loved making and using my Mystery Mazes. This posts shows my first time introducing them to a class. It was a lot of fun and they asked for more. Wahoo!

#9) Share the Wealth Freebie Linky- July 27, 2013 (And a HUGE Back to School Giveaway!)
Share the Wealth has been my small way of giving back to you, my amazing supporters and friends. I hope you find them useful and are able to get lots of great ideas to use in your homes and classrooms.

#8) 100th Day of School 3-D Style
The 100th day of school. It is closer than we could ever believe. I was laughing with my administrator the other day. 100 days is only about 1/2 way, but it seems so much further. The post shows one of my dodecahedron projects being created by a class. It is a great project that takes several days/class periods to complete. So much fun to make.

#7) Share the Wealth- RING IN THE NEW YEAR with FREEBIES and GIVEAWAYS!
I think it is great that this post (which was still a live linky at the time of THIS posting) is in the top 10. SO MANY amazing resources to use with all grade levels. I think you will like them.

#6) It's Time to Teach TIME- Elapsed Time that is!
Elapsed time for ANY grade is a challenge. This fun Order Up! set was the focus of this post. Not only to show ways to teach elapsed time, but to also model how to use Order Up! WAHOO!

#5) Back to School with an Interactive Mobile Project!
Back to School! Now THERE is a phrase that came and went. Phew. But this project is one that I STILL have sitting in the corner of my room. The students will notice them once in a while and say, "Oh yeah! I remember working with so-and-so. That was fun!". Enough said.

#4) Poetry Tool #1- Rhythm
Last year was the year of the poet in my room. My students had had very little exposure to it and as a new writing teacher for 3 grade levels, I wanted to them to have a good foundation. We spend about 9 weeks studying different aspects of poetry. This is one of the many posts about the Journey into Poetry Land (as I called the series of posts).

#3) Bring in the NEW YEAR with a...MOBILE!
This is the post you need to read RIGHT NOW! It will help you be prepared for Thursday, if you go back this week like ME, or MONDAY, if you are really, really lucky. :)

#2) A Classroom Tip You Will Love!
I figured this out a couple of years ago, and thought, 'I should share this with other teachers". My wife, the amazing iPod camera woman made it all possible, and Mel from Graphics from the Pond make the simple header for me. Hope you like the tip too!

#1) "Read-Aloud Round-Up" Book Share
This has been my pride and joy this year. It is my hope to see it grow and grow over the years ahead. :)  If you haven't checked it out- please do! Suggested read aloud books for grades 3-8! WAHOO!

HAPPY NEW YEAR DEAR FRIENDS!

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!

Bloglovin' is now on An Educator's Life!

I did it...
I caved...

I am now part of the Bloglovin Craze! Ha ha!

Hey... I figure it is good to have options for my amazing supporters! And, with the demise of Google reader, I don't want to have any of you not be able to continue to be a part of my journey here.

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Have a most Terrific Tuesday!

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Cheers!
-Mr. Hughes



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What Is Wrong With Me?

It seems like only last year that I was an avid blogger and able to post on a regular basis... Oh wait! It WAS only last year. I am not sure what is going on in my head or life that keeps me from posting more regularly. I do have things to say, I just feel like I don't have time to share them. I guess all we can do hope things will calm down soon and I can find my "groove" again. (As I wrote that, I have to admit I thought of Disney's The Emperor's New Groove where the old man gets tossed out the window after throwing off Kusco's groove- random I know. In fact I HATED that movie when I first saw it. It is now one of favorites from Disney, however.)

I did find some great success in my Masters Class. I don't know if I posted about having to re-write my paper (I am  pretty sure I did), but I was able to get the re-write done and submitted. I also was able to submit my second article review. It is a nice feeling to move forward through all the requirements and assignments of this program and know that I only have a few more short weeks before I am completely done.

On a upside, yesterday was a very productive day! With the temperatures in the high 60's, our family spent a great portion of the day outside cleaning up flowerbeds, tilling the garden plot, weeding the yard, and playing some hoops (after I packed the dirt down again with the trooper). We ended the evening by going up to my parents house and enjoying some pizza and playing the Wii.

The time change put a kink in the chain though. When we got home and turned the clocks ahead, the kids were an hour late for bed...lol. I had meetings that started at 7pm so being up a 6am (a.k.a 5am), has made me tired today. However, because the temperature is again in the mid-60's, we are going to go on a nice family walk today. I am very excited about that!

Later...

Tick, Tick, Tick

I must say that sitting here watching the Marvin counter above count down isn't really bringing me much happiness!

I do have good things to report! I have made it safely with my family to the beginning of the end of CORE Academy. Two days and it will be over. It has been good and I am thankful for the chance I have had to meet and interact with over 400 sixth grade teachers! But it will be nice to focus on my family and getting ready for the school year.

I also just created another BLOG. One that I think will really be a success! http://teachertechhelper.blogspot.com/
Check it Out! It is new and "young" so be patient, but it is going to be really cool! I am very excited. I also have my amazing younger sister (CS DESIGNS) working on a "real" header for the page as the text just isn't appealing!

I am also considering starting a 3rd blog, but that will be later this year or early next. I want to see how well this one works out!

I hope to be able to write about my presentation tomorrow, well, tomorrow night!

Oh, good news, I was able to contact McDonald's Main Salt Lake Office today. I will be receiving a call tomorrow, at least I was told I will- we shall see.

Based on the fact that it is almost 1am- I am going to go to bed!

Later...

Mission Accomplished!

Yea Readers, Give a loud Hooray!
I finished both of my freelance units for the MailBox. My sister is truly a life saver. She arrived and less than 4 hours later the assignments were sketched out in rough form and ready to be created in final version. If you wanting to see the finished pages, you can subscribe to the Teacher's Helper magazine. They will be out this fall.

The other news of the day is that I woke up this morning to the room spinning and feeling very queasy. I looked drunk as I made my way to the bathroom. And just so you know, I have never had a drink in my life! So it wasn't hangover or drunkeness. I have spent most of today trying not to really move. I am feeling a lot better however and hope that tomorrow is a MUCH beter day. I have alot to do at chruch.

I as also SO thankful that we are not going to have to head up North tomorrow. CORE doesn't start until Tuesday this week and I am thankful. I am also thankful that it is that last week. I don't know how much longer I would be able to last.

I know that these posts aren't earth shattering, they just are what the are: My life. Hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing. I have tried to network through different sites and I am starting to realize that too many "bloggers" are into giving advice about blogs that they really have no authority to give, and trying to persuade people to visit their blog hoping for ad clicks and other such "dreams". I think that I am going to just be satisfied sharing my life with anyone who happens upon the site and my close friends and family!

Feel free to be apart of this growing blog by subscribing or not- you have the power!

Later...