Confession #3

Today was one of those days where you're just so tired you can't even think by about 10:00 and the kids are waiting on you. The kiddos were awesome today.

So, my confession for today is that I absolutely cannot stand A.R. It seems like it wastes so much time and the kids aren't benefiting from it. I've been doing a lot of research on reading and I found that allowing a child to read a book of their choice for fun is so much more beneficial. I allow my students to read recreational books for fifteen minutes at any given point during the day. They are allowed to bring a book or comic of their choice from home or read what we have on our bookshelf. Our books include fun facts about animals or any thing scientific that draws them in. Reading can be fun and kids don't need the program to bog them down with it. I remember doing A.R. when I was in school and I was so excited that I didn't have to do it anymore when I got in high school. As a matter of fact, I don't recall reading a book for pleasure throughout all four years of high school thanks to that program.

Let me know how you all feel about the A.R. program. I know it can be beneficial, but I have yet to see it.

Confession #2

So today I started the day on an early duty day. I so very much dread these days as they just seem to drag on. I also woke with a sinus pressure headache or that's what I'm diagnosing it as. Please don't take these blogs the wrong way. I really just need to vent. I like being a teacher, but sometimes I just need a mental break and it's hard to find the patience sometimes that we all find at some point that we have lost.

The confession that I have for today is when kids pick their nose it makes me nauseous. When a child picks their nose and then proceeds to eat it, I start my gag reflexes. I will never understand this. I don't recall ever being this way and I know some kids just don't know any better, but we have to touch their papers for crying out loud!! The only way I know to stop it is to say something like "please don't do that any more. It's not very manner like or clean". Does any one else out there have any thoughts on how to tame the picker? It also grosses the other kids out which leads to a bunch of "Ugh, gross" screams.

I guess I just feel like I put up with enough paper work, arguments, back-talkers, interruptions, and hearing my name 100 times in one day, that I have to say nose picking is by far pushing it over the edge.

Confession #1

So I'm a teacher, a mother, a wife and an entrepreneur.  I am currently in pursuit of another life, well, another profession in which case I have always been on the hunt for a new career field. Since the day my son was born at least. My life long dream is to be a stay-at-home mom, but don't all of us ladies out there wish this dream at one point or another. I enjoy what I do for my kiddos, especially when it's rewarding, but I would also like to have a week or two of work where there is not an individual in my face under the age of twenty. Admit it, most of us out there have thought that at one point or another.

It's March, testing pressures are upon us and I can just say, I'm over it. I haven't given up by any means, but there's only so much you can cram into a ten year old's brain before they just quit listening and their eyes glaze over. I'm thinking each day, "I wonder what these kids are thinking? Do they hate me? Am I their worst enemy because I enforce learning and the dreaded A.R.?"

So that's my confession for today. It's currently too late for me to be up so I'd better hit the hay before I lose my much needed sleep to function properly for my kids. Now see, wouldn't it be nice to just have a simple desk job where you could be grouchy and eat all day?

Photoshop Clip Art Tip

I am still moving towards changing my blog from just teacher resources to photographer resources. I've been working really hard to create photo cards that pop. I want my products/freebies to be different. This is my first Photoshop post.
I did it and I'm super proud of myself. I created my first set of clip art using Photoshop. This is my first set and it's Valentine themed. I'm super excited about Valentine's day and I can't wait for it to get here! This blog post is going to teach you the simple way to make clip art using Photoshop. I'm going to try to post pictures as I go so hopefully that will help. Photoshop can be tricky so if you're not familiar with it, this may take a few rounds of practice.

Step 1: I started with my chalkboard paper I created when I first started learning how to use the program. The minibridge window in Photoshop is a dream, it allows you to see all your files in one simple window right next to your work. I double clicked on the chalkboard file so it would open my paper. I used this as a background because my plan was to make my chalkboard clip art stand out. Here's a sample image below.

Step 2: I'll bet you're wondering how this works. Let me explain. Each word is a separate layer in my document. I simply clicked "create new layer" in my layers tab at the bottom each time I was creating a new word/clip art. If I was creating a word, I went to my toolbar on the left and clicked the "T" which allows you to create text. See a future blog post on how to get the chalkboard effect.

Step 3: Save your work. Note: In photoshop: When you are inserting your chosen set of word/words into a card, etc., drag the word/picture to your project screen and drop. It may look huge. A little trick is to hold down "ctrl" and hit "t" on your keyboard. This will allow you to change the size of your image.

I've listed the 3 steps written in detail above in a simple list:
Step 1: Open your desired background. You may just choose for your background to be white.

Step 2: Click the "create new layer" button at the bottom of the layers tab each time you create a new piece of clip art. This will allow your art to stay separated and easily used in one file.

Step 3: Save your work and that's that!

If you don't have time to create your own chalkboard Valentine Themed clip art, visit my Teacher's Notebook store here: Valentine Clip art. I hope this helps. Thanks for reading!

It's the New Year!

OMGosh!!! I am so behind on my blogging it's unbelievable! I've been a super busy mom, daughter, and digital designer! Yes, that's right! I'm not completely sticking to my teacher product creations. I have slowly been moving myself into photography design. I love my Nikon camera and I love making things to make my pictures even better. I'm super excited as this year, I am working to create my very own product line of digital supplies for photographers as well as for stay at home mom's/dad's who enjoy working with their very own photo cards. I hope to start my very own website with this. Wish me luck!

I'm so in love with Photoshop right now, I can't put it down! I think of new ways to create things and I just dive in! I was very nervous when I first started using Photoshop two years ago. I would just like to recommend it to others. If you don't have it, you need to get it! It's great for being that digital designer/crafty person that you've always wanted to be.

BTW, this year is still going great! My students are wonderful and after this three week Christmas break I can really tell that they are growing up on me. It makes a me a little sad, but it also makes our days much more enjoyable learning wise.