Declutter Your Bathroom Week

I've actually been anxiously waiting for this to appear on my Declutter Calendar! Bathroom drawers and under the counter cabinets get filled with a random collection of items... lotions, makeups, bobby pins, headbands, hairs, brushes, razors, Q-tips, you get the point. And since I am enjoying the luxury of a master bathroom, I have two sinks, which really only means MORE SPACE to hide junk! 


This week's decluttering is ALLLLL about the bathroom. Yesterday was hair do-dads, but there are EVERYWHERE. Today is toss expired skin care, but I'm gonna need a tow truck! (Sidenote: Teachers get lotions galore for birthdays, Christmas, end-of-the-year! i.e. I have A LOT! Do students think we stink?) Tomorrow is expired medication, but that also seems to rest in every nook and cranny.


I have a very busy night tomorrow: tutoring, dinner, and an education forum meeting for state standards. Which means I needed to combine some decluttering. Thursday-Saturday are declutter bathroom shelf or drawer. I have FOUR drawers and TWO under-counter shelves.  

Tonight, I tackled the four drawers!

Decluttering My Jewelry Box

Today's task on the Declutter Calendar: Declutter/organize your junk drawer. Somewhere along the way, I had already done that! I decided to declutter a different junkie place: my jewelry box. 

JEWELRY DISASTER

I found a lot of things I hadn't worn in a long time, and that's fun to find "new to you" stuff. Will I wear the pieces I normally wear? Probably, but it's the thought that counts. I may change it up a little. I was able to find some ways to display my jewelry, so that I can actually see what I have.  Obviously, my search engine of choice was Pinterest! 

Here's the (almost) final result.

I'm going to paint or cover the box. 

Not sure why these pictures are blurry... 

What do you think?!!?

To make room for my long necklaces, I had to move my scarves. 

I really love doing this organizing a little at a time. This way it ALL gets cleaned/organized, but I don't feel overwhelmed!  How's your decluttering going?! Share your achievements!

Something New (ish) week 2

I struggled this week for a something new, so instead...


Week 2 (January 8-14): 

I went bowling last night! I haven't done that in years. I am allowing this to be my something new(ish) because sometimes my friends and I get into a rut and do the same things every time we get together. I am proud of myself for doing something fun and something I would normally say... "ehhh.... bowling is dorky."  However, I bowled the worst game(s) of my life. Wii Bowling has jaded my outlook on my bowling ability AND I have a cold/ear/sinus something, so I'm blaming that too. My balance was WAYYYY off. I had a great time either way especially since it was COSMIC BOWLING.  You know that means black lights and 90s flashback music!


I also wore a pair of "skinny" jeans to work yesterday. Not skinny in style, but skinny in "I can't wear them because they are too tight". I was getting very discouraged about running/going to the gym.  Wearing those jeans yesterday was validation that something is working, even if the scale isn't changing. :) 


I'm so excited for my something new for next week! Can't wait to tell you all about it! 

Declutter Day

If you are following the Declutter Calendar, today is "declutter your nightstand drawer". I happen to have three drawers...

YIKES! I have a lot of junk!

I guess as I have moved around these drawers became a catch-all for JUNK... iPod covers, THREE dating books, sewing button kits, a charger for something, a LOT of change (the $$ kind)... One problem I have found with decluttering is... finding a place for the "extra" stuff!!

Who knew nightstands
multiplied $$?

NOW WHAT?!?!

Whew! I will admit there are still a few misplaced items in the bottom drawer, but I'm hoping as I declutter/ organize other places, I will make a place for wall hooks, curtain thingies, etc. 

All Clean!!

Whoa there, purse... 

Much better

Since I was in the declutter mood, I wondered why my purse was a disaster?! 

I cleaned that right up, too! 

YAY! 

(P.S. I am still fiddling with the spacing between pictures and paragraphs, etc. 

It's annoying me, but I hope it doesn't bother you too much!)

Something New week 1

Since this is blog post #3 for the day, I will keep it short.
Along with decluttering, I want to try something new every week. 


WEEK 1 (January 1-7): I ran/walked 8 miles! I had a great motivator and water boy(even though I glared at him the whole time!). I just might be ready for the Myrtle Beach 1/2 Marathon on February 17. 

I ran/walked 6 miles with my mom (on her bike) after Christmas! I'm getting better!!

I had another NEW this week, but I'll have to let you know what happens. It's nothing bad, illegal, or otherwise brow-raising -- just something I can't tell you about right now.  Only time will tell...

Sew What's New with You?

I will apologize now for the sewing puns that will occur over the course of this blog. This post will include a successful sewing project and an unsuccessful one. 

Here's the first! A zippered pouch for makeup, pencils, whatever...

Inspiration: HERE

My mom helped with this one.  Since I got my sewing machine for Christmas, I was eager to get started. Thankfully, I was at my parents' house to have my mom's help. Sewing with her reminded me of the times we spent sewing in the guest room in our 2 story house in Hickory, NC.  She let me pick out everything for a corduroy jumper I saw the pattern for and wanted to make.  It was mid-90s, so maroon corduroy was perfect for the apron/overall/dress jumper I wanted to make! I even picked out awesome buttons to accessorize my new outfit! I wish I had a picture because THAT was truly my first sewing project. This zipper pouch was fun/random... mom had some scrap fabric that I could use to practice. The inspiration had circles instead of squares, but as you can see from the lining, squares were already there... cut and sew straight lines. done. The zipper was tricky, but something I'd like to try again. I ordered fabric online from ... (guess the website...) www.fabric.com SO EASY, right!? I am anxiously waiting for that package to arrive... 


In the meantime, I went to Goodwill to see what they could offer me in terms of sewing or redesigning or doing something I have pinned on Pinterest! They have SHEETS (i.e. yards of fabric for a couple of bucks!) I picked out a few different patterns... one even has a Minnie Mouse ruffle, but I got it for the pink polka-dot fabric. Here's the rejected sewing project for this week... I will try this again, but with a completely DIFFERENT fabric. I'll let you comment on what you think it looks like... I have my own hypothesis.

Don't let my mistake ruin HER idea!

Alright... I won't let this disaster keep me from sewing. My boyfriend, wanting to encourage me, noticed how even the front and back bottom hems were... and guess what?? They will almost exact! Wow! Maybe I can sew... We shall see. 

New Year. New Blog.

This blog started as an assignment for my master's program.  Now, that I am the proud owner of a Brother sewing machine with a slight addiction to Pinterest  , I wanted to renew my blog.  This way I am not annoying anyone with post after post showing up on their Facebook wall... if they want to know what I'm doing, they can find out here! 


Also, I am keeping the name: CROCKER'S ROCKERS. I originally chose this name to refer to my students, but now I am going to apply it to what I make or do will be ROCKIN'! I have some friends who are bloggers, and they are much better at posting pictures and fun "web" things. I will do some trial and error.  I should know how to do accomplish these tricks... (please refer to aforementioned master's degree...in technology).  


I am not going to promise this blog will be everyday, but my goal will be at least once a week.  You'll get a nice surprise if it's more than that! 


However, I WILL promise that this blog will include at least one of the following:

• a new sewing project  (pass or fail - it will give you a good idea or a good laugh!)
• a before/after DECLUTTER project (one of my New Year's resolutions)
• a new "something" I accomplished (I'm going to try "Do Something New Every Week"... it will NOT be a repeat of sewing, cleaning, etc.)
• anything else I feel like sharing

Is this too much ROCKIN' for everyone?! I hope not! I'm excited for 2012.

EDUC 6715 Reflection

EDUC 6715 New and Emerging Technologies allowed me to analyze up and coming digital tools and resources, like Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVEs), online gaming, and online modules. I was most inspired by the power of MUVEs in the classroom. Planning and implementing MUVEs challenges me to learn more about the virtual world and how it can engage my students, while improving 21st century skills. Atkinson outlines four principles of instruction for virtual worlds: immersion, interaction, identity, and integration (p. 32).
The MUVE I found applicable to my students was www.whyville.net and how it will support content learning and facilitate instructional agents. I was able to find several content standards that can be applied in the Whyville community. The Whyville News provides students’ the opportunity to write creative articles, how-to articles, and letters to the editor. What a great way to integrate the various types of writing my students will encounter throughout their lives (Atkinson, 2009, p. 31)! Like most MUVEs, Whyville also provides students with a salary and tokens for completed activities. This will strengthen their real-world math skills by maintaining a budget.
MUVEs also supply teachers and students the chance to be immersed in the online world, interact and identify with people around the world, and integrate content standards through a game-like simulation (Atkinson, 2009, p. 31). These four principles are paramount to prepare students for 21st century life and workforce.
This is my final Walden course, and I have learned so much about technology and digital tools. I have increased my reading of professional blogs to continue learning about new technologies. Since technology is also changing and evolving, I am motivated to continue learning and growing as a technology consumer. I am excited about my future in my classroom and in my school. Keeping my fingers crossed for a technology position to open up!


Atkinson, T. (2009). Second life for educators: Teaching and learning. TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, 53(3), 30–32

Online Learning in K-12 Schools

Check out my presentation about Learning Management Systems like RCampus or Moodle.

EDUC 6714 Reflection

EDUC 6714 Reaching and Engaging ALL Learners with Technology course taught me just that – we discovered the true definition of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Differentiated Instruction (DI). I collaborated with my classmates on a social networking site (www.ning.com), and the resources and ideas we shared will be invaluable to me as I implement UDL and DI into my classroom the rest of this school year and years to come. The learning profile, multiple intelligences, etc. surveys discovered and created by my classmates will prepare me to meet all my of students’ needs. My classmates also offered suggestions to my ideas on how to integrate UDL and DI principles into my classroom. I am looking forward to creating a Ning network for my students, since it is not blocked by my district like the Facebook site. I want my students to collaborate on homework and projects similarly to my interactions with my Walden classmates.

I have already implemented some of the suggestions from Smith & Throne for DI. My students were getting bored with the mundane reading log, and they wanted a book report project. I have created a TIC-TAC-TOE choice board for their book report project, and they are very excited to read their book and create their projects. Incorporating technology is a wonderful way to engage students in the content, process, and product of learning (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009). One requirement for the book project is to post a critique on this blog to let other students discover new books to read. I also have been focusing on how my students learn in order to give them options for assessment. Creating learning profiles for each student will be a definite goal at the beginning of next school year. I have been taking small steps to incorporate more technology into our school day. Last week, I went with my class to their technology class. We worked together to learn the features of a program named Timeliner (obviously, software that allows users to create a timeline and add graphics). Since our class was on Monday, the technology teacher was able to use this lesson for the rest of the week with the other 5th grade classes!

I am excited for the rest of this year with my students, as well as my future classes, as I continue to bring technology to my students that will increase their learning and interaction with the content, process, and product.