2022- Daily Dozen....

 Every year, usually in January, I make some sort of plan for the year.  

In 2017 and 2018 I had a long list of goals that covered various areas of my life.  I wanted to achieve them during the year.  I also had myself a vision statement in 2018.  I didn't quite meet all these goals, but I made progress on all of them.  In 2019 and 2020, I decided to have a "word" of the year.  Then, run everything through the filter of my word.  You can read more about that here. 

2020 was tough for everyone and I decided that my lofty 'goals' were well thought out and perhaps "SMART" (read more about SMART goals here) were too much for me. In 2021, I changed tack a bit and decided that I wanted to work on developing some healthy habits that would help me reach some of those long term goals that I had hoped to achieve.  

After watching a Clutterbug Video I decided to use a "Daily Dozen".  In a nutshell, you list 12 things you want to do daily, and plan to do them everyday.  The great thing about this, is that you don't have to start on 1 January.  You can start any time and as you are trying to develop long lasting habits, you should never really 'stop'.  Once you feel a particular habit is well cemented in your daily routine, you can choose to change the point and add a different point to your dozen or you can leave it in the list while focusing on a different point that you might not be doing so well with.  I didn't share my daily dozen here at AGT in 2021.  I'm not sure why.  

At the end of 2021, I decided that 'a dozen' was too many things.  I realised that the only real reason for having 12 things on my list is for the sake of alliteration and I didn't need to do that. Calm down people, it's okay. So, while it's still called my daily dozen, I don't have a dozen 'habits' on my list.  It's okay, really it is. 

One of the keys to feeling some success with the Daily Dozen is to keep some things on your list that you already do daily. You can latch your new habit to an established habit to help you develop the new habit quicker. Check out this video from How to ADHD, if you want more info about this.

Here's my Daily (not a) "Dozen", in case you are interested. 

1. Read my bible and pray.

2. Drink Water (at least 1.8L).

3. Eat two serves of Fruit.

4. Exercise/ Stretch.

5. List three things I'm grateful for. 

I realise I don't even have 6 things then it could be a half dozen.  You could technically make Bible reading and Prayer different points. 

The Exercise/Stretch point means that I have to, at the very least, stretch, every single day, no matter what. I try to include more vigorous exercise each day as well, but when you have chronic pain you have to give yourself grace. 

I'm maintaining a gratitude journal.  While I'm not quite managing to list three items in the journal everyday, I am acknowledging three things everyday, before I go to bed. I say them to myself.  5 days is the maximum number of days I have gone without writing in my journal.  If this is the case, I reflect on the past 5 days and include several items to my gratitude list. I use prompts to help me think outside the box a bit when I'm considering what I'm grateful for. 

Not my actual light swith! ;)

My Daily (not a) "Dozen" is posted in my bedroom - right next to the light switch.  Just before I turn the light out each night, I read my daily dozen and tick off which ones I have managed to do that day.  Most days, I can tick off all the things.  Some days, I haven't had enough water (and I know it, because I have a headache!) or I only ate one piece of fruit.  Some days, I realise I haven't stretched since morning, so I do a few quickies before getting into bed.  

My Daily (not a) Dozen has really helped me this year to focus on small steps and remember to start fresh each day.  I have always had a goal of drinking a minimum quantity of water and for several years, I have read my Bible and prayed daily.  These are not so hard to "check off".  It means that whenever I read my list, I still feel a sense of achievement even if I can't tick off everything. 

What habits would you include on your Daily Dozen? Would a Dozen be too many for you too? Let me know in the comments. 

Next time, some snippets from my gratitude journal. :)

I appreciate you! 

A Great You Tube Channel

From time to time, I like to share something "Great" with you.  Something worthy of A Great Title.  

Today, I'm sharing with you, Amy's Wares.  

Photo Credit: these are thumbnails I copied from Amy's Website. 
These cards are just beautiful and I can't take credit for any of them! 

Amy is a lovely lady who makes some great cards.  She loves to use stencils (mostly from A Colorful Life Designs- ACLD) to create backgrounds, focal points and even sentiments on her cards.  She also likes to pre-stamp sentiments and store them in a big binder.  These seem to make her card making process quite quick. We all need to make a card in a hurry from time to time, so seeing how she does it helps me so much.  

I learned about Amy from a Facebook group I belong to (called Prokraftination) when Amy shared one of her 5 cards in 10 minutes videos.  It was around Christmas and I'm always looking for simple Christmas card designs so I clicked her link!  I checked out the video and I was hooked.  It also helps that Amy shares my love of Catherine Pooler Inks!  When I first saw how versatile stencils can be and the lower price point, I have been slowly growing my stencil collection.  I love using stencils to make backgrounds for cards, so a crafter who uses at least one stencil in almost every card, is a crafter I want to follow.  

The 5 cards in 10 minutes videos are nice and short and show some lovely clean and simple designs.  While I can't purchase from ACLD right now... that's a story for another day... I am making myself a long wishlist of products that I want to purchase from them.  I'm also looking at the products in my own stash and thinking about how I can use them to create simple cards.  It's so good to find another crafter who inspires you! :) 

Today you got three "Greats"- 

Amy's Wares - a great You Tube Channel- short videos that show simple techniques for quick and easy cardmaking! :) 

A Colorful Life Designs- a great small business that has a variety of innovative and versatile craft products. 

Prokraftination- a great facebook group where anyone can share their craft projects, link to their blog/ instagram/ You Tube videos and other social media accounts.  The owner of the group, Koren Wiskman, also shares special offers, giveaways and prizes with group members.  I love Koren and I have included her in a blog post before. The members of this facebook group are so encouraging too. 

Now that makes 4 'Greats'.  You are so lucky! I hope you are feeling inspired! I know I am. 

Until next time, Happy Crafting! 

Peace at Christmas

I promised to share some Peace with you this week. While this year, we have already celebrated Christmas, I feel like this part of the Advent series is too important to be skipped.  Peace has certainly been an important word for me this year, so let's do this. 

The final candle in the Advent Wreath is Peace.  Christmas is the time we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Angels announced the arrival of Jesus and they spoke of Peace on Earth.  While Peace is a word that can mean so much, the Biblical meaning of Peace is different.  Peace is not about a quiet afternoon reading or the absence of war.  It has nothing to do with a lack of people or crisis.  Peace is about a reconciliation between God and His children; an end to the discord between the sin of people and God.  Peace is a result of God's Perfect Love for us.  This video from The Bible Project explains it so well.

Shalom, My Friends!

Another Great You Tube Channel: Coco Lime Fitness

I have mentioned before, I think, that I have a condition known as Neuropathic Pain or Chronic Pain. While my condition is not the same as fibromyalgia, it has some similar symptoms.  Basically, I feel pain every minute of every day.  I manage that pain in various ways.  If you want to learn more about chronic pain you can check out these links.

What is the difference between acute and chronic pain? 
A video about pain... 
The Spoon Theory

Today, I want to share a You Tube Channel with you.  It's called Coco Lime Fitness and more specifically, I like to use the Fibro-Fit Series.  The channel belongs to an amazing woman, Suzanne, who has Fibromyalgia and wants to help other people who live with chronic illnesses including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and more.  She is a qualified personal trainer so she knows her stuff AND she knows (from personal experience) the real struggle of living with a chronic illness. She demonstrates exercises as well as modifications so you can adapt work outs to suit your pain and your body.

Fibro Fit has truly helped me to get up and get moving.  I can work out in my own home and know that no one is watching me.  I can control the length of my work outs by choosing a full workout or putting together a series of shorter work outs.  There are warm up videos, low impact cardio, strengthening, dance or kick boxing, stretches for cool-down or just for helping you relax.  These videos are great for those with chronic pain or just anyone who can't get to the gym, can't fit in time to run or walk or just wants to try something low key at home.  Most videos require no equipment other than a device to watch the video and a supportive pair of shoes. Some videos use house hold items such as a chair or step.  Others give you the option of using light dumbells, but you don't have to use these if you don't have them.  You can do it without weights or use two equally weighted items like cans of soup, packets of rice or even bottles of water.

If you're looking for an easy fitness routine that will help you get moving or just to change it up from your regular routine, this is the You Tube Channel for you!

I will say again... I am not compensated for my comments here and I will not be compensated.  My opinions are my own!

Have a great week! :)

A Great You Tube Channel- How to ADHD

I have ADHD.  I didn't find out that I had ADHD until I was in my mid-twenties.  When I finished the checklist and realised that I had lived with this neurological condition, my life suddenly made sense!  All the trouble I had concentrating, focusing, remembering, maintaining relationships, managing my emotions and all the rest of it, finally had a real reason behind it.  I also had the privilege of working with some awesome adults with ADHD and they showed me that my mind is brilliant and I should be proud of what I had already achieved.  They helped me understand that I had already developed some great strategies for success in the classroom and life.  They had developed some great strategies too and we shared them.  It was so liberating for me to realise all this.  

I'm not sure how I found How to ADHD... I probably fell down a You Tube rabbit hole.. but I only watched one or two videos and before long, I was hooked! The host, Jessica, is an amazing woman!  She has ADHD and (for various reasons) she created this amazing You Tube Channel. I think she can explain it far better than me.  Check out her About Page on You Tube here.  

If you have ADHD you will find some well researched and entertaining videos at How to ADHD which, I promise, will help you.  The channel will help you see that you are not alone and while it can be hard to have ADHD, there are also some great advantages.  Check out this video which explains the basics of ADHD and how it can impact a person's life.  The videos can give you some great tips for studying, organising your life, getting stuff done, understanding your ADHD and how it impacts all aspects of your life, fidgets that will help you focus, medication, therapy, looking after yourself and so much more.  

If you are a parent, teacher, employer, husband, wife or friend of someone who has ADHD, you should also check out How to ADHD.  The videos will help you to understand the person you know who has ADHD.  You may start to realise that what your employee, student, child or partner is doing is actually out of their control.  You might learn a bit more about them and how you can help them or even help yourself live with them.  

I love How to ADHD and I have found it very educational, for me as a person with ADHD and as a teacher of students with ADHD.  I am a better person and I am a better teacher just from watching some videos and that's AWESOME! So, Jessica- if you ever read this- THANK YOU! 

So, stop counting how many times ADHD appears in this blog post and go check it out! 

PS. I'm not affiliated with How to ADHD in any way.  I have not been, and will not be, compensated for this blog post.  My comments are my own! 

DIY Christmas Cards

Christmas is well and truly upon us.  Less than a week until the big day.  Most crafters have finished their handmade delights for Christmas by now. If they haven't, they probably don't have time to be reading a BONUS post on AGT.  Whether you are seeking some last minute card making inspiration or you are just putting your feet up and hoping to have some peace and quiet, I think you will like what I have to show you today.

I have handmade all my Christmas cards this year!! I didn't give out a lot... don't get me started about why I don't give a lot.  I made a few gift tags but only because we actually ran out of gift tags.  FINALLY! I am really very proud of what I have made this year.

These were my first batch of Christmas cards.  I started out by creating my own Christmas patterned paper, using the Christmas themed stamps in my stash.  They were made up of two cheap stamp sets and a Christmas magazine giveaway set.  I also used some glitter washi tape from Kaisercraft and some bakers twine that I bought at a dollar store.

This card was among the first of my creations this year.  It was inspired by these cards from Catherine Pooler Designs.

Now for some of my favourites... I created these using die cuts and sentiments that my aunty sent me.  The Joy sentiment and wreath dies came from the Winterhaven SOA by CPD (they are sold out but will be available next year).  The rest came from the Night in Bethlehem stamp and die set by Stampin' Up.  If I have that wrong, please correct me by leaving a comment.  My Aunty stamped these out, die cut them and posted to me so I could make some cards with them. She is awesome!

Take a look.

I watercoloured these wreaths using a combination of green inks and red inks in my stash.  These were Mememto inks, but any green or red dye inks would work. For one of the wreaths I coloured each of the berries with a Wink of Stella clear glitter pen after the red colour had dried.  I'm so happy with how these worked out!  Check out this video from Catherine Pooler to see how it's done.  I fumbled my way through this process and got better after making about 8 of these.

The last Christmas card I made is below.  The gifts were made with a layering stamp set from We R Memory Keepers.  The sentiment was a hand me down from my aunty and the rest of the stamps were from that Magazine giveaway I mentioned earlier.  This one was made for my uncle, who loves horses!  

That's it for this bonus post.  Tomorrow, you will hear more from me.... you can't wait, hey?!

Stay Cool!

What is CASEing Anyway?

Hi everyone,
Late again... for good reason.  I was spending time with my uncle this week.  Family comes first.

A few weeks ago, when I shared my latest cards with you (Check it out here), I mentioned that I had CASEd a card.  I promised that I would explain, so here I am, ready to fill you in.  CASE stands for Copy And Share Everything.  CASEing is when you see a card (or a photo of a card) and you use it to inspire your own creations.  The important part of this is that you acknowledge the original card creator.  If you publish your card on a blog or in a video, link to the original card.  Share the love as well as the ideas.  If you want to watch how a stamping expert CASEs a card, check out this video by Catherine Pooler and check out her blog post here.

When CASEing, you can copy anything about a card, copy most of it or just one element.  Change it up using whatever you already have in your stash.  Here are some cards that I have CASEd recently.

My Birthday KISS cards based on some Thank you KISS cards made by Catherine Pooler.  Click here to see her blog post and video.

Catherine's Cards

I love these Birthday Cards...

This next set of cards was CASEd from a card I saw on Pinterest.  I LOVE Pinterest!

Pinterest Card from the Singing Scrapper (click to see her blog)

I made a set of these that I am planning to give as a gift set.

Christmas is coming.... School is nearly finished for the year.  It's a busy time.  Take some time to breathe and look after yourself.  Relax.  

See ya next week... 

My Sister's boys!!

My sister and I were not great athletes.  She enjoyed playing netball in her youth and when we were both very little girls we learned ballet and tap dancing.  Both of my feet pronate - I'm flat footed- which means that walking is quite tiring at times and I don't run with any kind of efficiency so I was always last in the running races and was not that great at sport.  You experience failure enough times and you realise that there are better things in life.  For example, reading and writing and all those lovely things you can do sitting down. 

My sister has 5 sons.  Her husband loves to play soccer.  So, when the boys came along (they didn't all come at the same time, they are different ages) it was natural that Dad's love of soccer would be passed on to the offspring.  They love soccer.  As soon as each boy was old enough, they were signed up to a soccer club.  I just love going to Saturday soccer- 4 games in a row.... the highlight of my weekend! 

Anyway, do you know how much soccer stuff is nice and square? None of it!! Unless you buy a book about soccer!  These boys don't want to read about soccer, they want to play soccer. 

My sister couldn't have signed them up to a book club? NO.  She had to sign them up for Soccer!

Do you know how difficult it is to gift wrap a soccer ball?

Check out what I found...

You want to see the result of  my own ball wrapping....?

I'm so clever!! :D

For more wrapping tips, check out my Pinterest board: Gifts, Wrapping, Cards. 

Our tree looks great this year and surrounded by huge pile of presents!!  Wrapping seemed so much easier this year, although my back is very sore, now!!

Just for the record... I LOVE DOUBLE SIDED TAPE!!!

A Happy Video

I think I will let my students watch this video when I hand back their assessment.  I am very happy with how they all did! 

=)  Reports are Done! 

=D

You can't be sad when you hear this song! 

Research....

Today I am researching the clasroom unit that I'm supposed to be teaching from Monday.  I haven't written the teaching unit yet.  Looks like we will be writing as we go.  Lot's of teachers do that... don't they?!

The title of the unit: I will Survive.


I am resisting the urge to play Gloria Gaynor's hit song as the students enter my classroom on Monday!

Through the power of Google, I am finding quite a few inspirational stories and some excellent You Tube videos that I will be able to show my students.  I have also come to the conclusion that the Internet is a very strange place!!! So strange, in fact, that I don't want to show you the places I accidentally visited today.

Moving On! I hope!

A video: about touching exhibits in museums

This scene from How I Met Your Mother was on my mind when I was editing my post today, so here it is for you to enjoy.

I don't have any rights to this video, so if it disappears on you, it might be a good idea to search it on You Tube or better yet, buy the box set and discover the magical and mystical story of how a silly 30 something met the love of his life.

Continuing the Silliness and Fortunes from Cookies

The BFF and I enjoy this Silly Song from Veggietales!

The Veggietales are a great source of silly and serious all rolled into one.  It just depends on which video you watch.  ;)

Have a great day!

A Great Video- Apparently

Hello - Hagrid here.

M reckons that this is the greatest video ever.  I am not so sure myself.  It's a video of Shelly playing with a ping pong ball in a washing basket.  M has been doing a great job of boring everyone with it. You guys are no exception.  I have tried to hold her off as long as I could.

I don't get it either.
Have a great week and don't forget to hug your teddy bear!

May I say, that I was just hanging out in the laundry basket when M chucked the ping pong ball in with me. She is a bit of a nut, you know.  I was merely defending myself.  I might add that M did not ask for my permission to record my play time in the privacy of my own home.  Once it's on the internet it will never go away, therefore I must simply accept that you are humans and you lot will insist on invading the privacy of the adorable.  Hagrid might not understand why M finds me so entertaining, but at least there aren't any embarrassing videos of him on any blog sites.  I will take solace in the fact that AGT has a tiny following and this shouldn't hurt my chances of becoming famous for something dignified - like juggling.

Shelly - Meow!

More on GIFTS! Video and Links

Yesterday we looked at a video of Penny and Sheldon exchanging gifts at Christmas time.  For your viewing pleasure, check out this little snippet from season 5 of The Big Bang Theory when Amy gives Penny a 'small' token of appreciation.  Oh, WOW! 

You should be wrapping your gifts by now!  Want some inspiration?  Check out these links for some great tips and ideas for gift wrapping. :D

 

My 2012 Gift Wrapping Tips

Gift Wrapping Tips from Older and Wisor

My Newest Pinterest Board: Gifts and Wrapping

Happy Wrapping!

How the World Works

We interrupt the series on Shelly's Favourite Things to bring you this important message: 

ASHTON KUCHER has said something intelligent and inspiring to today's teenagers and we need to spread the word.  I was surprised too!  It isn't just the teens who need to see this.  Sometimes we all need a reminder of these ideas:

Opportunity Looks Like Hard Work

There is NO job you are better than.  There is NO job beneath you... except not having one.  

"SEXY" is not about looking good. "SEXY" is about being Smart, Thoughtful and Generous.

Don't just LIVE a LIFE... BUILD a LIFE! 

Free Technology for Teachers: Another Ashton Kutcher Video That Students Should ...: Back in August Ashton Kutcher delivered an important message to teens at the Teen Choice Awards. His message....

Click the link above and check out the two videos.  If you have the opportunity and the influence to tell the truth... then you should tell it.  I had to share this, because it is a rare treat for someone famous to put aside the image and tell our young people that the world is not what it seems.  This is a wake up call.  This is an honest statement.  No one gets rich or famous or happy from sitting at home with their feet up (I know, because I'm at home with my feet up)! 

I hope this makes you smile.  I hope it reminds you to forget about the mirror and pick up a book.  I hope your creativity is energised and you are able to build something special.  I hope you see the opportunity in the work and the substance behind the hype and the potential in your future.  

Catch Up: Junior Soldiers

In February I told you all about the activities we were doing at Junior Soldiers.  I promised pictures of our Amour of God activities and I can finally deliver.

March and April was reserved for our Self-Denial Appeal.  We worked through the children's curriculum designed for the Appeal.  The kids watched short videos about the work of The Salvation Army in several overseas locations.  Each child received a booklet with activities relevant to each video and a world map.  We coloured the countries that we 'visited' each week and completed the activities.  Each week also had included a Bible reference that we read together and the children were encouraged to memorise it.

The children combined for Easter.  I personally believe that the whole family should participate in Good Friday and Easter Sunday services, rather than sending the children out to 'Sunday School' groups.  However, the Sunday School teacher at our church disagrees with me, so I gave the Junior Soldiers the option of staying in church with me or joining in with Sunday School (we call it JAM which stands for "Jesus and Me").  They chose JAM.  I guess Peanut Butter just can't compete.

That was March and most of April.  Last week we began our series on Prayer which will take us to Mothers' Day and then we will start with our next series... which I haven't decided on yet.  The kids and I have really been enjoying our time together lately.  I will tell you more about our activities and the Prayer Theme soon.  For now, take a look at this touching video of kids telling you what they pray about.

Stay Tuned!

Wonders of Weather

Cold... the kind of cold that makes you tingle and you look around and wonder how the air became so frosty.  My toes are tingling and my feet are icy.  I woke up this morning with cold feet.  I am actually wearing a cardigan.  Can you believe it?

Hot... the kind of hot that makes you sweat in every place imaginable.  You wonder if, like the wicked witch of the west, you are really melting into a puddle on the floor.  I was walking to the shops yesterday and the ends of my hair were wet with sweat.  Incredible!

After what seemed like a very long summer the weather is beginning to cool down and I am overjoyed. I'm not one who enjoys the heat.  When Hank Green sang It's Too Hot I found a kindred spirit.  

Click to watch the video and listen to the song. You can buy this song on www.itunes.com as well.  

It's Too Hot

By Hank Green

My eyes snap open, it's two o'clock

I rip off my shirt, my pants, my socks

Something's wrong but I don't know what

But then, I start to realize

There's sweat trickling down my thighs

And a fire between the mattress and my butt

It's too hot

It's too hot in here

I'm gonna fall out of my chair

If I have another ice cold beer

I forgot

How much it sucks to sweat in bed

I don't wanna drink your iced tea

I think I'll take a bath in it instead

It's too hot

Laying on the floor with my clothes off

Silk boxer shorts and a wash cloth

Are the only things I'll let touch my skin today

Spraying myself with an upside down air can

Makin' out with the window fan

Hoping the mailman doesn't look in today

It's too hot

It's too hot in this town

My will to live is melting

And that's what's got me down

It's too hot

And my state is on fire

I'm an endothermic organism

And that's why I perspire

When it's too hot

The United Nations

Says eleven thousand

People die of hotness each year

But the burning sun

It wants eleven thousand and one

But it's not gonna get me, you hear

Sweating in my basement all alone

Watching Hotness Prevails by thewinekone

Sympathizing with my favorite YouTube star

How could anyone be so deranged

And not believe in climate change

When it's 102 in Montana in the dark?

It's too hot

And I'm doing a funny dance

'Cause I went and got some ice cubes

And I put them in my pants

It's too hot

It's too hot in here

I'm probably gonna pass out

But please pass me my beer

It's too hot

That's that then! 

Talking to kids about Slavery and Sex.

The Self Denial Appeal is an annual 10 week event on The Salvation Army Calendar.  Basically, Salvo members are encouraged to 'deny themselves' or temporarily 'give up' a small luxury in order to save money.  This money is then given to the Salvation Army for missionary work in other countries.  In the early days of this program, many people would give up dessert, one evening meal a week or chocolate. These days, people give up soft drink, dessert products (such as ice cream), take-away meals, movies, DVD rentals or other leisure activities.  

At Junior Soldiers we encourage the children to think about something they can 'give up' for the duration of Self-Denial, so they can raise money for missionary service.  One of my boys does extra jobs at home and instead of keeping all his pocket money for himself, some of the money goes into our 'Bally- Box' where we save the money for the special 'alter service'.  I have encouraged my other member to save his tuckshop (canteen) money for Self-Denial instead of spending it.  We will see if that happens. 

You are probably wondering what all this has to do with Slavery and Sex.  Each week of the Appeal, we watch a short video clip about places around the world where The Salvation Army is working and requires financial support.  The clip usually introduces a Salvo who tells about personal experiences of  Jesus and the practical assistance The Salvos are providing in their local area.  They also talk about the financial goals of the church in that country and how funds will be spent.  Here is the one we watched about The Salvation Army in Greece.  

[http://selfdenial.info/videos/?play=gaho7]

Last week the video was about the practical as well as spiritual support Salvos give to the homeless and the sex slaves in Greece.  In the video intended for the 'adult' church service, it is simply stated that these people are working in the sex industry.  The children's video sort of skims over it, simply calling them 'slaves'.  The activities for last week explained the concept of 'trading' and that many parents sell their children into slavery because they are tricked into believing that their child is going to be better off.  The children/ teenagers are usually fed and have a roof over their heads, but these children have no freedom.  So, how do you explain to two 9 year old boys, what a Sex Slave is and why this industry still exists?  

I explained the 'parents selling their kids' thing and then talked more about choices.  As children in a Christian home, they have to be obedient to their parents but,  for the most part they have opportunities to choose what they do with their time, what they eat, where they play and their friends.  Children and adults who are slaves do not have these choices.  They don't get paid for their work and they don't get to make the choices that we do.  

I also talked to the Junior Soldiers about the choice that God has given us.  He does not want His children to be 'slaves' but to have free choice.  He wants us to choose to live according to His will, and  He loves us and cares for us and provides us with all we need and more.  We are really very lucky. 

Some might frown upon the amount of time I spent on this with my boys, but I felt it was important for them to realise how lucky they are and how easily they can help.  If everyone in Australia gave $1 towards an organisation to end poverty, we would have approximately $20 Million.  Imagine what we could do, if we really tried!! 

Next week I will tell you about some other things we are doing as a part of our Self-Denial 'giving' and our preparations for Easter. 

The kids put on the Armour of God

I mentioned last week that we filmed the Junior Soldiers putting on their 'armour' of God.  When editing, I used a WonderShare free trial which, didn't tell me until I got to the very end, that the video would have a watermark on it if I didn't buy the full version.  So my video has a watermark! The kids are blurred on the film in order to protect their secret identities.  I did change it a little for the video that will be shown at Church next week, but you will get the idea.

I hope you enjoy it!

A McLesson in McWords

Today's word is Simile.  

Dictionary.com defines a Simile as.... 

sim·i·le   [sim-uh-lee] 

noun

1.

a figure of speech in which two unlike things are explicitly compared, as in “she is like a rose.” Compare metaphor.

2.

an instance of such a figure of speech or a use of words exemplifying it.

The BFF and I enjoy this ad. 

I decided it had to get on the blog.  In case you are wondering... the video will give you a better idea of what a simile is.  

Source: McDonald's YouTube channel

Who’d have thought that even McDonald’s can teach you something?  I knew Ronald McDonald was good for me.  This video gives both examples and non-examples of similes in a context that would be familiar to nearly everyone. Oh yeah, the other word of the day is desseverage! 

Applications for Education

1.         Use the video to “hook” your students at the beginning of a lesson about literary devices. Talk about examples and non-examples of similes and then compare and contrast these to metaphors.

2.      Revise the concept of similes.  Watch the video as a class.  Give students a transcript of the ad and ask students to highlight the similes.  They could also mark (with a different colour) the non-examples of similes.

3.      Making this into a bigger project: you could ask students to write a script in the same style as the video.  Students could choose a familiar product to write about in pairs and then act out to the class.

4.      After watching the video, ask students to choose a familiar topic to write a list of similes about and to keep their product a secret.  When finished students could read their lists of similes to each other in small groups and see if their group can guess what the product is.

5.      Extend your students.  After learning about all the literary devices, watch the video and ask students what literary device is being used.  Then, ask students to write a script to advertise the product using literary devices other than similes. 

6.      More extension. After watching the video, and writing similar texts, discuss WHY the advertisers chose this literary device.  Discuss the purpose, audience and structure of the ad.  Work together to analyse and deconstruct the choices made by the “authors” of the video

There is so much that can be done with a two minute advertisement in the classroom.  I haven’t even got started on comparing advertising over time (you can access McDonald’s advert videos from 1970-present on YouTube).

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!