One Little Word for 2012

I came across this post from Third Grade Bookworm first and this really got me thinking. I am a true fan of my husband bringing home ONE perfect flower than a dozen or two of them. I love one soft tender kiss or smile from my boys or husband. One of my wedding songs was Alison Krauss - When You Say Nothing At All.  I think if you take in the small things it'll make the biggest impact, because if you can cherish the small you can cherish anything. Maybe that is another reason I love the smallest of people, children.

If you have read, One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, you know she is thankful for the smallest things. She is very poetic in her writings.

So when I reflect on 2012 and think about what one word I can choose to describe this year, Faith. From Dictionary.com it defines faith as one with confidence; belief without proof. It's a feeling, it's the ONE, and it’s the knowing in your heart.

I want 2012 Faith in all forms of it, selfless faith, taking a leap of faith. By choosing faith it encompasses everything but most of all, loving God and knowing that He will bring what is needed of me in 2012. He has given me so much and I rarely sit back and let Him truly take over. I also need to be still (I have a hard time doing that, but I am sure I am not the only one out there in Blog World).

What is your ONE word for 2012? Like Ali posted, "The main thing to remember is that this is your word. It’s not for your child, parent, partner, spouse, sister, etc."

Comment back, I'd love to hear your One Word for 2012!

Always Live.Laugh.Teach

Christina Shaw

A Wise Owl Told Me

As I was "walking" around my new blogging block, I came across a wise Polka Dot Owl that told me to skip on over to Net Galley. Wow! I am glad I listened to that owl, because I am in reader's heaven. I adore, borderline obsessed, with children's lit. As a child, I drooled over Scholastic book club flyers that was sent home from school, but knew my parents wouldn't buy the books for me. We didn't have a lot of money growing and I didn't have a lot of books. So when I started college, I found out about Children's Book of the Month Club, and as a good education major with no kids, I joined the club and started my new obsession. Needless to say, seven years of teaching, grades K to 4th grade, and two boys later, I have enough books to create our own library. (I would love to own a room where I could organize and put all the books I own in the perfect order.) I own over hundreds of children's literature in my classroom and even got a comment from one of my kids (when I opened the cabinet to book boxes filled of books but don't have enough shelves to display around the room), "Mrs. Shaw are those all your books!" My reply with a big smile, "I love books and reading and these are all for you all to use."


I have to stay away from Barnes and Noble, because I can spend money very quickly there. My teaching friends and I go to eat at a nearby sushi restaurant, which is the same center as Half Price Books. So of course, we have a great meal eating expensive sushi and then head over to the bookstore. First, I run to the clearance section where I find great books for $1. Recently, I found a ton of How to draw books for my boys for Christmas. **Most of the things they get for Christmas are books, where my oldest, Ethan said, "books again." Which again with a big smile I reply, "sorry son, but you have teachers as parents. You are always going to have books galore in your life." He will never understand how mommy had few books as a child because he could have a whole room filled with them.
After all that, you can see, I love books, but mainly children's books. I went to Net Galley and registered very quickly and received an email instantly. You can even get the books sent to you on your Kindle. I was able to search through the children's books and then read my first book, The House on Dirty-Third Street by Jo S. Kittinger. It is a picture book, but I would suggest it be read to older kids or small group or one on one. The House on Dirty-Third Street brought me to tears! As we think about New Year's Resolutions and starting things over and what we want to do better for 2012. This is the perfect story about starting over, between a mother and daughter. It doesn't give a lot of background, so it would be great for inferencing. The little girl is narrates the story and the book is themed around having faith and working together as a community. I will definitely be buying this book when it comes out and I plan to read it to my kids. This book would be a great connection piece for my students, because I have a lot of kids that move around several times in a year and they can relate to this mother and daughter.

If you are a lover of children's literature, sign up and check out Net Galley!

Always Live.Laugh.Teach

Christina Shaw

How to for creating a button grabber!

This website was very helpful and I am so grateful for Manic Mother.  Manic Mother was referenced on The Cutest Blog on the Block on the extra tab.

HUGE New Year's Giveaways!!!

Amazing Giveaway
New Year's Contest=Free Teacher Resources

The New Year has arrived and to celebrate I am participating in a HUGE giveaway from a Ring of Elementary teacher blogs!

Twelve blogs have joined together for a MEGA New Year Giveaway! The winners of the giveaway will be able to choose any item (winter themed or not) from any of the Teacher Pay Teachers stores listed below. Nearly 100 items will be given away in this HUGE event!
Each blog will have 6 winners.

Each blog will select and post 6 winners for that blog.

Third Place: There will be THREE third prize winners that will be able to choose any (of the winner’s choice) ONE item total from any of the blogger’s Teacher Pay Teachers store listed below.
Second Place: There will be TWO second prize winners that will be able to choose any (of the winner's choice) TWO items (total) from any of the blogger's Teachers Pay Teachers stores below.
First Prize: ONE grand prize winner from EACH blog that will win any (of the winner's choice) ONE ITEM from EACH blogger's Teachers Pay Teachers stores listed below!
Here are the participating blogs/ stores:





Classroom Confections Teachers Pay Teachers Store




Down Under Teacher Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Primary Inspiration Teachers Pay Teachers Store






I Love 1st Grade Teachers Pay Teachers Store

A Teacher's Treasure Teachers Pay Teachers store


Herding Cats in Kindergarten Teachers Pay Teachers store





Third Grade Bookworm Teachers Pay Teachers store


A Special Kind of Class Teachers Pay Teachers store

Mandy's Tips for Teachers Teachers Pay Teachers store

Hojos Teachers Pay Teachers store

Teacher Tam's Teachers Pay Teachers store



Tools for Teachers by Laurah J Teachers Pay Teachers store
How do you enter? There are several possible ways to enter:

1. Follow my blog and leave a comment on this blog post saying you follow (or note that you are already a follower).

2. Follow my Teacher Pay Teachers store and leave a comment on this blog post saying you follow.

3. Blog about this contest on your own blog and leave a comment here saying you did so and a link to your post.

4. Share about the contest on facebook with a link to this blog post, and then come back here and leave a comment stating that you did so. How about giving us a 'like' on facebook while you are there.

Want to enter even more times? Visit the other blogs and stores, and enter according to their instructions.





To increase your chance of winning,follow the blogs and stores of ALL the blogs participating in the list . There are at least 24 chances to win even if you DON'T blog!!!! Remember to comment that you follow their blog and TpT store on their blog!
Make sure you leave an email address, blog, or facebook address where you can be contacted should you win.

All winners will be chosen on January 6th, 2012 by 8:00pm Eastern time.

Good luck! Maybe YOU will be one of the big winners!

Pinterest..How to...

My New Love of 2012, Pinterest! If you are like me, you wanted to start it but you had no idea how to get started. If you are also like me, I use the web like my personal Roladex. But once I have searched or used a recipe once, I forget about it.  Pinterest will allow you to find those things you love or want to try and keep it in a database to use when you are ready a second time or a first time.

Now that I've pinned you.(LOL!)  I think you are ready for some information on how to get this whole Pinterest thing started. (Some of you maybe thinking or searching for other friends to help you out, but they are as clueless as you...I've been there :)  To start this fabulous interactive Roladex, you will need to become a member. Don't use the Request an Invite button on the main screen, because you will wait forever for a response.

You could use the site without being a member, but it'll be like writing down a phone number on a piece of paper, that you have put somewhere.
If you are Facebook member, it'll be very easy. 
Go to my LiveLaughTeach Facebook page . Then push the "like this" on the page &  and "share" with your other FB friends. Then send me a message so I can send you a request to join Pinterest.

I will send you a message back to let you know I have received your request.  There will be some time before Pinterest sends you an official request, but it is much quicker than doing it all on your own. :) 

After you have received a response, you will Login in using your Facebook account.  Don't worry about sharing your information with Pinterest via your FB account.  It will ask you if you want to post things via FB from Pinterest.

Once you login into Pinterest, customize your Boards. The Boards are like a Folder in your Pinterest account. You will be "pinning" things into your board. *It's like putting a document into a relative folder on your PC.* Pinterest creates generic boards for you. You can go into those generic boards and click on Edit and change the name of the board. *Once you are addicted to Pinterest (and you will) you will notice those generic boards really need to fit your personal (P)interests .

Then you can go to different Pinterest topics of your choice to search for great ideas or inspiration. Warning: Pinterest can be very addictive.  I just want to make sure I'm clear about that. LOL!

You will click on the Everything button, which will then give you the drop down mean below. *My favorite board is Education* You can even go to the Most Popular from all the boards, by just double clicking on the Pinterest logo.

Once you find something you want to add to your board, then hover over the Pin (picture) and click on Repin.

Then click the scroll down button to put it in the board (folder) that it belongs to. You can even write yourself a note to remember why you pinned it. :)

(This would of been in my Teaching Blogs board, but I hit print screen before I switched the board on the drop down button.)

If you feel like you are ready to find friends on Pinterest, then go to the next step. Go to the top right hand corner of the Pinterest page. You will see your name and your current FB profile picture. By hovering on top of this picture, it will give you a menu- Invite Friends    Find Friends (etc)

Then you can Follow your friends & see what they Pin on their Boards. Or you can send an invite. These friends are from your FB list.

I think that will get you started with Pinterest. If you have other questions or comments, please let me know. In true teacher spirit, there are no dumb questions, just those that weren't asked. :)

I also may have missed a step, which I may have to update this post if you let me know by leaving a comment.

Happy Pinning Year!

20% off 2nd Semester Sale

Love, Love, Love, Mardel's! I especially love how they do this mid-year sale. 2nd semester is a time of year, when you start thinking about what your students' need and a great sale always helps. YAY Mardel's!!!

Happy New "Blog" Year!

 I hope everyone has had a great Fabulous First Hours of 2012!  2012 is the beginning of my Blogging years. I am a quick learner, so I know it will be a great first year! On my wish list for 2012... I want to do something fun for each month. Share some good ideas on how I should celebrate for each month. (It'll be like taking pictures every month of a baby or celebrating month anniversaries with a new love!)
I am super excited!
Thanks in advance for your fabulous ideas and support!