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January Favorites

by | Feb 2, 2018 | Uncategorized, Uncategorized

I’m so excited for the start of February. Not because there’s anything particularly interesting going on in that month, but because it means we’re one month closer to spring. Also, a lot of good shows have been returning to Netflix lately, and since that makes up the bulk of my entertainment, I’m pretty happy!

Beyond that, I’m excited about all the new favorites I discovered in the month of January. I hope my list of favorites inspires you to try something new in the month of February!

 

LIFESTYLE

Joseph Joseph Water Bottle
I have two problems with water: I don’t drink enough of it, and I dirty tons of glasses when I do manage to drink it. I’d been on the lookout for a water bottle that would help me keep track of how much water I drink throughout the day. Water bottles that track hydration seem to have gained in popularity, so I was spoiled for choice. My top priorities were convenience and practicality.

Enter this water bottle. Each time you refill the bottle and screw on the top, it twists to reveal a dot. Each time you refill and twist, it adds another dot. So I’m able to keep track of how much water I’m drinking without even thinking about it. Better yet, I don’t dirty a million dishes while doing it!

 

TECH

Did you know that if you purchase a subscription to Noteflight, you can create color-coded notation that matches with Boomwhackers™? Colored notation is a great option for students who need extra delineation to distinguish between notes. I, for one, made great use of colored notation as a child, when teaching myself how to play piano. It can be a useful stepping stone to standard notation.

The example below is from a free resource I created for my blog post titled Skating Away.

ENTERTAINMENT

This is a murder-mystery set in the 1950’s, in which a humble, but clever priest solves murders and dodges detectives, all while saving souls and eating “award-winning” strawberry scones. The story is based on the writing of G.K. Chesterton and the main character is played by none other than Mark Williams (Arthur Weasley from Harry Potter). I can’t wait for the next season to come out on Netflix!

Doc Martin is show about a straightforward doctor (Martin Ellingham), who often chooses truth over tact, to the dismay of almost everyone in the little village of Portwenn. His character is in stark contrast to the local primary teacher Louisa, of whom he battles a love/hate relationship. I relate strongly to both characters, so it’s fun watching them interact with each other and the rest of the characters in the village.

FOOD

Homemade Pizza with Naan
This is pretty self-explanatory, but my husband and I’ve been skipping delivery pizza and making our own instead. We buy Stonefire Tandoori Naan in a four-pack. Then, we add all our favorite toppings and throw them in the toaster oven. It’s quick, easy, and a lot cheaper than ordering in.

Pączki

My husband almost never gets excited about food (unlike me), but we both agree that Pączki make the world a better and tastier place. If you’ve not tried Pączki (pronounced punch-key) before, you can usually find them in your local grocer’s bakery. They’re like jelly doughnuts, but much better. At our local grocer, they come in a variety of sweet fillings and are often powdered, glazed, or sprinkled with sugar. YUM.

MUSIC EDUCATION

I have several teaching favorites this month. Partly because I’ve updated several free resources, and also because I know it’s prime sub season. You’re probably in need of something that’s quick and easy to pull together for an unexpected sick day.
This is a new addition to my store, which had previously only been featured on my blog. It’s a vocal exploration game where students try to catch dragons by singing their flight path. Each dragon has a unique name and special abilities, which make it fun for the kids to catch each one.
In the process of writing a recent blog post, I ran across this gem of a resource. I’ve always loved this set, and I think it’s especially great for non-music subs or on days that you really need to rest your voice (and your feet). It’s also saved the day for some teachers. Here’s what one sweet customer had to say about it:

You know, I bought this during the Valentine’s sale, and hadn’t looked at it, but had an emergency last week and had to leave during lunch. I was able to download this and throw together sub plans in under 10 minutes using skills we had been working on the week before. Thanks for saving the day!

If you’d like to test it out first, you’re welcome to download this free sampler, which has a mix of items from both the elementary and older sets.

What were some of your favorite things this month? Did you find any amazing new teaching tools or delicious snacks I should know about? Share them in the comments section. I’d love to hear about them!

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