Saturday, March 31, 2012

Big Changes to this Blog -- I Imported!

I want to announce a big change to this blog. I have now imported three of my mini-blogs into this Sharilee Shares blog. Formerly, I had this blog set up solely for writing but have now combined it to be about writing, teaching, reading and worshipping. I have deleted my three other blogs called, "Sharilee Shares Teaching," "Sharilee Shares Reading" and "Prayers to my LORD." All of the posts (there were just a few) have now been integrated into this blog.


This blog is more inclusive of all of my interests. I have always felt a call between teaching and writing. I am still teaching, with the tutoring I am doing. At the same time, I am writing as much as I can. So why not merge my interests together? I have also included my personal worship blog into this one. And my book review site came in, too. I may include some book reviews on here from time to time.

I have several reasons for doing this. The main one is that I really don't have time to keep up all these little blogs. I still have more blogs out there, too. I am not sure which ones I will keep but I do know that this is the first step towards simplifying my online presence.

Image by Wonderlane on Flickr.com

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Writing And Teaching Go Together ... Like a Horse and ...

Writing and teaching -- do they go together like a horse and carriage? Well, it would seem so. First of all, think of how many writers you know who were also teachers of some kind: C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were two very famous writers who also happened to be professors. Coincidence? I think not.

A quick Google search for "teacher turned writer" brings up many results. There seem to be several people who straddle the line between teacher and writer. Writers who used to be teachers. Writers who still are teachers. Teachers who like to write "on the side." Beverley Lewis, the very well-known Amish writer comes to mind as a modern example.  She taught school for several years before becoming a full-time writer.

As well, I know that several writers on Hubpages, are talented teachers.  Writing and teaching go together so well because they are both cerebral pursuits. Writing is a form of teaching. I, myself, have always felt drawn between writing and teaching. I love both. And I think for many people who are like-minded to myself, the ideal life is when you can both write and teach, in some fashion.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

I lost a friend this weekend

I lost a friend this weekend. It was a man that helped me during a very difficult time in my life. He was only 44 years old, a year older than me. He had been part of our family for a long time, having dated my sister in college. His passing is only days away from the passing of my mother and it's sobering.

I had seen him just this summer and it turned out to the last time. My sister flew out with her husband and kids especially to see him (he lived in my city.) and at the time, he was very optimistic. The doctors had told him he still had another five years left because his cancer had gone into remission. He was restless and complaining that his boss would  not let him go back to work. He looked good. Tired but good.

I thought we had a lot more time. But we didn't. It sounds cliche but losing someone always reminds us of how short life really is. There is nothing guaranteed, and for the classic procrastinator like myself, it's kind of scary.

I do put things off that I should be doing, and why? I always think I have tomorrow, but who knows if I do? If any of us do. Rest in peace, Randy. I am so glad you were restless to work. It showed that you kept living up until the end of your life. I will miss you.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Making Your Articles Into Videos With Xtranormal

I've been missing in action on this blog lately but I wanted to touch base.

In the last few months, I have been doing more writing and learning more alternative sources of writing income. I hope to write about some of these in the weeks to come.

One very cool tool that I have found is called Xtranormal. This is a tool for creating animated videos from text. If you have articles online that you would like to market, this can be a very good tool for doing so.

I have been fooling around with this tool and it's been fun. This video is one of the ones I have created from one of my hub called, "Tips for Making It in a Second Marriage." 

How is the traffic flow from this source? So far, it's been slow but I am optimistic. And even if I got no traffic from it, the fun and creativity makes it worthwhile. This is so much fun!

Friday, March 9, 2012

Dialogues in ESL Teaching

Just an update. I am a certified educator who has gone from being in the classroom full-time to writing about teaching and several other topics. I am also involved in tutoring ESL students.  

I have started a business for tutoring students who want to improve their English by conversing with a Native speaker, and learning about grammar, vocabulary, and Canadian culture. I am available for teaching, online or in Winnipeg, MB, if you need a teacher.

As a teacher that is not presently in the classroom, I have started doing some ESL tutoring. I like to use drama in the classroom and it also works with ESL tutoring. To use a dialogue effectively, choose a script that relates to your learning goals for that day.

Practice the script by taking turns reading the parts. As the instructor, be sure to take turns reading so that your students have a chance to hear a role model of how the lines in the dialogue are supposed to sound. 

Dialogues are a good tool for teaching ESL
Dialogues are effective for EAL instruction because they provide a chance for your student to speak fluently, using typical English sentences. They show language in context, rather than simply isolated within exercises. And they are fun to do and can allow your student to relax. 

It is also a good idea to get  up and move around during the dialogue, mimicking actions that might occur during the dialogue. Adding some movement helps the student know the language with her whole body, not just her mind.

Here are some good links for ESL dialogues:

Free ESL Materials: This site has many links of dialogues to look through.

Beginner ESL Dialogues: This page has links to several beginner dialogues.

Communication Dialogues: This is a page with some great short dialogues for common English situations.

Articles are also another excellent method for teaching ESL. Here are some great tips for teaching ESL with articles.

For a complete list of teaching articles, see this list of teaching articles by this author.

You may also wish to check this very extensive list of teaching articles at Hubpages by several experienced educators.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

I Got Product! Some New Healthy Foods I am Trying

Tuesday's Math: Calories In: 1685    Calories Out: 2528

Well, I got product! My gorgeous husband and I went shopping last night and I got some good products for healthy eating and boosting up FIBRE!

Bistro Express Entree
This first one is from Dr. Ben's. I have used the Bistro Express products before and wrote a review about them. Last night I was looking at the entree products and noticed that these babies are high in fibre and within calorie range for a meal. They only take two minutes in the microwave and I think would be good in a pinch. I totally prefer to cook but some days are a rush and it's nice to some healthier alternatives than junk!

Bistro Express Nutrition Information
I apologize for the less than stellar quality photos. I got a different camera and I"m having trouble getting quality photos from it.  But if you can read this, the package contains 370 calories and 5 grams of fibre!

I know the sodium content is not that wonderful but I still find this to be a good "meal in a pinch" idea. I often use the Bistro Express packages for adding  rice to a meal I have cooked. I like these and look forward to trying them.


Toppits Pop Herbs
I am very excited about this next product. This is wonderful for cooking. I know the professional cooks, like Rachel Ray, use fresh spices in their food but i have never got around to doing that. I just haven't upped my cooking to that level, and my budget has usually meant dried spices in the bottle.

Well, last night, I found something that is going to get me to try fresh spices, well almost fresh, anyways. These are from a company in Israel and they are herbs flash frozen from fresh. You pop out a cube, enough for one meal and pop it in your dish. Hello! I can't wait to try this. They have all kinds of flavours but I just wanted to try one to see how it worked. I just checked out the Toppits Website and it looks good, with some recipes on there. I also see that these are completely preservative-free.

 Kraft Dinner Smart
Okay, another one. Yes, it's K.D., or Kraft Dinner. Kraft Dinner is my nemesis. I used to eat a package of those and then feel completely disgusting. That stuff is so deadly but yet so sinfully delicious.

Well, I dared to pick up a different kind of Kraft Dinner. My camera would not take an even half-decent picture of the front of the product but it's Kraft Dinner Smart High Fibre.

It has 5 grams of fibre and 175 calories per serving (which is a quarter cup). You are still getting 6 g of sugar, and it's still pretty high in carbs but much, much better. I am going to try it, at least, because it could be another good emergency, in-a-rush foods.

 Flax
And the last product I am going to share with you is my flax. I had forgotten about flax but am trying it again. This package is already opened but there it is. Again, sorry for the terrible quality of these pictures. This was taken at night and the lamp is shining off the package.

And the fibre, just for 2 tablespoons of this stuff is four grams. Not bad for a few mouthfuls! I have been adding this flax to my smoothies in the morning and I want to try to add to some cooked meals to up the fibre content.

So, there's some product. Yesterday, was a good day. I managed to stay under my calorie range and got some walking in (grocery shopping, which I feel funny counting but at least it's some movement). That was the third day that I have been under my calorie range. I am not trying to be way under but it's just worked out to be a bit under.

My lunch meal was a bit high. I went to Tim Horton's (it's a Canadian thing!) and had the large chili with a bun, and a coffee and that all ended up being over 700 calories. I was very hungry but it did feel like too much and I kept eating. Now I know that I need to order a small chili if I get that again.

Do you have any products for healthier eating you are trying? Feel free to share!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

What's Your Treat?

Do you remember when you were a kid, and your Mom couldn't get you stop moving? She had to tell you to stop moving, so she could a)take a bath b)get you to eat, or c) sleep? 

And staying outside until dark, determined to get another fifteen minutes more of play, namely, moving around? 

When did that all change? When did moving around become a chore, something we have to fit into our schedule? 


This post in one of several I like to call "deep things about losing weight." I share this stuff from my own musings along the journey to better health, and hope it helps someone else out! 

I was talking with someone I know a few days ago and I told her that I want to learn to "treat myself" with exercise rather than food.
You see, I used to love movement and feel bad if I had not exercised for the day. Exercise, movement was the treat, the good part of my day. Did you ever feel that way? 

Somewhere along the way, with the busyness of work, career, heartbreak and family, I lost that feeling. Exercise just seemed like one more thing I had to add on to my day, another obligation. And food, too much food, especially, was my treat for many years. Hello! Can anyone relate to me? 

That feeling that overeating, or eating large amounts of junk, is my "treat" has lessened considerably. I see excess food as more of a burden now. It's not that my eating is always perfect but when I do mess up, I know it will cost me in a feeling of being uncomfortable, a feeling of shame, and lack of control. 


I know that it may cost me a higher number on the scale and make it less easy for me to move. I also feel bloated and a general feeling

of "yuck" when I overeat. 
My thinking has changed too in that I know, now, what it feels like to eat normally day after day. I know how it feels to start to lose weight and get lighter. And I love this feeling. I crave it. I know what it feels to be in control of my eating. I have processed this feeling deep within myself. 



Eating right and healthily is not just something I have "put on" because someone told me to, but rather it's becoming part of who I am. I am changing from the inside in.


And this is one of the reasons that I believe so strongly that I can do this. Because I am processing it, not just forcing myself to do it. I feel at peace with it. 


Treat: An object or item that is out of the ordinary and gives great pleasure. 

-- Dictionary  


What about you? Can you relate to any of this? What is your treat? How do you think we can make exercise our treat? Please share. We would love to hear your stories! 

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