Liebster Award + Me = WaaHoo!

Who Just Got This Baby?...This Newbie, That's Who!

Ahem -- I'd like to thank the Academy...um I mean...my girl, Emerald at If You Mustache I Heart Teaching, for nominating me.  Of course, I'd like to thank all the people that helped me become the new blog addict that I've become.  There are just so many people to name.  Wait...what?  This is not...Oh! 

Ok, ok.  This is the Liebster Award.  This honor is bestowed upon new bloggers with less than 200 followers.  Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome.  Well all those qualities are what we find in one another.

So here's the way it works:

• Link back to the blog that nominated me
• Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers
• Answer the questions posted for me by my nominator (Emerald)
• Share 11 random facts about myself
• Create 11 questions for my nominees
• Contact my nominees and let them know that I nominated them

And the Nominees Are...

• Amna at Teach Two Reach

Amna is a teacher in New York.  I was drawn to her website because of the fun sparkle in her details, plus she's a 2nd grade teacher also.  Amna shares some really great ideas her class is working on but also includes those great personal moments we busy teachers seem to forget. (don't click the button but the link above since it keeps taking me to the wrong blog)

• Korren at News, Views, & Stews

This one was easy!  I have had the wonderful opportunity to work with Korren last year.  Unfortunately, her family continued on their journey to another area.  I'm so excited to be able to still get her wonderful insights and contributions to teaching through her blog.  This girl is FULL of great ideas to share, especially in technology.

• Chelsea at Kickin' It Whole Brain in Texas

I LOVE the idea of WBT but am struggling to get accustomed to using it throughout my day.  On the occasions when I have utilized this approach to a lesson, my students were so engaged.  Chelsea is a fellow TX teacher that is implementing this approach and so I was drawn into her blog.  She is using her blog to share her journey as a WBT teacher so I look to her for inspiration.

• Randi at Teach-Dream-Inspire

I have been blog stalking Rani's blog for a while now.  She is truly and inspiration to me.  I can see her passion in her posts and get so many great ideas from her.  Yes - she too, is a 2nd grade teacher and her creativity is right along the same lines as mine.

• Bethany at Ship Shape First Grade

I stumbled on Bethany's blog just the other day and couldn't help but think how cute it was.  It was like a bit of sunshine in a gloomy day!  Not to mention that she has some pretty cute stuff at her TPT store.  If I had 1st grade, I know I'd be a buyer.

• Kristin at The Readbox

You cannot go to this blog and NOT walk away with some wonderful ideas.  And the name is so clever!!  I love going Kristin's blog to get new ways to inspire reading.

Questions From Emerald

1. What inspires you to blog? I'll admit, I didn't really understand the BIG hoopla about the blogging world just several months ago.  I did, however, find myself reading lots of teaching blogs and pinning their ideas.  That was about the extent of my former blog relationship.  Then I dug a little deeper and figured out how to follow different blogs, link to different resources, and just learn about so many fellow teachers.  So I decided I wanted a cute blog too and to become a part of this circle of friends...the cool crowd [wink wink].  I began my journey.  Now that I am making some great connections to other teachers from EVERYWHERE, I am truly addicted.  I love reading and connecting to others whose experiences are very similar to mine.  I love being able to share what's going on my world and have so many others understand what I'm talking about.  It's like making friends through words!  Like a new form of pen pals with a twist of fun.  What I don't understand is how anyone couldn't fall in love with this world.  

2. What food are you proud you tried, but would never eat again?  I am always up for trying new foods.  I can't remember if I've tried anything that I didn't like. I loved the local food in The Bahamas!  And recently my husband took me to a South African restaurant and it was DELICIOUS!  I think I even had some little baby octopus on my dish and would eat it again in a heartbeat!  Since my hubby has been all around the world with the US Navy, he has tried so many different foods and talks about it all the time.  My bucket-list definitely has some travels that include trying more.

3. How has your teaching style changed from your first year?  I have always had a "balanced literacy" approach to teaching.  That style has evolved into a workshop approach in all subject areas.  I love learning so I jump all over new ideas and try to work them into my classrooms.  Right now, I have worked the Daily 5 approach into my Reader's Workshop.  I have adapted a Math workshop approach to teaching Math. So I'm not sure if my style has changed but evolved.  I can say that after my years at bat, I feel comfortable enough to not stress so much and to just make the learning intentionally fun, invigorating, and focused.

4. What person, in any place or time period, would you trade places with for a day? The Queen of England.  Problem is -- I can't decide if it would be Queen Elizabeth I or the current Queen.  I just want to see what it is like to have that much power, castle, and life.

5. What do you hope readers take away from your blog? Maybe a laugh or two.  Maybe a smile.  Sometimes a great idea.  Or just an insight into a fellow teacher, mom, woman, wife, and blogger.

6. What is the best teacher gift you have ever received? I had to unfortunately leave a wonderful teaching position in the middle of a year.  It was the hardest thing I have had to ever do.  My class was one of those classes where you know the year would be one to remember.  All the students had a very special part of my heart.  They LOVED to learn!  I  LOVED my school!  I sponsored a Drama Club and Talent Show and the parents from the community were so supportive.  I just really was in a great place.  But my hubby who was taking new orders and so we knew we'd have to move once he was back from deployment in December.  Anywho -- I didn't know how much of an impact I had made in the several years I taught in that area until I announced that I was leaving.  The outpour of tears, cards, gifts, and hugs made me realize that I had left a drop in lots of kiddos hearts (and parents too).  It made me know that what I was doing was exactly what my purpose is.  It was the best gift I ever received...to know my purpose is my gift - teaching.

7. What are three items you cannot live without? Why? Hmmm...My MacBook Pro - Pandora, Kindle, Pinterest, TPT, & blogging duh! A hair tie - my hair's too long to always be loose.  And Lindor Truffles which I literally just tried the other day and don't know why I never had before.  Yum!  Chocolate!

8. If you could choose one subject to NOT teach the remainder of your teaching career, what would you choose and why? Social Studies.  I'm currently not teaching Social Studies since we decided to pair up with another teacher to team teach SS & Science.  I, of course, chose Science. I think my only problem with SS is that I have never had a district have descent resources to teach the curriculum.  That text book is always the oldest and outdated.  It never matches the topics we are supposed to cover.  So I would always find myself having to do tons of research (and by research I mean Pinterest, Blog, & TPT store trolling).  It was always so frustrating.

9. What would your ten-year-old self say to you now? Tell me about teaching.  What is it like?  Is it fun?  What are your kids like?  What fun things do you do?  Do you get to make craft stuff?  Can you help me with Math?  {teehee}  

10. What book character would you be and why? Hermione Granger from Harry Potter.  She is smart, strong, and in a world full of magic.  I love that she is a Muggle-born Half-blood living and striving in a world that most outsiders don't fit in.  She gets to experience all the fun (good and bad).  Plus she has really good friends in Harry and Ron which is similar to me.  For some reason, I always tended to have really good friends that were boys.

11. If you could choose one song as the theme song for the 2013-2014 school year so far, what would it be and why? "Happy" by Pharrell from Despicable Me 2.  I seem to refer to my kiddos this year as Minions often.  They are just as cute as those little guys and tend to get into some similar goofy situations all on their own.  Not to mention they make me happy.  They like to have fun and seem to always be happy themselves.

11 Bits of Randomness

1. I grew up living next door to my 1st cousins & we are all about the same age so we are more like siblings.
2. I danced with a hip-hop group who promoted positivity while I was in college and actually got paid for shows we did for schools, concerts, and other venues.
3. My first job was at Sbarro Pizza.  I got fired because I wrote my schedule down wrong and they saw me shopping in the mall on a day I was scheduled.  Whoopsie!
4. I ran my first 5k two years ago after hating disliking running since I was in high school.  Now I {heart} it!
5. My weakness is french fries!  I have loved them since I was a little girl and my grandfather would walk to the nearby Dairy Queen to grab me an order for an after school snack.
6. I'm not really terrified of anything but I can put on a good front so I don't have to kill the bugs.
7. Growing up I tried many different activities such as: art, piano, ballet, cheerleading, band/clarinet, snow skiing, girl-scouts, volleyball, weightlifting, and dance.  I want to get back into piano now that I'm older.  I've put the idea in my hubby's ear that we should get a piano.
8. I have wanted to be a teacher since Kindergarten (drew a picture to prove it) but along the way I dreamt of other professions such as: lawyer, marine biologist (a.k.a. Shamu/dolphin trainer @ SeaWorld, & even a back up dancer for Janet Jackson.
9. I swam with dolphins in The Bahamas (imagine the excited tone of my voice as you refer to the random fact mentioned above)!
10. I never really mastered my multiplication facts.  YIKES!  I have gotten better but there are still a few I struggle with.
11. I so, so, SO wish I could be in a stage play.  Drama/theatre arts have always been an interest & I have even sponsored a drama club at school for several years.  But I really am more shy than I know.  I basically turn into a deer in the headlights once there is an audience. 

& Now It's the Nominees' Turn

1. If you could nominate anyone for best actor, supporting actor, and film for an Academy Award who would they be and why?
2. What was your least favorite subject in school?  Why?
3. Give 3 words your students would describe you as.
4. What fairytale character do you best relate yourself to?
5. What 5 things do you always have in your kitchen pantry or refrigerator?
6. Who is your most memorable friend from the grade you currently teach?
7. Tell the funniest kid quote/story you've got in your teaching career to date.
8. What is your favorite outfit of choice to hang out in on the weekends?
9. What is your most memorable birthday?
10. What is something about yourself you wanted to change when you were younger but are proud to have now?
11. If you could go on any adventure from a book you've read, which one would it be and why?

Nominees: Should you accept this nomination, simply comment below.  I will hop on over to your blog and check out your Liebster post once you have it up.  Have fun!!