About a week ago, I found out that Portia Pits over at Tidbits From Ms. Pitts, nominated my blog for the Liebster Award! I am so happy for this nomination and for a chance to help others get to know a little about me!
The Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. So, what is a Liebster? The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. Isn't that sweet? Blogging is about building a community and it's a great way to connect with other bloggers and help spread the word about newer bloggers/blogs. I am so happy to be apart.
So here are the rules (we all know we must follow them
)1. Link back to the blog that nominated me.
2. Answer the questions posted for me by my nominator.
3. Share 11 random facts about myself.
4. Create 11 questions for my nominees.
5. Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers.
6. Contact my nominees to let them know that I nominated them.
So I’ve completed one of the 6 requirements. Now on to fulfilling the rest!
11 Questions from Tidbits from Ms. Pitts
1. Why did you decide to become a teacher?
This one is easy! I’ve known since the 4th grade that I wanted to become a teacher. While some family members were always trying to tell me that this was not the career that I should chose, due to the amount of money educators make, I did not let that deter me one bit! I knew that my calling in life was to help others and more importantly to help them to learn. It’s always been in me to help others enjoy learning as much as I do!
2. What are a few of your favorite TV shows?
I’ll be brutally honest…I’m a reality TV junkie! I try not to indulge in too much TV, but when I do, it’s nothing but reality series, typically. I’m a BIG Real Housewives fan, don’t judge me! LOL! My faves are Atlanta, New Jersey and Orange County. I also LOVE Law & Order: SVU! I’m pretty sure I’ve seen every episode of all 14 seasons, thanks Netflix!
Some other shows I enjoy are Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Cake Boss, Cupcake Wars, and Tia and Tamera. 3. How are you spending your summer break?
So far this summer, I’ve gotten back into a semi-regular exercise routine, that I will hopefully be able to maintain once school starts back up. I’ve been catching up and on
4. What educational websites or apps do you like for your students to utilize?
I just had a SMARTBoard installed in my classroom towards the end of the year so I’m looking forward to finding more websites that I can use with it. I also just got an iPad for myself at the end of the year and I’m hoping to utilize it in the classroom as well. Some of the websites/Apps that my kiddos enjoyed last year are:
* Starfall
* ABCya
* PBS Kids
* Storia
* Sock Puppets
5. Where are your favorite places to shop?
My most favorite places to shop are Target, Old Navy, Michaels, New York & Company, JoAnn’s, & Amazon!!
6. What is your pet peeve?
My biggest pet peeve is when my students leave trash or do not clean up after themselves at the end of the day. There have been a few times when they left such a mess, that I’ve asked our Building Service Managers to NOT clean my classroom so that my students could see the big mess that they left. Needless to say it only takes one time and then they take cleaning up at the end of the day more serious.
7. What makes the state you live in a great place to visit?
Maryland is home to the oh so delicious & famous Blue Crabs! You won’t get any better seafood anywhere else! We also surround our nations capital, which is even better. What other state could put you oh so close!
8. What is your favorite subject to teach? Why?
I LOVE to teach science because it can be such a hands-on learning experience! I love to conduct engaging and memorable experiments with my firsties. No matter how many times I’ve done an experiment it never goes the same way each year.
9. What's one new thing you are going to implement this new school year? Why?
I am hoping to implement some elements of Daily 5 and more focused writing. I want to start using a little bit of Daily 5 to hopefully help me to grow and become even more effective as a Guided Reading teacher. I am always open to new ideas and I’m interested in seeing how my new group of students will respond to this structured way of learning. I also want to try to incorporate more focused writing into or day/week. This is an area that my team and I went back and forth with last year and I’d love to find a method and try to become more consistent with it.
10. How do you manage grading papers where you are not left with stacks upon stacks?
I am guilty of having stacks of student math homework pile up. Although this past year was slightly, not by much, better than years past. One things I started doing, but of course not until we were 3/4 of the way through the school year, was to have one of my “high flyers” grade stacks for me. Occasionally I would get the whole class involved and have the students switch papers to get them graded and handed back. When the students completed something that was easy for me to glance at in class, I would walk around with my scented ink pads and stamp their paper. They loved trying to guess what the scent was!
11. What random act of kindness have done in 2013?
I love to bake so I’ve been known to just bring in and leave sweet treats on my co-workers desks! Sometimes it was just the pick-me-up that they needed because they were having a difficult week. I also like to leave coupons that I don’t use/need near the items that they can be used on in hopes that this small gesture will help someone!
WOW! 11 questions is quite a bit, but I enjoyed sharing a little bit about myself.
Now I get to share 11 Random Facts About Myself! Let’s see….
1. I love the 1920s!
2. I’m addicted to all things with strawberry, caramel, or mint! Yum!
3. I love to cook!
4. I love buying new pens, especially colorful one, but then end up using the same ones all the time.
5. I’m a huge procrastinator but deliver some of my best work under pressure! (I’m sure I’m not the only one!)
6. I’m the 1st in my family to not only go to a 4 year university and graduate but I’m also the first to earn a Master’s degree.
7. I LOVE Sweet Tea!!
8. Cheesecake is my favorite dessert!
9. I’ve never been to Disney World but hope to go soon, or at least once I have children.
10. I love Disney Movies, especially the movies involving any of the Disney Princesses. Ariel & Tiana are my favorites!
11. I’m highly addicted to Pinterest and may need to seek help for this problem soon!
Here are the 11 Questions that I came up with for my nominees:
1. What type of behavior management do you use in your classroom?
2. How do you get parents involved?
3,. What your favorite sweet treat?
4. If you were stuck on a deserted island, what are your 4 MUST HAVES?
5. What’s one thing you created or want to create to use/display in your classroom this year?
6. How do you infuse technology into your teaching?
7. What is your favorite sport?
8. If you could take a trip to any place in the world where would you go? Why?
9. What is your favorite hobby when not teaching?
10. What is your favorite quote?
11. What is your teaching philosophy!
Now that we have all of that out of the way, it’s about time I let you know who I have nominated to receive this award.
And the Nominees are…
Teaching Tidbits with Jamie
The Blessed OCDiva
Fun & Easy First Grade Ideas
A Plus Creations
Fearless in First
I can’t wait to hear your answers and to learn more about each of you! Be sure to leave me a comment so I can come check out your post!
Thanks again goes to Portia for nominating me! This was a lot of fun!
Until Next Time…
Remember to Always Have FUN Learning!
Thank you so much for the nomination. I just posted my answers. You brightened my day. Hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great way to pay it forward! Good luck to all the nominees!! :)
ReplyDelete-Kelly
Sliding Into Second Grade
HI! I just found your blog and I am a new follower!
ReplyDeleteJasmine
Buzzing With Mrs. McClain