Teaching with TWitte: Liebster Nominations

I am so excited to be writing this post right now. This morning I received two nominations for the Liebster Award.

Two of my absolute favorite bloggers, Theresa and Robyn of Pinkadots Elementary and my newest blogger friend, Lindsay from Just Keep Teaching nominated me!

Over the course of the last few days I have been reading everyone's posts about their Liebster nominations. If you haven't read about theis yet, here's how it works:

Liebster is German for "sweet, darling, beloved." It is an award given to new blogs with less than 200 followers.

The rules for accepting this nomination are:

1. Link back to the blog that nominated you.

2. Nominate 5-11 blogs with less than 200 followers.

3. Answer the questions posted for you by the nominator.

4. Share 11 random facts about you.

5. Create 11 questions for your nominees.

6. Contact your nominees by commenting on their blog or sending them an email to inform them of their nomination.

Here are Theresa's and Robyn's questions for me:

1. What made you start blogging?

I started blogging after reading teachers' blogs for over a year. I love reading other wonderful teacher bloggers' ideas and suggestions. I am constantly trying to do things in new, better ways in my classroom and the blogs that I ~~stalked~~ read helped me to do that. By starting my own blog, I hoped that some of my ideas, suggestions, and ramblings might help some other teachers out there.

2. Name one talent you have.

Although I don't have much time for it anymore, I will always consider myself a dancer. I started taking ballet at 2 and as I grew I added all other kinds of dance. I competed, took serious ballet, performed in shows at school...I love it!

3. What is your favorite subject to teach and why?

Reading or math...reading or math...reading or math...ok, READING it is. This is always one of the most difficult questions. I will choose reading because I am constantly reading myself, for pleasure as well as educational texts. It makes me so happy when you can really see a love for reading begin to develop in your students. Sharing some of my favorite books with kids is one of my favorite parts of my job. And the great discussions that come from reading books are so rewarding!

4. If you could go on vacation anywhere in the world, where would you choose?

Disney...I am 28 years old and I have never been to Disney.

5. Name one book that has inspired you and explain why.

I really like Strategies That Work by Stephanie Harvey and Anne Goudvis. The authentic, meaningful reading instruction described in the book has had a very positive impact on my teaching style.

6. What is your favorite tv show?

Nashville! I love everything about it!

7. Do you use a Mac or a PC?

This past April I became a Mac girl :o)

8. What is your most favorite place to shop for clothes?

Lately, I tend to do quite well at Ann Taylor LOFT.

9. What is one thing you need to learn to become a better blogger?

I'm not sure it is something I can learn, but I need to be better at planning and organizing my thoughts for posts. I think that with better planning, I can make my posts much more meaningful.

10. If you weren't a teacher, what other career path might you have chosen?

There was a brief point in high school when I thought I might want to work in marketing. I sometimes think about having a job that would have me traveling. One of my best friends in a pediatric nurse and has been working for two years as a travel nurse. A new place every 3-6 months. She is getting to travel the country; the world, actually...very cool! But I still love my job!

11. What chore do you hate doing the most?

I hate doing dishes!

Now for Lindsay's questions:

1. What is your most fond experience in the classroom?

This is a pretty recent one. This past school year I had a very difficult student. I worked so hard to get her to behave appropriately and work to her full potential and most days it seemed like a losing battle. On the day that I told my students that I would not be returning to their school next year, this student raised her hand amidst all of the chaos that erupted with my announcement and she said, "I just want to tell you that we all really love you and I don't think you should leave." It made me feel like she did actually realize that I was trying to help her all year and that that really did mean something to her.

2. What lessons do you think made the biggest impact on your students?

I think social studies lessons tend to make the biggest impact. Students are always so interested and surprised by current and historical events.

3. Do you speak any other languages? If so, which ones?

I speak high school Spanish. This means, I remember number words, color words, and some basic phrases. My kiddos think I am pretty hysterical when I attempt to speak Spanish.

4. Do you own any animals?

I do not. Someday I would like to own a furbaby...a cockapoo would be my choice.

5. If you could choose one item for your classroom to be donated, what would it be and why?

A document camera. I had a Smartboard and I will now have an interactive whiteboard in my new classroom, but some things just seem quicker/easier with a doc cam.

6. How would you describe your teaching style?

I have very high expectations for my students and my classroom is very structured, but I love to let my students have fun! Even with high expectations, I like to keep the mood light, while maintaining a well-organized, respectful classroom.

7. How many years have you been teaching?

This will be my 7th year.

8. Name your top five books that EVERY classroom should own-GO!

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

14 Cows for America

The Polar Express

The Lorax

Love You Forever

9. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you pick and why?

England - William and Kate, enough said!

10. What is your favorite memory of your childhood or your favorite teacher?

I love all of my junior high memories. 7th and 8th grade included some amazing teachers, new experiences, and great clubs/activities: school plays, yearbook staff, dances. Two of my favorite school years.

11. What is your favorite resource that you've ever used for teaching purposes?

I really like ReadingA-Z and BrainPop.

Now, 11 random facts about me:

1. I live for days at the beach - my dream is to someday own a house, or even just a tiny little shed, on the beach!

2. I have lived in the same house since I was 4 years old (except for the 4 years that I was in college).

3. I went to college 10 minutes from home...and lived there. It was great! :o)

4. I like chocolate but I love sour candies.

5. I spend way too much money on iced coffee.

6. My family loves the Red Sox, I am a Yankees fan.

7. I have a pocketbook addiction, and recently an Alex and Ani addiction.

8. The only vegetables I eat are lettuce, potatoes, corn, and carrots (only raw carrots).

9. I love, love, love going to country concerts!