I've been nominated for a Liebster Award!

Thank you to Karen at Little Second-Grade Somebodies for nominating me for the Liebster Award. This award is given by bloggers to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. It shows appreciation to new bloggers and to helps get the word in the blogosphere, that we DO exist! :)

The Rules:

- You must post 11 random things about yourself.

- Answer the questions that the nominator set for you.

- Create 11 questions for the people you nominate.

- Choose 11 blogs you love (with less than 200 followers) and link them in your post.

- No tag back (but please leave me a comment on this post with the URL to your Liebster post so I can learn more about you)!

11 Random Things About Me:

1.  I had the dream of being a teacher my entire life. However, I spent the few years leading up to my High School graduation in absolute fear and panic because I really just didn’t know what I was going to do after graduation. I had convinced myself already that I would never be able to go to college and become a teacher; that it was out of my reach. I was enrolled in a cosmetology program until the end of June after graduation and my best friend, Becky, suggested I go to UW Marathon County to “try” out the college thing. I remember talking to her for hours that one particular night. She made me realize that I had the potential to follow my dream. Six years later, I moved to Atlanta, GA to begin my first year as a fifth grade teacher. Now, I have five years of teaching full time and a year and a half of subbing on my resume.
 

2. I broke my collar bone twice when I was younger - once in first grade after hanging upside down from the monkey bars, and again in seventh grade when I was rollerblading.
 

3.  For as long as I can remember, I have had an obsession with paper. Vintage or old paper are my favorite. I also like clean, white stacks of paper. I can’t explain it or compare it to anything else….it’s kind of strange.
 

4.  I NEVER finish that last swallow of any beverage I drink (coffee, milk, soda, water, wine, etc). People think I do this because I “don’t want to drink backwash” but that’s not at all it. I really can’t explain it besides saying that I just can’t allow myself to drink it.
 

5.  I took piano lessons for seven years and could play quite well, but could barely read sheet music. I pretty much faked my way through lessons by memorizing sounds and mirroring them back to my instructor. Sometimes that meant entire songs. I still remember them and can play them today.
 

6.  I believe in spirituality. I think Oprah said it very well…"When you understand that you are more than your body…that you really are the spirit in the body, in a human body…that’s experiencing this life as a human being but that you really are a spiritual entity… come from whatever you want to call it. Some people call it God. Some people call it Source or Universal Energy…
 But when you begin to realize that you are more than your body. Your purpose is greater than your profession or your career. That because you were born, you have a right to be here and there is a calling on your life. It means that you live your life without fear and you know that no matter what happens…no matter what happens, you are going to be alright…You are going to be alright. That’s what spirituality is to me.”
 

7.   I am in love with music. It is my meditation. I love everything about it. I love how it can play with my emotions and relieve me of my constant need for control. It’s like I get to take a break from everything and get lost in it. I love how it can pull me out of a dark place, instantly put a smile of my face, it can make me cry for no reason, make me cry for a loved one, take me to an exact moment of my past, it can give me motivation and energy or calm me down. I designate a theme song to everything I do. I hate when people limit themselves to one type or genre of music.

8. I once saw a double rainbow while standing under the Eiffel Tower in France. It was once of the most beautiful things ever.

9.  I stage managed the musical, "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" in college and will never forget the lyrics to every song.

10. Even after explaining myself for hours, I know that I could never explain how much goes on in my head all the time. I am constantly thinking aobut random things and analyzing everything that I come across.
11. I love my family members with all of my heart and I think about them every day. I wish they could know the amount of admiration, love and respect I have for each and every one of them.

Questions from Little Second-Grade Sombodies:
1. Is education the only career you've had? If not what else have you done?
-Yes, education is the only career I've had. However, I've also worked at a wreath factory, a skateboard factory, as a cashier at JC Pennys, Sears, and Kmart, I've worked as a housekeeper, and I was a Sandwhich Artist at subway.

2. Have you or anyone in your family ever served in the military? If so, what branch?

-I have not, but my Grandfather served in the Korean War and stood gaurd at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, and my Uncle served in Vietnam.

3. What type of school district do you work in? (urban, suburban, rural)

- I've worked in all three. Currently, I am in a rural school district.

4. Do you have a favorite celebrity? If so, who?

- Oh boy, I really like Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts, Pink, and Adele. However, Deanna Jump is on the top of my TpT celebrity list!

5. Are you a reader? What genre?

- When I have time, of course. I love to read personal narratives and anything pertaining to spirituality. Right now I'm reading The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer. It is amazing and I plan on reading it again and again!

6. What is your favorite movie?

- I have several (from many genres)...P.S. I Love You, The Avengers, Legends of the Fall, Beetlejuice, Walk the Line, and so many more!

7. What is the highest degree you hold?

- I have a Bachelors degree.

8. What do you consider the most memorable event in your life?

- Instead of memorable event, I'm going to go with the most memorable year. That would be 2011, hands down. My husband and I got married and welcomed our son into the world. Those were the most memorable. However, at the end of the year, we were able to sit down and recall at least one significant event from EVERY month in the year. I won't mention them all here, but I know I can't do that with any other year in my life.

9. What is your favorite food?- Anything gooey, creamy, and hot out of the oven is usually my favorite thing to eat.

10. Do you have pets?

- No pets.

11. Do you intend to "Black Friday"?

- I didn't do Black Friday shopping this year. Instead, I went with my son and mother-in-law to visit my sister-in-law and we spent the day chilling out at her house and enjoying great conversation together.

 

Now for My 11 Questions:

1. What or who inspired you to become a teacher?

2. If you couldn't be a teacher what would you do for a living?

3. What is your favorite holiday tradition?

4. Did you always want to be a teacher? If not, what else did you have in mind?

5. What is your favorite season? Why?

6. Do you have a hidden talent? If so, what is it?

7. Has any particular book influence you or left a life-changing impact on you? Which one?

8. What is your favorite T.V. show?

9. Do you know the meaning of your name? If so, what is it?

10. What is your biggest pet peeve?

11. What is it about a blog that makes you stop to read or follow it?

 

Backpacks & Snafus

Drowning in Paperclips

Mrs. Kelly's Klass

My Little Kinders

Fourth Grade Studio

First Grade with a Twist

Kindergarten Squared

Teacher Playground

Mrs. B's Nook

Mrs. Nutter's Ready Readers

Literacy Sundae

 

TpT Cyber Monday {and Bonus Tuesday} SALE!

Happy Thanksgiving! Okay, so it's the night before Thanksgiving...you didn't think I would actually take time away from my family and that delicious food to write a post did you? In fact, by the time you read this, I most likely will have devoured most of the pinterest desserts I've been planning, and will probably be on the verge of a turkey & sweets coma.

Anyway, I want to tell you all about the ENORMOUS cyber Monday (and Teacher Tuesday) sale over at TpT. Ov course, I had to join in! All of the items in my store will be 20% off, plus TpT is adding and additional 10% off when you enter the promo code in the image above.

I am SO excited to participate as a seller, and to empty out my wish list! Head on over to my store and add to fill up your own wish list.



The 3AM Teacher is hosting a linky party on her blog, for other TpT stores that will be part of the sale. Check them out by clicking here.

giving away my latest math centers

WOW! It's really been a while since my fingers have tapped these keys. I'm two and a half weeks into my long-term substitute position and I'm busy, but loving it!

I'm filling in for a Title I teacher on maternity leave until mid January. Although most of what I am doing involves reading instruction, I also work with a couple of students that need some extra practice with basic addition and subtraction.

Enter, my latest TpT item! I created these Dice & Domino Math Centers. The students are absolutely in LOVE with the BUMP games! In fact, I had to tell them we were going to take a break from them for a couple of days to work on something else and they almost cried! I guess things could be worse. Ha!

For the next five days you can enter for a chance to win these addicting math centers, plus tons of other great TpT items over at Tori's Teacher Tips. Tori recently reached the big 500 on her followers list! Not only is she giving away some great items, each day she will be adding little goodies to the mix. You just have to check it out!

loves when teachers help teachers!

I live in Wisconsin, where we get tons of snow in the winter, but never have to worry about hurricanes. I am deeply saddened by the devastation that Hurricane Sandy has caused in the Northeast. Among the many people that have lost their homes or experienced massive damage, there are schools and teachers that were also affected. Many schools were hit pretty hard, leaving students and teachers without resources and materials.

My friend, Laurah, over at The ESOL Odyssey, came up with a great idea to help these teachers. If you have a TpT or TN store and would like to donate any of your products to schools/teachers who are in need, please click on the picture link below. This will take you to Laurah’s blog, where you can sign up to help.

I am donating my product, The Six Major Land Biomes: A Science Unit and Research Project (Meets CCSS) and my Common Core Standards Writing Prompt Resource (With Pictures). Anything you are willing to donate will be a huge help for teachers needing materials right now. Thanks for helping!