Wow, I am feeling the love! I just returned home from my vacation and found that four of my sweet followers nominated me for the Liebster Award. I am so sorry I could not respond sooner, but trying to keep up with your blog on an iPad is a little tricky!!!! So I am going to take the time and answer all of their questions. I really appreciate each of you nominating me.
Here are the rules for accepting this nomination:
1. Link back to the blog that nominated me.
2. Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers.
3. Answer the questions posted for you by your nominator.
4. Share 11 random facts about yourself.
5. Create 11 questions for your nominees.
6. Contact your nominees and let them know you nominated them.
Since I am just now getting home from vacation I will answer all the questions from the sweet gals that nominated me {so please hang in for the all the question, I didn’t want to leave anyone out}.
These are the questions that Alison from Rockin’ and Lovin’ Learnin’ asked me ….
1. How long have you been teaching and what is your absolute favorite grade to teach?
I have been teaching for 13 years. I have taught middle and elementary school. I absolutely love second grade. I like that they are still young enough that they want to love on their teacher, but old enough to wipe their own noses and zip their own pants.
2. If you had an opportunity to change one county, state, or national law about teaching would you change anything?
If I could change one thing that my parish {I live in Louisiana and we have parishes not counties} does it would be all the requirement that a teacher must have on their lesson plan. The length of our lesson plan is so long and detailed. It really seems way overboard. My state just adopted to new standards for teachers evaluation. One the areas you get basically graded on is your lesson plan. I would love to use all the cute planners I see out there, but with our lesson plan having 20+ things you must have on it, there is no way I could get by with the stylish planners.
3. Have you ever thought about teaching abroad? If so, where?
No, I am to much of a mama’s baby. Even though I am grown with my own two kids and family now I love that my mom lives close by. I like that ALL of my family still lives in Louisiana.
4. If you could go on a shopping spree for one day and buy anything you wanted, what would you buy?
This is tricky because there is a million things I would love to buy. I guess I would by me a Louis Vuitton Purse. I have always wanted one, but could never afford it. I don’t really have a good reason why I want one, I just do.
5. What is your favorite “me time” activity to do?
I love to scrapbook. I like to scrapbook the old fashion way. I like to cut images and move the pictures, papers, and embellishments around. I know a lot of people scrapbook digitally but I just can’t give up the original way just yet.
6. What is one food that you could eat every single day and not get sick of?
Fresh vegetables from a garden. Almost any type of vegetable as long as it is fresh from the garden. There is something about fresh food just being picked that taste so yummy!
7. What is your all time favorite children’s book title and why should I read this book?
My favorite book is, “Stripes”. I think this book is adorable. It also teaches a good lesson about not worrying what other people think but doing what is right for you.
8. What is one app or piece of technology that you could not live without?
I would have to say my Smart Board. I use is daily in my classroom.
9. If you were in charge of your school for one day, what would you plan for that day?
I would plan for the different grades to come up with some type of literacy rotation. Each teacher would pick a book to read and have an activity that correlates with the book. Then the classes could rotate from teacher to teacher, getting a different book and activity with each one.
10. What made you decide to start bloggin’?
I have been blog stalking for about 2 years. I kept telling myself that I was going to start my own blog. I finally decided to get off my rear this summer and make it happen. I like how there is a whole community of teachers out there sharing great ideas.
11. Mac or PC?
Mac – My computer at home is a Mac and I love all the little extra things it can do.
Next set of questions were asked by Second Grade Serenade ….
1. What is your favorite T.V. show?
Real House Wives of New Jersey – I know, I know what your thinking, but it is my guilty little pleasure.
2. If you could move to anywhere in the world where would it be?
I like to travel to different places, but I don’t know that I would live anywhere else. I love living in Louisiana. All of my family is here. Plus, I love how my state has a variety of different cultures living in one place.
3. What is the name of your favorite childhood teacher and why were they your favorite?
My favorite teacher was Mrs. Willoughby. She was my sixth grade English teacher. I loved her because she told me everyday what a great writer I was. When I look back, my writings were not that great. But she tried to encourage everything I did.
4. What is one thing that you would like to do differently this school year?
Shorten the requirement that my parish has us to put on our lesson plans. {See above to read explanation}.
5. When do you have to return to school?
August 5th
6. Target or Walmart?
Target hands down. They have way cuter stuff for the house.
7. Which celebrity would you like to meet and what would you say to them?
Jennifer Aniston – I would ask her how she gets her hair so shiny.
8. What was your proudest moment?
The birth of my two sweet daughters.
9. Apple Juice or Orange Juice?
Orange Juice with plup in it.
10. Yoga, Zuumba or Cycling or none of the above?
None of the above. I should exercise more than I do. My exercise of choice is jogging/walking.
11. Are you an early bird or night owl?
Definitely a night owl. I can stay up really late, but I also like to sleep in late too!
My next set of questions came from Brittany over at From Tractors to Teaching ….
1. What is your best piece of advice for a first year teacher?
I would just say hang in there and stay a float. The first year is always hard, but by the second year you will have things movin’ and groovin’.
2. What’s your favorite teacher website?
I love School Girl Style. She comes up with the best decor for a classroom. I love to look at all the pictures that people send in of their classroom.
3. What is your dream job?
I am doing it. I love to teach. I love being around kids. Plus I think it is a great job to have for my own little family. I love to be off when my own two kids are on break. There is never a dull moment in teaching.
4. What is your favorite subject to teach and why?
I love to teach Science and Social Studies. I like getting to do different experiments with the class and seeing their reaction to it. With second graders it could be something so small but they still get so excited to make or watch something happen.
5. What’s your favorite food?
I love to eat out Mexican food. We eat at a local Mexican restaurant about once a week. It is so delicious.
6. When did you know you wanted to be a teacher?
I knew when I was little. I use to love when my teachers would call me up to write on the chalkboard {yes, I know I am showing my age since most of us use white boards now}. I would also line all my stuff animals up when I was little and play school. And anytime my cousins came over to play I would play school with them {of course I was always the teacher}.
7. What do you like to do during the summer?
I love spending time on the water. My kids and I are very much so water people. We swim or go to the lake several times a week.
8. Who’s your hero and why?
My mom is my hero. She worked so hard for my brother and I growing up. She was a single mother doing it all. She even managed to put us both through college.
9. What your favorite organization tool?
I use baskets all through out my class. I also make sure that everything is labeled. It helps trying to find things when you need them.
10. What the best pin you’ve pinned on Pinterest?
I have pinned and awesome recipe for chicken enchilada soup in the crockpot. It is so easy to make and it is very yummy.
11. How do you start of the school year?
First, I make sure that I have everything ready to go on the first day of school. I have all my hand outs copied, all of my stuff is labeled and in the places it needs to go. Once the class comes in I always read the book, “Crysanthemum”. Then we do a name activity to get to know one another better. The kids always enjoy this.
Last but not least these are the questions Mrs. Delzer from Top Dog Teaching asked me ….
1. What do you like to do when you’re not at school?
I like to spend time with my family. If it is summer I love to be on the water somewhere.
2. What is your favorite dessert?
Just plain vanilla ice cream {I am very easy to please}.
3. Do you have any pets?
Yes, we have a Westie named Lola. She gets into everything.
4. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas! I love the excitement that the kids get around this time of year. I love all the Christmas music that they play on the radio. I love everything about it. My kids usually are in a children’s choir performance at church and I love seeing them get to sing carols. It is just a wonderful time of year.
5. If you weren’t a teacher what would you be?
I can’t imagine being anything else. I have never really given it much thought. I guess maybe a school counselor. That way I would still get to work with kids.
6. Where is your favorite place to visit?
The beach!!! We just returned from vacation to Destin, Florida. It was wonderful, I wasn’t ready to come home yet.
7. What inspired the theme of your blog?
My classroom is black and white polka dots with yellow. So I decided to stay with that theme for my blog as well. It is a great color combination.
8. What is your favorite book?
My favorite book is , “Stripes”. I think this book is adorable. It also teaches a good lesson about not worrying what other people think but doing what is right for you.
9. What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is when you see the light bulb go off in a child. I love when the have their aha aha moment, it is the best!
10. What is your favorite grade to teach or age to work with?
I absolutely love second grade. I like that they are still young enough that they want to love on their teacher, but old enough to wipe their own noses and zip their own pants. It is such a fun age to teach.
11. What is your favorite restaurant?
I love Mexican food. My favorite restaurant is a local restaurant called Superior Bar and Grill. They have the best chips and salsa.
Here are my 11 random facts about me:
1. I love, love, love, to be on the water. It does not matter if it is beach, pool, or lake.
2. Both times when I was pregnant I secretly wanted little girls. God definitely answered my prayers, I have two beautiful healthy little girls.
3. I have small collection of aprons from the 1930’s and 1940’s.
4. One of my all time favorite bands is the Rolling Stones. I have even seen them in concert.
5. I am a really good cook {it is just getting me to do it} when I want to be.
6. I am pretty tall. I am way taller than my mom. I am 5’8″.
7. I love turtles. I do not own any. But whenever I see one on the road I have been known to pull over and help it out . I think they are so cute.
8. Before I was a second grade teacher I taught middle school for 3 1/2 years.
9. I took a year off from teaching to stay home with my first daughter when she was born. I stayed home for 1/2 year with my second.
10. I love to scrapbook and take pictures.
11. I am very organized. I keep my class and home pretty organized. I am not saying that it does not ever get out of whack. But I like things to be neat and tidy.
Here are my 11 questions for my nominees:
1. Are you a shoe or purse kinda person?
2. What is your favorite grade to teach and why?
3. If you could take a vacation anywhere, where would it be?
4. What is your one teacher supply that you can not function without?
5. What is your number one trick for classroom management?
6. What do you love most about summer?
7. Do you like whole group teaching, small group teaching, or both?
8. What is your favorite blog that you visit often?
9. Did you always know that you wanted to be a teacher?
10. Where is your favorite place to shop?
11. Warm or cold weather?
These are the blogs I nominated:
1. Ashley at The Blessed OCDiva
2. Stacy at Leading and Reading
3. Beth at A Kindergarten Life For Me
4. Kaitlyn at Second is the Best
5. Shelly at Smiling and Shining in Second Grade
Thanks for taking a peek!!!! I love that you all thought enough of me to nominate me for the Liebster Award. I really appreciate it!!!!
Congrats! What a great way to get to know bloggers. 🙂
~Brandee
Creating Lifelong Learners
Thank you so much!!!
Jamie
Hi Jamie. I just found your blog from the "Introducing New Bloggers." Congratulations on your Liebster Award! I like how when you write, it feels like you are talking to the reader. I'm your newest follower, too.
Susan K.
http://www.pinkwatermelons.blogspot.com/
Thanks so much. I am on my way to check out your blog also!!!! Thanks for stopping by!!!
Jamie
YAY! Glad you got so many nominations and that you had a wonderful vacation. I want a Louis V. too…no reason needed! I also watch a ton of RHONJ and every other RH. I enjoyed reading all of your answers!
Alison
Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'
Thanks for taking the time to stop by!!!
Jamie
Wow! Thank you so very much!!! I just posted about your nomination and another one I got! So cool!!!
Beth 🙂
A Kindergarten Life For Me
Jamie, thanks so much for stopping by our blog the other day & following. Can't wait to read more as I'm you'r newest bloglovin follower 😉
P.S. I'm from LA too, born & raised in NOLA, it is a great place to be isn't it?!?! One day I may come back.
Darnee from
http://www.talesfroma2ndgradeclassroom.blogspot.com
I'm so sorry that you have to included so many things in your lesson plans, I think it's so ridiculous, especially for seasoned teachers because they usually know what they're doing & it's just a waste of time with all that detail, when they could be focusing their energy into more engaging centers for instance. And I LOVE the RHONJ too. I live in NJ so I don't know if that's why I love them the most, but I just can't get enough of their kind of crazy. Only on tv of course, no way would I ever want that kind of drama in m life. Happy to be a new follower, so glad you found me, so I could find you. 🙂
Stephanie
PolkaDotPalace
Thanks for your nomination! I was so excited! I was on vacation, so I just now finally got my post done and accepted your nomination. Just wanted to drop by and say thanks again! and Thanks for finding my blog! Yay for new bloggie friends!
Best,
Kaitlyn
http://second-is-the-best.blogspot.com