Liebster Nomination #2

I'm happy to say this is the second time I've been nominated for a Liebster Award but this time it's by Samantha from Special Little Learners. 

Now for the questions:

1. Why and how long ago did you begin blogging?
   I've been blogging since August of 2012, and I started blogging as a way for me to share the fun new things I'm doing in my classroom with other teachers.  I am the only person in my district (one school district) that teaches the classes that I do so I have no one to collaborate with.  I naturally turned to online to find professionals who were willing to share ideas. 
2. What one word sums up the heart of your blog and why? Creativity. I'm constantly trying to find new creative ways to engage my students and keep them on their toes about what we will do next.
3. Is there something you learned late in your blog journey you wished you knew before? IT TAKES SO MUCH TIME!  As much as I love to blog and find it very reflective, it just takes more time than I have now a day.
4. What is your favorite past time other than blogging? I love to spend time with my family and friends.  I like shopping, but come on...What girl doesn't?  I love to travel but don't do it nearly as much as I would like.
5. How many hours per week do you dedicate to your blog? Umm...Lately...NONE!  I haven't blogged in so long and I've been doing a lot of new things this year that I'm just dying to share with everyone.  I'm working on my time management skills now that I have a baby, so I'll be getting back into it more very soon. 
6. What category of blog posts do you enjoy the most? I love blogs on cooking, and educational ones (of course!).  
7. Where does your blog inspiration come from? It comes from my students and hilarious things they do and say every day.  The things I blog about were designed for them, so naturally they inspire me every day. 
8. Which post that you've written are you most proud of? I'm pretty proud of just about everything I've written, because if you know me you know I'm a Math and Science person.  So writing and English "stuff" are the things I'm horrible at.
9. Is there anything that you've been planning to do but have been postponing it for a while now? I've been planning to take a relaxing vacation for years now but that clearly hasn't happened :)
10. What is your favorite aspect of blogging?I love the reflective part.  It has made me grow as a teacher and it has also helped me connect with teachers I would not have necessarily ever connected with.

The Rules:

Now that you've been nominated, here are the official rules for accepting:

1. In your post, link back to the blogger who nominated you as a thank you and "shout out".
2. Answer the 10 questions given to you (the ones I answered above).
3. Nominate 5-11 blogs that have less than 200 followers each. Provide them with 10 questions or have them answer the questions above.
4. Let your nominees know that they've been nominated and provide them with a link back to your post so they can accept.
5. Send your nominator a link to your post so s/he can learn more about you as well. (You can just put your post link in the comments below).

Nominees:

1. Jessica at Algebrainiac
2. Miss Rudolph at The Secondary Classroom
3. Stacy at What's New in Room 202
4. Stephanie at Eat.Write.Teach
5. Sarah at Everybody is a Genius

Mentoring, Meetings, and Student Teachers...OH MY!

I usually don't do posts that don't involve something I have done in my classroom but this post just had to happen.  It's venting/reflecting time...My absence from blogging makes me upset, but with everything going on this school year I just haven't found the time to sit down and write a post.

Please tell me I'm not the only one who has been having a CRAZY school year this year? Any one?

I started this school year off taking on WAY, WAY to many responsibilities.  I had agreed to take on a student teacher this year, mentor one of my buildings new teachers, present at conferences (Raising Student Achievement was yesterday and it was so much fun!!), be the technical director for our theatre program, be a technology/differentiation coach for my building, and be a part of my Districts Improvement Team.  I think I have also attended what has felt like 500+ meetings in the past two months.

To put the cherry on the cake, pie, or sundae (which ever you may prefer) I found out in September I will be expecting my first child in May! Clearly this was a surprise, but never the less has been an exiting journey so far.

Do I feel over worked? YES... Do I feel like I never have a free moment to myself? YES... Do I always feel weeks behind with work? YES... Do I still enjoy what I do?  YES!

Why as teachers do we take on so many extra responsibilities? Why is it so hard for us to let some of them go?

I have come to the decision that I am going to let some of my extra responsibilities go next year and focus on my classes, students, new baby, blogging, and life.  Did it really take me getting pregnant to realize that at times I feel like a hamster running in a wheel and that for the past 7 years I haven't had much of a life other than work?   Yes it did, and I'm going to welcome the change next year with open arms :)

I'm interested in hearing how your year is going.  Please make me feel like I'm not the only one this is happening too!

Liebster Award

Thank you to Stacy from http://new-in-room-202.blogspot.com for nominating me for the Liebster Award!  The Liebster Award is given by other bloggers to up and coming new bloggers who have less than 200 followers.  It is to show new bloggers that they are appreciated and to help spread the word about their new blogs.  I hope that sharing the news about some of these "newer" blogs helps them get more followers!

Here are 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 Facts about Me

1. Target is my favorite store.

2. I am  cranky without my caffeine.

3.  I love my dog Emma to death.

4. I hate when people eat with their mouths open.

5. Fall is my favorite season.

6. Cheesecake Factory is my favorite restaurant.

7. My desk at work always starts and ends clean, however during the day it can never be found!

8. I have been in 3 car accidents, none of them my fault.

9. I love to cook, but hate doing it for only 2 people.

10. Dishes are the most annoying choir that could possible exist.

11. I use to work for the Chicago White Sox.

11 Questions From my Nominator

1.  Why did you start blogging?  I started blogging as a way for me to do some professional reflection on the way I teach and the activities I do in my classroom.

2. How long have you been blogging? I have only been blogging since September 30th, 2012.

3. What's your favorite post that you've written? I would say my post on starting Interactive Student Notebooks, it also happens to be my most popular post.  

4. Any pets? I have 1 dog, 2 cats, and a lizard.  Unfortunately my snake named Stanley passed away the other day :(

5. Favorite vacation spot? I haven't been on to many vacations, but my most favorite one so far has been Las Vegas.

6. Favorite TV show? Bones on Fox, LOVE IT!

7. Fears? Spiders and any other little creepy crawlies.  

8. Celebrity you resemble most? Personality wise I would say Melissa McCarthy, appearance wise...None.

9. Favorite quote?  "Fairness doesn't mean that everyone gets the same. Fairness means that everyone gets what they need to succeed" 

10. Wine or beer? Beer

11. Thoughts on country music? I'm not a big fan, but since I teach at a school that is in the country you are pretty much exposed to it on a daily basis.  It grows on you.

11 Questions For my Nominees:

1. How frequently do you blog?

2. What is your favorite type of food?

3. If you could have 1 thing in this world what would it be?

4. If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

5. What is your all time favorite movie?

6. What is the best way to spend a Saturday Night?

7. One regret you have in life?

9.  Favorite Book?

10. Job/Career?

11. Family Members?

Nominees

http://msmathmadness.blogspot.com/

http://squyresspecialclass.blogspot.com/

http://teachingspecialthinkers.blogspot.com/

http://everybodyisageniusblog.blogspot.com/

http://mrsphillipsiscaughtinthemiddle.blogspot.com/

http://middleschoolisawesome.blogspot.com/

http://motivatingmindsstocking.blogspot.com/

http://www.mathnspire.net/

http://mrsjacobsclassroom.blogspot.com/

http://www.teachingjunkie.blogspot.com/

Things about Myself

It's all about me...

• I went to college planning to be a Forensic Chemistry major and ended up becoming a Special Education Teacher.
• I have been teaching LD students at the same school in Illinois for the past 6 years.
• Currently teaching Math and Science classes, oh yeah and Computer Applications (for General Education Students).
• I have some of the best co-workers a person could ask for.
• I love teaching and finding new ways to help my students learn.     
• I'm focusing on making my subject areas relevant to my students so they see the purpose.  
• I make my own jewelry.
• I'm in LOVE with Target.  There is no better store in my book!
• I have a crazy mutt named Emma.
• Flea Markets are some of the greatest places on Earth.  I don't always buy something (mainly cause I'm broke), but I always find something I want to take home with me.
• My best friends are both pregnant and they are having their babies only 1 day apart.