Feature Teacher Friday (Er.. Saturday) - {My Second Sense & Where the Wild Things Learn}

It's time for the second week of...

This week, we've got two AMAZING bloggers who I've grown to know. I adore these two bloggers and am so happy to have them featured here on the blog!

First up, we've got Tania from My Second Sense

Tania was asked the same questions as Julie & Mary were last week. Let's see what she said!

So, you became a teacher. Why?

I love to challenge my students!  I have always been 'granted' a well behaved classroom with well established routines and high expectations. I like to call myself organized and passionate about what I do. There is always time for crafts in our classroom. 

You've been teaching for how long? What grade do you currently teach? Have taught? And what grade is your all time favorite?

Taught for 10 years. I teach 2nd grade and that's the only grade I've taught so that's my favorite!

Now onto the fun stuff...

Tell us some of your favorites - food, color, movie, TV show, thing(s) to do during your downtime, etc.

Food: Indian and Mexican 

Color: red

TV show: Law and Order SUV, and Dancing with the Stars

Down time? Ha...not sure what that is, but I like to scrapbook (when I can). TPT and blogging have taken over my 'free time'.

How about types of books to read? What was the last book you read? What will you be reading next?

I have not read anything for pleasure in a loooooong time. I am a teacher nerd at heart. I read teacher books :)

What is your favorite indoor activity? Outdoor activity?

Indoor: TV couch potato (hello netflix)

Outdoor activity: Walking

If you could have any animal or creature as a pet, what would it be?

Dog- mine had the best 14 years any creature could have asked for.

If you were a crayon color, what color would you be?

Red :)

If you were an ice cream flavor, what flavor would you be?

Coffee- always ready for something new :)

If you could visit ONE place for vacation, money not an object, where would that be? Why? Who would you bring along, if anyone?

Europe- have not been there yet. Argentina (Patagonia) will be my second choice. There is so much culture to be discovered :) I would bring kids, hubby, and mom.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

More technology- making frames is a must for me right now.

If you won the lottery, what's the first thing you would do?

Travel around the world.

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

Abraham Lincoln or Bill Clinton

What is your favorite quote?

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” Einstein

To end this survey, choose ONE product from your TPT/TN store that is your favorite. Provide us with the link so we can go shopping :)

I don't have a favorite product because I love them all :)

Personally (from Sara, Miss V's Busy Bees), I absolutely ADORE Tania's new product, her 2013-2014 student planner. Oh yeah, it's editable!! How AWESOME of a product is this for students to be able to keep track of their things JUST like us teachers do??? Check it out in the link below or by clicking on the pictures (credit is given to Tania, the owner of the products)!

 My 2013-2014 Student Planner (Editable)

Tania, thank you for being a FEATURED TEACHER!! I am SO happy to have had you on my blog & cannot wait to see what else I learn from ya! :)

Next, we've got my fantastic friend, Amelia, who blogs at Where the Wild Things Learn.

 

Miss Amelia was asked the same questions... below are her responses!

So, you became a teacher. Why?

Growing up, I always said I wouldn't be a teacher. My mom was one, and I wanted to do something ""different."" I was going on visits to play volleyball in college, set and determined to be a physical therapist. Then, my junior year of high school I decided to coach a youth volleyball team. I couldn't believe the passion I had for coaching those girls. I cared so much about them, not just the sport of volleyball. This planted the seed of which I grew to know teaching IS my passion.

I love that every single day is something different. I never know what crazy or sweet (and maybe annoying ;) ) thing my kiddos will do. And I wouldn't trade that for the world. What other job can you get 50+ hugs a day sometimes, and they're all squeezed with love! I always tell my friends if they have a bad day to come into my school because I always receive choruses of "" I love your outfit, you're so pretty, you rock!"" Elementary kiddos can be the best!

What other job can you walk away each day and know that even though it may have been a frustrating day, you may have just impacted a child for the rest of their life! That could've been the day they look back on later in life and say ""that's the day I decided I wanted to be..."" or ""that was the day someone finally showed they cared..."" or so many other things.

That is powerful. There isn't a better job in the world.

You've been teaching for how long? What grade do you currently teach? Have taught? And what grade is your all time favorite?

Taught for 3 years. I currently teach 4th grade. I taught 6th grade for 2 years before this. This is the BEST switch I ever made.  I LOVE my fourthies and it is such a wonderful age! 

Now onto the fun stuff...

Tell us some of your favorites - food, color, movie, TV show, thing(s) to do during your downtime, etc.

"Favorite food- Mcdonalds double cheeseburger with big mac sauce, fries, and a diet coke (YIKES, so unhealthy haha!) OR Chicken Paprikash (has to be homemade Hungarian.)

Favorite color- SPARKLES!!

Favorite movie- Dirty Dancing

Favorite TV show- The Office or Modern Family

I love to read. So much so that my husband has finally settled on the fact that every vacation we have a suitcase mostly filled with books (he was shocked to find this out on our honeymoon!) I love coaching volleyball and have been a high school varsity coach for 2 years, and I coach JO (travel.) I love to run but it doesn't love me! It takes me a while to get back into running shape, but i truly enjoy it! I love spending time with my hubs; playing tennis, working out, laying on the couch watching our favorite shows... anything!"

How about types of books to read? What was the last book you read? What will you be reading next?

I'll try anything, really! My guilty pleasure during the summer are romance trash novels. Harry Potter is my ALL TIME favorite series. I am a Harry Potter nerd. I actually dressed up for all midnight showings of the movie and books (yes, even though I was in college and out of college for some!) I loved Hunger Games, too. I just finished reading The Black Dagger Brotherhood series. They are great books! Now I'm in a book depression, missing my characters and not sure what to read next :)

What is your favorite indoor activity? Outdoor activity?

Indoor activity-volleyball or reading

Outdoor activity- sand volleyball, running, or laying in a pool or on a beach reading!

If you could have any animal or creature as a pet, what would it be?

A TIGER!!! (White siberian if I could choose!)

If you were a crayon color, what color would you be?

unmellow yellow because I love bright colors and I'm always bright and cheery!

If you were an ice cream flavor, what flavor would you be?

CHOCOLATE (There's none better)

If you could visit ONE place for vacation, money not an object, where would that be? Why? Who would you bring along, if anyone?

Fiji. I think it sounds so exotic and amazing. I would bring my hubs :)

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

Play guitar!

If you won the lottery, what's the first thing you would do?

Buy a big boat to spend our summers on :) Then go on a shopping spree!

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

Harper Lee. I would love to hear all about her inspiration for To Kill a Mockingbird and learn about her life!

What is your favorite quote?

“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,

Love like you'll never be hurt,

Sing like there's nobody listening,

And live like it's heaven on earth.”

To end this survey, choose ONE product from your TPT/TN store that is your favorite. Provide us with the link so we can go shopping :)

Reading Informational Text CCS Aligned

Amelia, thank you soo much for being a FEATURED TEACHER, as well! I loved having you here and getting the opportunity to learn MUCH more about you!

I won't be blogging for the next couple of days... my sister is flying into town to spend some time with me and Cody and all the fur babies!! SO, I'll see y'all when she leaves & I get back into the grove of things :)

Feature Teacher Friday - {My Journey to 5th Grade & The Artistry of Education}

HOLY MOLY. Y'all, the response for Feature Teacher Friday was ASTOUNDING that we have to do TWO Feature Teachers throughout the summer each Friday. It was THAT amazing!!!

{I made my own button... whaaaat... oh yeah, look at that NOT skill - thank goodness I have the BEST blog designer that provided me with pretty frames and all I have to do is enter text - thanks Megan!! ;)}

Nonetheless, I cannot wait for y'all to meet these fantastic teachers that have signed up to be featured... they are all amazing in their own ways.

Each has their own reasons for becoming a teacher, their own interests, their own talents, and their own quirky things about them. BUT, that's what makes me love each and every one of them for who they are.

So, let's get started!!

First up, we have Julie from My Journey to 5th Grade.

I asked Julie a couple of questions to get to know her better... below are her responses.

So, you became a teacher. Why?

I honestly became a teacher because it is a great profession to be in and be a mom at the same time.  My mom was a teacher and that was also part of my inspiration to be a teacher. Now that I've been doing it for 19 years, my favorite part is instilling knowledge and watching the lightbulbs go on when my students get it.  The feeling I get when I know I am impacting the lives of little people can't be explained.  It is a tremendous joy to be a part of their lives for 9 months!!

You've been teaching for how long? What grade do you currently teach? Have taught? And which grade is your all time favorite?

Taught for 19 years. I currently teach 5th grade. This past year was my first ever elementary position.  Before this, I taught math and science to 7th and 8th graders.

Now the fun stuff...

Tell us some of your favorites - food, color, movie, TV show, thing(s) to do during your downtime, etc.

Food- pizza and tacos (not together of course)

Color- sky blue

TV show- Survivor

I love to read, blog and create products to use in my classroom.

How about types of books to read? What was the last book you read? What will you be reading next?

I love all types of books.  I have recently been reading ""unknown"" authors off of my Kindle.  My all time favorite books are the Harry Potter, Twilight and Hunger Games series. I also love The Giver and The Outsiders.

What is your favorite indoor activity? Outdoor activity?

Indoor activity would have to be the computer.... I can get lost on it for hours!!! Outdoors??  I love the summer time, hanging on my deck and swimming in my pool.

If you could visit ONE place for vacation, money not being an object, where would that be?

I would love to visit the South Pacific Islands.

If you could learn to do anything, what would that be?

Create amazing clip art

If you won the lottery, what's the first thing you would do?

Take a vacation

What is your favorite quote?

Eat to live, don't live to eat (I think Ben Franklin said that!)  

I have always been obsessed with food and I am finally taking a healthier look at life, so this quote helps get me through some rough days.

To end this survey, choose ONE product from your TPT store that is your favorite. Provide us with the link so we can go shopping :)

Fraction Task Card Bundle ~ 6 sets included

Julie, thanks for being a FEATURED TEACHER this week! I am so glad to have had you!

Next up, we've got Mary from The Artistry of Education.

So, I asked Mary the same questions...

So, you became a teacher. Why?
I am a teacher because I noticed I had a knack for it in college.  My parents and grandparents were educators so I knew a lot about the "family business" before I got started.

You've been teaching for how long? What grade do you currently teach? Have taught? And which grade is your all time favorite?

Taught for 22 years. I teach fourth grade currently, but I have taught K-6 over the years.

Now for the fun stuff...

Tell us some of your favorites - food, color, movie, TV show, thing(s) to do during your downtime, etc.

My three TV shows are Castle, NCIS, and Once Upon a Time.  I love Mexican food. 

How about types of books to read? What was the last book you read? What will be your next? 

I read Christian Women's Fiction, books about writing, and marketing books.  I also read and write book reviews about books I use in my classroom.

What is your favorite indoor activity? Outdoor activity?

I love to read.  I try to keep a garden, but it has gotten away from me this year.

If you were a crayon color, what color would you be?

Periwinkle

How about ice cream flavor... what would you be?

Chocolate

If you could visit ONE place for vacation, money not an object, where would that be? Why? Who would you bring along, if anyone?

I would want to visit the school where my grandparents taught in Ivory Coast.  They went there when I was in grade school and I was always curious about what teaching there would be like.  I would bring my husband and stepdaughter.

If you could learn to do anything, what would that be?

I always wanted piano lessons.

If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?

Quit my job and volunteer at my school.

What is your favorite quote?

"Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow." Anthony J. D'Angelo

To end this survey, choose ONE product from your TPT store that is your favorite. Provide us with the link so we can go shopping :)

25 Book Reports

Mary, thank you for also being a FEATURED TEACHER this week! I am so glad to have had you as well!

See y'all Sunday for a SUMMER READING SUNDAY post! :)

Super Summer Schedule - Recruiting For Feature Teacher Friday! :)

Hello all! I'm here to tell you about something I plan to do starting JUNE 3rd here on the ol' blog! Summer is my favorite time of the year - and the most relaxing, so I figured I'd get back into blogging regularly! Read below to get a glimpse at my schedule and feel free to join in by using the button below, too! :)

{frame by Ashley Hughes - fonts by Jen Jones}

Monday Made It = y'all remember last year when Tara from 4th Grade Frolics started the FANTASTIC linky for Monday Made It? It kicked my booty into gear to create some things and well, this year, I'm participating again!

Teacher Product Tuesday = on this day, I'm going to feature either one of my new products OR another teacher product that I adore OR some kind of physical product that I think is fantastic for teachers. I have SOOOO many files on my computer and SO much stuff in my spare room that I'd love to showcase for y'all - never know, maybe you'll find a new product you like for your classroom, too :)

Wild Card Wednesday = on Wednesday, I'm going to blog about whatever - this is a WILD CARD post. It could be about Tucker (y'all know you love that boy), about something happening in my personal life, an update on my teaching job situation, etc. Never know.

Technology Thursday = exactly what it says... technology! Y'all know (if you know me) that I adore technology. I think it has so many fantastic features, but it's the USING it that a lot of people have trouble with. So, I'm going to showcase a website, a technology tool, an app, or anything else technology on this day!

Feature Teacher Friday = out of all the things I'm doing throughout the summer, I think this day is going to be my FAVORITE. I want to showcase YOU. Why? I want to feature some of the most influential people in my life on my own blog - I want you to tell us all about you as a person. I also want to learn more about those who I follow since I cannot technically meet you all in person. SO, if you are interested, please fill out **THIS DOCUMENT HERE**. I would LOVE to have as many people as possible :)

*Saturday is a ME day - a day to do my schoolwork, layout, hang out, whatever!*

Summer Reading Sunday = I plan to read as many books as possible this summer. Yes, I'm in school so I have lots of schoolwork to do, but on the days when I have nothing, I want to read read read! So, I plan to showcase a new book each Sunday that I've read that past week. It could be a YA book, a children's book, or an adult reading book. I have SO many on my "To-Read" list on Goodreads that I want to blow through the list.

SO, what do ya say? Wanna give it a go? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this new schedule and what you think about it.

Have a good day, y'all!