Nominated for the Sunshine Award!

I am so honored to have been nominated for the Sunshine Award by Leah Mermelstein. Thanks, Leah!

The Sunshine Award is a lovely way that bloggers recognize each other. Basically, it spreads Sunshine from one blog to another!

I am not sure where the The Sunshine Award was started but here are the rules.
1.  Acknowledge the nominating blogger.

2.  Share 11 random facts about yourself.

3.  Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger has created for you.

4.  List 11 bloggers. They should be bloggers you believe deserve some recognition and a little blogging love!

5.  Post 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate to answer.

6.  Let all the bloggers know they have been nominated. (You cannot nominate the blogger who nominated you.)

Fun Facts about me.

1. I have a cat named Ziti.  She's my lap heater.

2. I have 11 siblings that live all over the country.  I'm proud of every single one of them.

3. I enjoy crafting and working with my hands.

4. Technology makes me giddy.  I love my iPad mini the best.

5. Reality tv keeps my DVR hopping.  My favorites are Survivor, The Amazing Race, and Project Runway.  My son thinks I'm crazy. Ha

6. I wear my regular running sneakers to my zumba classes instead of zumba shoes.  Running sneakers have more support for my old dancing feet.

7. I told myself that I would never buy a jeep.  And I just bought a Jeep Cherokee Laredo this week…..I'm in love with it.
8.  I'm a chocoholic!  Dark chocolate with almonds makes my day.
9. My favorite thing to teach is writing to first graders.
10.  I love the ocean in Maine.  Kennebunkport is where my family summered.  Wells Beach is where I took my kids to summer.  I long for those warm summer days in the sun and sand.
11.  I am a totally different teacher now than when I begin teaching.  I am happier now more than ever.  I love teaching first graders.
Questions from Leah:

1. What inspires you to blog?
Things that I do in my classroom inspire me the most….how kids react to their learning….new discoveries.

2. What is the hardest/most frustrating thing about blogging?
Finding time to blog….I don’t blog nearly as much as I should.  Some people blog several times a week….My goal is to blog at least once a week all year.  It just doesn’t happen.  Life gets in the way.

3. Can you share a defining moment you’re had in the field of education?
  A defining moment came when I taught my own daughter in my classroom.  I saw her much differently than the other students.  I had to remove myself as a mother to her but became a mother to everyone else.

4. What do you hope for in the coming year?  My hope for the coming year is to use my 3 iPads to the fullest.  I want the technology to have strong presence in my classroom

5. How does blogging help your teaching?
  My blogging helps to define what is important.  The sharing of ideas is huge for me.

6. How does teaching help your blogging?
Trying new things

8. What advice would you give to someone about writing?
 Writing is a skill that needs to be practiced daily.   Practice writing many different kinds of writing to help become a very diverse writer.

9. What advice would you give to someone about teaching?Teaching is the connection to learning.  It is the hardest most rewarding jobs you will ever have.

10.  What is is your favorite thing to do to relax?
  my favorite thing to do to relax is to create.  I love to create things with my hands and things on the computer.

11.  Are there any responses to your blog that have really stood out?   What were they and why did they stand out?The responses that stood out are the ones where people have found new ideas in the things I say.

I nominate:
      Laurie Hilton at http://Mrshiltons4thgrade.blogspot.com
      Kristin Kennedy at http://iteach1to1.blogspot.com
      Amanda and Aylin at http://dailylearningtothecore.blogspot.com
      Hayley Bishop at http://bishopsblackboard.blogspot.com
      Kim at http://saylorslog.blogspot.com
      Shannon at http://www.technologyrocksseriously.com
      Tammy at http://foreverin1st.blogspot.com
      Heidi Raki at http://www.rakisradresources.com
      Danielle at http://lasotaslittlelearners.blogspot.com
      Heidi at http://swampfrogfirstgraders.blogspot.com
      Blogger at: http://firstgradedelight.blogspot.com

You all bring sunshine to my life.  Thank you for all you share every day.

Here are some questions for you to share with your readers.  

.    Where is the favorite place you have gone on vacation?

.    Where was your favorite childhood vacation?

.    If you could live anywhere in the world other than where you currently live, where would it be?

.    What do you wish you could change about your home?

.    What is the next home improvement project on your list?

.    What is the one recipe that you get asked to bring to family dinners or potlucks?

.    What is the last meal you cooked at home?

.    What is your favorite thing to order at a restaurant?

.    Share one of your favorite getting healthy tips.

.    Do you have pets? If so, tell us about them.

Share a blog post you wrote that meant a lot to you and tell us why you picked that one.

I see sunshine everyday in the students I teach!

Monday's thoughts

I love this table runner as a door decoration for winter.

 My kiddos love to pose for pictures.  I printed out 8x10 photos of the kids and cut them out.  I love their take charge poses.

 Loved the Minion/twinkies as a Valentines!  I have my kids tape their Valentines into a booklet to keep all of their cards neat.  I'm always surprised at all of the candy on this day.  Most of it gets sent home. Yay!

Currently March

I love reading everyones "Currently"!  

 The last box contains an answer and you have to guess the question.

Can you guess mine?

Click to see other "currently"s

It's freezing cold here!  March has roared in like a lion. 

 I'm hoping spring is just around the corner.

A Few Ideas

We made these great carolers at Christmas time.  We used toilet paper rolls and colorful baby socks.  Each child created 3.  They looked great on our counters.

 Every Friday our school takes time in our day for D.E.A.R. 
Drop Everything And Read!  My kids love this time.  We are up to 20 minutes!  Our literacy team made a schedule so the whole school does it together.  We love it when other teachers come and read in our classroom with us.

Managing Behaviors

I came across this idea on managing behaviors.  It sounds easy to do and effective.  I plan on trying it and thought others might as well.  I am always looking for new ways to help keep a peaceful classroom environment.

http://www.teachhub.com/teacherstudent-game-competitive-behavior-management

I'm Back! Read Alouds!

Yes, it's been a long time.  Thanks for not giving up on me.  Today's post will be a quick one!  I came across this great article on read alouds with the kindergartener and first grader.  It caught my eye because it didn't have a list of all the books kids should be able to read but had a discussion on the types of books kids need to be reading.  There is a step system of Core vocabulary that puts things in perspective for the primary teacher.  Check it out.

http://textproject.org/topics/beginning-reading/

Staying Steady and Quick ideas

It's been a very busy couple of months.  Here are just a few things that we have done this week.

I had a beautiful snowman salt shaker that I've had for years and I just found a cute Santa on a chimney salt/pepper shaker.  I like having small ways to decorate my desk for the season so I bought them.  Yes they were on sale.  I put extra fine glitter in each one.  I sprinkle a little bit of Christmas Spirit on each child.  Not too much.  Just enough to be able to see the sparkle on their clothes.

We skyped with our new friends from Texas.

We had our Christmas Concert.  Don't we look lovely.

We will do an hour of code today.  Check that out here.  This Computer Science Week.

One of my students created this Santa and Reindeer display.  I had to put it up!

 This was our Thanksgiving Family homework project.  I had them create beautiful wreaths.

 I love love love Pinterest!  16 triangles and 13 elves…So cute!

 Another Pinterest Special!  Love my Reindeer door!

 Have you ever thought about putting up a placemat as a decoration?  I love my red snowflake! Cheap and easy!

 Garland in the door way….easy decoration!

We will have our holiday celebration today.  We will be adding to the Red Barrel called Operation Happiness.  It's a way for my students to give back.

I hope all is well and that you are enjoying the holiday season.