Surprises & 2 TAGs

Back from a short vacation and nice surprises waiting for me when I got home.

1. My beautiful daughter was home from college.
2. At the front door - a huge box from Pampered Chef for my daughter, who is now a consultant.
3. At the back door - a box of 300+ photos from Snapfish for me! (It is SPRING Break and I am going to EAT, SLEEP, SCRAP!)
4. On the computer - 2 TAGs by Rachel over at A-B- Seymour and Jillian over at Jillian's Just Tinkering Around while out of town.

Here Are The Rules:

* Post these rules

* Answer the 10 questions that the tagger posted for you

* Create 10 questions of your own to ask the people that you're about to tag

* Tag 10 people and link them with your post (and let them know they've been tagged!)

Questions from Rachel:

1. What is your favorite subject to teach?

My favorite time of the day is when I get to teach reading in small groups. I returned back to school in 2008 to get my Master's in Reading. Sometime in the not so near future I plan to leave the classroom to teach Title I Reading again.

2. What is your most embarrassing moment as a teacher?

NO Laughing. I left the teacher's bathroom one afternoon walked in to the office area. The secretary stopped me because my skirt was stuck into the back of my pantyhose! Luckily, there were no men or children anywhere to be seen!

3. What is the most exciting thing you will do this summer?

For sure, a week at the beach where I will spend many hours reading on the beach with my toes in the sand and many more hours riding around on a golf cart with my hunny and kiddos.

HOPING, for 2 tickets to see Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw in concert.

4. What is your favorite holiday?

I would have to say Halloween. My mom's birthday is October 30th. I was born on her birthday. My husband was born Oct. 26th. So, we always have a huge birthday celebration for the three of us. I also love that it is a holiday without the pressure of buying gifts. The weather is perfect in October also. Fall is my favorite time of the year.

5. What is the most important item you use in your classroom?

The guided reading sets we purchased as a grade level years ago from the Wright Group.

6. What item would you love to have in your classroom?

I would love to have an iPad in the classroom. I think I am getting one soon.

7. What tip would you give to a new teacher?

- love your job. If you don't love what you are doing, do something else.

8. How long have you been a teacher?

Since 1992 - 20 years- oh my!

9. If you weren't a teacher, what would you be doing?

I would probably be working in social services or an activities director for a nursing home.

10. How do you celebrate the end of the school year with your kiddos?

We will be having a class party - most likely with the "Minute to Win It" theme.

Questions from Jillian:

1. Where/What do you teach?
I teach in Davidson County, NC. I teach first grade & LOVE it!

2. What is your favorite font? (I know we all have one!)
During word processing I love Comic Sans. I have a TON I LOVE for scrapbooking.

3. Do you have a favorite grading pen? Or stamp? Or stickers?
My favorite writing pen is Le Pen. I love to color/make charts with Mr. Sketch. I love Stampin' Up Stamps because I like all the sets, instead of individual stamps to mix & match.

4. When does your school get out for Summer?
June 7 or 8th. I am not looking for sure because I don't want to get my eyes on the prize. I just keep chugging along.

5. What is your all time favorite lesson/unit to teach? Why?
Writing - Poetry. The kids always amaze me at what they can come up with. It is so different from any other writing unit that the kids get excited about writing again.
Science - Animals, of course. I am an animal lover and from an early age thought I wanted to be a vet, until I saw some of the things they had to do.
Math - Fractions - I love to integrate FOOD in this unit. YUM!

6. Any guilty pleasures on the weekend? (you read about my embarrassing TV shows....)
I like to sleep late! You can never accuse me of seeing the sunrise on a Saturday. Sunsets are much more colorful!

7. What one thing could you not live without in your classroom?

The guided reading sets we purchased as a grade level years ago from the Wright Group/

8. Favorite piece of technology?
Sorry, hands down, my laptop. I can't live without it!

9. Body wash or soap?
Body wash

10. What does your classroom smell like? Candles? Diffusers? Plug-ins?
Little dirty bodies after recess. We can't use candles or plug-ins. We have a really strict fire
marshall. Not sure what we did to tick them off, but they are strict!

My Questions:

1. Do you have a theme for your classroom?

2. What is one supply you purchase every year for your classroom?

3. What is your favorite group or singer?

4. If you could visit one place in the US, where would it be?

5. How do you find a balance between work and school?

6. What is the newest book you purchased for your classroom?

7. What do you like to read in your free time?

8. McSteamy or McDreamy or McDonald's?

9. Do you have a classroom pet? If so, what kind?

10. What kind of gift do you give your kiddos for the end of the year?

Bloggers I'm Tagging:

• Jaymee @ Adventures of First Grade
• Kelly @ All That Glitters in First Grade
• Ellen @ Great {First Grade} Expectations
• Barbara and Mary @ Happy Teaching Sisters
• Tammy @ Forever in First
• Barbara @ Grade ONEderful
  
• Jill @ Mrs. T's First Grade Class
• Marie @ The Hands-On Teacher
• Melissa @ Today in First Grade
  
• Shannon @ Tickled to Teach