My first Nominee & Award!!

I received a wonderful message from my blogging friend at Teacher's Desk 6 blog...she nominated me for an award called a Liebster Award.  She explains the award best on her page as...

"Liebster is German and means "dearest," "lovely," "cute," "beloved," and "welcome".  What a great word!  Since blogging is about creating community, this award is a fabulous way to spread the word about new blogs."

I felt truly honored & blessed.   I am new to the blogging world, and getting recognition from a fellow blogger is really nice and wonderful.  So, I honor & lovingly accept this award.  Now for me to pay it forward as well.  This is the requirements to enjoy this wonderful event is as follows:

1. Link back to the blog that nominated you.

2. Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers.
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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 by commenting on their blog or sending them an email to communicate the nomination. 

Now to answer the questions presented to me by Angela:

1. What made you decide to be a teacher? 

 I have wanted to be a teacher since the 3rd Grade.  I have tried out different ideas on a career and path in life but my heart and mind always directed me back to teaching.  I fondly remember each of my teachers, my guides through my educational journey, and in turn I want to be that beacon for the young minds I get the privilege of teaching.

2. How would you describe your teaching style?

This will be my first time teaching, but throughout my student teaching term I was a very hands-on creative teacher.  I would search high and low to find a great activity for the students to participate in to help tie in the lesson and give them an opportunity to learn by doing, seeing, and hearing.  I am also a very fun teacher.  I like to joke with my students and allow a little latitude when opportunity presents itself, but reeling them back in to make sure the required lesson/information is learned.

3. Do you have siblings? If so, please tell a little about them.

I have 1 brother, 23 months younger than me.  He just recently got engaged to a wonderful girl & I am so excited for them both.  My brother and I are complete opposites - I am book smart and introverted, and he is extroverted and has this amazing ability to make friend with anyone.  In my life growing up my family had the opportunity to help a young lady out from the age of 15 - that was 30 years ago.  She is a sister to me & I adore her a lot.

4. If you were a color, what would you be? Why?

I cannot think of one color in particular, more or less like a multitude of colors.  A wonderful mix of yellows, greens, blues, and purples.  I see my world in color and I cannot fathom a life without them all.

5. What was your favorite grade in school and why?

My favorite grade was between 2nd & 3rd grades.  I am not sure exactly why, but remembering my school career its the grades which bring a smile to my face...usually it has to do with reading.  I was an advanced reader, always a grade ahead, and I believed this was when I truly discovered books and stories as a way to escape and entertain.

6. What gives you inspiration?

My family gives me inspiration.  My husband has been a wonderful support for me by seeing me through these past 6 years, allowing me to first get my BA and then my Master's back to back while working full time so I could concentrate on my overall desire and goal of becoming a teacher.  My mother was always there to encourage me and to edit my numerous papers for my assignments.  I swear half of my degree's belong to her.  Then the rest of my family.  They are all successful in their own right and were always there to cheer me on to the end.  I could never have imagined getting to this place without them.

7. What is your favorite book? Why?

This is the hardest question because I have so many.  I am a book hound, with 5 bookshelves of books and then multiples on my Kindle.  Also, every 2nd (now 3rd) weekend in February I go to the VNSA book sale which is a bookaholics mecca and spend well over $100 to expand my collection.  Now, with teaching I have an even better excuse to spend this obnoxious amount of money on books.  Thank you teaching gods...LOL!!

8. What kind of vehicle do you drive? Does this say anything about your personality?

I drive a 2003 Buick Rendezvous.  Its my first SUV which I love because of the storage space in the back (now packed with classroom items to unload next week).  Also, it gives my husband and I to take day trips to our favorite locale, Sedona, AZ and get to the trails normal vehicles cannot get to.

9. Do you play any musical instruments?

I used to play the flute, piccolo, piano, and trombone.  I no longer play, but I still have a great fondness for music - all types.  I have fond memories of my mom playing the piano and singing in church.

10. If you could meet any historical figure who would you choose?

I believe I would like to meet either George Washington - because we share a birthday and/or Abraham Lincoln.  I am a history buff - especially American History & they are a couple of the great men that helped shape and form our country.

11. What do you enjoy most about blogging?

The opportunity to have a platform to collaborate with teachers all over the country and world to help ensure I am able to guide and teach my students to learn and grow so they may be successful in their lives.  After all the main job of a teacher is to create lifelong learners, and its hard to create learners if you are not willing to learn and grow yourself.

Now for the random facts:

1. I am the oldest of over 34 cousins...my mom is the oldest of 13 children, so I have a multitude of family, and 80% of them live here in Arizona with me.
2. I have 1 uncle & 1 cousin I share a birthday with;  I also share the exact birthday as Drew Barrymore - month, day, and year.
3. I married my husband two times without divorcing.  The first time was in Vegas & I never registered the certificate.  We moved to Arkansas, and for a job my training was in Florida.  The company bought my ticket in my maiden name & my state id showed my married name - so for the ticket I needed a Marriage License/Certificate so I married him a 2nd time almost 2 years to the date of the first one.
4. My husband and I received our BAs from Arizona State University 1 day apart.
5. When my mom was pregnant with me she was working at Arizona State University - so you could say I have been a Sun Devil all my life...
6. I never learned phonics in school - when I was in Kindergarten, while the students were learning how to read and write, I was in a 1st grade class for that period.   This continued for the next 3 grades until 4th when I was finally tested into the gifted program.  I have LOVED books ever since.
7. If  I am not reading, my TV is almost always tuned to Food Network.  I don't care - I still LOVE Paula Deen.  Everyone deserves a 2nd chance.
8. I am teaching Language Arts next year & writing is the subject which intimidates me the most.
9. Meeting new people gives me a lot of apprehension.  As I mentioned I am an introvert & it takes a while or me to get comfortable around new people.  I am working diligently on this, and have come a long way from high school, just in time for this new journey in life.
10. I am taking over the class of my mentor teacher during my student teaching last semester.  So, I have inherited A LOT of  teaching supplies which I now have to sort through.
11. Though excited, the idea of being responsible for guiding and educating 24+ minds seems like quite a feat.  I hope my students don't smell my fear the first few weeks...LOL!!

So, now for my nominees.  This is the best part!!  I want to nominate....

Jamie @ http://sixthgradetales.blogspot.com/

Sally @ http://www.elementarymatters.com/

Sara @ http://mrsbrownthebookworm.blogspot.com/

Kerri & Lindsay @ http://teacherbitsandbobs.blogspot.com/

Carla @ http://survivingsixthgrade.edublogs.org/

Now for the questions:

1. What was your experience on the first day of your first year in teaching like?
2. What was/is one of the funniest things that has happened to you as a teacher?
3. What was one event you learned the most from?
4. If you could live one place in the world, where would it be and why?
5. What would be one thing you wish was in your classroom, and how would it help?
6. What is your favorite book to read with the students?
7. If you could live in any decade, which one would it be and why?
8. Where did you go to college & why did you choose that school?
9. If you weren't teaching, what career would you choose & why?
10. Are you planning on advancing your degree, in which area/endorsement?
11. What is your favorite type of food?

I have had a lot of fun participating in this.  I hope my blogging friends I nominated have just as much fun.  I look forward to working, learning, and growing alongside each of you.