Celebrating a Liebster Award Nomination!

I was SO happy and excited when I checked my email tonight, and saw an email from Deb over at Crafting Connections telling me that she had nominated me for a Liebster Award! You can check her out on her blog here:  

 So - first to Deb I have to say THANK YOU! 

What is a Liebster Award?

It is an award given to "up and coming" bloggers who have less than 200 followers.

To accept Deb's nomination, I have to do the following:

1.  Link back to the blog that nominated me. (Check -- did you see her button up there? Click on it and check it out -- she's got an AWESOME blog - so many cute things I want to try!) 

2.  Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers.

3.  Answer the questions posed by my nominator.

4.  Share 11 random facts about myself.

5.  Create 11 questions for my nominees.

6.  Contact my nominees to let them know I nominated them. Then, the nominees follow the same procedure! 

So- first to answer the questions I have been given: 

1.  What grades/subjects have you taught, and which is your favorite? 

I have taught the following grades in this order: 4th and 1st in student teaching, 2nd, 4th, 3rd, 1st, 5th, 3rd, 3rd and 3rd again this year! In 1st, 2nd, and 4th I taught all subjects. In 5th I taught reading and science. In 3rd in the past I have taught Reading, Science and Math - however this year I will be teaching all of those as well as Language Arts. (Reading and Language Arts are two separate blocks! Language Arts consists of Writing, Word Study, Grammar, and Language Skills). My favorite is 3rd, and I am SO excited to be back there this year! 
2.  What vacation destination was your favorite of all time? 

My favorite vacation destination would probably be Grand Cayman. My husband deployed a few weeks after we were married, so we didn't take a honeymoon right away. When I got my first teaching job, we took a cruise and one of our destinations was Grand Cayman. We went on a dive to explore a shipwreck  and explored the island on foot. It was amazing, and I wish we could go back! 3.  What would you be doing if you weren't teaching?I would have a job in technology - working with schools and students still I would hope! I am the technology representative for my school, and plan Technology Summer camps for students in our district every summer, as well as a week long teacher PD on technology! 

4.  If you had to move, what state/country would you choose?

My husband has always wanted to move to Spain to one of the port cities he often stopped in during a deployment. We love being close to my family though - so I would probably choose to go back to Hampton Roads- he was station there for over two years and we still have great friends there! 5.  Why did you start blogging?

Why not?! I really started blogging as a way to connect and network with other teachers and educators! The same reason I started tweeting! @teach3rdmath 6.  Who is/was the teacher you find most inspiring, and why?

I have two teachers who were inspiring -- Mr. Anderson was my 4th and 5th grade teacher. I still see him during Odyssey of the Mind competitions within the county, because his children compete. He really was the first teacher to make history come alive - it was his passion, and it was so refreshing to see it as a student! He acted crazy, played kickball with us, and made us follow the rules -- and I still remember him almost 20 years later! Second would be Mrs. Seale- my Civics teacher in 7th grade. Mainly - she just understood that 7th grade is miserable, and she created a group for some very bright students to let us hang out with her during lunch. She called us the "Lunch Bunch". She was one of the first teachers to talk to me like I was an adult with a working mind, and not just talk AT me. There's a difference of being talked to and being talked at. 7.  How long have you been teaching?

I graduated from Lynchburg College and finished my student teaching in December 2006, and began teaching a few short weeks later in January 2007. 8.  What jobs did you have before you started teaching?

I started working at 16 at McDonalds, then the YMCA summer camp, followed by my brother in law's cabinet shop, the Library in college, and Zales Jewelry! 

9.  If you could teach any grade level or subject, what would you choose?

I love teaching 3rd grade! I wouldn't change anything! 

10.  What is your favorite food?

Just one? I love southern comfort food -- it's what I was raised on! Fried chicken, mac and cheese, cornbread -- all the good stuff! 
11.  What is your greatest accomplishment?

I have done great things, however I don't feel like I have accomplished my greatest yet. When I do -- I will set a higher goal. I feel that my greatest accomplishment so far is touching the lives of students on a daily basis! 

Thanks for nominating me, Deb!

Now - 11 RANDOM facts about ME! 

1. I am passionate about rescue animals! I have two rescued pit bulls - they are the BEST dogs! 

Angel - Rescued 3 years ago

Cordova - rescued 3 years ago - RIP

Yolo - Rescued 1 year ago

2. I'm a power lifter - My Personal Record for Deadlift is 305 and Squat is 315! 

3. My husband and I have been together since we were 16 - over 10 years! We have had our very rough times - but we are still going strong! 

4. I have a reality TV addiction -- It's bad. I love the Kardashians and the Real Housewives. It's incredibly stupid-- but it's mind numbing TV that allows me to relax. 

5.  I have an addiction to rap music. Jay Z, Lil Wayne.... I have all of their albums. Not really a Kanye fan, but I have to admit his new album isn't bad. 

6.  I love to drive....FAST! When I owned my previous car - I spent some time on the drag strip in the driver seat, and I LOVE IT! 

7. I am a Starbucks addict! My fave right now -- Valencia Orange Refresher. If you haven't had one - get one - you WILL thank me! 

8. Last month - I became a Thirty One Consultant! LOVE LOVE LOVE some Thirty One! (The fall line is Ahhh-Mazing!

9. I collect Tea Pots. I have some beautiful antique pots from England! 

10. I Google EVERYTHING! My husband and BFF Candice call me the Walking Encyclopedia -- if I don't know it- I look it up! 

11. My professional goal is to become an administrator! I would LOVE to work in a technology position, or have my own school. It will happen! 

So, now for my nominations! 

 1. Valerie over at Asking for Seconds

2.  Ms. Newton over at Owl See You in Third Grade

3. Eryn over at Elementary Organization 

4. Amanda at I Heart Elementary 

5. Doris at Third Grade Thinkers

My 11 Questions for my Bloggers: 

1. What is your most memorable "Kids Say the Darndest Things!" moment from your classroom? 

2. What is your favorite thing to do during the summer? 

3. If you could go on a shopping spree for your classroom at no cost to you - which store would you go to? (You can only pick one!) 

4. If you could change one thing about your school, what would it be? 

5. Where did you graduate from college?

6. What is your favorite food? 

7. Who lives in your household with you? (Count your fur babies if you have any!) 

8. If you could spend the day with anyone - past or present - who would it be? 

9. Who is your favorite author? 

10. How long and what grades have you taught? 

11. What is your favorite thing to blog about, or to read blogs about? 

Thank you AGAIN Deb! It's such an honor! Good luck to all of my Liebster Nominees!