Liebster Award 2013... amended

I have been honored with a Liebster Award! Yay!

So here is the scoop about this award: The rules for receiving the award are as follows:

- Link back to the original nominator's website

- You must post 11 random things about yourself

- Answer the questions the nominator set for you

- Create 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate

- Nominate 5 - 11 blogs (with less than 200 followers) and link them in your post

I was nominated by Anna at Gluesticks 'N Giggles. 

So go read her Liebster information now! I am going to post my 11 "random" things and answer her questions.  Then I will go on a quest for fellow bloggers with fewer followers than 200. Here we go:

11 Random Facts about me:

• I was born on the Fourth of July.
• I never, and I mean never, planned to be a teacher. Until I was 40.
• I own a Habitat for Humanity house.
• Life is sweeter since we got a cat. Okay, he's not 'A' cat, he's my daughter's cat. Santa brought him when she was in Kindergarten (she will be a senior in HS this year), and then he went to live at her Dad's house for awhile (8 years), and we were cat-free for several years and when he came back, I did not realize how much a fussy, moody, sweet, loveable cat can add to your life. Now I realize this almost daily, and for sure every morning when I wake up and he is curled up beside me. 
• I am a single mother.
• I hope to own a Harley one day. Anything can happen.
• I am really a hippie inside. 
• Pinterest has revolutionized the way I cook (you can find crockpot-anything on there, hooray).
• Pinterest (and TpT) has a huge influence on the way I teach.
• I love my little flower garden and my strawberry patch. They bring me peace and joy.
• Teaching, like mother-hood, has brought me untold joy and is currently the best thing that ever "happened" to me. 

Here are the questions that Anna set for me:

1. How long have you been teaching?

2. What is your favorite subject to teach? Why?

3. If you couldn't be a teacher, what other career would you pursue?

4. What is your favorite part of summer vacation?

5. Do you have a classroom theme?

6. How long have you been blogging?

7. What is your favorite food?

8. What is your favorite children's book?

9. What was your first job?

10. What is your favorite school related app or computer program to use?

11. What is your favorite non-school related app or computer program to use? 

1. How long have you been teaching?

I have only taught one year. Last year I was a first year Kindergarten teacher in the panhandle of Oklahoma. Now I am back home in Kansas and I don't have a job yet. Yikes. (So say a little prayer...)

2. What is your favorite subject to teach? Why?

Well, reading. I don't know why. Maybe because in Kindergarten everything is an opportunity to teach reading. I love to read and I love seeing that magic happen for students. 

3. If you couldn't be a teacher, what other career would you pursue?

I considered going back to school to become a social worker when I went back for my teaching license. So I might do that. I have also considered careers that help and support women in domestic abuse situations: counseling, running a half-way house, or something along those lines. 

4. What is your favorite part of summer vacation?

The vacation part? This summer has been a different sort of summer since we moved (again). But I really think it is the freedom from a set schedule and the freedom to connect with others. I love being able to be flexible and meet up with family or friends or other teachers and build relationships. Being free to take my kids on little outings, like a visit to Coronado Heights, or our recent visit to the Underground Salt Museum would be a great example. Being free to stay up late and fire up some charcoal just we can make some late night s'mores and gaze at the stars and sit outside and giggle and chat.

5. Do you have a classroom theme?

I really didn't last year, but I don't know about next year. I would like to. But so far, no job. Not knowing what grade I will be teaching or where I will be at, makes it so difficult. Themes that interest me are: Dr. Suess, Camping, Buggy themes (insects, ladybugs), or a hippie theme.

6. How long have you been blogging?

I started this blog last September (2012). I have had personal blogs for several years before this.  Some part of me thinks I am a writer, and I am also an over-sharer, so I tend of put my whole life out there for everyone to see/read. If you really want too much information about me, head over to my personal blog. I really haven't posted there for awhile, but you never know, today might be the day that I do. 

7. What is your favorite food?

Mexican food. I could eat Mexican food all day every day. End of story. I also love a good steak, but Mexican food... yum. Fajitas, enchilada, refrieds, black beans, tacos...... you get the picture.

8. What is your favorite children's book?

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes. I didn't even have to ponder that one! I love that book! If you teach early primary or primary you should own it too! Or if you have children! Seriously! Go out and buy it right now. 

9. What was your first job?

First job ever? Waitress at Nancy's cafe. Wait, I think I washed dishes before I waitressed. Yes, dishwasher. You know, when I got out of college (the first time) I milked cows, mostly because everyone said I couldn't do it. But then I got married and got kids and my priority was caring for those kids (I didn't always do it right), but I did a lot of entry level work, waitressing, store clerk, etc. to allow me to take care of the kids. When my now-17-year-old was born I realized I wanted to hold her and kiss her more, and I opened a daycare in my home and then I realized I am good at working with children. (And many years later I realized that is a great characteristic of a good teacher).

10. What is your favorite school related app or computer program to use?

Wow. Great question. I am not sure how to answer. I use a lot of hodge-podge stuff and yet I haven't gotten my hands dirty enough to use a lot of apps or programs. I use resources from the internet ALL THE TIME. We do Scholastic online, last year we had Let's Find Out magazine. I use Youtube all the time for wiggle songs. I printed a lot of writing practice sheets for centers, home-fun, and morning entry work from Handwritingworksheets.com. I think Skype is a great classroom tool and I hope to Skype with a class from OK next year. 

11. What is your favorite non-school related app or computer program to use? 

Gosh, I don't know. I still use Microsoft word a lot and I hope to develop my own centers and activities this year and use PowerPoint. I use Google docs a lot, for school and personal. We make birthday and Christmas wish lists on there, and last year I did my lesson plans on Google docs and then just shared them with my principal and didn't have to print and submit them.

Time for me to create 11 questions for my nominees. It's hard because there is so much I want to know about my friends in my blogging community. What you share shapes the way I teach, research, plan, etc. 

1. How do you balance your teaching life with your personal life? 

2. How do you use technology in your classroom? Tell one great thing and one not-so-great thing (if there is one: what would you change about technology in your classroom, or what doesn't go the way you want it to, etc.).

3. How do you balance your spiritual beliefs with your teaching career? Do you talk about it? Keep them separate? How do you handle those tricky spiritual situations when you are confronted with balancing what you believe with what is okay to discuss in school. Maybe a student asked you a question or wants to pray aloud as a group. Have you faced this and how do you handle it (with poise and grace)?

4. What is your favorite children's book? 

5. What is your favorite just-for-pleasure book or series? 

6. What is your next step in this professional adventure? (Add your Masters? A specialty area? Move into administration?) 

7. Where did you go to college?

8. What grade do you teach? 

9. What grade would you like to try out or teach?

10. What is your favorite professional book that you've read?

11. Do you do anything special for students for their birthday? If so, what?

I was nominated again for a Liebster! I was nominated by The Kinder-Garden! I am answering her questions here and leaving the nominees, random facts, and questions for nominees the same. Here are the questions! 

11 Questions to be Answered
1.  What technology do you have at school?
2.  What technology do you have at home?
3.  What is your favorite subject to teach?
4.  Do you have a favorite linky party you like to participate in?
5.  What grade/subject do you teach?
6.  What is your favorite thing about your grade/subject?
7.  What is your favorite food?
8.  Would you rather be at the beach or the mountains?
9.  Coffee/tea/soda?
10.  Look to your right, what do you see?
11.  If you weren't a teacher, what would you do?

1.  What technology do you have at school? I am going to answer that according to last year. We had a computer lab with computers in it, I had a promethean board (loved it). 
2.  What technology do you have at home? Laptop, Kindle fire 8.9.  
3. What is your favorite subject to teach? Reading. :)
4. Do you have a favorite linky party? Five for Friday! I look forward to posting about my five favorite random things every week.
5. What grade/subject do you teach? I taught Kindergarten this past year. It is my passion! 
6. What is your favorite thing about your grade/subject? My favorite thing is seeing the progress in my Kinders! They come in as babies and leave ready for First grade!! 
7. What is your favorite food? Any kind of Mexican food! 
8. Would you rather be at the beach or the mountains? I really don't know! I love the serenity of the mountains. I love the beach, but not the crowds.
9. Coffee/tea/soda? Coffee! My Kinders were aware that if they want "Nice Ms. Horn" to teach them, I needed to drink coffee. 
10. Look to your right, what do you see? I see out the window and see the bird bath and feeders and my front porch and flowers. Love these things. 
11. If you couldn't be a teacher, what other career would you pursue?

I considered going back to school to become a social worker when I went back for my teaching license. So I might do that. I have also considered careers that help and support women in domestic abuse situations: counseling, running a half-way house, or something along those lines. 

Okay, time to hit up some of my favorite small blogs and learn more about the bloggers! Here they are:

1. The Kindergarten Pod
2. Buzz Into Kinder
3. F is for First Grade
4. Growing my Kindergarten
5. Kinder Doodles

Check out these Fabulous blogs!