Meet a Blogger Monday: Me!

03/25/2013

77 Comments

 
My lovely friend, Tamara, was supposed to be the feature this week, but the girl is on vacation!  She'll be featured next week.  I emailed her too late to confirm and plan... plus I want her to be able to be around when I post about her.  So, today you're getting me instead!  Hahaha!  I get to be a "Me-Monster" today.  Wrarrrrr!!!  Have you seen the video?  Haha.

This post is out of control, so if you make it to the end then you deserve a glass of wine.  

Winners from last week are: Irene Leeby, Crystal Shepherd, and Brooke Kendall!   Girls, I've emailed you, so please let me know if you don't receive it.  

About

Grade: 3 EFL classes (5-7 year olds, 10-12 year olds, and teenagers)
Location: Switzerland
Blogging for: Year & a Half
Teaching for: 6 years

Links

Blog: You're already here!
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Facebook Page
Pinterest

Linky With Latoya!

Since this post is kind of personal today, I decided to link up with Latoya too!  Today, her topic is favorites nouns: 

Person: My hubby.  He's my world.  
Place: The lazy river at the JW Marriott in Scottsdale, AZ.  Seriously.  We used to go all the time when we lived there.  
Thing: iPad.  I loooooove it.  
Animal(s):  Our two pooches, Jackson & Rocco.  You can see their cute faces in my sidebar.  They're my babies.  
Link up with Latoya too!  

What do you like best about the grade you teach?  Least?

We're winding down the year right now and I just LOVE this time of year.  Not because it's almost Summer, but because this is the time of year when I can really see huge changes in my students.  My youngest class came in knowing how to say "hello."  That's it.  They can now hold a basic conversation, follow multi-step directions, and their vocabulary is off the charts.  I love seeing how much they've grown.

My least favorite part has to be the language barrier.  I love teaching them English, but it's so hard when I can't get a concept across or explain it well enough in French.  Plus, some of my parents don't speak any English, so I have to get someone to translate instead of sounding like an idiot in French. 

What are your strengths as a teacher?  Weaknesses?  

I'd say my strengths are differentiation, flexibility, and organization.  We do a lot of centers in my classes.  I just find it more engaging for the kids, especially when I have so many different levels.  I believe it's so important to differentiate as much as possible.  If I had it my way, students would be grouped into classes based on ability instead of age... but that's a whole other rabbit trail.   I'm extremely flexible, sometimes TOO flexible, when it comes to scheduling, parents, colleagues, etc.  I like consistency, but won't put up too big a fight when someone suggests changing things up.  Organization is something else I think I'm pretty savvy at.  Right now I don't have my own personal classroom (we rotate based on class size), so it's driving me nuts that I have to lug everything around and can't decorate.  My classroom is always organized to the T. 

My weaknesses have to be procrastination, priority organization, and overloading myself.  I'm such a "yes" person.  "Yes, I can do that!", "Yes, let's take on this project." Yes, yes, yes.  I really need to learn how to start saying no.  I just don't have time for some of the stuff I say yes to.  Once I add something to my plate, I tend to do a terrible job at prioritizing it.  Grad school paper or edit photos from vacation?  Definitely edit photos from vacation.  Haha!  I tend to gravitate towards the more fun activities first.  I've been known to even clean the toilet or give the dogs a bath just to avoid sitting down and getting the "hard" things done.  I always cause myself more stress by procrastinating and it drives me nuts that I haven't been able to change that about myself.  :(  

What has been your most embarrassing teacher moment?

Oh gosh.  Lots.  I feel like a walking disaster sometimes.  Besides the booger in front of the superintendent, I think my most embarrassing moment has to be when my kindergarteners corrected my pronunciation of "crayons" in front of parents.  Omiword.  Talk about wanting to crawl under a rock.  We had a class event early on in the school year, where parents and students were both invited.  I was giving instructions and said "... use your crayons to..." blah, blah, blah.  Side note: I used to pronounce "crayon" like "crown."  I don't know if it's a Kentucky thing, or just me.  Probably just me.  

Boy 1: "Mrs. Huge (that's how they say it), we don't have a crown!"  
Boy 2: "Yeah, do we get crowns!?"
Entire class: "Yay!  Crowns!"
Me: "No, these crowns silly."  [holding up a cup of crayons]
Girl: "Oooooohhhh, crAYONs."
Boy 1: "Why do you say it like that?"
[parents laughing]
Me: dying inside a little

Needless to say, I'm a little sensitive to how I pronounce crAYONs now.  :)  

If you could change only one thing about your classroom, what would it be? (more room is obvious... haha)

Seriously, the shape of the tables.  I have trapezoid (yes) shaped tables right now.  My classrooms are tiny and it's like doing a human-size jigsaw puzzle every flippin' class.  I've crushed a pinky, stubbed my toe, and have nearly killed myself from rearranging them.  I always have to move them back into the original spot because we all switch classrooms.  


Don't get me wrong.  Trapezoid tables are pretty sweet when you have a big room, but mine is about the size of a Barbie dream house.   

How much time do you spend planning?  How often?

I sort of plan weekly.  At the beginning of the year, I make a ginormous outline of skills, units, standards, etc.   I figure out how much content we need to get through, look at how many days we have, take away days for testing, fun, etc. and then figure out what to do and when.  I tend to stay on track, but look at my plans each week and adjust things or swap out some fun activities that my blog buddies share.  :)  I spend days upon days planning before school starts, so it's pretty easy for me to just plug in activities and assessments each week.  I'd say I spend about 2-3 hours each week prepping, printing, laminating, etc. 

What's the one part of your job that you dislike the most?

That I'm leaving soon!?  Holy guacamole.  I can't believe my second year over here is coming to an end.  I've really enjoyed it and have learned SOOOO much about teaching students from various cultures, working with teachers from various cultures, and a lot about myself as a teacher.  If I had to be serious about this question though, I would say all the admin. stuff.  You know... paperwork, putting in attendance and lesson plans online, etc.  Not very fun.  

How do you see your role of "teacher" changing in the next 5 years?

Heavy question huh?  In my current grad school classes, we've been doing a lot of research/reading/discussing/and thinking about how technology is (or isn't) changing our roles as teachers.  In the next 5 years, I can see myself becoming more of a "curator" of learning.    Kids are learning in so many new ways now, and it's so important that we incorporate all of those fun gadgets and tools.  I can see the act of learning sort of transforming into more of an individualized experience, integrated with a lot of technology.  Leveled learning modules, online activities, center-based activities, project-based work, etc.  I've never really been heavy with the stand-in-front-and-talk and worksheets anyway, but those are definitely on the way out.  I find myself doing more and more "curating", especially with kids at different ability levels.  I'm stopping there.... I could spend hours talking about how I think a classroom should run.  Basically... give students what they need... exactly when they need it.  Not before they're ready and not after they've mastered it.  [step off soapbox]

If you had the chance to add a certification (or skill) to your list of credentials, what would it be? 

I'm certified K-8, have my early childhood endorsement, EFL endorsement, and am currently getting my masters in leadership and technology.  I don't know if I want any more!  Haha!  I'd LOVE to really get into curriculum and coaching more though.  My ideal job would be a curriculum coach.  I love helping my colleagues find resources and different ways to teach.   

If you weren't in education, what would you be doing? 

I'd be laid out on a beach somewhere, looking like a leather suitcase, holding a margarita.  Just kidding.  I'd probably be in interior design.  I'm obsessed with houses.  My favorite Pinterest category?  Home decor.  

Favorite Quote: 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."
-Proverbs 3:5
And pretty much this whole video is my favorite quote too.  All of it.  

Morning person or night owl?

Big time night owl.  I don't know if it's because of the 6 hour time difference, but I've become a ridiculous night owl in the past two years.  I need to get more sleep.  

How do you keep your sanity?  Or do you? 

Praying, coffee, naps, wine, and my husband.  

The most valuable piece of teacher advice I've received...

"Be consistent."  I find that having a routine, as mundane as it gets, is a life-saver.  My kids are whack-o when we forget to do our morning message or something that we do each class.  I write the schedule on the board too, which they LOVE.  They will call me out on it if I don't check something off after we've done it.  Although I struggle with consistency in my personal life, I always make sure I am consistent with my kiddos.  

Some of My Products I use frequently in class:

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Assessment Grids
FREE
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Mixed Up Sentences
FREE
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I Have, Who Has
Numbers 
FREE
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Mini Material Posters
$$$
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Visual Direction Cards
$$$

Giveaway Time!

I hope you all have enjoyed getting to know me a little more... as a teacher.  

Now it's time for a giveaway.   5 winners will receive the any individual clipart set of their choice!  All you need to do is enter via the PunchTab box below.  The giveaway will end tonight (Monday) at midnight (Pacific time), so be sure to enter before then!  Good luck!  I'll announce the winners in next week's post.  

You can see all of my clipart sets here.  
I hope you enjoyed this ridiculously long post!  Haha.  
77 Comments
 

Tell Me More...

07/26/2012

7 Comments

 
I mentioned it on FB before I left for my trip, but have you all checked out Mrs. Lemon's linky party?   It's kind of awesome and fun.  I'm learning so much about a lot of you and other great teachers!  Basically, I give you a little more dirt on me.  

Head on over to Mrs. Lemon's blog to check out over 140 submissions... and find some more great teaching blogs to follow!

Check it Out

1.  I live in Switzerland.

Literally.  The hubby and I will be here for another year and have already been living the European life for a year and a half.  We moved here because of a 'once-in-a-lifetime-can't-pass-it-up' work opportunity he received.  We've really enjoyed it and have learned so much about ourselves, other cultures, and the travel has been amazing.  

2.  I don't like reading.

Aaaaaa!  {Gasp}  A teacher who doesn't like reading!  Blasphemy!  

I enjoy reading blogs and anything to do with teaching, but you'll rarely find me commenting on how awesome a certain book is.  I never let my students know, but it's the truth.   Their teacher isn't a big reader. 

I think it's because I have a short attention span and I was practically forced to read as a child via 'Accelerated Reader.'  Don't get me started on it.  I LOVED reading, up until about 4th/5th grade, when I was required to accumulate a bazillion points.  I cheated, read tons of easy books, and my attitude towards casual reading has never been the same.  Someone needed to give my teachers some PD on how to structure their AR program.  

3.  I'm married.

This is the hubby.  We've been together for 8 years and married for almost 5.  He's such an amazing man and I'm so blessed to have him.  He's my best bud.  

4.  I love skiing.

I've always loved water skiing, but my obsession for snow skiing has grown in the past year... maybe because we're within an hour of the Alps?  I wouldn't consider myself to be an amazing skier, but I haven't broken anything yet.  That's good enough right?

5.  I'm a mom... a fur mom.

We have two adopted 'hybrids' (they don't like the word 'mut') that we absolutely adore.  They are our children.  They are furry, smelly, bad at times, and I love them to death.  We didn't adopt them together, but they were both homeless and picked up by the puppy police while roaming the streets.

I highly suggest adoption if your wanting a dog.  They are so sweet and it's been a blessing to be able to give them a home, faces to lick, and treats to eat.  Can you imagine why these two faces would be on the street!?  So sad.  Rocco is on the left and Jackson on the right.  

Rotten.  Spoiled rotten.  

6.  I love 'Teen Mom'

There.  I said it.  Hi, my name is Ashley, I'm a 27 year old woman, and I love watching 'Teen Mom.'  It's a guilty pleasure. I'm more of an HGTV, Bravo, TLC, Lifetime sort of gal, but I do tune into MTV when I notice my show is on.  It's just so interesting, sad, angering, exciting, dramatic, trashy, etc.  

7.  I just stopped biting my nails.

Yes.  I'm 27 and I have been a nail-biter my whole life.  Someone once said... 'Oooo, you must have a bad relationship with your dad then.  That's what that means.'  No, I love my daddy.  It's just a totally disgusting habit that I just recently kicked.  I still get the urge, but I'm doing great!  I've 'been clean' for two months now.  Hahah... isn't that gross?

8.  I'm scared of clowns & dolls.

Thank you Stephen King (and my babysitter when I was 6) for bringing this nightmarish character into my life.  You'll never find me at a circus... I panic.  Also, dolls creep me out.  You know the real life-like ones?  Like those American Girl dolls?  I can't sleep or be alone in a room with one.  I have to take them out of the room if I plan on getting any sleep. Scary stuff ladies and gents.

9.  I can triple curl my tongue.

Picture
Click for Source
Nope.  Not my real mouth.  I don't have a gap and am not interested in having a photo of my chops all over the internet.   I can do this though!  It's a hidden talent and apparently not everyone is able to do it, despite practicing.  It's gross, weird, and so awesome.  Can you do it?!  Go to the mirror and try.  Right now.  

10.  I'm handy.

I can change tires, a car battery, check my oil, install lighting/ceiling fans, roof a house, lay a patio, and construct any IKEA product in less than a minute.  I consider myself to be a pretty good handy'woman.'  I put together our guest room bunk beds... by myself while the hubby was at work.  Yes.  Bunk beds.  I like putting together furniture and I like puzzles.  My husband and I bought two identical storage units when we first moved and decided to race to see who could put theirs together the fastest.  I won.  Big time.  

Although I don't foresee us living with IKEA furniture for the rest of our lives, I wouldn't mind the challenge.  
Ok.  That's it friends.  I hope you enjoyed and learned a little.  Also, I hope this doesn't deter any of you from the site.  Hahaha!   Have a great day and be sure to stop by Mrs. Lemon's site to check out some more posts like this!
7 Comments
 

12... on the 26th

05/26/2012

1 Comment

 
So, I love me some Doodle Bugs Teaching.  Her stuff is cute, simple, and useful.  I've linked to a lot of her things in this site.  Anyway, Doodle Bugs does this 12 on the 12th linky party.  Post 12 picutres from your day, explain what they are, and you're done!  So fun.  Since I've had a whirlwind of a week, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity for a 'picture post.'    Although these 12 things weren't done in the same day... it feels like it.   My in-laws have been in town for the past 10 days and we just returned from a little trip to Belgium.. and Italy... and all over Switzerland.  Boy am I tired.  We had a great visit with them and crammed soooooo much stuff into their time here.  I'm sure they'll pass out as soon as they step into their house.  Here's my 12... on the 26th.  Better late than never, right?  None of these have to do with teaching... just travelling.  Since that's what I've been doing a lot of this week.  :)   1-12 below....
1.  Callier Chocolate Factory:  Complete with an open buffet of chocolate at the end of the tour.  Trouble I tell you.
2.  Flowers: Summer is here!!!!  
3.  Vineyard in Jussy, Switzerland: We've been to this one a few times, but took a little tour and bought some wine this time.
4.  Gruyere, Switzerland: ...like the cheese.  Gorgeous castle, smelly/amazing cheese, and stunning views.
5.  Orchid farm:  We drove past one in the Swiss countryside and just had to stop.  :)
6.  Milan, Italy
7.  Lake Como, Italy
8.  Brussels, Belgium: the Grand Place.  I absolutely LOVE Belgium.  Chocolate, waffles, beer, clean city, and everyone was so nice!
9.  Bruges, Belgium:  I want to live there now.  Most adorable place I've ever seen.
10.  Our minivan:  We rented this little gem in Belgium.  I called it 'the delivery van.'
11.  Belgian waffles
12:  Fort Breendock, Belgium:  Concentration camp we got to see... sent chills down my spine.   


Want to link up?  Check out Doodle Bugs post!

That's it!  I'm wrecked.  It's bedtime.  

I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend!  I am SO missing the US right now.  Barbecues, lake excursions, and family get-togethers.  :(  I'm so thankful for all of our soldiers who fought for our freedoms and for those who are still fighting.  Thank a soldier.... Happy Memorial Day!
1 Comment
 

Currently...

05/15/2012

5 Comments

 
Some of you have been to Farley's blog before... Oh' Boy 4th Grade.  She always does this cool 'Currently...' linky party and I've finally decided to get in on it.  Pretty fun!  That girl has always got a funny story to tell.  I love it.  Go check out her blog and link up if you haven't already!
A Teeny Tiny Teacher has an amazing giveaway going on right now.  I REALLLLLLY want one of these things for my class.  It would be a great tool to use in with my EFL/ESL kiddos.  It's called the 'Hear All Assessment Recorder' and basically you can record your student groups (or just one).  Pretty cool!  I'd love to use it to listen to my students read and practice sight/vocabulary words.  I just can't seem to get enough one-on-one time with them.  
Anyway, head on over to A Teeny Tiny Teacher to find out how you can enter to win this.  Entries are due by Friday, the 18th.  Hurry!


Hope everyone is excited about Summer!  We don't end until June 27th, but it's still close.  I'm so happy that Summer is almost here!  I've really missed wearing open-toed shoes and was excited to put the Winter coats away.  So over cold weather.  Have a great week!
5 Comments
 

Here we go...

04/11/2012

1 Comment

 

Yay!!!!!  I'm finished!!!!

Welcome to the new domain!!! Didn't even know you were at one did you?  I'm so excited about this.  Here's a little explanation about the shenanigans going on...

I started The School Supply Addict (blogger) last year in an attempt to link to my favorite teaching resources and share some stuff of my own.  It was going great, but it wasn't really turning out how I had envisioned it.  I needed more static pages, easier publishing tools, and I just couldn't get it how I wanted.  I still have my personal blog (for family & friends) with blogger and love it.... just wasn't working with this site.  So, I've been working over the past six weeks to transfer and set this one up.  I think I may have developed carpal tunnel.  

This site is structured around  6 different areas:
  • Blog  I'm still going to blog.  I love it and enjoy sharing cool things that others can use.  
  • Christian  I decided to add a Christian resource page because I use them frequently... and why not?  It's a big part of who I am and if at least one person finds it useful, then I'll be happy.  
  • Content This is where you'll find all of the resources categorized by content area.  Language arts and math are organized according to the common core strands/domains, while the others are categorized by popular sub-topics.  This is also where you'll find a TON of theme pages.  
  • Management  You'll find resources for planning, standards, room design, assessment, behavior, forms, organization, and volunteers.
  • Store  This is where you can find all of my products.  I hope to make them available to purchase directly from the site in the future, but for right now they're on TPT.  A lot of them are free and others are fairly inexpensive. 
  • More  Websites, teacher blogs, teacher technology, and literature can be found here.  Also, contact details for me are found under that tab.

I really hope you enjoy this site and find it useful.  Living overseas (temporarily) and teaching ESL part-time has allowed me to put some energy into this, which is something I've always wanted to do, but never had the time to make it a reality.  Here's my little philosophy for this site:

"If I don't use it (or wouldn't use it), then I won't post about it or link it.  Seriously"

Yep.  I'm serious.  I'm pretty picky about how things look and the quality of the content.  I won't be putting things on here just to fill up the site.  Only great resources.  :)

And here we go....  enjoy the new site.
1 Comment
 

Seriously. What am I doing?

09/22/2011

17 Comments

 
So, I decided to start my own 'teaching blog.'

                                 Your kidding.  Really?  A teaching blog?  That hasn't been done before...  

This might be the end of me.  I have a severe problem already. I have my list of blogs I check out weekly, plus Pinterest, Etsy, and a ton of other random sites...

then I copy the awesome links and add them to this bad boy:
This is the 'monster.'  It is a rather large Excel file where I keep all of the awesomeness I run across... while online.  It's getting out of control.  Mostly because I like to 'hunt' while consuming wine.  I l.o.v.e wine. 

Also, I guess I should mention that I am an American teacher on hiatus (sort of)... living in Switzerland.  That's right.  Switzerland.  Chocolate, cows, cheese, mountains, wine, European speedos, etc.  The weight gain is inevitable.
My husband and I will be here for about three years (began March 2011).  Prior to the move, I taught for two years then worked as my district's assessment coordinator.  Going from working full time to being domesticated has it's mental challenges.  I miss having my own ginormous classroom and being able to hang with teacher friends after school for happy hour.  Also, I have a group of former students and parents that I'm obsessed with and miss dearly.  We stay in touch, but I miss going for ice cream dates and dinners.  I miss a lot of things... :(   

I am an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher over here and a student myself... learning French (OMG I don't want to talk about it).  Actually, I should be called an IESYFL teacher.... 'Is English Seriously Your Fourth/Fifth Language?'  It's insane how many languages my students know.  I am fluent in one and can hold a 3yr old-ish conversation in French.  They make me feel like a 'stooopeeed American.' 

Anyway, I decided to start this site because I have so much crap on my computer (links, pictures, documents) and in my boxes of files, that I feel I need to share.  Also, since I'm not teaching full-time, I need to stay on 'my game.'  I don't want to move back and not know about all of the cool stuff.    

The site is very plain and simple because that's how my mind works.  I LOVE looking at all the cute blogs with the scrapbook paper backgrounds and cute graphics.  However, those are seriously some intimidating decisions for me.  I change my mind often... about everything.  Except my husband.  I'm keeping him.  I have self-diagnosed ADHD and my mind goes crazy when I look at all the cutesy stuff.  I find myself thinking about ducks, shoes, or other randomness.  I decided to keep it simple looking.  Maybe?

If you haven't noticed yet.  I'm slightly sarcastic and some would say 'crazy.'  That's ok.  This will probably be my longest post because I feel the need to explain myself.  I like to use lots of pictures and keep things short and sweet.

I also have a slight addiction to school supplies.  If I come across a sight like this...
...I feel the intense urge to purchase a massive quantity of 24 cent crayons, markers, rulers, pencils, folders, etc.  Even if I have no need for them.  Sharpies?  Obsessed.  Colored cardstock?  OMG!  I get anxious just looking at a Lakeshore magazine or a Michael's ad.  I began my 'hoarding' in college even before I had my own classroom.  Crazy.  I love any and everything that I think I could use with my kiddos or in my room.  Hence the name... 
A lot of things on here are amazing gems I've found elsewhere (I always give credit and links), but I'll post a lot of my stuff too.  Enjoy and hope you like!    


Ashley
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