Meet the Teacher Monday

 

Today on Blog Hoppin' is Meet the Teacher Monday.  Go ahead and join and link up with a post all about YOU! Here's mine...

Tell us a little something about you...

 

I am a Tar Heel fan even though I live in Duke Blue city.  I love the summer because I get to read adult books for fun.  I like to cook even though I don't get to very often.  If I cook for someone, it is normally a recipe I have never tried because I'm always finding something new I want to try.  I love shopping but I always look for good deals.  My dog, Bailey, and I probably spend too much time watching tv :)  Both of my parents got remarried within a month of each other Winter 2009 and now I have a very large "Brady Bunch" family....and I love it!!!

Brady Bunch on my Dad's side

...and my Mom's side

How long have you been teaching?

 

This will be my fifth year teaching.  I've spent the past 4 years in a project based charter school teaching 4th and 5th grade.  I spent 3 years only teaching math and science so those are my stronger areas. Now I'm in a new school and new grade.  The old school I was at didn't have a cafeteria or bus line.  These will be new to me but since its a new school, no one can give me any idea of the routine! This is the second school I've help start up and its exciting but a little overwhelming.

You might not know...

I was a NC Teaching Fellow and I "owed" NC 4 years of teaching to pay back my scholarship so I'm officially done this year! Woohoo!

What are you looking most forward to this school year?

I'm looking forward to a change in schools and grade.  While I know it will be tough and I will have my moments where I can't believe I made the switch, I think it is good to change things up.  I will be able to learn so many new things from the new colleagues I'm going to be working with.  And after meeting them....I know they will keep me on my toes and keep pushing me to do better!

What do you need to improve?

-Working on a modified Daily 5 in my class.  I'm not sure what it will look like but probably something of a Daily 3 rotation.  I decided to star this in order to build endurance readers.
-I want to be more focused and purposeful with my instruction.  For instance...if I'm reading a read aloud book, I want to make sure that my think aloud comments directly align with and support the weekly learning targets.
-I need to get better about not taking everything on.  I tend to push myself too hard.  "Just say no!"

What teaching supplies can you *not* live without?

-One touch stapler...after using this to hang things on the walls/bulletin boards I CANNOT go back!

-Books...I have an unhealthy obsession with spending way too much money on children's books

-Interactive whiteboard...I started with  a Smartboard, then moved to an Activboard, and now I have a BrightLinks

-Dr Pepper and Chocolate...enough said