Liebster again

I'm so so grateful to be nominated for my second Liebster Award by Ashley from Teacher Will Run For Books. Firstly I want to offer my thanks! And I owe her a massive apology since this nomination was given to me in November... and its taken me 5 months to get around to accepting it. Frankly I wouldn't blame her if she took the nomination back!!

For those that don't know, the Liebster Award is an online recognition for 'new' blogs by their peers. It is only awarded to blogs with less than 200 followers in an attempt to send more readers their way. The rules differ according to who has nominated you, but I will use the ones given by Ashley. 

1. In your post, be sure to link back to your nominator as a shout out and a thank you!

2. Answer the 11 questions given to you.

3. Nominate 11 blogs of your choice who have less than 200 followers. Provide them with 11 questions or ask them to answer the questions above.

4. Let your nominees know they've been nominated and provide them with a link you your post so that they can accept.

5. Send your nominator the link to your post, so they can learn more about you... leave it in the comments! 

I was first nominated in February 2014 and to receive another nomination is so flattering. I am struggling with keeping my blog updated this year, so it is greatly appreciated to find others reading and enjoying my blog enough to want to nominate me again.

Right here goes...

1. Why and how long ago did you start blogging?

I started blogging in November 2013 after reading blogs such as Clever Classroom and Oh' Boy 4th Grade to get inspired. 

2. What 1 word sums up the heart of your blog?

Random

3. Is there something you learned late in your blog journey you wished you knew before?

Don't be scared to put your ideas out there. I've read posts by other bloggers giving tips that I already knew, but didn't think were innovative enough to share, but I should have just written them! 

4. What is your favourite past time other than blogging?

5. How many hours a week do you dedicate to your blog?

An embarrassingly small number. When I'm into it, several in a go, but then nothing for weeks...

6. What category of blog post do you enjoy the most?

Those that have both teaching tips with personal anecdotes. A Teeny Tiny Teacher is the perfect example of this. 

7. Where does your blog inspiration come from?
My favourite link ups! Random things from my classroom.

8. Which post have you written that you are most proud of?
My post debut-ing my blog design which I posted a freebie on. This freebie was then selected to be the featured freebie by Teaching Blog Addicts. I was so proud!

9. Is there any post that you have been planning on doing but have been postponing for a while?
This one!!

10. What is your favourite thing about blogging?
Getting new ideas to use in my practice.

11. What recipe, project or idea on my blog would you most likely try yourself? 
The Super Improvers Wall is something I'm definitely going to be considering for my classroom next year.

My nominees (not 11, sorry!):
A fun themed blog who is only just starting her blogging journey! Love love love her classroom!

A UK-based blog full of innovative ideas for Early Years (Kindergarten). 

Mrs Krevat has already received the Liebster Award before, but I can't help nominating her again as I love her blog!

Only just less than 200 followers so I'm glad I'm managing to squeeze in my nomination for her great blog in time!

Questions for my nominees:

1. How long have you been blogging for?
2. What is your most popular post so far?
3. What are you top 3 blogs to read?
4. What is your teaching style?
5. Favourite linky party to join in with?
6. What educational website couldn't you live without?
7. What is your best subject to teach?
8. How many years have you been teaching?
9. What tip can you offer other 'new' bloggers?
10. If you could change anything about teaching what would it be?
11. What idea from my blog would you most likely try yourself?

Thanks again Ashley for the nomination and I encourage everyone to head over to her and my nominees' blogs to check out some fabulous blogs eager for more followers!

It's a 5 for Fri..uh Saturday

As so often with my link ups, I'm a little late, but at least I'm still occasionally managing to turn up to the party!!

1

On Monday and Tuesday there is a site wide Teachers Pay Teachers Sale, which my store will be participating in. Huge bargains for shoppers just waiting to be found! I shall certainly be making a dent on my wish list, how about you?

Banner made by Teachers Are Terrific

2

Christmas officially starts on Monday in my classroom, but I couldn't help sneaking in my favourite Christmas craft a few days early! Check out my 'How to' to make your own glitterific stained glass windows.

3

A little ice experiment in Science this week. 34C at 8:45am outside... the ice didn't last long!!

4

My class were weather reporters earlier in the week, unfortunately no photos without children in them, but it was so hilarious. I let them use whichever weather symbols they liked and let's just say the chances of snow in this part of the world dramatically increased!

5

Ashlee from Teacher Will Run For Books has nominated me for my second Liebster Award, look out for a future post about this! What a nice blogiversary present for me!

Why not head over to Doodlebugs and check out everyone else's Five for Fridays?

Flattery gets you everywhere!

As everyone knows, the saying goes 'Flattery gets you nowhere', however I am completely persuaded by every compliment I receive! And boy did I get a huge compliment the other day! Sarah from 'Chicken Soup for the Autism Teacher's Soul' has nominated me for a Liebster Award! I now get to display this cute little button on my blog and share it with the bloggy world.

Liebster is a German word meaning 'dearest' and is a blog award with no official origins that I could pin down through my google searches, but still is great way of finding new blogs and showing appreciation for others. There are variations in the rules, but I'm going to follow the ones given to me by my nominator.

• Link back to the blog that nominated me.
• Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers.
• Answer the questions posted for me by my nominator.
• Share 11 random facts about myself.
• Create 11 questions for my nominees.
• Contact my nominees and let them know that I nominated them.

So...

Thank you for my nomination, Sarah! You can find this budding blogger by clicking the image below. I'm her newest follower and look forward to following her adventures.

My nominations are:

I was a follower of Angela when she was 'Gig 'em Teacher' and have continued with her new name and blog design! Love the fact that she is a teacher abroad as well.

Kayla has already been nominated before, but since she still has less than 200 followers and deserves more for her thoughtful blog I'm nominating her again!

Trina has the ability to make me laugh out loud with her humorous take on teaching. Plus I love her weekly linky party. 

I linked up with Brandi and her New Year Resolutions linky party and have been following her ever since. Great blog for behaviour tips!

I {heart} every post that Rachel writes on this incredibly creative blog focused on craft. Several of my Christmas inspirations for my classroom were from her. 

The questions I have to answer from Sarah:

1. When did you first realize you were going to be a teacher?

When I used to set up play schools and force my younger brother to be my pupil. 

2. What got you into blogging?

Bored one day, looking for freebies on the internet, came across a great blog 'Clever Classroom', started reading, got completely hooked and decided I wanted one of my own!

3. How many amazing years of teaching experience do you have?

This is my 8th year of teaching.

4. What is your favorite grade level and subject area to teach?

Phonics is my baby, love it to bits and love enthusing children with it. Have to say Reception (Kindergarten) is my favourite age, everything is magical to them then.

5. What is one thing you like most about your school or district?

The space and school campus.

6. What are your top 3 must-have teaching supplies that get you through the day?

Stickers, coloured marking/whiteboard pens, my laptop!

7.  What is ONE huge thing that you wish legislators knew that could benefit the field of education?

That actual time with the children is the most beneficial and making us test and taking away our assistants is not the way forward!

8. What is the most beneficial professional learning/workshop/conference that you have ever attended?

Pie Corbett's Talk for Writing, that man is a complete genius and although have read his books, nothing compares to seeing him in person!

9. Do you have a top blogger that you love following the best? (If you can't choose just 1, list up to your 5 favourites)

- Step into Second Grade with Mrs Lemons

- Doodlebugs Teaching

- Clever Classroom

- Oh' Boy The Fourth Grade

- Smedley's Smorgasboard of Kindergarten

10. What is your favorite technology educational tool (website, app, etc.)? (If you can't choose just 1, list up to 5)

11. List one bit of "Chicken Soup" that gets you through when times are tough.
18 months ago I moved aboard and although I don't regret this decision for an instant, sometimes I miss my friends and family loads. My best friend gave me this quote to help me.

11 facts about me:

1. I have one brother who I still see as my baby brother despite him being 27.
2. I'm obsessed with anything Cath Kidston. I own half that shop. I should just send them my salary directly to save time. 
3. I think I spend more time on teaching blogs than I do on Facebook now. 
4. I hate ironing. Despise it. I actually got my iron out last week and discovered ants living inside it, thats how infrequently I use it!
5. I am terrible at keeping in touch with people, especially with all the time differences. I always seem to owe a dozen messages to friends.
6. I collect magnets from every holiday I go on to remind me of everywhere I've been since I moved over here.
7. I'm a great believer of constantly trying to change and improve my teaching practice, but still love those tried and tested favourite lessons!
8. I'm a terrible driver. All those female stereotypes? That's me!
9. I have a chocolate shelf in my fridge for those 'emergencies', the weather here has foiled my previous tradition of a chocolate cupboard in my classroom.
10. I love pink wine. 
11. I wish I could speak another language. I'm trying hard to pick up some vocabulary, but its going very slowly!

11 questions for my nominees:

1. What are your top 3 favourite teaching blogs?
2. Do you have a TpT store?
3. What is your favourite resource you have ever made?
4. What topic do you love to teach?
5. First ever (if any) linky party you joined in?
6. Who did your blog design?
7. A funny comment you have had from a child?
8. Helpful tip to a new blogger?
9. Favourite book for use in the classroom?
10. Best ever teacher gift from a child?
11. Memory from your first year of teaching?

So please, head on over and check out some of the blogs I've nominated and my nominator's as they are all well deserving of more readers and followers! Happy Reading!

Finally Friday (Saturday)

I am such an irregular poster! Barely making 1 post a week at the moment, so much for my target of 2-3 times! Work is so busy, I guess I'm low on inspiration at the moment! Anyway here is one of my favourite link-ups to participate in, Doodlebugs' Five for Friday.

1

Valentine's day sentences from First Grade and Fabulous. A very popular task at the Challenge Area this week. I chose the version without capital letters and full stops, so the children had to re-write it correctly.

2

Finger spacer in action! I stuck on an image of 'Fiona Finger Space' who is one of our Sentence Superheroes who help us with our sentence writing.

3

A little Valentine's craft with my extra-curricular club. Lovebirds!

4

Chinese New Year decorations my children made last week (had to come down today to make room for some paintings we did).

5

I was nominated for a Liebster Award by Sarah from Chicken Soup for the Autism Teacher's Soul this week. I shall accept in another post once I've chosen which fellow blogs I'm going to nominate!