Post #1

1. What grade (and in which school) will you be teaching?
I will be teaching second graders at Fox Hollow Elementary.
I'm very excited for this opportunity! Plus, I've got many added benefits including the fact that the school is very close to both my parent's schools and my mom teaches second grade herself.
It just keeps getting better and better!

2. What is your favorite children's book?
I'll have to go with anything Mo Willems here...
I don't know if I can pick a favorite from him, it's a pretty solid tie between "Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed", "Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus", and "Knuffle Bunny". All are awesome in their own way.

3. If you watch TV, what shows do you most enjoy?

When I find time to watch TV I enjoy all kinds of things! Lately I've liked: Modern Family, Cougar Town, Scrubs, 30 Rock, Phineas and Ferb, and United States of Tara. I also find time to squeeze in a Law and Order here and there. I (almost) never watch live TV, but use Netflix and Hulu to do all my watching.

4. What movie affected you enough that you'd be willing to see it again?
Any time, any where I will always be ready to watch Meet The Robinsons. It's my all time favorite movie. And yes, I do have the entire thing memorized.

5. What are you really good at?

I am really good at sleeping. I can sleep just about anywhere, I can sleep through just about anything, and I can fall asleep very quickly. I usually hit a wall at about 10 pm and can't keep my eyes open much longer. I accredit this gift to the fact that my dad and little brother play the drums, and so growing up my house was usually extremely loud; therefore, I have somehow developed the talent of closing my ears and sleeping through all kinds of noisy situations. I'm especially great at sleeping through movies (just ask my husband!)
I am not so good at the waking up part though, especially early in the morning.

6. What is a talent you wish you had?

I wish I was better at managing my time. While I'm much better than I used to be, it still occurs to me all too often that I have no idea what I did all day long. If I don't truly plan out my day in one way or another, I somehow get lost in the slightest of activities and completely forget the goals that should have been done first. This will be crucial in my classroom, and I will have to continue to work on it because it does not come easy for me.

7. Tell me your background in sports and/or athletics.

I grew up playing softball on competition teams and played on my high school's team. I played almost every position except pitcher. My favorite was the catcher because I loved being completely involved in every pitch. I still love to play whenever I can, unfortunately that's not very often though.
I also know my fair share about soccer because my brothers all play on state teams; however, I'll stick to watching rather than playing this one. It's way too much running for my liking.

8. Tell me your background in visual arts, dance & drama.

I have very little background in these three. I enjoy watching performances, or looking through galleries of others showcasing their talent for these. My own visual art talents don't extend past the Disney Princess Coloring Book I have. I did take dance for a month when I was around 11 but quit when they told us the performance was the same weekend as a softball tournament I wanted to go to. Basically my drama experiences don't extend much past me imitating little brothers. I hope I can grow stronger in these areas as I develop my teaching career so I can more fully utilize them in my classroom.

9. What is your musical background? (Lessons? Singing? Instrument? Read music? Enjoy listening to music? What kinds?)
I love music. But who doesn't right?
I played the oboe in jr. high, high school, and my freshman year of college. By then I realized that I wasn't very good at it... and didn't have the dedication it took to become good at it. It still sits in my closet and I tell myself that one day I'll have time to become good at it.
My dad is a drummer, and is only in one band right now. For most of my life he was in 7+ bands, always coming and going from one band to the next and never one like another. Because of this I have a strong love for all types of music. Also because of this, ever since I was a kid I've been going to all kinds of concerts. In my mind, if the music doesn't sound good live then the album is a fake and I don't really enjoy listening to it.
I go through phases of really focusing my attention to different genres, but my very favorite is Jazz.

10. What would you be doing this summer, if you were not going to be an intern?

Probably looking for a job that requires I spend all day, everyday outside.
However, I'd take ridiculous amounts of time off for the camping trips every weekend and for the week long vacations to the CA and OR coasts.

11. What would you like me to know about you that I haven't asked?
You might be interested to know that I plan on getting my Masters as soon as possible in special education: severe/profound. This has been my dream since I was 14, and every year I can feel it getting closer and closer. My original plan was to get my degree in special education first, and then go back for regular education later... but life worked it's magic, and here I am.
I've gone back and forth between two different options: A) going back at the beginning of my second year teaching (I'll do it while I'm teaching) or B) I wait till after my third and have received tenure. I'll likely do the program that WGU offers. We figure if I teach and do it, I can complete the program in about a year and a half.
We'll see which happens, all I know is where I'm headed at this moment and it's going to be amazing!