A Sunshine Award....

This past weekend, I was nominated for a Sunshine Award by my principal Jacki Prati - which was a pleasant distraction from the cold!  Jacki is a exceptional principal and truly leads by example!  You should definitely check out her blog: http://teacheratheart.weebly.com/  Before becoming a principal, Jacki was one of the literacy coaches in our district and - while I certainly love math - I always appreciate the books and love of literacy she brings to any conversation!

Cathy Mere - another literacy guru in our district - describes the rules for the Sunshine Award on her blog (http://reflectandrefine.blogspot.com/):

The description of the Sunshine Award is shared by Matt Renwick:
The Sunshine Award gives others an opportunity to learn more about me as a blogger and then, in turn, I will send sunshine the way of 11 other amazing bloggers for you to get to know!
and the rules:
- Acknowledge the nominating blogger.
- Share 11 random facts about yourself.
- Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger has created for you.
- List 11 bloggers.  They should be bloggers you believe deserve some recognition and a little blogging love!
- Post 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate to answer and let all of the bloggers know they have been nominated.  (You cannot nominate the blogger who nominated you.)

My first thought was that this will be MUCH more than I usually post - but I love the idea of sharing with other bloggers.  So here it is....

11 Random Facts about Me:

1.  Math was NOT my first love.  I read voraciously as a child - and I still love to curl up with a good book.  However, I enjoy teaching math more than I enjoy teaching language arts.

2.  In college, I was the director of advertising for our student newspaper.  Basically, I worked my way up the ladder after answering an ad to sit in the office to answer the phone.  It was an easy way to earn a little spending money - and made me appreciate how much effort goes into creating a newspaper.  I proofed the ads for our paper while several aspiring journalists were frantically trying to meet deadlines.

3.  My husband and I were in the same 5th grade class.  I like to remind students to be kind to everyone because you never know who you'll wind up with in life.  We didn't talk in 5th grade but started dating in high school.

4.  One of the things I noticed immediately about the Sunshine Award is that it includes a lot of 11s and I'm wondering why....

5.  I never win anything in contests.  The one - and only - time I won anything of value was at a conference with my principal during my second year of teaching.  I won a year-long license so our school could use some computerized reading program.  The school got the program and I got a pat on the back.  :-)

6.  With two boys playing hockey, I spend a lot of time sitting in ice rinks.  When I tell people that I wrote a lot of my dissertation at a hockey rink - I'm not kidding.  I'd write during practices but watch during games.

7.  My parents were high school sweethearts, my in-laws were high school sweethearts, and my husband and I are high school sweethearts.  Given that family history, I've joked that if our boys are dating girls we don't like in high school, we should NOT consider it "just a phase".

8.  My favorite vacation spot with my kids is Disney World.  With my husband, it would definitely be Paris, France!

9.  My favorite book is Goodnight Moon.  Guess How Much I Love You is a close second.

10.  I am terrified of heights and can't do rides that spin.  I'm not really much fun at an amusement park but I'm happy to people-watch and hold your sunglasses, cell phone, etc.

11.  Growing up, everyone in my family had the same initials - J.A.S.

Answers to Jacki's 11 Questions

1.  Why did you become a teacher?

I love learning - school has been always been one of my favorite places.  I am fortunate to learn so much from students every day!!!!  Teaching is really just a continuation of learning.

2.  If you couldn't have a job in education, what job would you choose?

I always wanted to be an editor for a publisher.  Or a dolphin trainer at Sea World.

3.  What is your favorite movie?  Why?

This is tough - I used to love watching movies but haven't had much time since the kids have gotten involved in activities.  Probably a tie between The Sound of Music and Disney's Sleeping Beauty for favorite movies when I was a kid.....

4.  What is something that you want to do but you've never had the time, money, or chance to do it?

Spend a couple of months wandering through Europe....  We've made it to Paris but still so many more places to explore!

5.  If you could have dinner with anyone, living or not  living, who would it be?  Why?

This is an easy one - my mom.  She was such a huge influence on my life and I'd love the chance to fill her in on what has happened since her passing and thank her again for being such an amazing parent.

6.  What is your earliest memory?

Reading with my mom.

7.  What is one piece of advice that you would give a new teacher?

Keep balance in your life!  It is easy to get wrapped up in all of the schoowork - it never ends!  Be sure to enjoy activities outside of school.  It will keep you well-rounded and help you make connections with your students and their families!

8.  Who has been the most influential person in your life?

My mom.

9.  What book are you currently reading?

Linchpin by Seth Godin and Agents of Change by Lucy West

10.  What book are you planning to read next?

I'd like to get back to Blended Learning in Grades 4-12 by Caitlin Tucker.  I started it a few months ago and keep getting distracted by other books.

11.  What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Right now, Jeni's Dark Chocolate Peppermint.  But, when it's out of season, mint chocolate chip.

I've taken too long to write my Sunshine Award and all of the bloggers I know have already been nominated.  Thanks, Jacki, for the opportunity to share!!!