I Celebrate You!

I absolutely love when teachers celebrate each other. Sometimes I feel that we are so mired in what we've done wrong or what is going wrong (in the classroom, at home, and in life) that we don't stop to appreciate the amount of awesome that we work hard to put out and that we're lucky enough to be surrounded with. One of my favorite bloggers overs at Confessions of an Untenured Teacher decided to celebrate me in a much appreciated community gold-star-giving activity and I would be delighted to pass on the tribute!

I was so happy and honored to read that my little re-up blog was awarded so soon after I came back to it! And, in keeping with the stipulations of the originator of this online accolade, I must share some random get-to-know-you information about myself to keep you all engaged and coming back for more. Here goes:

1. I can be found playing (and looking forward to) an online baseball simulation every Monday night with some of my favorite people in the world that I've never met before.
2. I traveled to Spain for 3 weeks last summer (my first overseas trip) and spent almost the entire time in my various hotel rooms with a debilitating ear infection.
3. I found out last year that I am actually allergic to the sun (after having spent my entire youth being the lucky one who always tanned easily) and get ugly itchy red splotched when outside for too long.
4. I have always secretly wanted a tattoo (probably because it is completely out of character for me to want or have one).
5. I spent my entire childhood watching the WB (now the CW) and now secretly still watch One Tree Hill because, back when it started I was at a socially acceptable age to watch it.
6. I want to write a book (and have one started) but I fear I might never have the time or motivation to finish it.
7. My boyfriend is stationed in Italy for three years with the US Navy.
8. My heart is in Mexico and someday I want to have the confidence to live and work there.
9. I speak French and Spanish and every day I hone my Spanish skills as a bilingual teacher I worry about how much French I'm losing (even though I never have cause to use it).
10. When I'm upset, sometimes the only thing that calms me down is putting on some of my favorite music and singing/screaming along as loudly, ridiculously, and irrationally as possible.

Moving on to the important part of this award ceremony... I'm happy to direct you to some of the most dedicated, clever, and fantastic professionals out there. Enjoy!

Look At My Happy Rainbow : This is a new add to my list but I love everything that Mr. Halpern puts outs there and I'm always so surprised about how much correlation there is between lessons learned in kindergarten and my own lessons learned with fifth graders.

The Cornerstone : If you haven't been reading this blog all along (and I can't imagine why you wouldn't have been) then you'll learn that Angela Watson is now out of the classroom and doing awesome work to help teachers in professional development. Her candor is always genuine and it is exciting to get a new perspective at her journey out of the classroom continues.

I'm a Dreamer : This blog, written by an 8th grade English teacher, is also one of my favorite must-reads. It is obvious that this blog is written by someone who is incredibly passionate about reaching the students that she worked with and dedicated to things so far beyond "job requirements." Make sure to check it out!