Sunshine Blogger Award

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Imagine waking up at 1:00 a.m. on the morning before school starts and checking your phone (just because) to learn that you’ve been nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award! That’s my life this morning–what a great way to start the school year off!

I was nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award by Mary at A Million Ways to Learn. Mary and I have a lot in common, and I really enjoy reading her posts. She’s been teaching for over 20 years (just like me) and is an intervention specialist.  One of my favorite posts is Coteaching: Making It Work which is full of great advice to help special education and regular education teachers work together for the good of all students. Another great one, for both beginning teachers and veterans, is A Post 23 Years in the Making, a letter to her younger shiny, brand-new teacher self.

Sunshine Blogger Award

Everyone out there who isn’t a blogger is now wondering what exactly the Sunshine Blogger Award is. Well, it’s peer recognition award for bloggers who are positive, creative, and inspiring, and I am so honored that Mary chose me!

There are a few rules to this award, but they are easy to follow.

• Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to their blog.
• Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you.
• Nominate at least 11 new bloggers to receive the awards and ask them 11 questions.
• List these rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo.

Here are my answers to Mary’s questions:

1. What is your dream job?

I really enjoy teaching. I’ve taught everything from preschool to college, including high school French for twelve years. But, my dream job? I’d love to be a travel writer and be paid to visit amazing places. Of course, I could do it during my time off, and that’s my plan for now.

Currently, I teach 7th and 8th grade language arts in a rural school district about ten miles from our home. The staff at our school is amazing! I look forward to going to school each day. Ignore my first day jitters–they happen every year. I never sleep well the night before school starts. And, Tuesday night, before the kids come, will be even worse!

2. If you could be any age again for one day, what would it be?

Some people would go back to their childhood or teenage years, but me–I’d take 45 again. (Oops! I forgot; I’m still 38.) Seriously though, 45 was an awesome year. Dennis and I started dating and got married a few months later. It was so awesome to find the perfect guy and fall in love. We felt like teenagers again.  We’d been friends for five years, but never took it any further. I also found out I was going to be a Grammy that fall.

Honestly, though, I’m happy at the age I am. Sure, life hasn’t been perfect, and it took forever to find my prince in shining armor, but I wouldn’t change it. All of those challenges have made me who I am today.

3. What’s the biggest obstacle you’ve overcome with blogging so far?

Technology is my downfall. I don’t understand how it works and can’t always get it to do what I want it to do. Take categories, for example. I’d like to have categories listed on my page, but haven’t figured out how to do it. I’ve read about it and watched YouTube videos. One day it will click. Today wasn’t that day.

I’d also considered changing my WordPress theme. However, I’m afraid I’ll do something wrong and lose everything. There’s definitely been a learning curve.

I also struggle with driving traffic to my blog. It takes a lot of time and effort. I hope that with school starting, I’ll be able to at least maintain the traffic I have now. I’d love to grow, but realistically, I won’t have nearly as much time to devote to blogging.

4. Do you eat your popcorn before the movie starts?

Movies? What are those? Dennis and I have only been to one movie in the past four years, Jurassic World. But, yes, I do start eating it before the movie starts. Who can resist that buttery smell?

5. Early bird, night owl, or both?

I’m definitely a morning person. I get so much more done in the mornings. The year I taught middle school, high school, and college classes while going to graduate school full-time, I would wake up at 3 a.m. each day to write papers and grade student work. By the end of the day, I’m TIRED.

Just to prove that we are early birds, I wrote a post about the benefits of getting up early on your Disney vacation. You can read it here.

6. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Bread. Definitely bread. I could just smell the aroma of fresh-baked bread and be happy.

7. What is your greatest strength as a blogger?

I have so many ideas for posts that I don’t think I’ll ever run out. I also enjoy reading  and commenting on what other people have written.

8. City life, country life, or the suburbs?

I love living in the country. Our backyard is amazing. We have woods on two sides and a small stream that meanders behind our property and along the side of it.  I love listening to the tree frogs and insects at night (can hear them now) and watching the bird, squirrels, wild turkeys, and other animals. However, I do recommend deer whistles for your car if you live in the country like us. Deer and cars don’t mix well.

9. What is your favorite color?

I love pink and purple.  They’re happy colors.

10. Do you have any pets?

We have an eight year old labradoodle named Alabama. She’s very timid and set in her ways. She’s scared of everything; a lot of times she won’t come down the stairs unless we help her. Allie even thinks she’s trapped and won’t go past a door that’s half-open into the hall. She didn’t eat for an entire week after we lost Indiana. Allie has been much better with the babies lately, stepping into Indy’s shoes in some ways. Allie loves bread, and the kids feed her constantly when they are here. She also enjoys riding in the car.

11. Why did you start blogging?

I didn’t start my blog with the intention of sharing it with the world. I wanted to keep my family informed about trips we were taking. This summer, I wanted to write about our Ireland trip (still haven’t finished that), but it’s evolved into something new. It’s so exciting though–I really enjoy it.

My nominations for the Sunshine Blogger Award:

https://thesproutingminds.com

https://mamawritesreviews.com

https://lemonblessings.com

https://simplyshannonagins.com

https://lifeofacherrywife.com

https://pracreation.com

https://simplyrefreshingwithjessidelgado.com

https://familygrowthlife.com

https://bajezen.blog

https://putthekettleon.ca

https://gabriellerpollack.com (because if your 19-year-old little cousin can write a blog, so can you)

Honestly, there are so many others I could nominate. The blogging community is amazing–I’ve read so many interesting posts this summer!

My questions for these bloggers:

1. What is your dream job?

2. Who is your favorite author?

3. What’s your favorite blog post to date?

4. Who or what inspires you?

5. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

6. What book(s) do you think all middle school students should read?

7. What is your greatest strength as a blogger?

8. What were some of the qualities of your favorite teacher(s)?

9. What challenges have you faced with blogging?

10. Do you have any pets?

11. Why did you start blogging?

Thanks again to Mary for nominating me for the Sunshine Blogger Award. Please visit her blog at A Million Ways to Learn  and say hello!

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