Teacher Week 2013 and a Monday Made-It Freebie

 

I'm joining the Teacher Week 2013 Linky (click on first image to join), and today's topic is "Let's Talk About Me". Hmmm....10 random things about me....Boy, this is hard! I know I'm not a celebrity, so what would anyone want to know about me???
Here goes....
1. I grew up in the coal region of Northeastern PA, in a city named Hazleton. I met my husband way back in high school! We've known each other for 22 years!!!!! We now both live and teach in Harrisburg, PA (an hour south of Hazleton).
2. With 3 little boys (ages 2, 4 & 8), my days are very, very busy. There is not much down time around here.
3. Mowgli is our cat. He is 14 years old, and lives 1/2 indoors, 1/2 outdoors. He still plays and purrs just like a kitten.
4. I love the 80s (music, shows, styles...).
5. My car is a 2001 Jetta. It was the first and only car I've bought. A new Jeep is on my wish list, though.
6. This will be my 13th year teaching 1st grade. I've taught full-day K for 2 years and Pre-K for 2 years. I would like to be a reading specialist (have my cert.), and when the time/job is right, then I'll make the switch. When I grow up, I'd also like to be an early intervention teacher. 
7. I LOVE reading books about teaching and learning/sharing new teaching techniques/research. If you put a book in front of me, I could read it in a day. I guess you could say I am a bit of a nerd.
8. My husband is the cook of the house (and a very good one)!
9. I used to love watching horror movies, but after I had kids, I can't watch them. Although, I have to admit, "The Conjuring" has me very curious. Wow! Even typing that title gave me the creeps!
10. I'm trying WBT this year, for the first time. See #7. I've read the book 3 times, and I'm looking through it yet again! I just want to get it right. 

(click on image link above to join the party)

I am at 99 followers on Bloglovin'. So close to 100, so I made a little inspirational freebie to celebrate. I've known Michael Barata at http://www.michaelbarata.com since we were in nursery school together (in 1979). He was always able to make me (and everyone else laugh) no matter what. Well, he is a motivational speaker, psychology professor and owner of Thought Fusion, LLC. He offers the most amazing quotes and vlogs (video blogs). 
After talking with Michael, and gaining his permission to use some of his quotes, I created 3 inspirational quote posters with a chevron design. I plan to hang these around my desk as a little daily motivation (we could all use some of that). I bought some brown frames on clearance at Michaels, spray painted them black and put the posters inside. I plan to use 3M Command strips to hang them. If you would like some motivation, you can get them at my TPT store. 

Be sure to check out Michael Barata's site (see link above). He's quite a guy! He kind of reminds me of Dave Burgess (author of Teach Like a Pirate).