My first blog nomination: The Liebster Award!

What a pleasant surprise!  Ali from Teaching (Powered by Caffeine) has nominated me for my first bloggy award!  So a massive thank you to Ali! 

Whilst I was doing this, I also got nominated from Deb at Crafting Connections, so really many thanks to the both you !

I've seen these awards on other teacher blogs and I find it with great interest reading about my fellow teachers across the globe!

Here are the rules to the Liebster Award:

• Link back to the blog that nominated me

• Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers 

• Answer the questions posted for you by your nominator 

• Share 11 random facts about yourself 

• Create 11 questions for your nominees 

• Contact your nominees and let them know you nominated them

Ali's Questions:

1. What do you dread the most about starting the school year?

The one thing I dread the most is assessing the children. It is such a tedious task assessing 36 students .

2. What excites you the most about starting the school year?

Lots of things! Setting up my classroom, getting to know my students. This year, I got to attend the Reading Institute at the TCWRP, so i'm excited about implementing my newly learnt strategies into my class! 

3. What would you be doing if you weren't a teacher?

I would probably be a lawyer or doctor. 

4. What's the best advice someone gave you before or just after becoming a teacher?

If in doubt, pop into another teacher's classroom. When I first became a teacher, I learnt a lot from observing other teacher. So observe, learn and adapt 

5. Greatest vacation you ever had?

Greatest vacation... hmmm... recently, it would be my trip to Europe. 6 weeks in France, Spain and Italy. It was pretty amazing. 

6. The TV show you'd cry the most over if they took it off the air tomorrow?

Games of Thrones

7. If you had to choose, dogs or cats?

Dogs! My best friend has this amazing Golden doodle Sambal. And I'm positively dying to have one!!

8. If you could meet anyone famous living in the world today, who would it be and why?

Hilary Clinton.  She's been through so much, yet she still as so much poise and success. I think she would be fascinating to talk to. 

9.  Tell the funniest moment you can remember that happened in your classroom. 

There are so many hysterical moments in my classroom. I actually cant think of one right now.  

10. Got a weird talent?  What is it?

I can... play dodgeball?

11. And here's your pageant question: There are a myriad of problems our world faces today.  Of all the problems in this world, which one would you most want to solve and why?

Poverty.  Living conditions, food, money or the lack thereof is in my belief the reason why there is so much crime in the world. People often do things out of desperation. If poverty could be solved, then maybe the other problems could also be alleviated. 

Deb's Questions: 

1. What grades/subjects have you taught, and which is your favourite?

I have taught grade 6th and 7th English and Humanities, 9th grade History, 3rd grade Science, Maths, English and IT, and 4th grade Science and English. 

I have to say teaching history and science have been my favourites so far. I love doing hands on work with the kids in science. In history, I taught it through the IB curriculum, and I found that challenging  in a good way because it required a lot of out of the box thinking when planning the lessons. 

2.  What vacation destination was your favourite of all time?

Paris. I grew up in London - so popping over to Paris was just a skip and a hop. I love Paris, because not only it it a fantastic getaway with friends but I also love doing solo trips there. 

3.  What would you be doing if you weren't teaching?

I'd probably be a lawyer or a doctor.

4.  If you had to move, what state/country would you choose?

NYC

5.  Why did you start blogging?

Few weeks ago.

6.  Who is/was the teacher you find most inspiring, and why?

There's a fellow teacher at my school who I find particularly inspiring because she's super creative within her lessons. She's a bit of a dragon lady but the kids love her. 

7.  How long have you been teaching?

5 years

8.  What jobs did you have before you started teaching?

I worked at Abercrombie (LOL), was a nanny and spent 4 years as a publicist in Hollywood

9.  If you could teach any grade level or subject, what would you choose?

Grade 5-7, I like that age group.

10.  What is your favourite food?

Korean and Mexican. But not together. 

11.  What is your greatest accomplishment?

Finding the job that I love. 

11 Random Facts about Myself

1. I'm a gypsy. I've lived in 3 continents, 6 cities all before I was 25. 

2. I have two degrees, none in teaching. My BA was in Mass Communication and Journalism and French, and my MA was in Political Science - Public Diplomacy. 

3. I was an accidental teacher. I fell into teaching when I moved to Hong Kong, loved it and got my diploma in Education at Hong Kong University. I've now been teaching for 5 years.

4. I was on the equestrian team for 10 years. I miss riding a lot! 

5. I LOVE country music.  Yes, I'm that girl who loves to belt out a good country song at Karaoke. 

6. I used to be a publicist in LA. 

7. I can bake the best banana bread in the world. In my opinion anyways... 

8. I also make a pretty bad ass banoffie pie. 

9. I never played netball in school but now I play in adult league and I piloted/coach the netball team at my school, which is currently the most successful sport at the Academy. 

10. My two favourite foods are Mexican and Korean. 

11. I'm super accident prone. My best friend wanted to dress me up as bubble wrap for Halloween one year. 

Blogs I am nominating with the Liebster Award

1. Mary at Fit to Be Fourth 
2. Mrs. Monroe at School is a Happy Place
3. Lori at  Owl in a Vowel Tree
4. Tessa at Funnies in Fourth Grade
5. Mrs H @ Just a Primary Girl 

And my 11 questions: 

1. What was the most important book you have read to date and why?

2. What is your favourite read aloud and why?

3. What is your favourite unit to teach and why?

4. What is one item in your classroom that you could not live without?

5. If you could teach one extra curricular of your choice, what would it be? 

6. Your favourite literary character. 

7. If you could move to another country, where would it be and why?

8. What is your favourite TV show to wind down to?

9. Your favourite cuisine.

10. If you could teach any grade level, what would it be?

11. What is or are your teaching goal(s) this year? 

That was a long post! Thanks again Ali and Deb! :)