Meet the Teacher!

T-minus 4 days and I'm back to school in my new classroom and new grade level! We start teacher meetings tomorrow, yes TOMORROW!  I have so much on my To-Do List that I'm really beginning to feel a little pressured and anxious. That being said, I have a weird love of working under pressure and against the clock. Well, the clock is ticking. It's ticking so loud I can hear it...oh wait, I think that's my heart pounding because I actually got up and worked out this morning. :)

Anyways, back to topic! Because I have so much on my To-Do List, I'm taking a break to join in on Teacher Week '13 with Blog Hoppin'. I also have a few Monday Made It items to share, but may just include that in my classroom pictures! Below is the list of topics for the week. With teacher meetings starting tomorrow, yes TOMORROW, I'm not sure when I'll link up, but hopefully it will get done. (More pressure added!)

Once you have your post all ready to go {and, it's on topic... just gotta throw that out there ;)}, add this button to the post and link it back to Blog Hoppin'!  Then you will be all set to link up!  Also, if you are an *instagramer* use the hashtag #teacherweek13 to show off your ideas! 

So, 10 things you may or may not know about ME!

10. I am teaching at the same school I attended! The teachers, principals, and buildings have changed, but the reason for our school has remained the same. We are a Catholic K-12 school, one of a very small few that are actually K-12. We go to mass 3 days a week and I love that I get to share my faith with my students EVERY DAY! (On a side note, some teachers are actually still here, too!)

9. Not only do I teach there, but I blew a whistle there as well. I began my coaching career a year after I graduated from SMC and continued in some capacity until I had my first child. I then hung up the whistle and put away the gradebook, only to go back a year later and ask for the High School Basketball position. I got it and for 8 amazing seasons watched our girls basketball program go from losing seasons to 4 time Sub-State Champions and making 4 consecutive State appearances. Three years ago I hung the whistle up again so I could spend more time with my boys and attend all of their sporting events. Coaching is really my first love, and I take my "coaching ways" in to my classroom.

8. I LOVE to color! My amazing co-teacher from last year gave me my very own, one-of-a-kind, coloring book as a gift. I LOVE sharp crayons and the relaxation I get from coloring. Unfortunately, none of my children share in this love of mine. :(

7. I'm a pretty competitive person. Like, REALLY competitive. (Just ask my boys when we go to an arcade and there is a Pop-A-Shot game.) You can be my husband, my grandma, a dear friend, or even my 4 year old, nobody is safe. I just like to say I give 110% - 100% of the time!

6. My favorite subject is History! I've been to Gettysburg, PA three times. (I even spent my 16th birthday there!) My main love is the Civil War Era. I would love to go back to the east coast and visit all of the old battle sites and even Gettysburg for a 4th time!

5.  If I could wear sweats and a hoodie every day, I'd be happy. I probably get that from all my years of coaching, but I despise "dressing up". I try to be girly, but usually fail.

4.  I met my best friend and husband in college. I had told myself I was going to date a football player, and guess what...HE WAS!!  Our first "date" was actually spent watching football. And believe it or not, I suggested that! Poor guy wanted to go to the movies and I insisted on watching the Michigan/USC game. How lucky is he? :)

 3.  This year I'm moving up to 5th Grade! I am really looking forward to it. The minute I decided I wanted to be a teacher 5th grade was THE grade I wanted. After graduation I taught 8th grade History for half a semester, after taking over for a teacher that had to retire due to illness. I was in heaven! My favorite subject and only 1 prep! Then I went back to SMC and taught 6th, moved to the high school to teach Technology the following year, began our family, came back last year after being away for 11 years and taught 3rd and will now teach 5th. This will be my 4th full year teaching a different grade level.  After another year of switching classrooms, I've told myself I'm staying put!!!

2. I absolutely love going school/office supply shopping and at least look organized.

Exhibit A: Splurging on an Erin Condren planner.

Exhibit B: My Personal planner

Exhibit C: My Fridge calendars

Exhibit D: The supplies I bought myself while Back To School Shopping for my oldest.

(Notice the crayons?)

 And, finally, #1: I LOVE my boys!!

All 5 of them. There are days I wish I had a little girl that I could watch play volleyball, color with, plan a wedding with, someone that wanted to grow up to be "just like Mom", and to take my side in this house full of boys. On the flip side, I know I have 4 boys that will grow up to be amazing men, just like their Dad. I have 4 boys that will (hopefully) protect me if need be, or stand up for me if they hear a "Your Momma's so..." joke. They are my life. I'm their biggest cheerleader and always will be!

Well, that's just a little bit about me. Now back to my LIST that has now grown, and my time to conquer it, slipping away.  Be sure to hop on over to Blog Hoppin' if you have a free minute.

Get to Know Me...Tic-Tac-Toe Style

Happy Saturday!!! This morning I'm linking up with Latoya over at Flying into First Grade for a fun "Let's Get Acquainted" Linky.  Since I'm fairly new to blogging and I'm getting more and more visitors, I thought this would be a fun way to get to know me a little better.

Just like Tic Tac Toe, you post about 3 of the topics that can make a tic tac toe. I'm going to do mine diagonally.

I went to college at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg (without the "h"), Kansas! We are the home of the Gorillas, the ONLY college in the country that has a Gorilla as a mascot. I was born and raised in Pittsburg and just love living in this town, especially during football season!  My favorite college memory is meeting my husband! I'm a pretty shy person, but it was either sit by him, or some annoying lady and I got up the courage to sit by him. I'm sure glad I did. We met our junior year, graduated together in the fall of '98, and were married in 2000. The icing on the cake...he played football at PSU! I'm a sucker for football players.

My favorite school memory, and this will probably show you the type of competitive person I am was when I was in 4th grade and I was the fastest in the class. I remember having to do the President's fitness test and I won the shuttle run. I was also the quarterback during recess. Needless to say I am not a very girly-girl. Most of my great memories of school involve sports somehow. Like winning basketball tournaments in junior high, going to State in basketball and volleyball, and cheering at State football. (Yep, I was girl enough to cheer in junior high and one year of high school.) I always enjoyed school and have many wonderful memories of my teachers and classmates. I'm sure that's why I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up! The best part, I teach at the school I attended growing up. And this year, all 4 of my boys will be enrolled as Panthers!

My favorite hobbies are watching chick flicks, crafting, baking (NOT COOKING), and playing/watching sports. I enjoy reading history books and love traveling back east to the old cities and battle grounds. If I could, I'd visit different cities just to hit every Open House possible. I LOVE looking at houses and had I not gone in to education, probably should have been a real estate agent. Blogging is now becoming another hobby of mine and I hope you'll continue to check in as I grow in it!

Now you know a little about me. Be sure to check in with Mrs. Reed at Flying into First Grade and learn a little more about some other great bloggers.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Megan