Tuesday, August 19, 2014

WHO Monday! (On Tuesday...)

I'm a day late, but I definitely wanted to participate in Teacher Week 2014 on Blog Hoppin'!  I will catch up throughout the week!


As you know, I am Lauren Patricia, and I am 29 years old.  I grew up and live in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio.

 Here are 10 facts about me!

1.         I have two Boston Terrier rescues who I love beyond words and will talk about WAY too much.   Their names are Roxy and Ozzy.  Roxy’s had a rough summer and needed to have her eye removed!  She is doing AMAZING with only one eye and has had no trouble keeping up with her brother.  Ozzy is my crazy boy and such a lover.  I feel so lucky to have two happy little faces greet me whenever I come home.


2.        My sister, Megan, is four years younger than me and is one of my best friends.  We fought like crazy when we were younger, but I am so glad I have someone who has experienced life with me.  It’s also super awesome to see her find herself and a career that she loves.


3.        I didn’t always want to be a teacher. Crazy, right?  I was adamantly against becoming a teacher.  I have no idea why, but it was not going to happen.  I graduated college with degrees in Criminal Justice, Sociology, and Psychology, worked for a year and realized I was in the wrong profession.  I went back to school and earned my teaching license in two years.  I was born to teach and have never been more positive of anything in my life.  It just took me a while to realize what I was meant to do. 

4.        This will be my third year teaching.  I haven’t had my own classroom yet, and I can’t wait until I do, but I am loving the positions that I have gotten in the meantime.  My first year teaching, I was a Kindergarten Tutor.  I loved working with Kindergarteners and am always AMAZED at how much they learn in ONE year!  They are sponges – and I love it!  The next year, I worked as an ESL assistant.  I have really enjoyed this role and am learning so much and gaining experience in Kindergarten – Third Grade.  I am excited to have the same position this year.

5.        This past year I was really sick and missed almost half of the school year.  I am doing so much better now and am ready to get back to my life.  It’s cliché, but you never realize what you have until it’s gone. 

6.        I love watching Dateline, 48 Hours, and Unsolved Mysteries.  I hear Keith Morrison’s voice and can’t wait for the mystery to begin!

7.        My grandpa was my best friend.  He passed away almost eight years ago.  I still pick up the phone to call him all the time.  I wear a bracelet on my wrist everyday that he ordered for me before he passed away.  He was a Detective and the bracelet has a miniature police badge with his badge number (707) on it and a message he wrote.  I rarely take it off.


8.        I am a bit of a nerd.  I love to read and love history.  I collect Abraham Lincoln books, figurines, pictures, boxes, anything about Lincoln.  This has been my obsession since sixth grade when we had a speaker who dressed like Lincoln come in and speak to our class.  One of my favorite things to teach is American Symbols because I feel like my passion for history and teaching all comes together.

9.        While I was student teaching I used to “rehearse” some of my lessons – I still do!  I like knowing where I would like to be (near the chalkboard, by a certain student, near the table, etc.) while I’m teaching.  Then when I’m teaching, I am familiar with what I want to say and I am able to concentrate on any questions, comments, issues that might arise.  I’m sure it’s pretty funny to walk in on me “rehearsing” with no students!


10.      My favorite children’s book is Purple, Green, and Yellow by Robert Munsch.  I mean who wouldn’t want to color themselves with “super-indelible-never-comes-off-till-you’re-dead-and-maybe-not-even-then” markers?! In fact, I love ALL of Robert Munsch’s books! 
 

Feel free to ask any questions in the comments and I'll be happy to answer them!

Here's the rest of the schedule for the week!  I'm hoping to add Where and Why tomorrow! 

Click HERE! to link up with Blog Hoppin' and join in on the fun!!!

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

First TpT Product!

Hi everyone!  I am so excited to let you all know that I have my FIRST product/freebie available on Teacher Pay Teachers!!!  Ahhhh!  I have made a simple ABC Upper Case/Lower Case Match Up...but they have a Boston Terrier theme!  If you know me, you know I love my dogs and love sharing stories about them with my students.  I cannot wait to use these in the classroom this year.  I KNOW my students will LOVE them!  :)


 And here's a couple pictures of the real Boston Terriers just to make you smile!


Check out my store by clicking here: Lauren's Loft, download my FREEBIE, and let me know what you think!


Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Meet the Teacher Blogger!


Hi Everyone!  I have been busy working on my first TpT product, getting ready for school to start next week, and my Masters classes to start the week after that!  It's going to be a busy, but exciting year!  I thought that Falling Into First's Meet the Teacher Blogger Linky Party sounded like fun so here it is!



THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

boston terriers, black iced tea, organizing, books, traditions, banana cake, abraham lincoln, shopping, teaching!, target, colored pens, the color pink, owls, purses/bags/totes, reading, and binge watching netflix


IF YOU WEREN'T A TEACHER, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO BE?

I would love to be a full-time Nanny!


THREE LITTLE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU.

determined, responsible, creative


FINISH THE SENTENCE, "________,  SAID NO TEACHER EVER!!"

“Please sharpen your pencil while I’m teaching,” said NO teacher ever!!
  

Q: IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY AND YOU CAN INVITE ANYONE {DEAD OR ALIVE} TO THE PARTY. WHO ARE YOU INVITING?

Abraham Lincoln, Lucille Ball, Lady GaGa
  

Q: IF SOMEONE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE?

Wake Up Lauren!  I have a tendency of missing what is right in front of me


Q:YOU GET TO PICK ONE SUPERPOWER. WHAT IS IT?

I would love to have ESP and be able to know what people were thinking.


Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR SAYING?

"to live each day with gratitude, for true gratitude will guard against selfishness, envy, self-pity, and pride.”


Q: IF YOU HAD TO SING ONE SONG ON AMERICAN IDOL, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Miranda Lamberts “Mama’s Broken Heart”


Q: ARE YOU A MORNING PERSON OR A NIGHT OWL?

Definitely a Night Owl!
  

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE RESOURCE THAT YOU'VE CREATED IN YOUR TPT SHOP?

I am working on my first product/resource now and hope to have it up on TpT this weekend!


Q: SHARE SOMETHING WE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU!


I absolutely hate for my food to touch and will not eat the parts of food that have touched other food.  Trust me, it’s contaminated!!!  


Click on the image to link up!

Saturday, August 9, 2014

August Currently...


Hi Everyone!  I am linking up with Farley at Oh' Boy 4th Grade to share my Quick August Currently!  I still can't believe it's August and I will be back to school before I know it!


I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!!!

Friday, August 8, 2014

Five For Friday!



Hi Everyone! I am recovering from gallbladder surgery and thought what better time to participate in my very first Linky Party?! I am linking up with Doodle Bug Teaching for their Five for Friday. This is one of my favorite Linky Parties to read and I am so excited to join in this week!


Here’s My Five for Friday this week!



I am in LOVE with this pink and gold polka-dot binder I found at Target!  It will be the perfect tool for helping me stay organized this year.  It comes in navy blue and lime green as well!  And I was so excited to find a matching notebook at Home Goods!  They seriously make me smile whenever I see them. 



 My Birthday was on Wednesday and I turned 29!!! Only one year left in my twenties!!!! Oh my goodness!!!  I had a great birthday, and went out for breakfast with my Aunt Patty, received my first IV iron treatment (Whoohoo for energy!!!), and finished up the evening going out to dinner with my family.  It was a great day and I feel incredibly lucky to have so many great friends and family! 

I also received a beautiful Kate Spade Bangle from my mom for my birthday.  It is a “Mom Said So” Bangle, and is engraved on the outside to read:  sit up straight, say thank you, do your homework, play nice, say please, and go play outside.  I absolutely love it!!!


I am loving Smartie Pants new Star Student Freebie!  Seriously go visit their blog now and grab it!  I can’t wait to implement it in the classroom this year!


These are my Boston Terriers, Ozzy and Roxy.  I’ve loved spending the summer hanging out with them and cuddling!  I am really going to miss them when I head back to school in a couple weeks! 



Is anyone else completely obsessed with Orange is the New Black?  I have unwillingly fallen onto the OITNB bandwagon.  The show is a complete train wreck but I can’t stop watching!!!


I hope that you are enjoying your last few weeks of summer (If you haven’t gone back to school yet!).  Keep your eyes open for my first Teachers Pay Teachers product coming soon!