Liebster Blog

Wow... My little blog was nominated for a Liebster Award by Shannon at The Teaching Twosome! The Liebster Award is an award for new blogs. Liebster is a German word that means beloved, cute, lovely, dearest and welcome!   

Here are the rules for accepting this nomination:
1. Link back to the blog that nominated me.
2. Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 250 followers.
3. Answer the questions posted for you by your nominator.
4. Share 11 random facts about yourself.
5. Create 11 questions for your nominees.
6. Contact your nominees by commenting on their blog or sending them an email to communicate the nomination.

I’ve nominated the following blogs.

Mrs. Holder's First Grade

Adventures With Firsties

The Techie Teacher

Mrs. Cranfill's Class

Here are the questions from Shannon and my answers.

1.  Why did you start your own blog?

When I began teaching, I was immediately blown away by the networking behind teacher blogging. I knew it was something that I wanted to do. My hope was that I could inspire other teachers in the way that the blogs I read were inspiring me.

2.  Why is your favorite sweet treat?

Everything? As a Hershey native, I'm partial to a good ol' milk chocolate bar. (However, just returning from my first European trip, I'm pretty hooked on that Italian gelato!)

3.  Do you have any siblings?

One older brother.

4.  How do you like to spend your spare time?

Honestly? I can usually be found surfing through other teacher blogs and pinning like crazy. My wife and I adopted a cocker spaniel this year and we can usually be found treating him like our dog-child.

5.  What’s the best thing about being a teacher?

Comments from parents about how much I've touched their child's life. As a first grade teacher, we're all used to comments from our students about how much they love us and how fun we are and how much they love school... To hear from parents about how excited their child is to wake up every morning and race to school? Melts my heart.

6.  If you could spend the day with a famous person, who would it be?

Milton Hershey.  In the summer, my wife and I (she's also a teacher) work on the Hershey Trolley giving historical tours of town. They're not just your average tour. Oh no. I get paid to sing and change costumes and make a fool of myself. Telling his story every day is beyond inspiring. He and his wife were unable to have their own children, so they started a school for underprivileged kids, and he signed over all of his stock in the company to the school. It's free for the students, and they're provided with opportunities they'd never have experienced if it weren't for him. Also, my wife teaches there and I'm a little jealous.

7.  What is your favorite season and why?

Fall. My family goes camping every year, and I love seeing all the different colors of the leaves over the river.

8.  Name two of you favorite school supplies and tell why they are your favorite.

Sharpie. Who doesn't love a fresh, new sharpie?! I also have a set of jumbo push-pins that I adore.

9.  What is your favorite children’s book?

This has to be a trick question. I'm notorious for telling my students that every book I read to them is my favorite book. I could never pick a favorite, BUT, I'll narrow it down to two. My favorite Dr. Seuss book is The Lorax... My other favorite book to read to my kiddos is The Polar Express. I nearly cry like a baby at the end of it because they're just so young and naive and I don't want them to grow up!

10.  Do you have any siblings?

Oops! This was on here twice! 

11. What is some good advice for up and coming bloggers?

Have fun!!!!!

Here are eleven random facts about me. 

1. My wife and I are far too in love with our dog.

2. I could eat cheese every meal of the day.

3. My wife and I were the leads in our high school musical... I was the Music Man and she was my Marian the Librarian.

4. I may have a pinterest addiction.

5. I'm also addicted to instagram.

6. I have a keurig in my classroom and my students know the sound it makes when it's finished... someone always comes over to tell my my coffee is ready. I'm rather spoiled in that regard.

7. I've never seen The Godfather.

8. I stop at the Dollar Tree on the way home from school to see if they have anything new that I "need."

9. I sometimes drive out of my way to stop at Starbucks on my way to school.

10. If it was a long day, I'll stop at Starbucks on the way home, too.

11. I ran a 10k a few months ago and haven't run since... Oops!

Here are the questions for my nominees.

1. What's the last book you finished?

2. When did you decide to become a teacher?

3. Do you have any advice for new teachers?

4. How do you unwind after a day at school?

5. What's your dream vacation?

6. How do you stay on top of that pile of paperwork?

7. Favorite sweet treat?

8. Favorite movie?

9. Favorite food?

10. Why did you start blogging?

11. What was the best advice you ever received?

Thanks again to Shannon for nominating my blog! If I nominated yours, please link back or comment so I can read your post!

Andrew