PLN challenge: 1. Tag, You’re it!

I was surprised and humbled to be tagged to participate in this blog challenge.  My blog is a little over two years old, but this is the first year that I’ve been regular in my postings (only b/c my supe makes me write about digital resources every Monday – just kidding, Dr. R, you know I love this stuff!!).  So, I’m excited to take part in this challenge to meet new people, read new blogs, and learn new stuff.

Here are the rules…

The PLN Blogging Challenge:

1. Acknowledge the nominating blogger. 
2. Share 11 random facts about yourself. 
3. Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger has created for you.
4. List 11 bloggers. They should be bloggers you believe deserve some recognition and a little blogging love!
5. Post 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate to answer and let all the bloggers know they have been nominated. (You cannot nominate the blogger who nominated you.)

Acknowledge the nominating blogger – I was nominated by Lisa Kincer.  She is @kincerlisa on Twitter and writes at http://love2learn4life.weebly.com.  She is a fellow Hoosier and passionate educator.

Share 11 random facts about yourself –

1. I have two incredible children – a boy and a girl.  My daughter is like me in almost every way.  This is both amazing and frustrating.

2. I love to travel, preferably to somewhere with a beach involved.  Italy/Spain is my dream trip.

3. I have been to several countries in S. America and lived in Chile for the summer of 2012.

4. I love to dance.  I took fourteen years of lessons growing up, but now mostly dance to entertain my children in the living room.  They are an easy audience to please.

5. I was a ten-year 4-H member.

6. I’m the fifth generation female in my family to have dimples.  My daughter is the sixth.  I loved them when I was younger, but think it’s just plain wrong that I have to deal with “fine lines” where my dimples are now.  I guess it is just motivation to keep smiling.

7. I actually enjoy exercising.  I really do.  All kinds.

8. I LOVE to read.  I love everything from historical fiction to paranormal romance.  I’ve read six novels over Christmas break all on my phone via my Kindle app.

9. I like to cook and bake.  My favorite thing to do in the kitchen is modify existing recipes, or create new ones.  It’s a creative outlet for me, and I don’t have enough time to enjoy it as I’d like to.

10. I’ve had LASIK surgery twice, and still wear contacts.

11. I love being a curriculum director.  If you’d told me that I would say that five years ago I would’ve thought you were crazy.

Answer Lisa’s questions:

1.  What is one thing you tried this school year that you learned about from your PLN? Working on an iBook to share with my teachers.

2.  If you weren’t in education, what would you do instead? I would be a nutritionist.  I’m fascinated by foods, vitamins, exercise and how it all ties together.  I’d love to be able to use that knowledge to help others lead healthier lifestyles.

3.  Who was your favorite teacher growing up and how did she/he inspire you? I had several favorites.  My first grade teacher, Mrs. Domenico, was so incredibly kind.  I’m beyond blessed that my son is now in her class.  I had the same teacher for third and fourth grade, Mrs. Ihnen, and loved her both years.  She differentiated to allow us personalized learning before it was in vogue.  She challenged us to think creatively, and allowed us a lot of freedom in our learning.  School was fun.  In high school, Mr. Zinsmeister, was my teacher for several English classes.  He was young, passionate, and fun.  He pushed us to try our hardest.  All of these teachers had characteristics that I hope I displayed once I was a classroom teacher.

4.  What is one example of ed-tech that you use daily in your work with students? As a curriculum director, I no longer work directly with students.  However, I daily research digital resources for our teachers so they can integrate technology into their instruction.  I’m a huge proponent of Twitter for personal professional development.

5.  What characteristic do you value most in a team member or colleague? Respect.  I don’t expect everyone to agree with me, but if we have mutual respect for one another, then we will be able to do what is best for our students without getting defensive or offended.

6.  What is the best book you’ve read lately? I recently finished Sunset Rising by S.M. McEachern.  It reminded me a lot of Hunger Games, but definitely took on its own plot developemnt.  I’m eager to read the next book in the series which is released later this month.

7.  If you could have dinner with three people, alive or no-longer living, who would you select, and why?  What/where would you eat? Sorry – I hate this question.  It is just so overwhelming, but I will try to live up to the expectations…. I don’t think I would include all of these people in one dinner date (which probably violates the rules to this question, but I’m rebelling and not caring).  I would definitely pick my grandma.  She died too young, and I still miss her dearly.  I’d like to have dinner with her at the house she lived in when I was growing up.  I don’t care what food we’d eat for dinner, but we’d have angel food cake for dessert (that was something we shared a love for).  I just want to tell her about my life and show her pictures of my kids.  And just hold her one more time.  Gosh, anyone else I think of just kind of pales in comparison.  Sorry, rebelling again, and only picking her.

8.  Connections totally fascinate me, so name one member of your PLN and tell how you became connected with him/her.  {Just in the time it has taken me to type this blog post, seven individuals have popped up as my new Twitter followers – leaving me quite excited to check out who they are – but also curious as to how they found me.} Holly Stachler (@classTECHnique), Seth Hamilton (@edtechseth), and Mike Kneebone (@mikekneebone).  They are a package deal.  We sat together last summer at a four-day Apple training.  What can I say?  We bonded.

9.   What is your favorite children’s or YA book of all time? Children’s: The Gruffalo (though, it’s realllllly hard for me to pick a favorite.) YA: The Giver

10.  What educational conference is on your “do not miss” list for 2014? ISTE

11. If you had to narrow down your words of wisdom for students or fellow-educators to just three words, what would they be?  Please identify the intended audience (educators or students) for your words as you share them Words that should descirbe them as Educators: flexible, open-minded, co-learner

Bloggers I am nominating:

Bethany Hall    http://mrshallsclassroomwriters.blogspot.com    @BethanyHall5

Anne Clark       http://mrsclark7.weebly.com/mrs-clark-reads.html   @AnneClark7

Jake Everett    http://mreguy.weebly.com/    @MrEtalltteacher

Justin Vail      http://www.educationshift.net/  @ED_Shift

Tara Linney    http://excelpcsedtechpd.weebly.com/   @TechTeacherT

Krista Moroder  http://www.edtechcoaching.org/    @edtechcoaching

Danielle West   http://aemediachic.blogspot.com/   @aemediachic

Kathy Cassidy  http://mscassidysclass.edublogs.org/   @KathyCassidy

Rachel Haselby    http://haselbysthoughts.blogspot.com/    @RHaselby

Dan Layton   http://educationspork.blogspot.com/    @DanLayton2

Scott Newcomb   http://www.themobilenative.org/   @SNewco

Nathan Jones   http://melanomathletecyclist.blogspot.com.au/    @elearnjones

My Questions:

1. What is your favorite part about working in education?

2. Who is an educator who challenges your thinking, and why?

3. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?  What would you do there?

4. What one event has shaped you the most as an educator?

5. Who is your favorite Tweep?

6. How do you learn best?

7. If you had to pick one, which would you choose?  Ice cream or pie?

8. What five words best describe where you live?

9. What five words best describe you?

10. If you could change one thing in education what would it be?

11. Who is your favorite celebrity?

I hope my fellow bloggers enjoy this as much as I did!