Me - stylish? Aww, shucks!

I've been given the:

by Kim at Sailing Into First Grade

Thanks, bloggy buddy!

Since I've received this award I have to:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award. (check!)

2. Share 7 things about yourself. (check!)

~ I have been happily married to my husband Shawn for nearly 9 years - we've been together for 13!

~ I am the proud mommy of one super-cool kid named Jackson.

~ I am currently student teaching in a kindergarten class. I'll be done the day before Good Friday. I'm already starting to get chocked up at the thought of leaving my kinder kids. :(

~ I will {finally!} graduate in May with my degree! Woot! It's been a L_O_N_G time coming.

~I had the most ah-mazing opportunity to teach overseas in Cambodia last May. It has forever changed my life as a person. You can read about it here.

~ In my spare time, my favorite hobby is browsing through the many great teacher blogs on the 'net for great ideas to enhance my {future} little learners' time in my classroom.

~ I am beginning the job search. I cannot wait until I have my very own classroom full of eager learners!

3. Award 5 recently discovered great bloggers.(check!)

What The Teacher Wants! {LOVE} this blog! It is such an awesome resource. This blog is always one of my go-to blogs for ideas and inspiration.

Growing Kinders This blog always has super-cute printables to use for every theme and holiday. This really helps a newbie like me!

Little Learners Lounge I just {love} the coll ideas this teacher mommy does with her sweet little one at home. (Mommy Hugs!)

Mrs. Lee's Kindergarten This teacher's support for her student teacher makes my heart happy! As a student/beginning teacher that support means the world.

First Grade Fun This blog has such cool music in her playlist! My son {loves} it when I visit her blog. :)

4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about this award (check!)

Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog!

Teaching Adventures in Cambodia

In May 2010, I had the opportunity to teach overseas in Cambodia with the McMaster School for Advancing Humanity within Defiance College. While I was there I conducted two teacher training sessions on the direct instruction teaching method.

What an adventure it was! I grew leaps and bounds professionally, personally and spiritually. As bad as we teachers here in America think we have it, one trip to a classroom in a third-world country will make us thank our lucky stars for all that we are blessed with. Take, for example, air conditioning. I know I take it for granted, how about you? I have never felt heat as intense as in Cambodia. As soon as I stepped off the plane in the middle of the night I was dripping with sweat. During the day, the temperature rose to 110 degrees, and dropped a whopping 15 degrees to 95 at night. Imagine yourself teaching in an open-air classroom with 30-plus students, and you'll understand why I look so terrible in these pictures! (That, and the fact that my luggage was lost the entire three weeks I was gone!)

I love the pictures of the King, Queen, Prince, and flag above the chalk board.
The Khmer people have a strong sense of nationalism.



This was a highlight of my trip. Our organization paid each teacher in attendance to cover the wages they missed (plus a little extra) by taking a day off from their classrooms.



I {love} these kids!

This trip constantly stretched me out of my comfort zone, and hardest of all was being away from my husband and son for a month. The time that I spent with the children at the schools and women's centers encouraged me each day while strengthening my teaching skills.

I am so thankful I had the opportunity to share my skills with teachers across the globe.