Ever since starting my professional blog, I have enjoyed showcasing the learning going on in our classroom, highlighting and celebrating professional and student accomplishments, connecting with the families of our students and expanding my professional learning network through social media! However, similar to many other colleagues and friends who blog, we never usually post anything personal. This is where this game of "tag" comes in...just last week, my wonderful friend and inspiring colleague Angie Harrison "tagged" me through Twitter and within her blog post: http://techieang.edublogs.org/2013/12/12/a-chain-blog-or-getting-to-know-you-better/. I had never heard of what Angie coined "a chain blog" before which essentially meant getting to know our professional learning network better through a dedicated blog post!

So here's how it works:

1. Acknowledge the nominating blogger.

2. Share 11 random facts about yourself.

3. Answer the questions the nominating blogger has created for you.

4. List 5 bloggers.

5. Post 5 questions for the bloggers you nominate to answer, and let all the bloggers know they have been nominated. Don't nominate a blogger who has nominated you. 

*(I've adopted Angie's modifications to 5 people and 5 questions when it's usually 11 people and 11 questions)* 

Here we go.....

11 random facts about me:

1. Dance is my second passion. For 16 years (3/4 of which I danced competitively), I enjoyed every single style from tap, pointe/ballet, and contemporary to jazz and hip hop. I was also given the wonderful opportunity to teach dance at the young age of 16 at my family's studio (where I danced) which ignited my passion for education and the early years in particular. I enjoyed every minute teaching tap, jazz, hip hop and mini dance to girls and boys aged 3-8.


2. I used to dance for the Toronto Raptors Junior Dance "Pak" for 3 years and it was truly an incredible experience I will cherish forever!

3. I love scrapbooking! Whether it be traditional scrapbooking or digital, I love creating scrapbooks as gifts for family, friends and personal keepsakes. 

4. My incredible fiancé and I have been dating 8 wonderful years and we can't wait to get married in July 2014!

5. My Dad's family is Austrian and I've attempted to make my Oma's incredible schnitzel, palaschinkins (crepes), and famous cookies numerous time with little success. However, I do love to bake!

6. I prefer sweets over salts.

7. Pillsbury cinnamon rolls are a Christmas morning tradition in our family. 

8. I've never been someone who does well with bugs (spiders, mosquitoes, bees - doesn't matter - I'm the one running!)

9. Since I was a kid, my favourite cottage "munchie" has been Cheetos Cheezies and to this day, it continues to be a staple food by the dock.

10. The Sound of Music is my all-time favourite movie. I was privileged to have gone on the "Official Sound of Music Tour" during our Christmas break last year in Salzburg, Austria. It was truly a wonderful way to follow and celebrate our engagement! 

Trip of a lifetime!

The house where they filmed Maria singing "I Have Confidence"
down the street before she met the Von Trapp family.

Mondsee Cathedral - the church where
Maria and Captain Von Trapp got married in!

In front of the famous "gazebo!"

11. My fiancé  and I have a 7 year old English Bulldog named "Zaz." We adopted her when she was 4 from a breeder and she has been the best addition to our little family of my fiancé and I. 

Here are the responses to the questions Angie asked me:

1. What is your favourite picture book?
It's definitely hard to pick just one, but I will choose the one that popped into my head first and it was a childhood favourite of mine, entitled "Four Fur Feet" by Margaret Wise Brown. This book is one that I remember reading over and over again with my family and by myself not only because the illustrations were beautifully done, but also because of the book's contagious rhyme! 

2. What is your favourite TV show and why?
Without question, I don't think I've ever missed an episode of Ellen. Her kindness, sense of humour, and compassion are contagious and I truly love watching her! I often find myself showing my fiancé YouTube clips from her shows and I love how she makes us laugh!

3. If you could recommend one professional book what would it be and why?
I would recommend Pearson's resource called "Exploration: Learning Through Inquiry and Play" because it truly is a fantastic Early Years resource that breaks down elements of a "play-based" environment while coupling in real-life examples, inquiries, cross-curricular connections, environmental design, home/school connections and beyond! It's full of beautiful coloured photos as well and is most certainly an easy read with lots to take away! (http://www.pearsoned.ca/school/product/explorations/ -- downloadable templates used and referenced throughout the book)

4. Provide a recipe for a great Christmas drink.
"Candy Cane Cocoa"

INGREDIENTS:
- 4 cups of milk
- 3 (1 ounce) squares of semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
- 4 peppermint candy canes crushed
- 1 cup of whipped cream
- 4 small peppermint candy canes

DIRECTIONS:
In a saucepan, heat milk until hot, but not boiling. Whisk in the chocolate and the crushed peppermint candies until melted and smooth. Pour hot cocoa into four mugs, and garnish with whipped cream. Serve each with a candy cane stirring stick. Enjoy!

5. What makes you tick?
I'd have to say not being organized and not being on time. Perhaps it's the perfectionist in me, but I have to stay organized and punctual for any occasion!  


Here are the people I would like to nominate to answer questions. Following suit with Angie, I have chosen 5 people and 5 questions. Please still provide 11 random facts about yourself. Feel free to post on your blogs or by replying to mine! 

1. Heather Jelley: http://teamjelleybean.blogspot.ca 

2. Diane King

3. Lisa Donohue: http://lisadonohue.wordpress.com

4. Tania Sterling: http://taniasterling.wordpress.com

5. Connie Lowe: http://www.room8-adventuresinkindergarten.blogspot.ca

Here are my 5 questions for you to answer in your response:

1. If you could have any superpower what would it be and why?

2. If you could be any animal in the world, what would you be and why?

3. If you could sum up your love for teaching in 3 words what would they be and why?

4. Share one of your favourite dessert recipes.

5. Chocolate, strawberry or vanilla ice cream? Why?

Thanks for taking the time to read up on a little bit about me and I hope you enjoyed all the random facts! Looking forward to seeing the response of those who I nominated and learning more about my professional learning network! 

"We Can See" Project - A True Celebration

About a month and a half ago, my good friend and inspiring colleague Angie Harrison (founder of the "We Can See" Project) was contacted by a writer for the Ontario College of Teacher's "Professionally Speaking" magazine who was interested in showcasing this incredible global inquiry that stemmed from one simple question, "What do you see when you look outside your classroom window?" Not only did this project begin with such a simple question, but it resulted in connecting classrooms on a global scale as our youngest learners began to inquire and learn about their communities and the world around them; a truly authentic way of connecting the big ideas in the Full Day Kindergarten Curriculum to the real world. 

(You can read about our involvement in this incredible project by clicking on the "We Can See Project" tab under Categories or by visiting our collaborative blog space: http://wecanseeprojectsharingspace.blogspot.ca)

Safe to say, I was truly honoured when Angie extended the interview opportunity to myself and another good friend and inspiring colleague, Joanne Babalis (http://myclassroomtransformation.blogspot.ca). Not only was this something I had never anticipated, but it was truly a celebration of our learning as a class and as a professional learning network of many educators from the 2012-2013 school year and I couldn't be more honoured, inspired, and thrilled to be a part of this documented journey! 

After checking my mailbox daily for the last week or so, the December issue of "Professionally Speaking" magazine finally arrived and I couldn't be more proud to see our journey documented for other educators to read about and feel inspired by! 

Here is the article for you to enjoy:

I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to Angie and Joanne for continuing to inspire me on a daily basis. I feel incredibly fortunate to have you both in my professional learning network and I can't wait to see where our next global inquiry of "Looking Closely" takes us! Here's to new learning and a wonderful journey ahead!  

"Be the change you want to see in the world" - Mahatma Gandhi

Over the course of this past week, many schools across Canada have been acknowledging, promoting, and educating their learners around bullying and in particular, Anti-Bullying Awareness Week's theme of "Stand Up!"

By D.K. 

At Lorna Jackson Public School, our school's Positive Climate For Learning committee and student team worked very hard at addressing key messages, bullying tips and how to be an "UPstander" throughout many school-wide initiatives and during our Good News Assembly.

By G.B. 

By J.S. 

The reason for this post is because, in our class, our youngest learners have truly shown a deep understanding for what it means to be a "bully" and how we can stand up for ourselves, our friends and make a difference. Over the course of this past week, the students in our classroom have taken the profound initiative to want to teach others about what bullying means and how to stand up to a bully. 

By J.L.

By P.B.

Ms. Theis and I couldn't have felt more inspired by our students as they showcased their thinking and made it visible through drawings, writing, small group discussions and during daily read aloud opportunities. Not only were some children able to talk about their own experiences around how they have felt when someone has mean to them, but they were able to articulate strategies, acknowledge each other's ideas and show a true desire to be the best friend they can be to their peers. 

By T.B.

By Z.P.

One SK in particular, decided to illustrate his understanding of a bully through the form of a visual story. It is clear through his story-telling, that E.Sz. has a very important message and we hope that as you watch, you can see that even as young as 4, our students can be the change! 

Similarly, others students in our class took to our iPads and in particular the app called "Doodlecast" to create stories around bullying and how to stand up to them for themselves or their peers. We have captured their videos here and we hope you enjoy listening to their special messages as well. 

(Doodlecast is $1.99 from iTunes)

(Story by E.S.)

(Story by T.B.)

Thank you to our students' families for letting us showcase their work on our blog and setting an example for how our youngest learners have a strong message to give and can be the change we want to see in the world. For more information around Anti-Bullying Awareness Week, please visit: www.bullyingawarenessweek.org.