The Last of the Late Homework... and a Hunny

So I have a few more thank yous to add and some overdue link-ups to share. And there's a great anchor chart Linky Party with Kristen at Ladybug Teacher Files that I want to join this weekend... you should stop by too!

And, speaking of linking up, there's another opportunity to connect at Math Coach's Corner.  Donna has recently added a sixth grade section to her Blog Hop.  Sometimes sixth grade classes get left out of the loop--especially if we are at an elementary school. I really wanted to participate, so I asked Donna if she would add a section for sixth grade blogs and... POOF! In minutes, it was done! THANKS DONNA.  So, if you teach math, kindergarten and beyond, head on over...

Here's (another) confession: I have a "Completion Anxiety" problem.  It's the same reason I cannot eat just one Pepperidge Farm cookie.  I have to eat ALL of the cookies in the little paper cup, because if I don't, it's not complete. And don't get me started on Pringles. Why isn't one serving equal to one can?  They all fit together so neatly. Why break up a set?

ANYWAY, I already told you that I still lament the fact that I didn't finish those college thank you notes. So I just HAVE TO finish these last few assignments. I really DO have other things to share.  But I can't until I'm D-O-N-E.

So, here's the last of it...

Pink Tiara Book Blog Tour

One of my favorite opportunities since coming to Blogland was the opportunity to interview Maria Dismondy, author of Pink Tiara Cookies for Three and Spaghetti on a Hot Dog Bun (you can read the interview HERE). The "Spaghetti book" was one of my favorites before I met Maria and I didn't even know that she was the same author when I joined up on her Pink Tiara Book Blog Tour. It was a wonderful experience (I've likened it to meeting a movie star!) and I loved having a chance to hold a giveaway.  But I never told  you who won!

Thankfully, gentle prompting from my always-gracious buddy, Barbara, at The Corner on Character, kept this omission in my "Get This Done File" and now I am finally typing: The winner of the book and tiara cookie cutter was "Delighted" at First Grade Delight. Congratulations, Delighted! I have forwarded your name and e-mail to Maria. (You just have to believe me on the Random Number Generator. I did use it. Since my comments are still numbered twice and alternate between ascending and descending order on any given day, I had to write down the names and "Delighted" was number 9--which matched the RNG. I promise that this accounting is true and correct. After all, who would lie about a book and a cookie cutter? That would just be awful. I wouldn't and I didn't. Honest.)

I also missed some thank you messages (even after the treatise I posted a few days ago). I scrolled waaaaaaay back so I hope I didn't leave anyone out. And if I have missed someone, I'm already worried I haven't thanked you. So please leave me a comment or e-mail me. I know I'll probably need to catch up again. In July. {sheepish grin}

Thanks for the Liebster Blog Award
My appreciation for recognizing my blog with the Liebster Award for "new" blogs is sent with gratitude to... Casey at Cardigans and Curriculum, Kelly at Fabulous in Fourth, Jana at Thinking Out Loud, Miss P at Diary of a Fifth Grade Teacher and Ms. L at Life with Mrs. L. Thank you for celebrating my blog and sending readers over to visit.

Thanks also to...
I was touched to receive the Versatile Blogger Award from three wonderful BloggyFriends. Thanks so much for your kindness and support, Elizabeth from Fun in 4B, Heather from Loose Shoelaces and Marcia from Learning Ideas--Grades K-8.

More thanks to...
It was an honor to also be recognized by Heather (Loose Shoelaces) for the Top 10 Blog Award and by Tammy from Confessions of a Fourth Grade Teacher for the Lovely Blog Award. Thanks for considering Joy in Sixth worthy of such sweet accolades.

Almost Done, But Not Quite...
Those are the Thank You notes.
There were also some Linky Parties I promised to attend...

How You Met Your Hunny

Chrissy B. at Buzzing with Ms. B. had a Linky Party which asked bloggers to share how they met their hunny. Yes, it was February when she started the party, but good parties don't end quickly, right? Chrissy, I wanted you to know I hadn't forgotten.

So here's my "Hunny Story"...

When I went away to college, I lived in a high rise dorm.  Each two floors counted as a "house" with alternating genders on every other floor. It was the seventies and OP shorts (often corduroy, go figure!) and Izod ("Alligator") shirts were all the rage.  Women had their hair cut with Farrah Fawcett "wings." "Preppy" was in fashion, and sweater vests, oxford shirts and Sperry Topsiders were common--for both men and women!

Many of the students in our two-level-of-the-dorm-"house" hung out together and became friends. Mr. Cutie Pie lived upstairs, and I was attracted to his intellect, his sense of humor and his sweet face.  He was a BioChem and Cell Biology major.  I was majoring in trying to find a major. In fact, I kept a list of possible majors in my backpack and changed my major almost every quarter (Biology, Linguistics, Psychology, Physical Anthropology... I was confused!).  The people at the registrar knew me on sight.

Circa 1976

The following year, I shared an on-campus apartment with some of my friends from the dorm, and the rest of our friends often filled the living room for parties and casual get-togethers.  The large group often gathered in The Apartment to watch soap operas and eat lunch in between classes and to share dinners and adventures in the evenings. Mr. Cutie Pie was often in this group.

We spent more time together, discovered common interests, and learned to appreciate each others' quirkiness. He tutored me in microbiology (drawing little pictures to help me understand the concepts) and eventually we became an item. 


We were together for six years and plenty of changes (including three universities and four more majors for me!) Eventually we went our separate ways and that could have been the end of just another college love story...

But it didn't end there. TWENTY years later, we reconnected.

And here we are... ten years after that. We have now known each other almost thirty seven years--two thirds of our lives! He's my biggest advocate and cheerleader...and it still makes me chuckle when I hear him in a conversation, championing the rights of teachers or bemoaning the difficulties of our jobs. And that's in addition to grading papers, tutoring struggling readers at school, and helping out at sixth grade events. Yep, he's a keeper!

You Know You're  Teacher When...
Jeannie Partin of Kindergarten Lifestyle  had a fun Linky Party which actually found a home on Pinterest! It included a range of "confessions" about the ways we let people know that we are teachers--even when when we don't intend to...

In December, I bought a new red car. As I examined it, my mind was racing with images of filling it up--not with camping equipment or luggage for a road trip... Nope. In my mind, I pictured it filled with school stuff! How many boxes of books could I pile up in the "way back"? How many bags and boxes would fit in the back seat?  I still love my new car.. It's just right for a teacher like me.

And...

And I seem to ask this question with just enough overemphasis that people pause and look at me suspiciously.  Now I just concede, "Yes, I'm a teacher..." before they have a chance to speculate.

Kids Say the Darnedest Things
It didn't take long for Jeannie to start another Linky at Kindergarten Lifestyle.  This one generated plenty of funny stuff that teachers have heard kids say. And since it's been said, "Better late than never..." here is my contribution:

Whew! I think I have kept my promises to link up with your Linky Parties, to announce the giveaway winner and to thank those whom I had accidentally overlooked. Maria, please forgive me for the delay in contacting you with the necessary details. Barbara, anyone would be lucky to have a friend as wonderful as you!

And, Mom, thanks for the reminders. I hope this makes up for at least a few of those unfinished thank you notes. I miss you.

Make Up Homework: Part 1

When I graduated from college (shortly after the reign of the dinosaurs), I didn't finish my thank you notes. That knowledge has haunted me for close to forty years--to the extent that I have often considered trying to find the unfinished pile to complete the task (And the fact that locating those notes is even a possibility makes it obvious why there is a "Clutter-free Classroom" button on my sidebar!) Now I have left some blog-tasks unfinished for far too long. So today is the day.  I will start finishing my homework and turning it all in.

Awards... Awards are a funny thing.  As I mentioned before in one of those "revealing" posts about "Twenty-Three Things You'd Never Guess About Me" (or something close to that!), I generally shy away from recognition. I am much better at gift giving than receiving. So it is with Awards. I am just learning to be a Blogger, but I have had sweet, wonderful people recognize my efforts.

So, I had two choices: Be secretly delighted or be publicly thankful. Had I not waited so long, I would have just sent a nice note to the givers and gone on with life.  But now my tardiness seems to warrant a more outward recognition. Besides, I have a chance to post cute little buttons all in a row and say a GIANT thank you to those who found something they enjoyed on my blog. AND, it's a chance to ask my BlogPals to check out some new places.

I would also like to add: While I was having my "BlogStruggle," I was feeling like I didn't have enough to share with the blogging community.  In a rare moment of bravery, I chose to share my concerns in a post. Truth: I spent the next few days crying over the sweet responses. Your support REALLY did make a difference. Truly... Thank you.

(It is a strange feeling to have something happen at school and think to myself: Hey! I could write about that! I'm excited about blogging again).

The Liebster Award.

This award is given to blogs with less than 200 followers and passed from Blogger to Blogger to highlight up and coming awards.  Liebe is the German word for love, so this award has a special meaning for those just starting out. Guidelines for this award are as follows:1) Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog 2) Link back to the blogger who presented the award to you 3) Copy and paste the blog award on your blog 4) Present the Liebster Blog Award to blogs of 200 followers or less who you feel deserve to be noticed and 5) Let them know they have been chosen by leaving a comment at their blog.

I was lucky enough to be awarded the Liebster Award...

by Cortney at Once Upon a Substitute

by Lauren at Life in Middle School

by CK at Learning Outside the Box

and by Misty at think Wonder and Teach

and by Ms D at A Superlative Six

These are all wonderful blogs. Click on the button and take a peek!

And here are some new blogs for you to check out as well... They are now recipients of the Liebster Award!


First up is a brand new blog: Teaching Living History. She's so new, she has only one follower--and that would be me.  Why now show her some Bloggy love and stop by...

Next up is a Teacher's Looking Glass.  Sam is also just starting out (She doesn't have a button yet either), and her most recent post has some great solar system ideas! Take a peek! 

Then there is Piece of Cupcake Life. Melissa also awarded me the Lovely Blog Award--which just shows how blogs link together! There is a lot of fun stuff going on on that site. You may recognize her from the mega-wedding contest...

Finally, Over-Caffeinated and Optimistic. This blogger is a consistent poster--yet, at last check, she only had 14 followers. I think you're going to like what you see and decide to follow her too!

The Top 10 Blog Award

I was also blessed to be awarded the Top Ten Blog Award. I really was secretly tickled about this one. It was a huge reassurance to receive this award when I was feeling so uncertain.
 

In the middle of my Blogging Meltdown, these sweet BlogFriends sent over an extra dose of kindness and it really did help me get back on track.  I want you to know your caring spirit rates a Top 10 in my book!

I was blessed to receive the Top 10 Award from:

Staci at Going Nutty

Elizabeth at Fun in 4B

Chrissy B at Buzzing with Ms. B.

Molly at Lessons with Laughter

Melissa at Piece of Cupcake Life

There are all great blogs... Click on over and check out what they are posting today...

The Lovely Blog Award

Isn't the Lovely Blog Award so precious? I just love those sweet pink flowers. To the sweet BlogFriends who recognized my blog with this treasure, I recognize YOUR loveliness to and return the award with a huge CyberHug!

I was so touched to receive this flowered treasure from:

Emmy at Daydreams of a Student Teacher

Mor at A Teacher's Treasure

Michelle at Apples and ABCs

and Tara at 4th Grade Frolics

The Versatile Blogger Award

Lisa at A Teacher's Bag of Tricks gave me the Versatile Blogger Award and I never thanked her formally. Thanks, Lisa for the honor!

And One More

If you don't know My Dear Sweet Buddy Barbara from Corner on Character, it's time you introduced yourself.

If you read Corner on Character, you know why I stop there each morning for a daily dose of inspiration.  Barbara awarded me the Favorite Follower award., but I think I should be awarding her a favorite FollowED award. So, Barbara, I award this award right back to you.

So there you have it. PLEASE don't think of this as a "Look at Me" post because it's not. I am, however, excited to express my gratitude and celebrate all of the bloggers that are "pictured."

Best of all,  I think my mom is looking down from Heaven with a smile because I got SOMETHING done! She was always reminding me about the importance of thank you notes...

One more make-up post tomorrow and I'm in the clear!

Until then, I wish you JOY!

 

Sunshine Radiating from California!

It was 85 degrees in California today... so it seems appropriate to be sending the Sunshine Award back out into the BlogWorld.

I am honored to have received this Award from:

The Corner on Character, 

A Teacher's Treasure,

Learning Ideas - Grades K-8, and

Jasztalville: Where Inquiry and Creativity Rules.

These are all blogs that I love, so I felt so SUNSHINEY inside to see my name on their list too! Thanks, Pals!  Your blogs inspire me daily!



Here's the truth:  I have become quite attached to my BlogFriends! (Don't tell my "local" friends, but I have "postponed" (didn't seem nice to say "avoided" ) them more than once to chat and "listen" to you!)

So here are the answers to the requisite questions...

Favorite color: Purple (a healing color for me--physically or emotionally, purple often sets things right in my world. My classroom has plenty of purple. I even have purple shoes!)

Favorite animal: Sloth. Not kidding. My second favorite animal is a manatee. Notice a trend... Slow moving, kinda chubby, blissfully unaware... oh, OOPS, I forgot I was describing an animal...

Favorite number: 17  I started teaching in Room 17. Now I teach in B17. At least I don't get lost (At school. I am OFTEN lost everywhere else I go)

Favorite drinks: VentiMochaNoWhip at Starbucks. I say it as one word. But I really do WANT whip. (See answer to the question about favorite animal for rationale...)

Facebook or Twitter: I can barely answer my cell phone. Sometimes I need help from my kids to work the technology in my classroom. I've tried both. I'd rather eat ice cream.

My passion: Trying to invent new ways to motivate and teach sixth graders who don't always want to learn. I keep thinking that  I will read enough, buy enough, find enough ideas (Thank you, Blog Friends!) to figure out the secret. I think I need to add blogging to my passion list too, because it makes me soooooo HAPPY!

Giving or receiving: Giving. Definitely. I feel awkward getting things. I'm always grateful, but I'm so graceless (and tardy) in expressing it. Giving is MUCH easier for me.

Favorite day: Saturdays. AHHHHHHHHH. Sleeping in. Big breakfasts. Extra coffee. No deadlines.   DARN! I'm writing this on a MONDAY!  BIG Sigh.

Now the nominating. This is difficult because the award has been passed around a few times. First, I would give it back to those who passed it on to me! (See paragraph two for some great places to visit!  LINK UP!)

Then I would add... in no particular order...
1. A Teeny Tiny Teacher (Always makes me laugh. A LOT. Anyone else want to bribe Kristin to come teach at YOUR school?! I'll start the bidding...)



2.  Oh Boy Fourth Grade (She cracks me up too! Completely original, that girl! Farley and Kristen together? We would need medical help from that much laughter! My sides hurt thinking of the possibilities)


3. Runde's Room (One of the first blogs I ever read! And the first person to link me to Pinterest! YAY, Jen! I have borrowed charts, art, AND math ideas from you!)



4. Sixth Grade Scott Foresman Reading Street Resources (Another of my first-ever-read blogs! So glad you're back, Shannon!)



5. Cardigans and Curriculum (Dear Casey appreciates social studies like Jen Runde and I do! Great site!)



6. Teaching My Friends (This blog is terrific. I keep having to print the posts because there is so much information. Soooo Organized. So inspiring!)



7. Life in 4B. (Miss Bongers teaches fourth graders... but my sixth graders would be so lucky to have her stop by! I love to see those little papers taped in the notebooks--along with the great stuff that always follows!)


8. Miss Klohn's Classroom (So excited that another 6th grade teacher knows how I feel!  Check out Katie's colorful library and her new blog look!)



9.  Fourth Grade Frolics (Tara writes from her heart--Just like Barbara from the Corner!  A sweet blogger with a new blog look--and it's partly purple!)



10.Multi-Grade Matters: Ideas for a Split Grade (I continue to great wonderful math ideas here.  Lots of interesting posts from Deborah!)



The sun is setting here, but it's still warm.  Sending warm thoughts to anyone who made it to the bottom of this post (and to those who made it partway too!)

Now... it's time for me to link up with some blogs to help me fill in the rest of my plan book for tomorrow!   JOY!