Tell me more, more, more!!!

I'm arriving fashionably late to Amy's Linky Party.  I love a good linky, so it's about time I showed up for the party!

1.  I have really, really loud sneezes!  Seriously, whenever I sneeze at school my kiddos jump!  They never get use to it either.  People always say "Wow, that's such a big sneeze for such a little person!" HA!

2. I will NOT eat buffets!!!  A long time ago I witnessed a kid picking his nose {and a buger}...and then...he TOUCHED the food with his HANDS!!!!  EWWWWW!  I've been scarred ever since! 

3.  I don't eat anything off of a bone.  It has to be a filet or boneless if I'm gonna eat it.  Does anybody else out there get grossed out by the little blue part on the bone?  Let's just say that I hate dread days when the cafeteria serves chicken legs!  Those little babies just gnaw the daylights off those things!

4.  I just moved from Alabama to teach in Mississippi.  Can't wait to meet my third graders!

5.  I secretly like to make up rap songs.

6.  When I am getting gas it has to land on an even number.

7.  I own every Hanson CD ever made, and I seriously STILL listen to them!  I can sing every line of MMM Bop.  That will always be my all time favorite song!  If I'm having a bad day or sad I listen to that song and it makes me super happy!

8.  I love to repurpose stuff.  I love to turn the ugliest stuff into one-of-a-kind, unique pieces!

9.  Dr. Pepper and Reeses are important food groups on my diet.

10.  I'm a big germ-a-phob.  I Lysol off desks, doorknobs, pencils, and book baskets after school every day.

My Name is Ashlee, and I have an Obsession...

I'm linking up with Living a Wonderful Life for a Linky Party!  I have several obsessions right now...so here they are!

Colored skinny jeans!  Ohmiword!  I love skinny jeans, and bright colors just make me happy!  I really want a pair this color...

Crayola Gel Markers!  Ok, so if you haven't used these go right now and pick some up!  They look super awesome on bright colored paper.  The color looks dull at first on the paper, but then it pops on bright backgrounds!  It looks really cool on black and purple butcher paper!  I mean...I love them as much as my Mr. Sketch markers!

Cheerwine.  If you like Cherry Coke, then you'll love it!  It's the best Cherry Coke ever!  It's really hard to find in the South, but my sister Amanda always brings me some back from Auburn.  Best drink ever!

The new smoldering voluminess eyeliner by Loreal.  I love makeup and the smoldered eye look...but me and a steady hand is not pretty...so liquid eyeliner is just not for me.  This eyeliner gives the same look as liquid eyeliner, and is easier to put on.

R2Blast Neon Gel Pens.  You can only find these at the Dollar General, A.K.A "The Little Yellow Boutique" as my bestie and I like to call it!  I use these pens all the time to grade papers.  I'm a pen snob, and these pens write smoothly and make your handwriting look neat. 

Loreal Nail Polish in "Tangerine Crush" and "Now You Sea Me".  It stays on longer than other nail polishes.

And finally, I'm obsessed with finding a new teaching job this summer....and hopefully it'll be sooner than later!
So go and link up with your obsession, and join the party!

Sweet Summa Time!!! {Bucket List}

Ahhh....sweet, summa time is almost here!  One more week and school will be out around here for most places.  I have a few things on my list that I want to get finished before next school year...because of course I'm totally going to have a job next year...fingers crossed!
1.  Get my FANTABULOUS job interview and then get the JOB!!!
                                   
2.  Finish the Daily Five and create some centers to go along with the book.

3.  Go to some professional development classes with my bestie in Mobile because I need CEU's like some kinda bad!

4.  Study for the test to get into grad school...oh and apply for grad school...

5.  Go on a vacay with my bestie...like back to the beach perhaps? 

6.  Hopefully....see Lady Antebellum in concert...oh how awesome would that be!!!

Currently...

I'm linking up with Farley at Oh' Boy 4th Grade for the May Currently Linky Party! I'm a little late to the party, but better late than never--right?!?  My Pagent Title totally fits me...I am such a germ-a-phob!  I'm the teacher that is constantly spraying Lysol on my classroom books and wiping everything down really good!  Happy almost Friday ya'll!  I can't wait to be at the beach soaking up the sun with my bestie, Sarah!!!

Tag! You're It!

I got tagged from my Alabama friend Jada at Daisy Days for Learning. 

Here are the rules: 

*Post these rules 

*Answer the ten questions the tagger posted for you

*Create ten questions of your own to ask the people you are about to tag

*Tag ten people and link them with your post (and let them know they've been tagged!)

Here are Jada's questions:

1.  What is your proudest teacher moment and why?

My proudest moment was during my first year teaching.  I had a little boy that had a speech problem, and he would not talk to me or the other students.  I noticed early on that he enjoyed art, and I would try to get him to tell me about his drawings and sketches.  The other students encouraged him too.  By the end of September he was talking to me and making friends, but was still shy to answer questions in my class.  My students had an animal research paper, and part of their grade was to present the project to the class.  I pulled that student aside and asked him "Do you want to tell everyone about your project or just tell me about it?"  I was surprised when he told me he wanted to present the project to the class!  I had to keep from crying when he stood up and started reading his paper!  All of the students were so supportive of him, and I made sure he knew how proud I was of him!  All of his past teachers kept telling me how they could tell I had gotten through to him--he never would talk to any of them!  I'll always remember that little boy!

2.  What is a moment you are not so proud of and why?

We all have moments we aren't proud of, but I can't really think of anything off the top of my head!

3.  How did you know teaching was "it" for you?

My mom is a teacher, and she kept telling me that I would be a good teacher.  However, I was determined not to be a teacher like her!  I went into communications--I wanted to be an investigative journalist like Lisa Ling!  HA!  I didn't like any of my communication classes, and I thought about how when I babysat I always had a "theme" for the day.  I changed my major to elementary education and told my best friend Sarah (who was also in communications).  I thought she was going to be so mad at me because we had decided we would take all of our classes together!  She had changed her major to elementary education too at the same time and was afraid to tell me!  HA!!!  So we ended up still taking all of our classes together, and we knew that teaching was for us because we loved our teaching courses!

4.  How do you find time to work on "teacher/blogging" without taking time away from your family?

I'm not married...no kids...One day though...hopefully!  ;)

5.  What do people say is your greatest strength as a teacher?

Everyone thinks I'm so patient with my students. 

6.  What do you think is your greatest strength?

I'm very creative and organized.  I always notice every little thing!  I always surprised my students when I would ask them if they had gotten a haircut or new tennis shoes!  I'm just observant I guess!

7.  What do you think is your biggest weakness as a teacher?

My weakness is that I want my students to have good grades, so I grade homework or classwork...which ends up with me having more papers to grade!  I always do because I struggled in math when I was in school.  I kid you not when I tell you I had to take pre-cal 3 times in college!  Totally brought my GPA down!  The third time I took it my teacher counted homework and classwork for a grade...which is how I ended up finally passing with a C!  So I know how those struggling students feel, and that is why I'm constantly grading papers!

8.  What is the highest degree you have earned, and do you plan on trying for something higher?

I have my Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education.  I am studying for the MAT test now, and I think I want to get my Masters in counseling.

9.  What grade do you teach, and how long have you been in that position?

I didn't get a teaching job this school year.  I taught third and fourth grade for one year,  Then I taught first grade for one year.

10.  Do you have a teacher tip for us?

My tip would be to ask a fellow teacher on your team to sit in on your conferences.  They can help you with your conference and put their input in.  That helps you and the parent!

Here are my questions:
1.  What is your favorite teacher moment and why?

2.  What is your favorite food?

3.  What is the highest degree you hold, and do you plan on going further with your education?

4.  What is your favorite blog?

5.  What is your favorite subject or theme to teach?

6.  What advice would you give to a new teacher?

7.  What is your favorite television show?

8.  How many years have you been teaching?

9.  Where is your favorite place to vacation?

10.  How many places have you traveled to?

Tag!  You're It!

First Grade Blue Skies

First Grade Glitter and Giggles

Heather's Heart

Queen of the First Grade Jungle

Teach 123

Teaching in Flipflops

The Teaching Thief

Views from Room 205

Teaching Happily Ever After

Good Morning Mrs. Rubie

"How to Get a Girl": According to a First Grader

Hey ya'll!  This is just to cute not to share!  This was found in the first grade hall a couple of weeks ago when I was subbing!  My friend and I decided that it had to be from a first grader!  Ha!  Kids are so funny!

This is what it says:

Rule 1.  Dress nice.  'Were' clean shoes.  'Were' 'colone'.  Brush your hair.

Rule 2.  Don't talk like an idiot!!!!!  HA!!!  {That's my favorite!!!}

Rule 3.  TAKE OUT THE EARRING! (Not sure about that one!  I do know a fourth grade boy that has an earring...so I'm thinking this note was meant for him!)  HA!!!
I think this kid knows what she's talking about!

I'm Thankful {and NOT thankful} for...

Happy Thanksgiving ya'll! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because of all of the yummy food, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and spending time with family! Thanksgiving is a time to think about what you are thankful for, so what better time to jump into a couple of Linky Parties?! I'm linking up in time for the one over at Oh' Boy 4th Grade and using the questions from What the Teacher Wants.

1. What are you thankful for in your classroom?
I never got a classroom this school year, but landed a maternity leave as a library media assistant {which just ended}. I'm thankful for the wonderful opportunity I had at a brand new school and county! I love the people at the school I was at, and made true friends! I also discovered awesome books for my classroom that I will be putting on my Christmas list! :)

2. What person are you most thankful for?
I have so many people to be thankful for this year! I'm thankful for my wonderful family that has been there for me no matter what! I'm also thankful for my BESTEST friend Sarah that listens to my crazy rambling and super long voice mails!

3. What 3 blogs are you most thankful for?
I'm thankful for blogging and ya'll in general! I love Amy Lemon's blog at Step Into Second Grade with Mrs. Lemons. I love the creative ideas she has and how she is so generous with her work!
I also like The Teacher Wife, Lindsey always has awesome ideas!
Finally, I love Hope King's blog over at 2nd Grade Shenanigans. I wish I could just go spend the day in some of ya'lls classrooms!

4. What guilty pleasure are you most thankful for?
Pinterest, Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, reality tv, and my cowgirl boots :)

5. What are you most thankful for?
Wow! There are so many things to be thankful for this year. The tornadoes of April 27 changed my life forever. My family and home were not affected, but I knew so many that were. I had friends that lost everything, hospitalized, or worse. So I guess you could say that this year I thought more about the things I'm thankful for! :) I'm thankful for my health, my family and friends. I'm thankful for the wonderful life and plans that God has for me!

Now let's talk about the things that I am NOT thankful for. I'm linking up with First Grade Blue Skies for this one!
1. Rude people--ya know like people that cut you off on the interstate or pushy people!
2. Roaches, spiders, and just bugs in general!
3. Whining
4. Zits
5. Bad Weather

Top 10 Teacher "Must Haves" for Back to School

Amanda over at the Teaching Thief is having a Top 10 Teacher Must Haves Linky Party!  Of course when we are getting ready to go back to school we think about what we need to have for our students.  What do we get ourselves?  Here are my top 10 things that I get for myself when it's time to get ready for back to school!

1.  R2 Blast Pens:  I love the way they write and the fun, bold, neon colors actually work!  I'm obsessed with these pens!  I only use these pens when I'm grading...never in red.  You can only find them at the Dollar General--which I call "The Little Yellow Boutique!"  I always pick up a pack when I'm there!

2. Mr. Sketch Markers:  These bring me back to yester-year!  I love using Mr. Sketch markers for anchor charts and bulletin board projects.  I need a new pack!

3.  Bic Mechanical Pencils:  I like the way that mechanical pencils write.  I guess you could call me a pencil snob because I only use mechanical pencils. 

4.  Dry Erase Markers:  I love the neon colored ones.  I hate that the black expo markers smear when you erase the board...anybody else notice that?!?  I'm also glad to hear that other teachers do not share their markers either!  I keep a sticker on mine too so I know which markers belong to me!  When my students come to the board they use one certain marker without a sticker...if it has a sticker they don't touch it!  LOL!

5.  Mr. Clean Magic Erasers:  I use these for cleaning anything and everything!  Did ya'll know that these will clean off Sharpie marks?!?

6. Sharpies:  I love Sharpies almost as much as Mr. Sketch markers!

7.  Wite-Out: I'm always making some kind of mistake!

8: Kleenex:  I'm what you would call a germ-a-phob...so I have my own pack of Kleenex behind my desk that my kids cannot reach.  Maybe that's a little mean...?

9.  Post-It Notes:  I use these bad boys for everything!  From reminder notes for me to using them in lesson plans! 

10..  Dr. Pepper and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups:  I always keep a case of Dr. Pepper in my fridge...which comes in handy when I'm working late after school!   I'm totally addicted to Reese's!  Who doesn't need a chocolate fix while the kids are a PE?  Of course I share with my cohorts!

So head on over to Amanda's blog to join the party and tell everybody what your Top 10 Teacher Must Haves are!!!