MckLinky Blog Hop

I haven't really felt moved to participate in the most recent Blog Hops, but today's is pretty fun. The idea is to simply ask your readers a question that they can respond to through commenting. It's a great way to get to know readers better! Since a good portion of my readers are teachers, and a good portion of my blog content is about teaching, I thought my question(s) should be related to teaching as well.

So here it is:

What is the toughest challenge that you face as a teacher and how do you deal with/respond to it?

I think one of my toughest challenges is not being able to understand where every student/family is coming from. I would like to be able to teach all students in a way that is meaningful based on their backgrounds and personal experiences, yet I don't always have the background knowledge myself to draw upon. I have worked with several families living in poverty and given the life that I have been privileged to lead, I am certain that I am not completely understanding of some of the issues these students and their families are going through. I am also now working with students in Germany who have seen a lot more of the world than I have. They come from countries and cultures that I may know nothing about. I am interested and willing to learn, yet one person cannot experience everything that every student has experienced in order to help them foster connections. I guess this is where learning from the students and relying on them to share knowledge and expertise while encouraging them to think critically and make connections comes in. I am working hard, especially in my current studies, to think about what other perspectives students and their families might have. I might not know outright, but I can certainly ask and learn from what they share with me. I want to have all the answers, but I think an essential part of educating a diverse group of students is not having all the answers, rather finding the answers through the process of teaching the students and learning from them as well.

If you are not a teacher, but a parent, I have another question:

What is something a teacher did for you or your child that you will never forget?

Looking forward to reading what you have to say!

MckLinky Blog Hop

During my time at Villanova University, we hosted Special Olympics for the state of Pennsylvania. The entire shebang was student planned and operated and it is one of the most memorable parts of my college experience. There is nothing better than the hug you get from an athlete who just won the gold and spending time with those heartwarming athletes is one of the reasons I wanted to pursue a master's degree in special education. At one of our meetings prior to the event, someone read this story and I swear, there was not a dry eye in the entire room!

And they call some of these people "retarded".

..A few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back......every one of them.

One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, "This will make it better." Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes.

People who were there are still telling the story.

Why? Because deep down we know this one thing:

What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves.

What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.

source*

And now that I've got you all weepy, I will make you *smile*

My sister-in-law takes monthly photos of my niece on the date she was born. I just about fell over when I saw this pic because I can't get over how CUTE she is! It's like she already knows she is supposed to smile!

LOVE IT!!!

MckLinky Blog Hop

The theme of this week's MckLinky Blog Hop is

"Why Read My Blog?"

For those of you who are regular readers, thanks for taking time out of your day to read what I have to say. I feel like I have made some friends in the blogging world and have discovered some great blogs that I always look forward to reading. I **LOVE** to read your comments and really appreciate hearing what you have to say both on your own blogs and in response to my posts. Keep visiting and leaving me "love notes."

For those of you stopping by on the blog hop, I'd like to introduce you to Sneaker Teacher! I came up with the name for this blog because I am a teacher and my husband works for adidas, so I am always wearing crazy colored, stylin' footwear to school. I also really enjoy fitness, so Sneaker Teacher embodies my love for teaching and fitness. I am 27 years old and just moved with my husband to Germany. We have been married for just over two years and have been together since our junior year at Villanova University. We do not have any kids yet, but I do have lots of kids in my life, my favorite one being my beautiful niece who makes some photo appearances every once in awhile. I grew up in CT, then moved to PA for college, OR after that and now here we are in Europe doing the ex-pat thing.

Posts on my blog are typically about:

• Teaching- I am currently teaching at an international school in Germany. I like to share about the kids that I work with, funny stories, special moments, and creative ideas
• Our new life in Germany which has been pretty interesting so far!
• The road to getting my doctorate (I am continuing a program I started in Portland from Germany, which makes all aspects of taking classes a bit more interesting)
• Books! Whether it is texts for my courses, novels, or professional development books, I like to share what I am reading especially if I think it would be helpful to other teachers
• Fitness is a smaller part of my blog, but I like to share workout ideas and some tidbits about eating
• Craftiness-occasionally I will showcase a baking experiment or some other creation
• Whatever else is on my mind!

I find that I enjoy reading blogs written by fellow teachers because I can relate to what they write about and I love to know what teaching is like in different schools and states. If you are a teacher, or a home schooling mom, or a fellow blogger I hope you will give my blog a try and become a regular follower! I love to hear comments and I feel like I blogging is a great way to meet people from all over.

Leave me a comment to let me know that you stopped by and I will check out your blog as well!

Thanks for hopping by!!

Special thanks to Grace Jacobsen for sponsoring this blog hop.

MckLinky Blog Hop

Welcome blog hoppers!

I didn't think I was going to post today because we are in the middle of moving (to Germany). Just thought I would add that for any newcomers, but frequent readers have already been acquanited to the fact that my husband and I are relocating to Germany this week.

Since the theme was favorite photos, I thought that was simple enough. I chose this photo because it was taken when we first bought the house that we are now moving out of. Not exactly a favorite photo, but a fond memory and a photo that fits the bill since we are getting ready to move again. I can remember the excitement of that day and I am looking forward to finding our next place!

And I have to add this photo. I brought Alyssa that shirt when I was visiting my family in CT. What a doll! She looks ready to work out with mama!

MckLinky Blog Hop

Welcome Blog Hoppers!

This week's theme is encouragement

My encouragement comes in the form of a quote. I love this quote because it was one that my husband said to me when we were in college, before we were even dating. (He had a crush on me but was still trying to seal the deal and ask me out). To top it off, it was said by Dr. Seuss and what elementary school teacher doesn't love Dr. Seuss??

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

MckLinky Blog Hop

Welcome Blog Hoppers!

Today's theme is favorite kids pictures. I am so excited to have another opportunity to put my beautiful niece on display! (and her beautiful mama) I am even more excited that I get to see them both soon! They live in CT and I am traveling there this weekend to see my best friend and family before we move to Germany. This little girl is the joy of many lives! She looks just like my brother when he was a baby! Isn't she adorable???

(When you are the aunt you get to brag shamelessly!)

MckLinky Blog Hop

Welcome Blog Hoppers!

The theme of this week's hop is favorite recipes, so here is mine for

Banana Bread.

(Check out my giveaway while you are visiting!)

This is actually not my own photo, but looks the same as mine!

Ingredients:

3 or 4 overripe bananas (the nastier the better)

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

2 eggs, at room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2- 1 cup each of extras: chocolate chips, nuts etc. (whatever you like).

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9 X 5 X 3-inch loaf pan. (Or you can use muffin tins if you are making muffins).

Place the bananas and sugar in the bowl of a mixer and "whip the bejesus out of them," about 2 or 3 minutes.

Add the butter, eggs, and vanilla, whipping well and scraping down the sides of the bowl before each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl; add the flour, salt, baking soda, and extras (nuts, chocolate chips etc.). My favorite combo is white chocolate chips with baking walnuts. I will typically add 1/2 walnuts and 1 cup white chocolate chips ( I LOVE them!)

Pour batter into the prepared pan and transfer to the oven. Bake until golden brown and firm in the center, about 1 hour. If making muffins, bake for about 15 minutes. (Baking times will vary so keep your eye out!)

Extra tips:

I usually prefer to make muffins because the amount of batter is too much for a standard bread pan (at least the one I have).

Add cream cheese frosting to the top for a delectable treat! MMMMMM!

To make it easier for you, I am including a printable document so you can print this recipe in a printer friendly format.

Enjoy!

Banana Bread

MckLinky Blog Hop

Welcome Blog Hoppers!

The topic of this week's MckLinky blog hop is to share three things about yourself that readers do not know....

1. I LOVE to be crafty. I would not necessarily call myself skilled, but I love all things arts and craftsy. I have been known to dabble in scrapbooking, stamping, making cards, knitting and cookie decorating.

This photo shows a baby blanket that I made for my niece. It is the easy to make fleece tie blanket, but it was the first time I ever made one and I think it came out super cute!

I made these decorated sugar cookies for a baby shower at school.

These decorated onesie cookies were for my sister-in-law's shower.

2. I met the actor, Chris Burke, who played Corky on the television show Life Goes on who has Down syndrome. He was a guest speaker/performer at a local Buddy Walk which is a fundraiser for children with Down syndrome. He is in a band and was performing on stage. The little girl I was with, a former student, wanted to go up on stage and dance so we went together and had a blast!

3. Every year my husband and I volunteer for Special Olympics and are the Co-Directors of the Bocce competitions (2 regional and state) for Oregon. We began our interest in Special Olympics at Villanova because our college hosted an event for Special Olympics in Pennsylvania. I had so much fun working with the athletes (who are elligible for Special Olympics based on some form of mental retardation) and that is what initially started my interest in special education. I now have a master's degree in special education and always request to have students with special needs placed in my classroom so I can work with them.

***

MckLinky Blog Hop

Hello blog hoppers! I am joining in the on MckLinky fun. I hope I am doing this the right way.....

Introducing Sneaker Teacher!!

I am a teacher and doctoral student who loves to blog about teaching, education, being a student, fitness and other happenings in my life. I taught first grade for the past three years, taught preschool in a bilingual Head Start before that and I am about to move to Germany with my husband in a few weeks where I will start work at an International school as a teacher assistant in the third grade. I hope you will follow my adventures as a teacher in a foreign country as I am sure it will be an exciting ride!

My favorite photo would have to be this one of my niece Alyssa. She is almost 6 months old and absolutely adorable. She lives in CT with her daddy ( my brother) and her mommy (my sister-in-law) and is basically the love of everyone's life. I got to see her when she was about 2 months old and I can't wait to see her again at the end of the month! She looks just like my brother did when he was a baby, but every once in awhile a photo captures her in a moment where I think she looks like me.

She is too cute!

Okay I have to add another photo because I also love this one. This is me trying to take my students to the bus on the last day of school. I have posted this picture before, but every time I look at it I smile because that was the longest best hug I have ever gotten! Shortly before this photo was taken some of my students told me to close my eyes while they wrote on the board in the classroom:

"We think you are the best teacher in the whole world!"