I'm IT! Blogger meme

The blogging task includes:

• I have been nominated by Philippa Nicoll Antipas @keenreader to write the blogging meme.  Find her blog here.  What a grand way to get to know each other better.
  
  
• 11 random facts about me.
  I adore dark chocolate of all kinds.
  I am married to Rowan and we have two children Nathan and Joshua.
  We have two dogs,  9 budgies, and 4 chooks.  
  I love reading fantasy, some science fiction and books about education.
  I have taught all level from New Entrants to year 8's.  The longest I have ever taught a level is 3 years.
  I remember the internet when it was only group discussion sites.
  I love computer games.  Civilization, Age of Empires, Majesty, Heroes of Might and Magic.
  I used to do scrapbooking and have a cupboard of unfinished albums.
  I now do quiltmaking.  I have 2 landscape quilts. 2 block quilts and 2 wall hangings I am currently working on.
  I sew most of my own clothes because I hate clothes shopping.
  I have only been overseas once, which was to Chicago.  I loved and want to go explore more of the world.
   
• 11 Questions for you now to conquer:
  1. Who has been a colleague (past or present) that you have regarded as a mentor?  There have been many mentors along the way but the most influential Debenham would be Rebecca Speden.  I was a student teacher on section with her, taught at Northcote School with her and at Gilberthorpe School with her as well.  Of course I also have to acknowledge Lois Chick (NZGSE), Kevin Knight (NZGSE) and Murray  Debenham.  They certainly established focusing on student learning and constant reflection about teaching practise.
  2. What is your favourite NZ native bird, and why?  At the moment my favorite would be a tui because I get to watch them from my windows as they eat the nectar from the flax and pohutakawa.  Of course there is also the naughty kea, oystercatchers, gannets. fantails, silver eyes and spoonbills.
  3. What was your favourite book as a child?   My favourite book greatly depended on age and mood at the time.  It's much easier to go for favourite authors.  Enid Blyton, Noel Stretfield, Arthur Ransome.  I suppose if a must choose just one book it would be 'The Little Princess" although Heidi would be a close second.
  4. Worst job ever!  What was it?  Hands down winner for this one is picking cherries.  I worked 4 hours a day and got paid about $10 per day because I was such a bad picker.  I gave up after 10 days when I heard the boss boasting to my Dad about how much he was earning.
  5. What’s the icebreaker question or activity you use to get to know someone?  Umm I don't have one and take a long time to get to know someone.
  6. Best person to follow on Twitter for one of your passions?
  7. What is your least favourite household chore?  It was vacuuming but we have a cool vacuum cleaner that is almost fun to use.  Maybe it is now cooking.  I have to admit that I very rarely do any housework because my husband does it all around his part time work.  I also only cook Saturday and Sunday.  Actually I teach my boys to cook on Saturday's so I don't have to.  So maybe the answer to this question is all of them.
  8. What’s one lesson/activity/unit that you really look forward to teaching?  Cripes this question is hard!  Any unit where I see students enthused, motivated and making progress.  When I taught NE- Year 1 it was the unit on airplanes.  Last year with year 7&8 I had great fun teaching the Sexuality Education unit.  I think the problem choosing here is that I have almost never taught the same unit twice.
  9. Fly first class to your overseas destination and have a little less spending money, or fly ‘cattle class’ and have a little more in your pocket?   Fly cattle class and spend lots of money going to art galleries, museums, zoos and all the other touristy places.  Go clothes shopping in the big malls which have great choice.  Buy lots of gourmet chocolates.
  10. What’s a web tool or app that you’ve come across recently that you’d heartily recommend to others?   An app.  What is with all the ones.  I can't make choices.  Duolingo is my latest love.  I am using it to learn French so that I can understand the French teacher when I go into her class.  Its very easy.  I also like camera zoomfx, wevideo, flashlight (lets me read paper books in bed).  Kindle is probably the one app I couldn't do without.  For school I think socrative, simple mind and explain everything are essential.
  11. If you hosted a dress-up party, what theme would you choose, and why?  Rich Medieval or fantasy so that I could dress up in an awesome dress.  1950's could be fun too.  Then I could be in a full skirted dress and have pretty china with high tea.

  
   Blogging Meme task,
  
  

  • Write 11 random facts about yourself. 
  • Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger has created for you.
  • List 11 bloggers who havn't been nominated yet..
  • Post 11 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 tag you!
  
  @perrynator18, @campbellpotter, @katienovakudl, @fionagrant
  @chrissiebutler, @charte, @steelotter, @fionnawright, @connie599, @tim_de_vries, @kiwibelma, @aimiesibson
  
  
  My Questions for You.
  
  1.  What / Who inspired you to be a teacher?
  2.  What changes are you inspired to make in 2014?  Who or what inspired these.
  3. If you could spend a million dollars in your school what would you get?
  4.  What charity would you like to give $1 Million  to.
  5.  What is the latest hobby you have started?
  6.  What is your favorite book?
  7.  What is your favorite thing to do outside of school?
  8.  What does your classroom look like?
  9. What are you reading now?
  10.  Pets or no pets and why?
  11.  What is one thing that you want students to takeaway from your class?