Meet The Teacher!

What better way to start? I have been obsessing over blogs for a while now (especially teacher blogs) and have found SO many wonderful ideas that I have taken back to my Kindergartners... I've spent so much time incorporating all of your wonderful ideas into my lessons that I'm not sure how many of my own creations I'll be able to share on here... but I will try really hard! I decided on the name for my blog because I love God's Grace- so much that our daughter's middle name is Grace!

My name is Crystal! Here I am with my husband, Tommy, on our wedding day, 08/09/08!

I would really love to put my dress on everyday of my life... but I actually haven't since the big day!

Here's our dog, Seven (just like the number!) She is quite a handful! She is a Jack Russell Pug- a "JUG"! We got her as a puppy... she was the only child for 3 whole years... then Lyla came along...

Here's Lyla Grace! She was born on May 26, 2010. I never knew I could love someone so much... being a mom is such a Blessing!

Here is a more recent picture of her:

I have been teaching for 5 years- all of those years have been spent in Kindergarten! I graduated from Radford University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. During my first two years of teaching, I earned my Masters in Reading through the University of Virginia. I am endorsed as a Reading Specialist. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE teaching children how to read!!!!!!!!

*Q & A*

Q: What would you be doing if you weren’t a teacher?
A: I think being a secretary would be fun! I hate paperwork, but I love it at the same time! Weird!

Q: What are your hobbies?
A: Being a mommy, making games for my classroom, researching new ideas and always trying to be a better teacher, and I can't forget 'shopping'!!!!!

Q: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: Definitely a teacher!

Q: What are your guilty pleasures?
A: Sweeeeeet Tea! For the first time the other day, I actually went through a McDonald's Drive Thru for ONLY a sweet tea.... that's when I realized it was a guilty pleasure!

Q: What is your biggest fear?!
A: Losing loved ones....

Q: When you’re on vacation, where do you like to go?
A: ANYWHERE WARM!!!!! Cannot wait for a Bachelorette Cruise in March with a few of my best friends and 15 other girls!!!!! Definitely love the beach!

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
A: Trust in the Lord!

Q: What do you value most in others?
A: Positive Attitudes and Honesty. I also REALLY love to see hard-work and dedication in my school. It's hard to want to help people who don't try to help themselves!

Q: If you could choose one of your personality traits to pass down to your kids, what would it be?
A: I have to agree with Cara on this one and say my sense of humor! I love to laugh, so it would be great to have someone around here doing funny things for my entertainment!

Q: If you could have lunch with anyone in the world….living or dead…who would it be?
A: I would have to say all of my friends and family who have passed away- I have a hard time letting go- and I have learned this year after a young friend's sudden death that it takes a LOT of time to ease the pain... I just want to have one more conversation with everyone!

Now tell us one random thing about yourself:

I have played piano for almost 20 years and am obsessed with music. I could sit and listen to someone sing or play a musical instrument for HOURS! I LOVE Taylor Swift- I wish I could be her friend and hang out with her on the regular... she seems like such an awesome person! I am very organized at school but just can't seem to get it together at home! I'm obsessed with bows for my daughter and just started making them myself!!!!!!!!

If you want to join in on the fun, click on over to The First Grade Parade! Cara is among the many who inspired me to create my own 'teaching blog'!!! Thanks Cara!