A huge thank you to Cathy at Reflect & Refine for nominating us for the Versatile Blogger Award! This blog has been a fun adventure to keep us writing after Catching Readers was published. After accepting this honor we are asked to:
1. Thank the person (people) who nominated you and provide a link back to their blog. 2. Share 7 things about you (us). 3. Pass this award along to 15 other blogs that you have discovered.
So here we go! Enjoy!
7 things about Pat:
1.) I’m an avid reader of adult fiction, professional books on teaching reading and writing, and children’s literature. (My favorite authors are Barbara Kingsolver, Geraldine Brooks, and Ann Patchett.)
2.) I walk 4-8 miles every day for exercise. It’s when I do most of my good thinking.
3.) I have four grandkids, two in Virginia and two in Phoenix, and love spending tons of time with them – going to parks, reading books, or just tickling and cuddling.
4.) I love talking with teachers, veteran and brand new, about how they can support their struggling readers, or any aspect of teaching reading and writing.
5.) I have over 30 years experience in education, mostly as a reading teacher in elementary schools, and I’m Reading Recovery trained.
6.) I’m a storyteller and often tell tales in my grand nieces’ and nephews’ classrooms near their birthdays.
7.) I enjoy dancing and even have a dance named after me called “The Aunt Pat.”
7 things about Katie:
1. I have a serious book addiction. I am in constant need of 1 more bookshelf. So there are always piles of books somewhere in my house (and Amazon boxes on my front porch).
2. I love to run. I recently started running ultra marathons (distances over the 26.2 marathon) mostly on mountain trails. I love spending time playing on the trails. Most of my writing & teaching ideas happen on the trail.
3. This is my 20th year of teaching. And my first year teaching Kindergarten. I’ve taught grades 1-8 (except for 6th), and have been a literacy specialist and a librarian.
4. I LOVE LOVE LOVE teaching Kindergarten. I laugh more every day than I ever have before. I love playing with the kids, and learning so much alongside of them.
5. I’ve taught in 8 schools (ranging from 100 students to 1000 students) in 3 states (CO, FL, VA)- and I’ve always taught in a Title 1 school.
6. I taught Kelly McGillis’ daughter when I taught in Key West. She was a very cool kid.
7. Helping kids discover new things is the best part of teaching for me. Whether it’s monarch caterpillars, a fun sensory box, making books, a Pete the Cat puppet or reading a book for the first time – it’s what I love about my job.
Here are 15 blogs to recognize. Enjoy!
1. Jenny at let the children play
2. Mari-Ann at Counting Coconuts
4. Tom at Teacher Tom
5. Sherry and Donna at Irresistable Ideas for Play Based Learning
6. MaryLea at Pink and Green Mama
8. Mrs. Mimi at It’s Not All Flowers and Sausages
9. Vanessa at Pre-K Pages
10. Patrick at All-en-A-Day’s Work
11. Yo-Yo Reggio!
12. Scott at Brick by Brick
13. My Mommy Reads
14. Langwitches Blog
15. Tammy at Apples With Many Seeds
Catching Readers Before They Fall 