It just gets uner my skin when...

When I hear someone say "Me and Sam went to the park" I can't help but correct them! I am so far from perfect and make many mistakes but when I hear this error I can't help myself, I have to jump right in and say it the correct way "Sam and I.." I do it to my students, my parents and friends. I always feel so rude afterward but it has become an automatic response for me.
Does anyone else have something similar that drives them crazy? I posted some pictures the other day and misspelled a word. I wrote "your" and should have written "you're". My sister called me and asked me to change it immediately! I just laughed because it bothered her so much! Is this normal?

How to incorporate blogging in the classroom.

Does anyone use blogging in the classroom?
Is it appropriate for younger students?
I have really enjoyed reading other blogs and responding. I feel like I am utilizing so many skills; reading, writing, responding, appropriate use of language, grammar, etc.
I want to have my students blog but I'm not sure how to go about teaching them. They will be in fourth grade and I feel like if I monitor blogging and teach it effectively...this can be very successful!
Who am I kidding? These fourth graders probably already have their own blogging websites!

Feeling pressure to grow up!

“Too many people grow up. That's the real trouble with the world, too many people grow up. They forget. They don't remember what it's like to be 12 years old. They patronize, they treat children as inferiors. Well I won't do that.”
This quote means a lot to me. I feel like as an educator it is so important to remember what its like to be a child. In the classroom I do not consider myself to be a "boss" or "superior". I consider myself to be a guide. I am a guide that helps my students grow and learn.
I am 26 years old and I hope that my feelings on this will never change. Some of my co-workers say I am so good at relating to my students because of my age. However, I feel I will always be able to relate to my students regardless of my age.
What are your thoughts on this? What role do you play in your classroom?

Samantha's Harvest

I am a recent board member for a non-profit organization called Samantha's Harvest. This is a small organization that raises awareness and funds for people with Down Syndrome.
Ever since I was little, I had a passion for children who had down syndrome. I found myself constantly being gravitated to students who had special needs. In college, I did a lot of research to further my understanding of the syndrome. It has always fascinated me so when I was asked by a friend to join the board I did not hesitate!
The organization started when a friend of mine gave birth to a beautiful little girl named Samantha. Samantha was born with down syndrome. Prenatal testing which included level III ultrasound and fetal echo cardiogram failed to detect any abnormalities in the development of the baby. At 2 days old, Sam was diagnosed with Down syndrome and at 9 days old it was discovered she would soon require open heart surgery to correct an A/V canal heart defect.
Today, Samantha is a healthy, active, beautiful little girl full of personality. The organizations goals are to raise money so students with Down Syndrome can attend college. We have many events coming up and I urge you to check out the website. http://www.samanthasharvest.org/scholar.html

Progressing as a teacher.

The journey to become a teacher has been an amazing learning experience for me. When I graduated from college I didn't jump right into my ideal working situation. I taught preschool Special Education which was very challenging for me. The children I worked with had severe behavior needs and I felt like I was constantly being challenged to the full extent each and everyday. Work took a huge toll on me physically and emotionally. This experience made me realize I wanted to work with older students.
While looking for a job, a boyfriend of 6 years got a job as a police officer in the town he lived. I decided to move to his home town of Winchester to support him while he was in the police academy. This was possibly one of the best decisions I have ever made. I began working at a school as a permanent substitute. I was so grateful for this position because I was able to test the waters! One day I would be teaching fifth grade regular education and the next I would be in an integrated special education classroom. It was a wonderful experience and I found the exact age group I felt most comfortable teaching.
Halfway through the year I was asked to be a one-on-one instructor for a fourth grade student with significant special needs. Although this was challenging, I loved what I did. Her regular education teacher commended me on the amount of progress the student began making. The following school year I was asked back to teach Special Ed. for multiple students. I had a great year teaching to third, fourth and fifth grade students but something was missing. I missed the whole class instruction piece of teaching. I also missed creating lesson plans from scratch and witnessing those lessons play out. At the end of the school year I applied for a fourth grade regular education position. Hundreds of people applied but I got the job! I feel like I was chosen because I really proved myself to the principal and other teachers at the school.
I am so excited to teach in the fall! The best thing I took away from this continuous journey is this: if you work hard and give it all you've got..you will be rewarded in the end, not becasue of luck...but becasue you deserve it.