Wednesday, August 15, 2012

It's a Blogiversary Giveaway!

8/22/12:  Comments closed!  
Thanks for the entries.  
Come back tomorrow for the winner!

Seriously, who forgets their blogiversary?
If that's even a word.  Well, it seems I missed my blog's first year anniversary. By more than a month!  On July 13, 2011, with this post, I began Teaching My Friends!  There were a handful of posts prior to then, but that is the date I consider the start of my blog.  I can't believe I missed it!

I have much to be happy about with this little blog.

  • It has allowed me a place to keep track of some of what I've done over the past year.
  • It has made me a more reflective teacher.
  • It has led me to many other amazing blogs and fantastic teacher bloggers.  I've learned so much from all of you!
  • It has allowed me to share ideas that have, hopefully, been helpful to others.  

That last one is a biggie.  I have said before in a few posts that I really believe we are stronger educators when we communicate and share ideas.  It is very easy to step in to your classroom, close the door, and just do your own thing.  Being a connected professional community makes us better at what we do.  So, thank you blog readers for making it happen.  I could easily blog without any followers or reader comments, but those are the things that keep me going!  I appreciate each and every one of you that takes the time to come by and read Teaching My Friends.

In honor of my first year blogiversary (Okay, I'm making it a word!) and in honor of YOU, I decided to do something to make it all the more special.  It's a Blogiversary Giveaway!  I've put together some goodies that I thought you might like.


What's in this fun little prize package?

  1. A ten dollar gift card to Barnes & Noble - Get yourself a good read or buy a book for your friends.
  2. An 8 GB bracelet flash drive - I love this!  I even got one for myself.  No worries about not having the flash drive with you.  It snaps on like a bracelet.
  3. I'm a Star Reader bookmarks - I go through bookmarks like crazy with my friends, so I thought this is something we could all use.
  4. Smiley face stickers - Stickers.  Enough said.
  5. A big bar of Ghiradelli Chocolate - Milk chocolate with sea salt and roasted almonds.  Yeah, I got one of these for myself, too!  Treats for the teachers!  Let's just hope the winner doesn't get this delivery during a heatwave! :-D
  6. A new copy of Swindle - After my post on the book, I thought it would be nice to give one away.

So, what do you have to do to win this little pile of goodies?

  1. Leave a comment! Say anything! Or, let's keep it interesting and answer this one question:  What is one professional goal you have for yourself  this year?  One comment per a person, please.
  2. Be in the United States.  I love, love, love that I have blog friends visiting from other countries, but my little teacher salary just can't support international shipping!    
  3. If you are feeling it, please follow my blog.  While that would be appreciated, you don't have to follow to win the loot. :-)  Everyone is welcome to enter.


The give-away closes on Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time.  You have a week to enter.  I will randomly pick a winner from the comments and post that winner on Thursday, August 23, 2012.

By the way, my professional goal for this year is to do more professional reading on teaching reluctant readers.  I've been looking at some of the professional resources on the International Reading Association site, and there is a lot out there just waiting for me.  But, for now, I'm going to enjoy my last two weeks of summer.  September 4th will be here before I know it!

Thank you, thank you, thank you 
blog readers for making it all happen!
Happy Blogiversary to Us!

80 comments:

  1. I began following your blog when I clicked on a picture on Pinterest and it led me straight to your blog. I love all of your ideas and I have incorporated several of your ideas in my class. I look forward to seeing more posts! :-)

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  2. I love your blog and am a follower (from the US). One professional goal I have for myself this year is to stay organized! I always start out the year organized and on top of things and then by Christmas I'm piling things on my desk and shoving piles into my bag to take home!Congratualions on your blogiversary!

    Mary
    Teaching Special Kids

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  3. I follow your blog and have loved it for awhile now. One goal for me is to utilize much mor technology in my classroom. I received a smartboard towards the end of the school year last year and I did basic stuff with it. This year I want to go all out and have a blast with my kids.
    Thanks for the giveaway!!

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  4. Hi Nancy- Love your blog! I have learned some great ideas from you. Congrats on your anniversary!

    Lindsay
    My Life as a Third Grade Teacher

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  5. I began following your blog in the spring and I respect your passion for teaching. My goal for the coming year is to implement some Daily 5/Cafe ideas I learned about this summer; if I'm being honest, another is to get to work on time each day. haha
    Thank you so much for the giveaway! The package is full of great items!! :)
    Amanda
    http://hisandherhobbies.blogspot.com

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  6. Great blog! I am your newest follower! One of my goals this school year is to maintain my teaching blog throughout the school year with some regularity! Awesome giveaway!:-)
    ~Meghan
    Inside The Classroom, http://www.mrsmayhew.blogspot.com/

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  7. You have a great blog!! One of my goals this year is to update my teacher blog more often and survive the common core craziness in a new position!

    Jessica
    Fabulous and Fun 4th Graders

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  8. Ooh, what a fabulous idea! I love following your blog and borrowing your fabulous ideas... I have been following your blog for awhile and even linked it up to my blog. Congrats on making it to your blogiversary!

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  9. Great blog full of ideas. My professional goal is to implement the Daily 5 or Daily 3 in my 6th grade classroom successfully. Thanks for your posting on the Anchor Charts. You are a great resource. Please come and check me out as well as I navigate through this exciting school year.

    -Erin
    http://mrsbeerslanguageartsclass.blogspot.com/

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    Replies
    1. Hey! Same goal here (although I said manage the paper chaos on this post). Heading over to check out your blog now.
      - another 6th grade teacher :-)

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  10. Woohoo! Congrats on the blogiversary! My professional goal this year is to implement the Daily 5 to the very best of my ability!!

    Greg
    Www.kindergartensmorgasboard.blogspot.com

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  11. My professional goal-have several-is to complete my renewal of my National Boards......can't believe it has been that long since I first certified! Congrats on your blogiversary!

    kellybrown28021@gmail.com

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  12. Happy Blogiversary Nancy! You're blog has been a great encouragement to this young teacher!

    jkemmenoe at gmail.com

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  13. One professional goal would be to grow my own blog and write more. :)

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  14. Happy Blogiversary!
    I live in NJ too!
    My professional goal is to get prepared for a new job. I work at a private school that may be going out of business, so sad.... :(
    So I will practice my Common Core (not required), start Daily 5/Cafe (not required), and practice Guided Math.
    I will steal as many resources that I can FROM YOU that will help me!
    Thanks-
    Peggy
    :)

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  15. I am a follower of your blog. My professional goal is to do some reading on autism.I lost my job to downsizing and low enrollment in our Christian school so I would love to find a job in 4th grade again.

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  16. Happy Happy Blogiversary!! I really enjoy reading your posts and your ideas.
    This year I have many new goals: will be presenting at a couple of conferences this year (exciting), I want to introduce and work Edmodo into my classroom organization, I want to continue to work towards a less paper classroom, I am reading the CAFE book and hope to implement this system into reading, and I am currently reworking my math into math workshop. Whew! Can't wait to see what comes of all of this. Hope to win too! Thanks

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  17. My goal for this year is to integrate group work into my readers and writers workshops. I get so excited about conferencing one on one that I don't tend to do much small group work.
    Thanks for the fun giveaway!
    Katie
    katiebaxsmith@gmail.com
    I Want to be a Super Teacher

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  18. Ohhhh, wow! One year? Fantastic! Happy Blogiversary!
    One of my main professional goals this year is to successfully implement CAFE , particularly strategy groups. I'm used to guided reading groups, so strategy groups are something that I'm really going to have to work on mastering.

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  19. Happy Blogiversary!! I have enjoyed reading your blog. I have several goals this year.
    1. Implement Daily 5 and Cafe in my fifth grade classroom.
    2. Be more organized and maintain it all year.
    3. Become more of a leader at my school.

    Enjoy your last two weeks of summer. I start back tomorrow and kids start back on the 27th.

    Katrina
    Teacherofscholars.blogspot.com

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  20. Congrats on a year!! (Don't worry--I forgot about my Blogiversary too!! I still haven't celebrated! oops!)

    My professional goal is to incorporate CRAFT and VOICES into my Literacy workshops and interweave them into the workshop model and stations :o)

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  21. Congratulations on the one year! Thanks for sharing all of your work with the rest of us. I agree that we do learn when we share. My personal/professional goal for this year is to bring less work home! I know this is a goal for almost every teacher every year, but I truly mean that. I am hoping that my days are more productive and that my work over this summer has paid off.

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  22. I have been following your blog for only a short time, but love all of the ideas and resources you offer! Thank you for your great blog!

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  23. Great blog... This year I will be in stress heaven due to the fact that we are switching to Guided Reading, and I am piloting a common core math program as well.. So my professional goals are twofold: to use a binder for guided reading to stay focused, and to implement common core in mathematics using the smartboard, and all it offers.
    Lisa

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  24. Yay for blogiversaries!! :) This year my goal is to not go insane! haha it is my first year teaching and I am freaking out...just a little! (or maybe alot!) I am excited, nervous, scared, happy...just every emotion mixed into one!

    I hope I win your giveaway! :)

    Mrs. Crouse @ {6th} Grade All-Stars

    p.s. I live in the US and I already follow your blog! :)

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  25. As a school Liberian in a middle school, I feel this years big focus/goal will be learning how common core will be used in the library. It's a new concept for me and I feel my summer was all about it. Thanks for offering these goodies.

    Another side goal for me will be to develop a blog.

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  26. Congrats on your accomplishment! Blogging is a lot of work but so worthwhile.

    My teaching goal is to implement a new curriculum aligned to the common core. My district is rolling out ELA, math, science and social studies...yes...alll at once...YIKES! My theme song will be "I Will Survive!"

    khall312@verizon.net

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  27. Love your blog! I have two main goals this year: maintain an organized classroom and step up my writing instruction.

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  28. Happy Blogiversary! One of my goals this year is to do away with book logs and make reading more enjoyable for my students.

    Sara :)
    Smiling In Second Grade

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  29. I just recently found your blog, while looking up owl pellets....:) Love your blog! Happy Blogiversary!

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  30. Happy Blogiversary!!! Thanks for the give away! There are a lot of changes going on right now in my school: new principal, mandatory AR, shortened blocks, new team members... My goal is to stay positive throughout it all, and provide a GREAT year for my students. I am also committed to some form of Daily 5 in my classroom and CAFE (I will use CRAFT.)

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  31. Happy Blogiversary! Thanks for the chance. :)
    My goal is to write more about my teaching experiences.
    family74014 at gmail dot com

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  32. Happy Blogiversary! I'm a follower of your blog & am from the US. My professional goal for this year is to finish my Masters program in Classroom Technology so I'm well versed on technology! :)

    Thanks for the great giveaway!

    Sara
    Miss V's Busy Bees
    ventrellasara@gmail.com

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  33. I am a homeschooling mom who found you through pinterest. My goal for this year is not to let myself fall into auto pilot. I want to keep my planning fresh and motivated. I follow you through google reader. Thanks for a chance to win!

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  34. I haven't been following your blog very long, but I REALLY enjoy it. Thanks for keep us up to date on your great work to make our classrooms better. My goal for this year is to begin my coursework for my admin. certificate. Thanks again for keeping us motivated and Congrats!!!

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  35. Happy Blogiversary! I am excited to achieve a few goals this year-- teach more district-wide technology classes, implement Daily 5 in my third grade class, AND present at our state MassCUE conference. (Massachusetts Computer Using Educators)

    Thank you for the sweet and generous giveaway!

    Rachel
    thirdgradecupcakes@gmail.com

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  36. I have only been reading you blog for a couple of months now, but I really enjoy reading it.! I am a high school teacher, but can adapt or relate to most of your posts. This year, I want to do a better job of personally getting to know my students.

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  37. I am a follower. My professional goal is to go through my filing cabinets. I have gotten such cute things from TPT that I want to declutter my old files. I also want to do more guided math.
    lraines78@gmail.com

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  38. I love reading your blog. I teach 5th grade like you!!! One professional goal that I have this year is to read a professional article, journal, or text at least once a week. I tend to read during the summer and then I let myself get caught up in grading, planning, etc during the year and not read while I am teaching. Congrats on your blogiversary.

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  39. My professional goal is to make more positive contacts to my eighth graders' parents.

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  40. Happy Blogiversary! Congratulations and thank you for the opportunity to win these great gifts! I have followed your blog for quite some time.
    One professional goal (and I have a few) that I have set for this year is to be more intentional about applying the wonderful things I have learned from other teachers. For example, I REALLY want to incorporate Reading Workshop with my 5th graders and focus on flexible grouping so that I can meet the needs of my learners.

    Thank you and enjoy the rest of your summer. Teachers started back today and our students start next Thursday.

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  41. Happy Blogiversary! This is my first year teaching so my goal is to stay organized and get to know my students so I can teach them in a way that best fits their needs.

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  42. Happy Blogiversary! Among other things this year, I plan to put a greater emphasis on poetry.

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  43. Happy Blogiversary!!! I think this would be a great word to add to the dictionary! My professional goal for this year is to have better classroom management to make my day run smoother with the help of procedures.

    Thank you so much for sharing your tips, tricks, resources and great advice.

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  44. My goal this year is to keep calm and carry on no matter what happens.

    Jennifer
    Grade 2 Happenings

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  45. My goal this year is to find balance. Less work... spend more time with my family.
    My Second Sense

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  46. Happy blogiversay! My professional goal this year is to do more whole brain teaching (adding in super improver wall).

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  47. Happy Blogiversary! I just have to say that I love your blog. Last year was my first year teaching and I took great comfort in your blog. When I found it in March (?) I was relieved to find a "go to" source for lessons and inspiration! My goal for this year is to relax...it will all work out. Thank you for all you do for those of us you don't even know :)

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  48. My professional goal for this year is to get a new job (after I had to leave my previous one)!

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  49. Became a follower after following a Pinterest Pin. Professional goal -> Manage the paper chaos so my desk looses the title "Mrs. Rose's Black Hole."

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  50. Happy Anniversary! I teach 3rd grade in Honolulu. I always look forward to your blog posts in my inbox. I'm amazed at all of my colleagues who can teach full time and still find energy to blog. I'm grateful though because it inspires me to constantly work to step up my game. This year I'm trying to launch Daily Five and CAFE in my classroom. Hopefully I can keep it up throughout the year.

    Aloha,
    Megan

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  51. Happy Blogiversary! I already subscribe to your posts, and I look forward to reading them. My goal this year is to get my state math tests up! Ugh! I think I teach my butt off during the year only to find that they didn't score so well. Thanks for the opportunity to win free stuff. I hope you pick me! : )
    Azure

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  52. Happy Blogiversary and many more to come! My professional goal for this new year is staying on top of my grading and filing!

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  53. Happy Blogiversary! My main professional goal for this upcoming school year is to differentiate instruction as much as possible. I teach in an "alternative" special education school where every student has such varying academic needs. Last year my students reading levels ranged from primer to sixth grade and everything in between. I want to make sure I'm reaching all my students. Sunny

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  54. Congratulations! My goal for this school year is to work on guided reading and strategy groups wihtin Reader's Workshop.
    -Lauren

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  55. Love your posts! I found you by way of Pinterest. My back-to-school anxiety has kicked in already...uugg. I also teach in New Jersey. Monmouth County, 4th grade to be a bit more exact. This year I am trying to find my way through reading workshop and guided reading..what a challenge! Also trying to figure out what my state test is ACTUALLY looking for! Thanks for all the great info you share!!

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  56. I enjoy your blog very much. I follow your blog through Google Reader. Please continue to share your amazing abilities.

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  57. Congratulations! My goal this year is to keep each nine weeks of "stuff" in one binder to use the following year. (An idea I saw on Pinterest) After many years of teaching, I'm still spending too much time looking for things from last year!

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  58. I enjoy visiting your blog which I found via Pinterest. Gotta love Pinterest and the Swindle series!

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  59. My goal is to take advantage of my binder system for keeping all usable plans for individual topics. I tend to let it slip toward the end of the year and spend precious time sorting!

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  60. I want to keep organized and work hard to be a good teacher this year. That's always what I want!!

    Jennifer
    kansasstategrad02 yahoo com

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  61. Hi Nancy!I am moving to fifth grade after three years in third.I love your blog and have already used many of your wonderful ideas. My goal for the upcoming year is to stay organized and improve small group instruction. Thanks for the wonderful blog!

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  62. I just started following your blog, and I have gotten many great ideas! My goal for this year is to improve my word study instruction. Ever since I started teaching, I have struggled with word study. I hope to tweak a few things and be successful this year!

    my classroom is my runway

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  63. My professional goal this year is to get more organized. I always start with good intentions then wind up feeling disorganized as the year moves forward. A better system would help.

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  64. Happy Blogiversary! I have enjoyed reading your blog this year. My goal this year is to incorporate more technology into my classroom. Challenging, since our district doesn't provide us with much!

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  65. My goal this year is to use journals in a more effective way. Last year the kids just copied definitions and put some examples of a particular skill. This year they will have foldables and their journals should be a much bigger help to my students. I think this will be a better way for them to retain what they are learning. Very excited about it! Oh and it is with great thanks to everyone who shares. Thank you Nancy!

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  66. I have several goals this year: improve partner talk on a daily basis, use reading notebooks to keep track of skills and strategies taught and have a section where students record their thinking. I also want to finish reading my Lucy Calkins Guide to Reading 5 book collection!!

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  67. Happy Blogiversary! I am new to blogs through Pinterest and am excited about all the wonderful ideas you and others are sharing. This year my professional goal is to amp up my math lessons in preparation for the Common Core with more manipulatives, more group work, and more student discussion. Thanks for sharing!
    D. Horton
    dhrtn5@gmail.com

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  68. I just started following your blog. I'dba new teacher. I'd love to win new things for my classroom.

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  69. Happy Blogiversary!! I love your ideas and think your friends are blessed to have such a great teacher! One of my goals for the year is to keep up my reading "Voices" board-thanks so much for sharing yours with us in blogland :)

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  70. Congratulations on your first year together (you and your blog that is). I just love stopping by and reading all the wonderful things you are doing with your students. I have even implemented some in my classroom this year. Things like, using your writing VOICE, Too many anchor charts, wordless picture books, etc. The list goes on and on but your ideas are wonderful.This will be my 4th year teaching and I have many goals for myself but my biggest one will be implementing the "Leader in Me" program in my classroom. We will be educating our students on the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Kids. We have begun the training and this will be my schools first year with the program. I can already tell a difference in my personal and professional growth and I want that same growth for my 3rd grade friends. Thank you so much for helping to inspire so many others!

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  71. I am new to following your blog and can't wait to see all of your wonderful ideas! Thank you for all you do!

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  72. Happy Blogiversary! One of my goals this year is to get comfortable using social media to support my teaching. Thank you for sharing your ideas!

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  73. This will be my 10th year teaching 8th grade Language Arts, and my professional goals seem to grow every year. In a nutshell, these are my priorities:
    1. Focus more on Greek/Latin roots in vocabulary instruction.
    2. Be more intentional about training students in classroom leadership positions. (My school is in the second year of implementing Stephen Covey's 7 Habits/Leader in Me program.)
    3. Encourage more true collaboration in small group settings
    4. Rework one unit each trimester to be a mini-inquiry project.
    5. As always, be more organized and use my time better--specifically, use my 1st hour prep to do more grading instead of refining the day's lessons. I want to bring less work home.

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  74. Congratulations!!! This is my second year teaching 6th grade, your Blog has saved my life many times. My goal this year is to give my students more opportunities to discover reading is awesome. I am going to introduce them to book clubs so that they can talk about their books and hopefully get excited about reading more and more.

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  75. Congratulations! I am going to start following your blog because I like what I've seen so far. My goal for myself this year....hmm...I really, really, really want to manage my time better as i conference. Seems that whenever I get 1:1 with a student there is so much to be said between us that time just gets eaten up.

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  76. Happy Birthday/Anniversary to your blog! My goal the get my daughter to learn the alphabet.

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  77. This is a great giveaway! My goal this year is to support more teachers (I'm the librarian, and teachers weren't used to having that support when I started last year). Congrats on your blogiversary!

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  78. Happy Blogoversary! Does your blog feel any older!? Hehe. One of my professional goals this year is to implement Daily 5 and Morning Meeting into my daily schedule.

    Amanda
    The Teaching Thief


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  79. Read this at the very last minute before giveaway closed. Love your blog! Can't wait for the new year to start to read more.

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