1,000 Follower Giveaway (Day 3) & Budding Blogger Showcase: Tales of a First Grade Teacher

It's Day 3 of my 1,000 Follower Extravaganza!!  Who doesn't LOVE using music in the classroom?  Enter today to win a $10 iTunes Giftcard!!  I've decided to give away TWO of them!!  It's easy - just enter below.  And, make sure you entered the previous days' giveaways, too (see below)!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

It's Wednesday, so it's time to meet a fabulous new blogger!  I hope you'll read on and drop over to visit her blog!  She has lots of ideas and plenty of experience at several grade levels!



Hi I'm Jessica Berggren from Tales of a First Grade Teacher. The above meme just cracks me up! I grew up in the 80's/90's and MC Hammer was one of my middle school faves.


I am originally from New York. Long Island to be exact. I grew up there, got married there, had my first teaching job in NYC and then moved out to the island. I even had my first baby there....and 1 month later moved to S. Florida. We have been here for 8 1/2 years.
I have been teaching for 15 years.  My teaching career is a bit of a circle story.  I started in 1st, and then moved up to 4th. I stayed there for 5 years. I moved to Florida and taught 3rd grade for 3 years. Now I teach 1st again--so another 6 years  (or 5 1/2).

My Favorite subject to teach would have to be writing. It's the one area that my kids and I can show off our personalities and be creative and imaginative.

If you popped into my classroom unannounced you would probably see me turn white, then red, and then slowly come back to my self.  Even after 15 years, I get a little anxious when someone comes in unplanned.  After the initial shock, I will pretend you are invisible and go on with my routine.  So you might see......kids in the zone, building stamina, being independent, having fun.....and hear.....classical piano music (I like to play music in the classroom).

On those tough days, I do 2 things:
1. I take the advice of a former colleague of mine from my third year teaching. Patty would say to me. 'Jess, remember they are just kids.' I would take a deep breath, and be like oh yeah. It's easier now that I have kids of my own.  I always picture one of my children, and think, What would I do if it were them?
2. I pray!!! I've had some pretty rough classes in my 15 years. Prayer is what truly got me through  and why I am still teaching.
In this new age of technology, the teaching resource I could not live without (well almost anyway) is the Document camera/projector/ CAVS unit.  I literally have my screen down and teach with my computer and Inter-Write pad or my document camera all day long, in EVERY subject.

My teaching style/favorite classroom project:  My style is to give my students the skills they need and allow them explore and learn. "Be the guide on the side, not the sage on the stage"
I LOVE Daily 5 and how they explain how to train your students. I read the book about 3 years ago, and said to my self, "If I knew then, what I know now".  Daily 5 is my favorite time of day. My little first graders are so independent and learning!  When I go around with my penseive binder and read with my kids I truly get to know my students. When I look up from my reading table and see kids giggling over a story, or writing eagerly in their journals... it makes my heart happy.

My Blogging goal for this year, is to blog more often and to share as many free ideas that I can. 
Thanks for reading and letting me share my tale.

33 comments

  1. I love Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan. Anything by either one of those country boys suits me just fine!

    Karen
    www.anappleadayinfirstgrade.blogspot.com

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  2. My favorite song at the moment is the "Mom Song" by Go Fish. I know it's a kid song, but it's fun and when trying to clean the house today I really felt like my work is never done. :)

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  3. I use my iPad to play music in the mornings for the kiddos to get unpacked too. It works so well, and they are loving all the Disney songs I have. I would love to get a few more of the newest songs!

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  4. Right now I'm loving One More Night by Maroon 5! :)
    ❤Teri
    A Cupcake for the Teacher

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  5. No favorites, just love Pandora as I work on the computer.

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  6. My favorite song right now is "I need a Miracle" by Third Day. Here is a link to have a small sampling of the song. It is a great pick me up when you are feeling down.

    http://www.klove.com/music/artists/third-day/songs/i-need-a-miracle-lyrics.aspx

    <a href="<tammyflickingersblogspot.com>Mrs. Flickinger's Butterfly Oasis</a/>

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  7. Soundgarden just came out with a new album and their song Bones of Birds is fantastic!
    Thanks again for the giveaways,
    Katie
    I Want to be a Super Teacher

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  8. My new favorite song is probably "Madness" by Muse. Not sure why I like it so much, but it caught my ear!

    Thanks for such a fun giveaway!

    Nichole
    The Craft of Teaching

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  9. What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction :)


    faithfulinfirst.blogspot.com

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  10. I'm loving anything by Mumford and Sons. I love "You belong to me I belong to you tonight"

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  11. Don't laugh, but I broke out the Christmas songs early...so I will go with any classic 50s song. Tony, Frank, Dean...

    tokyoshoes (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  12. my new favorite is Gang Bang by Madonna. It was the best new song I heard and the concert! I just downloaded it on iTunes!
    Rachel

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  13. I love country music..............always enjoy listening to good tunes!

    kellybrown28021@gmail.com

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  14. Thanks for "hosting" me. Have a Fabulous Thanksgiving.
    Jessica :0)

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  15. I am still loving Pink's Blow me one last kiss.
    charsom68@aol.com

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  16. My current favorite song is Cuckoo by Adam Lambert....sums out how I feel teaching during the holidays! :)

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  17. Favorite song is Love Moves in Mysterious Ways by Julia Fordham.

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  18. Good Time (Feat. Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen)
    Owl City - it always cheers me up!
    Peggy
    mrspaulson@gmail.com

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  19. My favorite song is Anywhere But Here by Cross Canadian Ragweed.
    --Chrissy
    Firstgradefoundme.blogspot.com

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  20. I currently have Better Dig Two by The Band Perry on repeat!

    Bren P.
    The Teacher Diaries

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  21. My current favorite song is "Trouble" by Taylor Swift. :) Congrats on all your followers!

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  22. My current favorite is Over You by Miranda Lambert! Congratulations on all of your followers! Wow!

    œKaryn
    A is for Apple B is for Blog
    Kideducator@comcast.net

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  23. Karyn and I have a similar like, but I really prefer Cassadee Pope's version of Over You that she sang on The Voice.

    Jessica
    Teach on a Limb

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  24. Loving 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman.
    Thank you for the opportunity!
    rpena47@mcisd.org

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  25. I love "O Holy Night" by Josh Groban!

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  26. Mystery
    played by the Gaithering Praise Band
    http://pinterest.com/pin/239324167669254434/

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Thanks for visiting my blog and sharing ideas! I love to read your comments. I like to reply back by email, so make sure you have that option enabled so we can chat! :)

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