Budding Blogger Showcase: {Fun & Fearless in First}

Hey All!  My name is Colleen and my lil' blog is Fun and Fearless in First.  I'm thrilled to be here with you today on Amanda's blog.  How cool is she to share her blog space?! 

I'm excited to share a little bit about myself with you today.  If you like what you read, hop on over and check out my blog!

Fun and Fearless in First All About Me I started my blog about a year and a half ago.  It was around then that I really started to find and read teaching blogs.  I was so psyched to discover this amazing teaching community right on my laptop.  I decided that I wanted to contribute, too!  My sister helped me come up with my blog name and every time I say it, I smile.  My sister is truly my best friend and I don't know what I'd do without her!

Me (left) and my awesome sis!

I'm also blessed to have two beautiful nieces!  I write about them all the time on my blog.  I just can't help myself.  They are so darn adorable!

Teaching Experience

I have been teaching for eight years now, but teaching is actually my second career!  I started out in advertising, but just didn't quite feel satisfied.  The minute I walked into the classroom I felt at home.  I've taught four different grade levels (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th), in three different districts, and two states (MD and NY).  The past eight years have been a whirlwind, but I wouldn't change a thing!

I currently teach first grade in Syracuse, NY.  I grew up in Rochester, NY and it's great to be so close to home, where most of my family still lives.

Favorite Subject

My favorite subject to teach is most definitely reading.  This wasn't always the case, though.  It wasn't until I began teaching first grade that I fell in love with the joy of the foundations of reading.  I think there is no greater pleasure than seeing a child blossom in reading.  The growth is so tangible in first grade.  I feel so blessed to be a part of instilling a life-long love of reading.

In My Room

If you popped into my classroom unannounced, you would most likely see kids working around the room independently, in pairs, and see a small group with me at my reading table.  I just recently wrote a post about Daily 5, which is one of my favorite times of the day!

Those Days

Though I absolutely adore my job, we all have "those days."  When one of those days hits, I turn to chocolate, like most people!  I usually wash it down with a Diet Mt. Dew.  I'm not a coffee person, but I do need my caffeine.   I also get a lil' help from my friends.  Two of my teammates are my well-known partners-in-crime.  I'm lucky to have one across the hall from me, and one right next door.

All dressed up for Halloween this year!

Classroom Can't Live Without I am well-known for my organizational OCD, so I definitely couldn't live without plastic classroom organizers.  It's an obsession finding the right bucket, in the right color, and place it precisely in the right spot.  My co-workers benefit when I go on an organizational binge, because they get all the discarded supplies!

Organizational bliss!

Teaching Style / Favorite Activity We keep pretty busy during our day.  I like to think my teaching style consists of clear expectations, consistency, and a whole lot of learning fun!  My favorite time of the school year is in June (…and not just because it's so close to summer vacation, haha!).  In June we have the chance to wrap up our learning and see all the amazing progress we've made throughout the year.  We reflect, and look forward to the year ahead.  My team always puts together a June Fun Calendar with exciting activities each day.  One of our favorite days is Camp Skeeter.  We have a whole day devoted to camping activities!  We learn about nature, do a craft, get our faces painted, and of course make a snack!  You can read more about Camp Skeeter {HERE}. Blogging Goals I think one of my blogging goals is just to stick with it!  Blogging can be time-consuming and it often falls to the bottom of the priority list.  But I find that when I blog, it helps me to reflect on my teaching and then rejuvenate for what's ahead. Thanks for hanging in there if you've read this far!  And thanks again to Amanda for letting me share a little about my life and my blog.  I hope this glimpse inside my classroom will pique your interest into reading more on my blog.  Hope to see you soon! Fun and Fearless in First