Fabulous Blogger Friday Featuring Jessica from Tales of A First Grade Teacher

Happy Friday Friends,

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!! I know we all have so much to be thankful for & it is nice to take a moment and remember our blessings! I had a wonderful day with my family and it was truly special.

Last night--after I stuffed my belly full of turkey--I hit the crowds for Black Friday shopping! I got most of my Christmas shopping done!! I was out from 8:00 last night until 7:00 this morning. Needless to say, I have spent most of the day lounging around and sleeping. How many of you went out Black Friday shopping?? Did you get some great deals?

Today I am featuring a super sweet blogger! Please meet...

  Jessica Berggren 

from 

Tales of a First Grade Teacher. http://tales-of-a-first-grade-teacher.blogspot.com 

Jessica with her family! 

Grade or Subject You Teach?  

First Grade (this is my 15th year teaching)

What inspired you to become a teacher? 

As a kid, I was the child who wanted to play with the babies, play school when my friends came over and I even wanted to pretend grade book like my teachers.  My elementary school experience was wonderful. I had so many amazing teachers, that it made me want to be like them. My college Reading Professor, Dr. Anita Voelker, was the most amazing mentor. She taught us, modeled for us and showed me what Good Teaching looks like everyday.

Describe your teaching "personality":

  I love making my kids think.  My college professor taught us "Don't be the sage on the stage, be the guide on the side". I love letting them construct their ideas and build from there, I never underestimate them.  I always make my expectations known to them, {this is what we are going to do..., this is what you are going to learn...} because I know they will strive to reach it. I received my Master's Degree in Math, science and Technology for Elementary Education--which taught me to integrate the disciplines (even literacy) and allow kids to use their hands to design and build actual projects with their knowledge.

What is your favorite subject to teach?

  Ha!, I laugh because I love them all, but I guess I have to choose.  I guess it would be writing, because I model, but the outcome is always the creativity of the child.  I lead them, but what they write--they own!

What made you decide to begin blogging?

  I honestly had no idea how big the blogging world was until this past March. A friend of mine told me about TpT.  When I started surfing around I found all these blogs with great ideas.  My initial thought was "I can do that"  It took a long time for me to figure out all the technical things, I am a work in progress.  I love making my own documents with my ideas and sharing them with other people.  It was a great decision, I've "met" a lot of great teachers with amazing and creative ideas.

If you could give one piece of advice to your fellow teachers & bloggers, what would it be? 

    Be patient, ask questions--There are a lot of wonderful bloggers out there    
    who will help you--(like you lisa) be honest, be yourself--don't try to be 
    something your not--That goes for real life too. In your school, there are 
    teachers with lots of knowledge, they will help you--you just have to ask.

Finish this sentence: You know you're a teacher when you get excited to go school supply shopping and buy all the pencils and crayola crayons you can find!.

My new favorite quote: We teach, and at the same time allow ourselves to be taught by those we teach. We talk, and at the same time, listen. We experience the world anew through another's eyes. And therein lies the secret of renewal. It comes, in part, from allowing ourselves to accept from students some of the same positive energy we try to put out into their lives. We refuel each other._ Eliot Wigginton

Any personal links you would like to share with readers (TPT, TN, Pinterest,

 Etsy)?

 My Store-Tales-of-a-First-Grade-Teacher @ TPT

www.facebook.com/TalesofaFirstgradeteacher

My Facebook page

Check out a cute product in Jessica's TPT store!!:

   Building Words at the beach--- http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Building-Words-at-the-Beach
Here is a freebie from Jessica!!:

Freebie--Jitter Glitter bag toppers for the first day of school--http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Jitter-Glitter-Freebie

A BIG thank you to Jessica for letting me feature her. If you want to be featured, please email me at fsuteach81@yahoo.com. :)

*Also stop by Jessica's blog today!! She is having a big giveaway for hitting 150 followers!! Way to go Jessica. Several bloggers, including myself, are giving away products. Go HERE to check it out!

I'm also participating in the huge Cyber Monday (and Tuesday) sale at TPT!! 

Button by Ashley Hughes

I'm linked up with Blog Hoppin' and The 3am Teacher. If you have a sale to link up, click on their names & link up!! :)

Have a great evening friends!!,