Meet the Teacher-Blogger

I always love learning more about bloggers I follow, and who've helped shape my teaching and my classroom. So when I saw Stephanie at Falling into First's Meet the Teacher Blogger linky, I just had to participate! 

My name is Kristen, and I'm the face behind Chalk & Apples! I am currently in my 7th year teaching, 6 of which have been in fifth grade. I love teaching my "big kids" and am so glad I've been able to teach the same grade for so long!. I'm originally from a small town in South Carolina, but the Army has my little family in Clarksville, TN these days.

^ This was our family last summer. Little Apple has grown up so much since then. New family photos are definitely in order this fall when Mr. Apple gets home! in the meantime, here's a new one of my favorite little guy...

Being in a military town, I have the privilege of teaching Army kids. Every single student in my class has at least one soldier parent. I am amazed on a daily basis at how strong and resilient they are through all of the trials of Army family life. I truly feel called to teach these specific kids, and it is such a blessing to have a position exactly where I feel that I belong!

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

Iced Coffee - Chocolate - Frixion Erasable Pens - Sweet Tea

Music - My Little Apple - Cute Office Supplies

Romantic Comedies - Skittles - Roller Coasters - Pasta

Sunshine - Jamaica - Peanut Butter

Q: IF YOU WEREN'T A TEACHER, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO BE?

This is always a hard question for me, because I've known I was a teacher since I was 15. As a kid, I wanted to be a pediatrician for a long time. Now, I think I could gladly work full time on TPT and blog designing.

Q: THREE LITTLE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU.
Dedicated. Social. Trustworthy.

Q: FINISH THE SENTENCE, "________,  SAID NO TEACHER EVER!!"

"Sure I'd love to stay for a 6pm parent conference... said no teacher EVER!!!"

Q: IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY AND YOU CAN INVITE ANYONE {DEAD OR ALIVE} TO THE PARTY. WHO ARE YOU INVITING?

Matthew McConaughey... do I need to explain? I didn't think so!

Q: IF SOMEONE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE?

Finding Home

Q:YOU GET TO PICK ONE SUPERPOWER. WHAT IS IT?

Flying, so I could fly home to see family more often!

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR SAYING?

"Be the change you want to see in the world."

Q: IF YOU HAD TO SING ONE SONG ON AMERICAN IDOL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 

 "Defying Gravity" - I'm gonna need to borrow someone else's voice though... I can't get close to that high.

Q: ARE YOU A MORNING PERSON OR A NIGHT OWL?

It's hard to say... If I go to bed at a decent hour, I am definitely a morning person. Then again, I also tend to stay up way too late, and those days, morning and I are not friends!

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE RESOURCE THAT YOU'VE CREATED IN YOUR TPT SHOP?

I am super proud of my Growing Vocabulary Roots Morphology Unit. I have three more units in the works, to make up an entire year of vocabulary instruction. I have seen first hand the difference teaching vocabulary this way can make in students, and it is so exciting to see them grow!

Q: SHARE SOMETHING WE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU! 

I first water skied at age 2-1/2. I grew up on the lake with my family every weekend, so it was just a natural part of being in our family. I haven't had a chance to ski in years now, but I bet I could still do it if I had a chance!