Blog #1 - 10 Questions

1. What is your favorite book for kids… something you would like to use in your future classroom? Why do you like it?

I have two books that I would like to read to my class (no matter what grade I teach). The first one is "The Little Engine That Could" by Watty Piper. The second one is "I Knew You Could" by Craig Dorfman. I would like to read "The Little Engine That Could" at the beginning of the year to teach the students that they will have many things that come their way during the year that may be new and unfamiliar to them. If they stick to it and try their best they will find that they can accomplish anything that they put their mind to. Having a positive attitude will help them achieve their goals. After the students have had a chance to see some accomplishments, I'd read "I Knew You Could" to the students and let them know how proud I am of them.




2. Name your three favorite T.V. shows, even if you don’t have time to watch them! What can you (or what are you willing to) tell me about your T.V. viewing habits? I’ll tell you mine if you’ll tell me yours!

I'm a T.V. junky. On a daily basis, I record "The Ellen DeGeneres Show". I usually watch her show on my DVR when I'm doing homework in bed at night. She makes me laugh and gives me something to smile about when doing my homework. I also love and am very excited about "American Idol" starting up soon. I love watching from the very beginning when they are holding auditions across the country until they announce the winner. I find myself becoming emotionally involved with the singers and even though I've never once called in to "vote", I am always mad when the person I felt should stay was voted off. I also love most of the shows on TLC and The Food Network. I can do homework to either of those channels all night long. They help me stay awake. I never really "watch" these programs. I'm usually listening to them as I work on something else. They make great background noise and keep me company.





3. Do you collect anything? Tell about your collections:

I love Christmas time because it gives me a chance to display all of the Christmas tree ornaments I've collect from all of my vacation destinations. Seeing these ornaments helps me remember the fun times I had on vacation. I also collect smashed pennies. I don't want people to bring me back ornaments or smashed pennies (but, I'd never turn them down). What I really want is to physically visit and collect these items from the location myself. It's the experience more than the collection that I'm after. These small physical objects just help me remember the fun times I've had.




4. Do you keep any kind of a journal (or blog?) besides this one? Tell me about it, and what you like to write about:

I've been keeping a blog since September 2008. I'm not a real faithful writer and struggle making time to do it. I usually write about things that are important to me or experiences that I've had. I have a fun time reading other people's blogs and find that I get annoyed when they don't update their blogs very often. However, whenever I do get annoyed, I just remember how long it's been since I've updated my own blog.

I've titled my blog shelly camper girl because camping is a passion of mine that I really enjoyed doing. You can view my blog if you click here.

I also enjoy scrapbooking and have a room dedicated for that purpose. I haven't had time since I've returned to school to make a single page and look forward to having time for it again one day in my life - but everything in its own season. Right now school is my main focus.


When I was in high school and on my mission I kept a written journal. I'm glad that I have those and wish I had the desire and/or time to keep it up. I struggle the most with this form of journaling but find great value in it.

5. If you had to be the sponsor of an after-school group, select your 1st, 2nd & 3rd choices:

1st choice - Art or Music Appreciation
2nd choice - Peer Relationships
3rd choice - Ecology

6. Have you ever taken art lessons or attended art classes outside of school? Tell about your artistic talent and/or interests:

Last summer I took a pottery class at school just for the fun of it. Even though it was at school, I didn't need the credit and took the class for enjoyment purposes only. What a joy this class was. I wish I had my own wheel and kiln. I'm not very good and still have a lot to learn, but I felt good about the wares that I did produce and made some great progress. This was a really fun class.



When I was working full time - I would always try to sign up for community education classes when I had time. Some of the fun classes that I took were: Chinese cooking, flower arranging and topiary. I consider these classes as art lessons as each of them are an art form of their own. Even though I don't have time for it in my life right now, I still look over the registration form and try to find classes that I would like to take when I'm done with school.



7. Have you ever taken music lessons or belonged to musical groups outside of school? Tell about your musical talent and/or interests:

As a child and teenager I took piano lessons. I'm really not good at it. I stumble my way through the church hymns but don't feel comfortable accompanying a group of singers. When I was on my mission I played the piano quite a bit and became quite good, but that gift has since left me as I have neglected practing.



After my mission, I signed up for guitar lessons with my sister. I was going to school at the time in Elementary Education and really wanted to learn the guitar because it is an excellent intrument to play in the classroom. I also wanted to be able to accompany the girls at girls camp and for personal family camping trips around the campfire. There's really nothing better than singing around the campfire while roasting smores. It doesn't get any better than that! I'm not very good and look forward to refining that skill, but I do enjoy it and am glad that I made the effort to get started.



8. Have you ever taken dance lessons or belonged to dance groups? Tell about your dance talent and/or interests:

As a child, I took a tap, ballet and jazz dance class for several years. I was never a good dancer. I remember goofing off with friends more than taking it that seriously. I do have some dance recital pictures as evidence, but these photo's are really quite embarrasing. While I was never meant to be a dancer, I still remember some of the dance moves I learned whenever I hear the song "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang.

I also took gymnastics as a child. I really enjoyed the balance beam and was proud of the fact that I was the only student in the class that could do the strattles and backbend. I love to pull out my backbend moves even now at parties whenever I need to prove that I know how to do one.

9. Have you ever taken drama classes or performed in a theater production? Tell about your theater talents and/or interests:

While I'm quite a dramatic person, I've never been a performer. I worked at Scera Shell for several years as a volunteer and even managed the box office and concessions stand for two summers. But all of my theater experience has been behind the scenes and in the audience.

I do have a great love for the theater and drama though. I've sat through countless productions and find it an excellent form of entertainment. Someone has to be in the audience - right? Well, I'll gladly fill that seat.

I've had the opportunity to go to New York City twice and Chicago once to watch Broadway productions. My first Broadway show in New York was "Aida". What a great show! I've also fallen in love with "Wicked" and a variety of other great shows. Whenever possible, I try to attend Broadway Tours America productions in Salt Lake City and make the short trip to St. George for productions at the Tuachan. I wish I had all the money I needed so I could go back to New York and see all the shows that I want. Oh well, I'll just cherish the opportunities that I've had and enjoy community theater.



10. What have I not asked you, that you would like me to know about you?

I am very close to my family. I still live with my mother and am so grateful that I have the opportunity to be near my family. All of my siblings live close by. It's fun to see them often and spend time together. One of my passions is being an aunt. It's my goal to be the #1 favorite aunt. I love spending time with my neices and nephews and am usually the one on the floor playing with them while the adults sit and visit. It's great having a close family and I wouldn't have it any other way!!