January 20 – 24 is No Name Calling Week.  I’ll have a series of posts this week reflecting on the effects of name calling (probably the most common form of bullying I see) and suggesting ways you can stand up to make a difference.

It is much easier to make fun of someone you don’t know, someone who seems different from you.  How well do you know your classmates?  Do you know which things you have in common?  Do you know what unique interests and knowledge and experiences set you apart?  I know I’ve learned a lot about you from reading your blogs.  Now it’s your turn.

Across the blogosphere, bloggers have been nominating other bloggers for a Sunshine Award.  Since I commented on Elsie’s blog Elsie Tries Writing, I’m nominated, too.  I’m taking that idea (and changing it to fit us) and nominating some excellent student bloggers.  If you’re nominated, you get to introduce yourself and nominate more of your classmates.  Here’s what you need to do if nominated.

1. Acknowledge the blogger who nominated you.
2. Share 7 random facts about yourself.
3. Answer 7 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you.
4. Write 7 questions to be answered by the bloggers you nominate.
5. Nominate 7 student bloggers (look for those who haven’t been nominated yet if you can.). You’ll have to tell the person you nominated them.  Check the categories on each blog for a list of students in a each class.
6. Copy these directions in your post.

I’ll start off with 7 random facts about me.

1. I was born and grew up in eastern North Carolina.
2. My first real job was barning tobacco for two summers.  After that I will never put that stuff in my mouth.  It’s disgusting!
3. I met my husband at the East Kentucky Regional Airport in Hazard, KY.
4. My second job in high school was shelving books in the local library and helping with the summer reading program.  It was the perfect job for me.
5. I have my private pilot’s license.  Even though I don’t fly anymore, I am glad I have “slipped the bonds of earth” at least a few times.
6. I started doing sprint triathlons several years ago.  I’m old and slow, but I take pride in the fact I can finish a .2 mile swim, 9.5 mile bike ride, and a 3.1 mile run.
7. I grew up being told, “You’re just like your grandma.”  Sometimes that was a good thing, and sometimes it was said in frustration as I burned dinner because I was reading.

I’m answering the questions posed by Elsie, who nominated anyone who commented on her post a few weeks ago.

1.  Where were you born?  I was born in Fayetteville, NC.
2. What’s one thing at the top of your bucket list?  Taking a vacation where I can travel across the prairie (for a short journey) in a covered wagon.
3. What makes you smile?  Lots of things–my dog, blue skies and sunshine, my family, seeing my students light up when they get it.
4. What is your favorite time of day?  I love morning, especially when I am the first one up and the house is quiet.
5. If you won the lottery, what would be your first big purchase?  First, I would pay off the mortgages on our house and farm.  Then I would purchase a plane ticket to somewhere exotic.
6. Do you know anyone famous?  Who?  I still get a thrill when real, live authors interact with me on Twitter!  When I was in high school, I got to interview Herve Villachez from Fantasy Island.
7. What is something you’d like to do this year that you’ve not done before?  I want to do a Color Run!

Now here are 7 questions for you to answer.

1.  What would be your dream job?
2. Where would you like to visit?
3. What do you like to do on the weekends?
4. What did you do on our last snow day?
5. What is your favorite picture book from your childhood?
6. What are you good at doing?
7. Who would you like to meet?

Drumroll, please!  Here are the 7 student bloggers I nominate to get us started!

1.  Mrs. Baxter 
2. Alexia M (1st period)
3. Anthony W (2nd period)
4. Abbigail T (3rd period)
5. Alexxis S (4th period)
6. Aaron C (6th period)
7. Abrianna J (7th period)

If you are nominated, leave a comment with a link to your post and tell us who you nominated.