In true kindergarten form (where we spend each day thinking of stuff that starts with each letter of the alphabet), I thought it would be a fun idea to update my
Introduction to Mrs. Eckenrode that was written three years ago. Let's see how this goes :-)
A IS FOR APPLEBEES
my favorite restaurant. I usually order the same thing: boneless buffalo wings & 3 cheese chicken penne
B IS FOR BAKING
I LOVE baking: my favorite thing is cupcakes
C IS FOR COFFEE
OOOH, the only way to start off every morning (unless I want to end up with a headache). I need flavored creamer to make it taste perfect & my kitchen wasn't complete until the addition of our Keurig
D IS FOR DOGS
It is IMPOSSIBLE for me to stay in a bad mood after a long day and I am sitting on the couch with one of my dogs laying next to me! I have two: a 5 (almost 6) year old German Shepherd named Rocca and a year & a half year old chocolate lab named Olive. They are my furry babies and my family is not complete without them
E IS FOR EDUCATION
Back in 2001, I moved to this area to attend Shippensburg University. I graduated in Dec '05 with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education (K-6) with a minor in Reading. In 2008, I went back to my alma mater to begin studying for my Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a Concentration in Early Childhood. After 3 years of hard work, I graduated in the spring of '11
F IS FOR FAMILY
I come from a large extended family (both of my parents have lots of siblings) that continues to be an extraordinary support system for me. My aunts & uncles are extra sets of parents to me and likewise my cousins are more siblings to have! My own parents are divorced and over the years, I have learned that this kind of event can be a blessing in disguise. From it, I have 2 sets of parents and 3 siblings that I all love very dearly. We don't do the "step" title in our family.
Inside my own family unit, I have the ENORMOUS honor of saying that my husband (of almost 9 years) and I are raising a beautiful daughter who is "sniff sniff" a senior at Shippensburg High School this year! For the past 10 years, I have had the privilege of helping my husband raise her as one of my own and once again, there is no "step" titles involved. She is my daughter <3
G IS FOR GOD
God is a BIG piece of my life: how I live each day, the decisions I make, and where I invest my time, money, and resources. Without God, I am nothing, and With Christ, all things are possible.
H IS FOR HOMETOWN
I grew up in a
tiny town called Tamaqua about 45 minutes northwest of Lehigh Valley. Because of my childhood I am a farming country girl at heart with a "coal cracker" accent that is still present even though I have been living in this area for over a decade
I IS FOR ICE TEA
My favorite cold beverage to drink on a hot day! Homemade, flavored, or store bought, just pour some in a tall glass over ice and hand me a straw!
J IS FOR JUNE
While June is one of my favorite months of the year, and not just for the obvious reason that everyone thinks June is a favorite month for teachers worldwide. Summer brings a sense of relaxation and rejuvenation to my life that is hard to find during the other months/seasons of the year. It is truly a myth that teachers have nothing to do and are therefore not busy during the summer months. I relish these months to sleep in a few (ok, maybe several hehe) mornings, go on 2 annual missions trips with my church, enjoy catching up with friends over lunch, plus give my family and home some much needed TLC.
K IS FOR KIDS
I guess you can already tell by my profession that I love kids, but I REALLY do! I have wanted to be a teacher my whole life (ever since I stepped into my own kindergarten class). I love that my position allows me to "be on the front lines" when kids first enter elementary school and I can help make their very first experience with school be a positive one!
L IS FOR LEARNING
In my classroom this year, we are going to do
A LOT of that this year! The best part is all the learning I receive from my students each year.
M IS FOR MUSIC
I really don't have a favorite genre, it depends on my mood and what is currently happening in my life. My favorite thing to do is put my ipod on shuffle and listen to the craziness that ensues: where in the span of my 25 minute commute home there is a possibility to listen to Christian, country, 80s, & Disney
N IS FOR NEW FRANKLIN
This school year will begin my 5th year of teaching at New Franklin Elementary. Initially, I was sent to this school because I no longer had an available space to teach my kindergarten class at Marion Elementary. Over the years, I have grown to love the New Franklin staff, students, and family more than ever and I definitely think of it as my home and hope I will be blessed enough to teach here for many years to come!
O IS FOR ORGANIZED
I pride myself on keeping an organized classroom, home, and life. (many of my friends and family would prolly say that organizing is my greatest strength and weakness! LOL)
P IS FOR PINTEREST
I am SERIOUSLY addicted to this site (don't judge me if you
Check it Out). It is the PERFECT way to be all organized (hence the 100 boards) and save everything at my fingertips to be a great Mom, Wife, Kindergarten Teacher, 31 Consultant, and Photographer
Q IS FOR QUESTIONS
The only stupid question is the question not asked....ok, maybe that isn't the complete truth, after all, Bill Engvall wouldn't have a "Here's your Sign" song if that statement was true. However, please feel free to contact me at ANY point during the year with your concerns or questions about anything.
R IS FOR READING
I'm definitely a bookworm by heart and if a good book is within my grasp.....well let's just say that laundry, dishes, cleaning, and pretty much anything else gets postponed until later
S IS FOR SHIPPENSBURG
I came here over a decade ago to attend Shippensburg University, fell in love with this quaint little town, and when I met my husband, it was a no-brainer to plant my roots here and stay :-) I love the look, feel, and layout of our town, along with its ability to feel like a small cozy town with its great amount of amenities akin to a place three times its size!
T IS FOR TURTLES
By far my favorite animal :-)
U IS FOR UNBELIEVABLE
I love hearing stories about the unbelievable. Times when life hands you lemons & you learn to make lemonade. (or a quote my daughter created: "Make apple juice and leave the world wondering how you ever did that!!") In all the positive ways it can be said "THAT WAS UNBELIEVABLE"
V IS FOR VIDEOS
One of my favorite things to do after a stressful day/week is curl up on the couch with my family, a yummy evening snack, and watch a good flick. Some of my favorites? Wreck it Ralph, all the Harry Potters, The Notebook, and HairSpray
W IS FOR WEDDING PLANNER
I like to think that if I wasn't teaching, I could love to have a job as a wedding planner. My Mom jokes that I could be like Hans (from Father of the Bride) LOL Luckily for our bank account and my husband's sanity (I would want to renew our vows EVERY year! hehe), I am still a teacher
X IS FOR eXciteMENT
Each day, I want to be filled to the brim with excitement. Even if a tough day lays in wait, find excitement in the little things. It is quite a contagious disease that everyone can benefit from.
Y IS FOR YOUTH LEADER
A HUGE part of my life and the "other group of kids" that my heart belongs to are my youth group kids. For the past three years, I have watched God work faith inspired revelations in my heart and my kids' hearts through ordinary every day events.
Z IS FOR ZOO
If we are going on vacation, the first thing I look up is the nearest zoo to our destination. I love the ability to see so many different animals in one location that I normally would never have the chance of seeing in "real life"
I hope you have enjoyed getting to know me a little better!
I am looking forward to an AWESOME YEAR together :-)
