Meet the Teach

So, Stephanie over at 

  has decided to host a Meet the Teacher linky party.  And I LOVE the idea! So, let's get started...  

  My name is Ryan Graber and I blog from the crazy state that is Florida. I was an ESE teacher assistant for 1 year, and an ESE k-5 teacher for 1 year.  Then I spent 2 years in a K-2 behavior unit.  The past 2 years have been in a 3rd grade inclusion class (as the gen ed teacher).  And this year I am going back to ESE and will be the 3-5 ESE teacher.

Disney World...of course!

My boo thang and I have been married for 6 years (we got married, and honeymooned, right in the middle of student teaching).  We got engaged at Disney, honeymooned at Disney, and visit as often as we can.  (If you have any Disney travel questions, I can probably answer them.)

Sandy Cheeks!

We do not have any human children, instead we just have this snuggle bug.  Sandy, and the rest of her litter, was abandoned, with their mom, by a friend's neighbor.  When she found them she put a request out on MySpace (do we even remember that?!) to see if anyone wanted a puppy.  The wifey and I quickly picked Sandy up.  Her crazy just adds to our crazy and it's wonderful.
Now, on to the questions...
These are a few of my favorite things... starting sentences with the word SO running reading watching movies the sound rain makes as it hits my chimney eating dessert first the beach DISNEY

If you weren't a teacher, what would you be? I have honestly always wanted to be a teacher.  But I guess if I wasn't, I would either work in a bookstore, or at Disney.  And if I was at Disney, I would either ask to guide tours or be in the parades or something where I could be ridiculous. Three little words that describe you... loud random friendly

Finish the sentence: "________, said no teacher ever." I HATE summer vacation, said no teacher ever. It's your birthday, and you can invite anyone {dead or alive} to the party.  Who are you inviting? You mean besides the obvious family and friends? Well, Walt Disney (of course). Ellen DeGeneres the cast of Glee Jane Austen (random group, I know)

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be? What's funny is my wife and I have talked about this...and my book title would be: Wait, What?

You get to pick one superpower, what is it? I have always wanted the ability to become invisible.  Then I would really know what people thought of me! What's your favorite quote or saying? "Don't be afraid of death, be afraid of the unlived life." - Tuck Everlasting If you had to sing one song on American Idol, what would it be?  There's this 90's (or maybe 80's) country song.  I can't remember the band or the name of the song.  But it's about this guy who obviously needs some help with his mental facilities.  And he works in a restaurant with this girl that he falls in love with. I used to LOVE that song.  It took me years to realize that it was not a happy ending... And I don't know why...but that's the first song I thought of with this question.

Are you a morning person or a night owl? I am most definitely a night owl.  My wife will tell you that it is awful trying to get me up in the morning. What's your favorite resource that you've created in your TpT shop? Honestly both resources in my TpT shop right now are free.  And they're free for a reason.  One is just Whole Brain rules.  And one is a set of Partner Cards.  Eventually I will add more things...just not right now. Share something we might not know about you. So, Sleeping Beauty's Castle at Disneyland is based off a real castle.  Cinderella's Castle at Disney World is partially based off the same castle.  It's called Neuschwanstein Castle and it is in Germany.  I've been there before.

Neuschwanstein Castle

Well, I hope you learned just a little bit more about me...thanks for sticking out this post.
Don't forget to head over to Falling Into First and join the fun!

Meet the Teacher Monday...on a Tuesday

So my principal texted me this morning asking if I could come to a workshop today and tomorrow.  Of course, I accepted.  But that meant my brain was too wired to go back to sleep...so I got up and got ready.  I don't have to be at the workshop until 1, so I thought I would check this...and look, you're getting 2 posts in 2 days.  Lucky you!  ;-)

So...time for Meet the Teacher Monday!

(on a Tuesday)

Trina, over at The Ordinary to Extraordinary Classroom is hosting a summer linky.

So let's get to it...

Meet the Teacher Monday: Summer Edition

1. What's your summer teacher persona? 

• Slacker Teacher:catching up on every episode of everything you wanted to watch during the school year 
• Mommy-On-The-Go: consumed with your children's extracurricular activities
• Summer Fun Teacher:hanging with friends and traveling the world
• Overachiever Teacher:Making TPT products, proparing your classroom, you never really took a break

I honestly have been a combination.  We can't really afford for me not to work over the summer...so I teach 3 week-long summer camps out at the University.  I've finished 2 and I have 1 next week.  But other than that...I would definitely have to say Slacker Teacher.  I have gone through some teacher boxes, but I have tried really hard not to even think about school.

2. It's a sunny day in July. Your schedule is wide open, so you decide to?

If by "schedule is wide open" you mean my wife's is, too...then we're going to the beach.  Florida weather has been its usual crazy self lately...so no beach.  But we're hoping to get in some beach time this weekend.

3.What is your favorite summer thirst quencher?

 

 

This is going to sound weird, but honestly my favorite summer thirst quencher is watermelon.  There's just something about biting into a juicy piece of watermelon that makes everything right with the world.

4. Where will you be soaking up the summer sun? Have you planned any vacations?

My wife works at a teacher supply store (I know...I'm so lucky).  But that means summer is their busiest time of year.  So no vacations for us.  We have already planned a trip to Disney in September though.  :-)

5. Any summer reads, professional and personal?

 

 I read Wonder and Elvis and the Underdogs...both were amazing.  I also finished reading Awakened by Angela Watson from The Cornerstone for Teachers (brilliant book...just trying to put some ideas into practice now).  I am currently in the middle of Reading in the Wild.  I'm seeing some things I'd like to do differently this upcoming year.

6. What does your summer TV habits consist of?

 
I'm not gonna lie...we're big TV people normally.  So we don't have to spend all summer catching up on any shows.  We are loving Hell's Kitchen, So You Think You Can Dance, Girl Meets World (I know), and we are loving this new show on ABC Family callled Young and Hungry.  It's hilarious.  ABC Family has some really good shows.

 

7. Favorite Summer song of 2014?

 
I don't really have a favorite summer song.  I love most types of music so it kind of depends on my mood and what I want to listen to.

 

Thanks for sticking it out to the end!

Monday Meet Me

I'm joining the Teaching Tribune for one of their Summer Linky parties.

Meet Me Monday!

 

I've been teaching 3rd grade for the past 2 years...but I am so happy with my move.  I started in ESE, and I am glad to be "going home".

I have a HUGE movie collection.  As in, I have so many movies that during FCAT week (our state test) and during the last week of school other teachers come to me to borrow movies.  I also have a "library" in my house.  We took our formal dining room and turned it into a book nook when we moved in..that's how many books I have.

I could seriously watch nothing but movies, back to back to back.

I listen to all kinds of music.  I really don't believe in that "I'm afraid to admit I listen to..." mess.  I like country, pop, boy bands, angry grrl rock (I know it's misspelled), some rap, etc.  I currently am listening to Karmin (if you haven't heard of them...youtube it!). 

I don't read as much as I should.  I have a book nook with lots of books, but I'm too busy playing on Facebook.  :-/

I run...as often as I can...which is not as often as I should.  I really should run more.

So...go link up!