Buzzing along in first grade: Meet the teacher

Tell us a little about you/how long have you been teaching.... Hi all --- My name is Vicky Moore --- this is my *gulp* 18th year teaching. I job shared for 7 years so I could raise my kids while they were babies/preschoolers. I have taught first, second and third grade. I love teaching and feel so very blessed to be in this profession. I like many others went to school for something else...psychology. But...while considering grad school stumbled upon a preschool job and the rest is history. My mom was a teacher and I feel that some of my natural teaching abilites came from watching her teach. I went back and got my Masters in Education with a focus on curriculum in 1999. I am NEW to blogging -- so I'm still learning a lot. I have had a class website for about 5 years:
http://www.vickymoore2.com/ Mrs. Moore's Busy Bees

I have 2 wonderful children : Mandy 6th grade....Josh 4th grade. They have gone to my school since Kinder -- what a blessing that has been!! My husband is a football coach and PE teacher at a local high school. So we have our summer off together. <3

What you might not know about me.... I love to run and swim and scrapbook. I dedicate my runs to my amazing mom who passed away in 2007 to cancer. Not a day goes by when I don't think of her...
My life is filled with the joys of my family as well as a job that I absolutely adore!! I also feel blessed to be in the midst of such amazing teachers through these blogs. I love to share ideas and get excited for school to start each year just like the kids do. I was a junior national competitive swimmer for many years.

Since I'm a newbie -- please become a follower so we can collaborate together. :o) Happy teaching everyone!

What are you looking most forward to this year?... I am looking forward to applying many of these wonderful blog ideas into my classroom and incorporating new and fresh ideas into my teaching. After teaching as long as I have you HAVE to keep it fresh!

What do you need to improve?... We have had a new math program for a few years now and I changed grade levels last year so it's still new to me. I would like to get a better handle on it. I am strong in teaching reading and want to meet the diverse needs of my students better in math.

What teaching supplies can you NOT live without?... I would have to say my DOC camera...love that thing!!! Also chart paper - I love doing anchor charts and brainstorming with my students!