1 Year Blogiversary Celebration!

     A little more than a year ago I decided that I wanted to begin blogging about what I was learning during my education degree and a few days later I officially launched my first ever blog! One year later I am still blogging regularly and can officially say that I accomplished my 2012 New Year's Resolution (I don't think I've ever accomplished one before).

     I saw a lot of people posting their blog stats in their New Year's posts so I thought it might be interesting to share some of mine. Here are some stats that I feel represent my first year of blogging:

Blog Page-Views

- 102, 274 at the time of this post

Blog Posts
- 198 posts

Google Followers

- 246

Highest Traffic Month (by page-views)

- August 2012

- 16,992 page-views

Top 3 Most Read Posts (by page-views)

1 ) Whole Brain Teaching Wednesday! WBT Blogs

     - May 30, 2012

     - 7022 page-views 

2 ) Whole Brain Teaching Wednesday! The Scoreboard

     - February 8, 2012

     - 2370 page-views

3 ) Whole Brain Teaching Wednesday! Gestures

     - June 27, 2012

     - 1402 page-views

Top 3 Most Commented Posts 

1 ) Newbies Blog Hop

     - July 20, 2012

     - 41 comments

2 ) 100 Follower Giveaway!

     - July 3, 2012

     - 34 comments

3 ) Official WBT Blog Bug

     - June 21, 2012

     - 20 comments

Top 3 Favourite Posts (my personal favourites)

1 ) My Thoughts on Educon 2.4
     - January 29, 2012
     - This was my first time tuning into this Professional Development conference
        and I LOVED the sessions that I "attended". I am so thankful that I shared my
        reflections through this post as I have revisited it several times since then to use
        the information while I am teaching.

2 ) Whole Brain Teaching Wednesday! Gestures

     - June 27, 2012
     - I put a lot of work and thought into this post and I think it really helped me
       think more about differentiation and Gardner's Theory of Multiple
       Intelligences. I also have a limited background in American Sign Language
       so this post helped me think of others ways I could use that skill.

3 ) What Makes a Good Portfolio?

     - November 20, 2012

     - This post started a lengthy Twitter conversation in which I was able to discuss 

        and review my teaching portfolio with a principal and several teachers from

        across the province! It was so helpful to review it with others before I use it

        during a teaching interview!

_____________________________________________________

To celebrate, I have decided to do a type of giveaway that I haven't done before,

a Mystery Prize Package Giveaway!! 

     The winner will receive a hand-made prize package tailored specifically for them (valued at $30)! 

Upon winning I will get in contact with the lucky person, visit your blog (if applicable) and find out what you would like in a prize package! Maybe that includes:

- Gift cards to Starbucks/Tim Hortons

- New calendar organizer for the classroom

- Stickers for student's work

- Souvenir from Canada (if you are an American follower)

- Nail polish and/or hand lotion to pamper yourself

- Anything!
The fun thing about this prize is that you actually get something in the mail that you can unwrap and enjoy! I think that is way more fun that downloading an electronic file... I love getting snail mail!

     There are lots of ways to enter and for each entry make sure you leave a comment below stating how you entered and your email address so I can contact you when you win!

1 ) Follow this blog (if you already do make sure you still comment)
2 ) Tweet about the giveaway on your Twitter account 

     (leave the link in the comment)
3 ) Post about the giveaway on your Facebook page 

     (leave the link in the comment)
4 ) Post about the giveaway on your blog, please include the image above

     (leave the link in the comment)

A BIG, gigantic, thank-you to everyone who made my first year of blogging so awesome!

Contest closes Friday, January 11th at 9pm (central time) and the winner will be announced on Saturday.

Good luck!