M.I.A.

Wow. What a crazy past couple of months. I apologize for being missing in action the past few months.

My dad's tumor on his lung was malignant and it has been a whirlwind figuring that out...holy cats. What they thought was lung cancer actually turned out to be pancreatic cancer. Apparently each type of cancer has its own DNA make up. (I'm learning so much...NOT by choice.) So, he has an EXTREMELY late reccurance of pancreatic cancer and it traveled to his lung, which has never happened before leaving our oncologists, radiologists, etc. totally dumbfounded as to what to do. They finally decided to treat it like pancreatic cancer, NOT lung cancer because of the DNA make up and we are in the middle of treatments.

The last time my dad went through this was almost seven years ago...way healthier and way more agile. This time around, he has severe diabetes that is uncontrollable due to the benign (yay!) tumor on his pancreas. He has no feeling in his feet, due to the diabetes, so he is pretty much confined to a walker or wheelchair. He is on a 24-hour chemo pump, which is refilled each Monday and goes off every 5 minutes. It sounds like a camera going off, which does take some getting used to. The radiation treatments are every day and they are hitting him from 10 different angles. This is causing terrible sores on his lips and in his mouth, causing extreme pain when he eats, thus causing a loss of appetite, which has led to an 11 pound weight loss in the last week and a half.

It has been a blessing to have him around this holiday season, but it is so hard to see my dad in this condition. I do not wish this upon anyone once, let alone twice.

SO that's what has been going on in my life and something had to give. It was this poor little blog. Thank you for hanging in there and for all your thoughtful prayers and emails. They are so heartfelt and it makes me teary eyed thinking about this amazing community I have become a part of. I have been taking my dad to treatment as much as they will let me. I'm not missing out on any family time!! My school family has been amazing and I have a TERRIFIC substitute that continues to amaze me, too.

Needless to say, I haven't been that crafty when it comes to school. I have been using all of YOUR units from TPT and TN to write my lesson plans. :)
My sweet buzzers LOVED Cara's New Years unit that you can get HERE if you haven't yet. We did that all last week and it was a blast. I LOVE some of their New Years Resolutions!!! SO cute.













I am so blessed to be getting a student teacher for the first time! I met her randomly at a bridal show I was at yesterday (yes, I am married but I help out a friend in the photography business). My student teacher is engaged and was there getting ideas and such. I can tell she is a mini-me, so things could get dangerous in this sweet classroom of mine. I CANNOT wait!!! :)

How do you all make your student teacher feel welcome?? This is my first time, so I am so excited, but want to make sure she feels right at home!

Enjoy your week! And I hope you'll hear from me more often now that I am becoming more accustomed to this new norm.

Marcy

Favorite Thanksgiving Book(s) Linky Party!

I have so many favorite Thanksgiving books that I love to read to my students! I am so excited to share them with each of you and with Teaching Blog Addict's Linky Party!

I LOVE Fancy Nancy. In the Spring, we do a whole unit on Jane O'Connor and the Fancy Nancy books. I cannot wait. I love the vocabulary, the interactions with Fancy Nancy's extended family, the teaching of the manners. I love it all.

The next is I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie. Hilarious. Not only because I love pumpkin pie, but because of what happens at the end. I'd hate to spoil it for you if you haven't read it, but all my kids then write about their favorite float the following Monday. I hope that wasn't too much information....

The Littlest Pilgrim is another favorite because the poor main character is too small to help on the plantation. It is great for little ones who always want to help, but are "too little". We brainstorm ways and write about how they can help at this years Thanksgiving feast at their house.

I just came across this next book at the Scholastic Book Fair this fall. I love the illustrations and the point of view from the mouse. After reading it, all my sweet little buzzers started writing stories, "If I were a mouse...". It was a great writing workshop mentor text!

And last but certainly not least, my favorite informational text. Pilgrims of Plymouth has real photographs from the National Geographic Society. It allows the kiddos to see exactly how the Pilgrims and Wampanoags dressed for that first feast and in their daily lives. We compare and contrast their lives with ours after reading this. My sweet little buzzers also love seeing how the kids dressed and played!

That's it for now! I hope you had a great Tuesday!!
If you do not have a blog yet, please share some of your favorite Thanksgiving books in the comments section! I LOVE comments!!!

Marcy

Science Experiments and Activities

What a crazy day! I had to put myself in the hallway this morning because I had 27 students running walking around loud and aimlessly this morning, along with 4 other adults standing there watching and not helping manage them. My blood pressure sky rocketed through the roof!!! I put myself in the hallway to calm down and remind myself not to cry, save it for later, things could always be worse.

BUT, things started looking up this afternoon! I have a double special (when my little buzzers go to Gym and Art) so I went into a fellow first grade room to teach them how to do individualized spelling! It was SOOO good. Great therapy! My attitude brightened because I had to show off my mad teaching skills, ya know.

Anyway, onto Science! I have no pictures from this year. Remember, I am studying bees as a starter project since our theme in our classroom is Busy Bees! The kids LOOOOOVE it!

Since I don't have pictures from that, I want to share a project-based learning unit we did last year. I came up with this totally on the fly. Remember in I think October, when rescuers FINALLY reached the Chilean Miners that were trapped underground? I remember like yesterday. I found a live internet feed and showed my kiddos right away that morning of the first miner being lifted up in the capsule. They started asking these AMAZING questions, dealing with science, social studies, math, and much more. I started writing them all on the whiteboard because they were so engaged in the live internet feed. THANK GOD for smartboards!!!

They had to rush off to Art right after that, of course, just my luck. But I continued to do research to answer their questions that whole planning period. I found amazing news articles, more footage, etc. When they came back from Art, they wanted to know how many more miners had been freed while they were in Art. They took such ownership and showed incredible empathy toward each and every miner and their family. I literally threw out my lesson plans for that day and the next because we studies the miners and the country to Chile for the next two days.

The kids were anxious to know how big the capsule was that the miners were being rescued in. We researched, found the measurements, and "built" our own. My little buzzers then wrote notes on the capsule to the miners and their families. The messages were SO heartfelt.

They also were curious as to how big/small the mine shaft was. So, in true teacher fashion, we measured that out too (our reading buddies helped us this time). We did that on the playground and made a chalk etching of it so they could go back during recess and "play" miners.

 This was my first unofficial project based learning unit. I hate to call it official because it was totally on the fly. But the kids remembered that ALL year and I'm sure they will remember it FOREVER. I know I will. We even had two local news stations come out and interview us. You can find one of the articles HERE.

I hate to say I hope there are more national news things we can research, but it is such a great way to teach a plethera of subjects and "teach" empathy at the same time. I will forever watch the national news stories to gain more ideas on project based learning units!

Marcy

Science Freebie!

Hello!
We had a great day in this hive! I hope you all did too!
Today is Science Freebies and Science Unit Sales on TBA's Science Week agenda. Although I am not too creative and I do not have a TPT account yet, I do have one freebie!
It's for living and non-living things, which I do in the Spring. I have nothing for this time of year because I am stealing using all of your fabulous, cute, engaging ideas! Click to view my Window Box Wonder for what plants need! This was adapted from someone out there, so if it looks somewhat like something you created, please let me know, so I can give you ALL the credit!!! If that link doesn't work, please let me know. I can't figure out how to post a picture of it like all you techies... :(

Marcy
busybeesandcupcakes at gmail dot com

Science Week...AUGH!

First and foremost, I must apologize for the second posting. I know it's against blog rules, but when have I EVER followed the rules? Let's be honest...

I love Science. I love Social Studies. BUT...(enter dun, dun, dun Halloween music) I actually teach them integrated with Math, Writing, Reading, etc. (GASP!?!) I know...I believe the latest terminology for it is project-based learning and I couldn't be more pleased! We'll get in to that more later. Let's get into Teaching Blog Addict's Science week, shall we?

Monday's favorite books (although there are a TON more):

I love using The Tale of Peter Rabbit to introduce our project-based learning unit on living and non-living things!

And I fell in love with this book for our bee PBL unit. The photographs and captions are fascinating!

 Tuesday's favorite websites (again, there are a TON more):

The Magic School Bus. Great videos, printables, games (GASP!) and more!

NASA Kid's Club. Amazing in general. A-MAAAAA-ZING!

That's it! I will try to keep up with the rest of the week on time!

Geesh...27 kids isn't a handful or anything. :)

Marcy

 

My Bucket is OVER FlOwInG!!

Oh my word, you guys!

How sweet! Not only are my little buzzers amazingly quiet today, but Jennifer over at this cute little blog
 gave me the "I Heart Your Blog" award. I am in disbelief! I can't believe someone would love my random posts! Hot dog Jennifer! You are amazingly awesome, too!!!

Here's the story behind this award:

I Heart Your Blog Award: A dear friend of mine taught me a profound lesson several years ago when she shared her personal mantra, "There is only love." Since then, I have realized that by adopting this mantra in my own life, I have changed my whole approach to everything I experience. That being said, as a total newbie to the teacher's blogging world, I discovered this gold mine of amazingly creative and talented teachers out here in cyber space. There are so many of you spreading the teaching LOVE around the globe by sharing your ideas and experiences. I just had to create a blog award to celebrate those of you who touched my heart and inspired me, increasing my LOVE of teaching.

Thank you for sharing your talent with the world!

When you are awarded the I Heart Your Blog Award, you are asked to do the following things:

1. Give the "I Heart Your Blog" Award to your favorite Top 10 blogs that have touched your heart and inspired your teaching by listing them on your blog.
2. Contact that person and let them know of their heartfelt award.
3. When you receive the award, copy and past the graphic on your blog and give a shout out to the person who nominated you.
4. Spread the LOVE by passing the "I Heart Your Blog" Award on to your Top 10.

That being said, in no particular order, my top 10 favorite blogs are:

 

A Teeny Tiny Teacher

 

First Grade Jabber

 

The First Grade Parade

 

Primary Perspective

 

The First Grade Splash

 

Rowdy in First Grade

 

Made for 1st Grade

 

Erica Bohrer's First Grade

 

The Inspired Apple

 

Sister Teachers

 

I really do LOVE you all! It's always so hard to choose just 10. Go check them out and keep me posted with more great blogs! I can't ever get enough!!! :)

Marcy

P.S. I'm totally blowing the whole 1 post per day thing today. I can't wait to post about science week!YAY!!!

Class Connect

You guys! Have you heard about Class Connect yet? Or am I in the stone age? I am so excited about this for project-based learning!!!!

Kleinspiration introduced me through this post. I was enticed by the giveaway, but after watching and reading about Class Connect, I might have another new addiction I don't have time for.

First, you need to go here to check out Class Connect.

Then, you need to go here to enter Erin's giveaway at Kleinspiration!!!

Hope your Wednesday was nothing short of awesome!! I have my 1st scratchy/sore throat of the year on day 8. I skipped the run I should have taken and am lying on the couch relaxing!!

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday to all of you! I hope your day went better than mine! Meetings about definitely-abled students are always touchy, aren't they?? Goodness...I haven't cried so much about school in my life.

Today I think I will share with you our Writing Connection Notebooks. One of my 1st grade besties (the teacher next door) has been doing these notebooks for awhile. This is totally not my idea, I give her all the credit!

We just take a plain jane folder and put a label in the upper right corner. Fancy, huh?

On the inside, are about 40 pages of handwriting paper in a letter format.

 Each Friday, we summarize our week and the kids write a letter to their family about what we learned that week. Over the weekend, the parents right a letter back to their child on the reverse side. This continues all school year. I LOVE the conversation that takes place about their learning with their parents. Last year I had parents write the sweetest comments back to their child. These smartypants parents would also write facts about what we were learning about, so we shared that with the whole class. It's like each child is blogging with their parents and practicing handwriting at the same time. GENIUS!!!

Then, every Monday morning, the kids are so excited to show them to us because it's a letter back from their parents about something we learned. I train my buzzers to bring their Writing Connection Notebook to their desk and I walk around during their journaling time and check out everyone's letter. Nosy? I'd say so, but I love reading the sweet comments back and forth. If they keep one thing from their 1st grade year, I hope and pray that this Connection Notebook is it!

Well, I'm off...this has been one long and stressful day. I'd say a Diet Dr. Pepper is in my near future! Have a great night!!!

Marcy

Advice to New Teachers

Hey beauties! How are you tonight? I'm feeling tired...my sweet hubby plays softball Wednesday nights during the summer and it gets to be late before we get home and settled in! Then, to wake up early for tutoring my little summer darlings and a run and I'm spent!!!!

Anywho, after this quick little post, its off to bed for me! I have an 18 mile run to wake up to tomorrow before I hit up some garage sales and crafting! [= (I'm taking tomorrow off from school adventures I think!)

So, Cindy over at Fun in Fourth Grade is hosting her very first Linky Party! What advice do you have for new teachers? Go on over and check her out here:


So, since I'm a 4-year teaching veteran, I would not consider myself a wise ol' owl type but here goes:
1. Find a {new} teacher friend to mentor you. Someone who willingly shares ideas, lessons, and thoughts with you about not only classroom stuff, but life in general. I would not have survived my first year without my mentor. I've switched grade levels and moved down the hall, but I'm still asking for more. Latch on!!!!
2. Stalk blogs...especially this one! [=
3. Ask a million questions!!! Remember that ol' saying, "No question is a dumb question unless it goes unasked."
4. Go out and explore the world or at least your town/city. There are so many great community and business partners that would LOVE to come into your classroom and enrich the learning in your classroom. Plus, share what you do outside of school with your kiddies...they love hearing that you have a real life and learn so much in the meantime.
5. Don't be afraid to ask your classroom parents to help out with ANYTHING!

There you have it. I'm sure I could go on forever! Haha...

Have a BEEutiful night!
Marcy