E is for Explore!

Erin Bittman from E is for Explore! contacted me about highlighting some of our Motion and Design lessons we did this past year in my science classroom on their website!  Check them out and show some love!  They have some pretty amazing ideas and lessons for every age group!!!!

Intervention

I'll be working as an RTI Interventionist up until I take the maternity leave this fall.  I'm fortunate to be working with the 4th graders that I will be having in class in the future, so I'm anxious to see how well they do during our reading time.  Like I said in my previous post, the teachers I work with are amazingly organized and creative!  I'm trying to figure out some ways to help with those areas and that has become my ultimate goal....BE ORGANIZED!  I can tell that these teachers are successful because of their organization!  I will be posting some of my organization tips later on this month once I get into the swing of things!  I'm working on some intervention and RTI materials too, so make sure you check back here for those!

GREAT NEWS!

I am so incredibly happy to say that I am now a 4th grade teacher in the district I taught at this past school year!  I haven't officially started yet because I will be filling in for a long-term maternity leave, however, I will be working at the school as an interventionist until the teacher decides to go on leave!  I'm so excited to not only be in the district I taught in last year, BUT I'm in the 4th grade!  How perfect!
The team that I will be working with is absolutely amazing!  They are the most organized, creative, and organized (did I already say that?) teachers I've ever met!  I know that I am going to learn so much from them!
The way this school works has me amazed!  I can't wait to start learning from these pros and implementing my ideas that I've been creating over the summer!

Here's to an amazing year and hopefully I can say that after this year, I'll have a permanent position in this district!  Happy Teaching!  Thank you to all of you for your prayers and support!  I can't wait to start!

Summer Update

So as you all probably know I've been looking for a full-time position all summer.  I've had a few interviews, but nothing has become available yet.
My passion for so long has been to teach.  After selling my company, I thought to myself, is this really what I should be doing?  Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life?
I have to say that this past summer has been a trial of ups and downs.  I don't think I've ever been so incredibly stressed to the max the way I've been this summer, however, I know that without a shadow of doubt, this is where I'm supposed to be.
I've taken some time off with submitting application because frankly, that is a full-time job in itself.  I'm back at it again and I know that something will come available.  Pray for me this summer so that I can be placed where I'm needed most.  Children and their learning are really want drive me to keep looking.  I look at my son Max and want to be a teacher that he would be proud of and one that he would want to have in school.  God bless you all and I'll be updating here soon, hopefully with a full-time position!  I'll be updating my Teachers Pay Teachers store as well with some products I've created over the summer!
Much love to you all!

Mrs. Bushnell

This is Max, he's why I do what I do!

End of the Year...

Friday was our last day, technically, the kids last day was Thursday, however, Friday was a teacher day to get things cleaned up and files done!  I have to say that after leaving the school this morning, I got a little sad.  In fact, I got a lot of sad!  I not only am terrified about not finding a position for next year, but, and more importantly, I'm going to miss this amazing school, these amazing teachers and most of all, these amazing kids!  I'm not sure what the future has in store for me, however, I do know that these kids are in good hands at Timothy Ball.  I've never met a more connected group of people who want to help and rally around each other.  A lot of the schools I've been to have been quite the opposite.  This school just has the atmosphere of friendship and that is what I think I'll miss most of all.  I want to be part of that.  Part of something that will allow me to be creative, yet, have the people behind me to help me when I get stuck!  Believe me, this year I had a few "getting stuck" moments!!!

I'm so thankful for this past year and I wouldn't have changed it for anything. I'm so proud of the kids.  Both the kindergarten and 4th grade kids!  Its amazing to see a student learn and "get it!"  I had quite a few of those moments this year and let me tell you, I think I cried 100 times! I think I not only grew as a teacher, but a I grew as a mother and overall person.  So many of our kids are having to go through things that I can't even imagine having to go through at that age, yet they seem to come to school with a good attitude and a drive to be better.  I hope that the kiddos learned that this year.  I know that I was only with them for 4 1/2 months, however, that time was spent teaching and teaching to the BEST of my ability.  I have definitely grown and will continue to do so over the summer.  To be a good teacher, you have to teach beyond the text book.  To be a great teacher, you have to teach beyond the textbook, engage the kids, and most importantly, know your kids.  Not every class will be the same, so we as teachers have a duty to the kids we teach to know who they are and know what they like and dislike.  We would be doing them a disservice to not do those things.

So here's to the summer!  I'm going to do some tutoring and spend time with my little Max.  He is getting so big and the time is flying by!  Keep me in your thoughts and prayers as a lot of the summer will be applying and reapplying for positions in and around my area.  Have an amazing summer!  I will miss all of you kiddos and I can't wait to hear and see some of the things you will be doing in the future!

I love you all!

Mrs. Bushnell

Kindergarten Graduation

So I think you all know I started the year off teaching Kindergarten.  I have to say that I am so incredibly thankful for that experience!  Those kids brought a smile to my face each and every day and I was so impressed with how much their little brains absorbed during the short time I was there! 

I was invited to come to the graduation of the kids that I started with and I was so incredibly excited to see all of them!!! I couldn't believe how big they were and was so excited to see all of them!  Here are a couple of photos from their graduation procession ;)  It was absolutely adorable and I will always remember these kiddos!

I had the privilege of having 2 classes, a morning and afternoon class.  Here they all are!

The program was so adorable!  The kids had their little graduation hats and they sang some adorable songs!  It was such a cute program!  Good job to all of the kindergarten teachers!  The kids were great and looked so cute!

When I Grow Up...and other Health Topics!

I was struggling to find one more health assessment to complete with the kiddos, so I decided that I would let them have the choice.  They had to either choose the topic of "When I Grow Up, I want to be...," Bones, or pick a chapter.  A lot of the students picked the "What I Grow Up project," and I was so impressed!  Below are a couple activities that stood out to me!  Check them out!

Chloe's creation!  She wants to be a dentist!

Taylor's study of bones!  She labeled them all!!