It's Over...and I'm anxious for the future!

Last Friday was my last day in the current position I have. It was bittersweet to be honest with you, I love those kids, yet, I'm so anxious to be in MY OWN classroom this upcoming school year. I want to know where I'm going to be and what I'm going to be teaching so that I can prepare to the best of my ability! I LOVE teaching and I had some amazing times with the kiddos this year. I'd have to say that this position was one of the best I've had because of how much I was pushed to be better, do better, and to constantly keep learning.

As an educator, I know that you can never really learn enough and this experience made that more evident than ever.

I'm so thankful to the kids, my teaching team and to the amazing parents I had that made me feel so incredibly appreciated my last day!!! Here's to the kiddos and their families, have an amazing summer and thank you for making feel like the most appreciated teacher in the world!!!

Mrs. Bushnell

Spring Break and other FUN stuff!

So I can't believe that it's spring break already! My maternity leave will end soon and I'll begin that journey again for my quest to find a permanent position. I don't really look forward to that this summer, however, I do look forward to putting the experience I've gained onto my resume!

Yesterday at school we had a few serious activities, like DOL and spelling, but the rest of the day was filled with pizza, ice cream, cookies, mini economy and my favorite, Just Dance on the XBOX Kinect! The kids had so much fun, they didn't want to leave! As a teacher, obviously that makes my heart smile, but seeing the kids dance it up and wanting me to join in was such an uplifting event for me. I've been having such a hard time with keeping up. In January 2010, I was diagnosed with Graves Disease and since that diagnosis, my body has been in turmoil with itself. This of course was the time that I received my first maternity position in kindergarten and throughout that time, I was miserable. Like most graves patients, medication is the number one thing that could help get my life back, however, I still have not received the needed medication that will help my fatigued body. I get done at school and I am beyond exhausted. I barely have the energy to play with my son let alone grade papers, make lesson plans, and do all of the other countless things we do as educators. BUT, yesterday was a turning point for me...seeing my kids love what we are doing in school, grasping every thing I say to them, and just having fun, that's what it really is all about isn't it? School shouldn't just be "school," it should be filled with learning and fun experiences in both the learning world and social world.

We are on spring break this week and I'm going to take this time to relax and focus on my son. I of course will do my final grades, final grading of some last minute assignments, and hopefully add a couple more lessons to my repertoire. Whatever you are doing this week, whether its spring break or your back in school, enjoy your kids and remember, they are kids. They are doing so well and trying their best. Instill that love for learning in them not only with academic lessons, but fun, social engagement!

Happy Spring Break!

Service Project

I haven't blogged in quite a while and I'm incredibly sorry for that! I've been CRAZY busy with school and getting caught up with everything after Christmas break!

Over break, I got inspired by the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy. It was incredibly heartbreaking and it has really taken over the way I think about life, my family and the way that I teach. I was inspired by Ann Curry's 26 Acts of Kindness campaign that you can check out here at her twitter page. This movement has taken the nation over and I've decided to bring it into my classroom.

I've been in contact with an organization called, Soldier's Angels. This organization is based out of Nevada and was started by a mother of two soldiers. They provide service men and women the opportunity to have a civilian "adopt" them. The adoption requires that you send one letter a week, and one care package a month throughout the deployment of the soldier. A small task to do for those who are protecting our world as we know it. So I came up with a project for my students to write letters and create care packages to send to the men and women overseas. Take a look at the website and see if you might be able to help this organization. These men and women are protecting us and deserve to be treated as so. Take a look at our #26 acts that we are completing in our classroom!

#26 Acts of Kindness

Sandy Hook Elementary

I'm sure all of you know about this horrible tragedy yesterday in Connecticut. I still cannot wrap my head around it and honestly, I probably never will. I can only hope that those little ones and those that lost their lives trying to save those little ones did not suffer. As a teacher, you enter the profession because you have a genuine love for children. You want to see them grow, see them flourish, and send them off into the world to be successful. How can we do that now? How can we move on from this? As many educators across the country face the last week of school before holiday break, I have to wonder, what will we do to CHANGE our way of teaching and/or thinking. We have got to start talking more to our kids. As educators, sometimes we see our kids more than what their parents do. We have to get to know them, not ignore their feelings and their emotions. No more talk of evaluations, test scores, too much work...what we need to be talking about is how we can help these children. If they are in trouble, it is our duty to help them. This has to stop. We cannot be afraid to go to school.

God bless to all those affected by this. God give them comfort and love and peace knowing that you have those precious babies in your arms today. I pray for the ones left behind and for the children who are still here who witnessed the sadness and death. God bless this country because in all seriousness, GOD is the only one who can save this nation and get us through this horrible, horrible tragedy.

God Bless you all this weekend. Hug your kids and pray for those who lost theirs...

I'm loving my little Max today and will NEVER take another moment with him for granted. God bless you all.

Melissa

Really? December?

Well I still can't believe its December already and after my first full week last week in the 4th grade classroom, I have to say I'm pretty wiped out. All the grading and changes is just a lot to take in. As a teacher, you want to do things the way you see them, when you go into another teacher's classroom however, you can't help but do them they way they were being done before. Its just easier and more beneficial to the kiddos to do it that way. The teacher I took over for is amazing. I mean she is probably one of the best teachers I've seen in a while because she really took her time with helping the kids in their reading and writing. I definitely have big shoes to fill, but I know that I can do it! I'm going to be taking a lot of tips from what I saw her do, and incorporate some of my own into the mix.

I think that is what I like most about teaching...the constant want to keep learning. I never want to stop learning and I feel that every day is a new learning experience both in my professional and personal endeavors. I hope you all are having an amazing day, God bless and have a great week!!!!

Melissa

Thanksgiving

I'm beyond thankful this year. It has been a very trying year, but a very reflective and learning one. I've come to realize that teaching is such a learning process, and it's just so amazing that I can even have the experiences that I've been able to have. I LOVE teaching and I LOVE seeing my kids learn. I'm most thankful for the opportunities I've been given and thankful that God has given me the assurance that one day I will have my own classroom. For now, I will be thankful and appreciative to be a part of other teacher's classrooms. Its such a great way to learn and reflect on things that I do. To all of you, thank you for your support and thank you for your encouragement!

Happy Thanksgiving to you! May you and your family have an amazing break!

Photos by www.heysistersphotography.com

Meet The Teacher Letter

I wanted to revamp my teacher letter to introduce myself to my parents tomorrow. I officially start tomorrow, but had an unexpected first day on Friday! Of course it was Grandparent's Day and I needed to kind of wing it! Thankfully the other teachers at school were very helpful and I put a little twist into the day's activities as well! Let me know if you see any improvements in my teacher letter here! If you'd like a copy, just email me and I can send you the template!