Sunday, August 21, 2011

The Busy Bee has Moved

I know that I ended my last post that there would be a video coming, well... I lied.  Since my last update our district has added some new classrooms.  So, this past week I transferred my classroom from Stipes Elementary to Elliott Elementary.  Although I am UBER excited to start a new adventure, I have a heavy heart leaving my friends at Stipes and some of my students.  Being in such a specialized unit allows me to get very close to students and their families.  I have some that are moving with me, but others I will have let them make a change too.  My Dad sent me this wonderful quote:
 "Change does not change tradition. It strengthens it. Change is a challenge and an opportunity, not a threat."
- Prince Phillip of England



Wow! What a Powerful quote!  I spend so much of my time working with my students on accepting changes in their schedule who knew how hard it would be to accept change in my own.  As teachers we become such creatures of habit and the schedule. So, here is my new change.  I wonder if I should write my own social story about When there is a Change.  


To keep up with my friends from my old school and my old students we are already working on the idea of pen pals, book buddies, and video conferencing.  


So, once I find my floor again (see picture above) I Promise I will have a video.  I have new ideas and thoughts I want to share this year!  


I leave you with this quote.   There are many teachers that have been misplaced, that are starting new jobs, that are looking for jobs, and that are making changes.


"Wherever we are, it is but a stage on the way to somewhere else, and whatever we do, however well we do it, it is only a preparation to do something else that shall be different."
- Robert Louis Stevenson



Want more great quotes?  Like my parents Facebook page for the Buffalo Bookstore in Canyon, Texas.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Tenth Year

What do you mean Tenth Year? It is my Tenth year teaching! Oh my goodness 10 years I have been in a classroom. 10 years and many amazing students, families and connections I have made. I have also decided that this is going to be the BEST year ever in the Busy Bee classroom!

I have seen on some other blogs educators creating themselves their own IEP's. What a Fantastic idea! I will be creating one of these also, but here are a few things that will be on it.

- Updating this blog- I have started so many blogs, but I am going to keep up with this one, I promise!
- Finishing my book- I am finally in the last stages of it (I think)
- Increasing technology in my classroom- I already have so many ideas on this! Be watching for more blogs over what I am going to do next.
- Be Patient and know that it is going to be a Fantastic year!- I am pretty patient as it is, but this next year is going to be a very different year. With education budget cuts this means an increase in classroom size. I am going to have to be Uber creative, patient, and ready to ask for help. I was able to listen to Dr. Eric Jensen today and he said something very important- when I feel stressed- take action over, write it down for later, or drop it. I have really worked on that this summer, and I will keep working on it this next year!

I know that I will have a few more IEP's, like some about increasing Autism Awareness, Destination ImagiNation, yearbook, The Breast Cancer 3 Day, and I am sure there are a few more.

Next blog will be about setting up my classroom. How do you set up your classroom? What can you not live without? What is the most important space in your classroom?




Here is a quick picture of my classroom for 2011. I I have changed some of my classroom around. I decided for my 10th year of teaching I wanted to be a little different. Next week I will have a new video that will take you on a tour of the classroom.