Moving back to Kindergarten!

In January, we had some budget cuts, and unfortunately, my first grade position would be first to go for next year. I have bounced around a lot in my teaching career, and after moving last year from K to 1, I wasn't really interested in moving again. After a few months of sweating it out and hoping I had a position for the following year, I was told that I'm moving back to kindergarten. I'm also moving to a different school in my district. I'm happy that I have a position next year, don't get me wrong, and kindergarten has always had my heart. But, it's my second year at my current school, and I finally have gotten comfortable there. Now, I have to move my whole classroom across town to a new school where I don't really know anyone :( The joys of teaching!

In other news, I have lots of helpful friends who are donating awesome products to my fundraiser for Martin Richards (Thank YOU!)! Check out my post here to read more about my Boston fundraiser. On Sunday, I plan to have the fundraiser up and running! Lots of great products for a small donation to the Richard Family Foundation :) 

If you would like to donate to my fundraiser, please e-mail me @ theprimarybuzz@gmail.com. Please share this info - the more the merrier!

Apologies for the short post. I'm preoccupied with my upcoming move, plus I had a final observation with my principal this morning and 2 IEP meetings- I'm burnt out! 

QR Codes- Where Have You Been All My Life?!

I have been looking at other teachers using QR codes in their classrooms for awhile now and I had no idea how to even BEGIN using these with my first graders, but I gave it a shot and made a little center for this week to reinforce the er/ir/ur spelling pattern. I used this AMAZING packet by Lyndsey (A Year of Many Firsts) to introduce the concept today. We're using a lot of her packet this week in our literacy centers. My kids LOVED the Super Girls story and characters used to introduce this spelling pattern. Here are a few pics from today:

Our list of words with er/ir/ur after reading the Super Girls story.

This is the write the room activity that we changed into a pocket chart activity.

They created these masks with words from the er/ir/ur spelling pattern :)

I created this freebie to go along with this spelling pattern that you can use if you have access to iPads/iPod touch or iPhones. My kids LOVED this center! I couldn't believe how much fun they had with it. They were all begging to do it again and again. I used the recording sheet in the packet for the kids to write the words they found, and instead of cutting the cards out, I kept them on one sheet for them to scan, but you could always place them around the room for a "scan" the room activity. I didn't number them, because I wasn't sure how people wanted to use them (whole sheet vs. individual cards) but you could always add it with a sharpie after you laminate. Enjoy!

Here's your QR code freebie - I'm linking up with Classroom Freebies for Manic Monday!

QR Codes er ir ur

Finally, yesterday I posted about Martin Richard, Boston Marathon bombing victim (click the linked text to visit yesterday's post). I am looking for TpT product donations for a fundraiser to help Martin's family, which includes his mother, who suffered a massive brain trauma, and his little sister, Jane, who is only 6 years old and has lost a leg. Sadly, Martin was killed last Monday, and was the tragedy's youngest bombing victim at only 8 years old. If you are able to donate something from your TpT shop, please e-mail me at theprimarybuzz@gmail.com, or even leave a comment here with your e-mail and product name. I would love your help in this fundraising effort. Thank you to the generous ladies who already contacted me, you are so sweet! :)

Fundraising for Boston - Can You Help?

This is Martin Richard. He was 8 years old. On Monday, April 15, his life was tragically ended when a bomb exploded at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, where he waited for his father to cross. His mother, Denise, and little sister, Jane, were also injured. Jane has already lost one of her legs.

This is the heartbreaking final photo of Martin, which pictures the bomber and the bomb to the right of him.

Over the past 6 days, Boston and its surrounding areas have been put through a terrifying ordeal. After the two bombs at the Boston Marathon, our city was literally put in a lock down while we waited for police to capture the two bombing suspects. The city was silently waiting to hear that our hours of anxiety and fear were over. Living just outside of Boston, we stayed in our house too, not sure where the suspects were or what was going to happen next.

Photos from the bombing and aftermath

Photos from Friday's lockdown and manhunt 

This is the boat where the suspect was eventually found and captured.

While there were 3 other victims from this tragedy, including a police officer, as a teacher of young children in the Boston area, Martin's story hits close to home. His little sister is in the first grade, and was an Irish step dancer, and has now lost a leg. To support Martin's family, I would like to fundraise with some fabulous products from some fellow teachers. All proceeds would benefit the Richard Family Fund - http://richardfamilyfund.org.

If you are interested in donating a product, please e-mail me at theprimarybuzz@gmail.com.

In Martin's words, No more hurting people. Peace.

Please feel free to spread the words to other blogging pals - I'd like to help Martin's family as much as we can! :)

THANK YOU! 

Five For Friday - School Vacation Edition - and, I'm on Facebook!

It's my last day of school vacation - weekends don't count. Blah. This has been a crazy, crazy, week for us here in Boston. We are literally in a lockdown all over the state. It's scary. So, I'll distract myself with a little Five for Friday with Doodlebugs Teaching.

Go link up, too!

1. 

Boston Strong. This is so scary to look at - the city is in lockdown. Please keep our city and our first responders in your thoughts and prayers.

2.

On a happier note, I went out for my best friend's bachelorette party, and Lola decided to get in on the action :)

3.

Student portfolios. My parent conferences ended right before vacation - THANK THE LORD.

4.

I just returned home for a much needed vaca... I'd like to go back now, please!

5.

I used some vaca time to create a Facebook page for my blog! (I just finished it this morning... no, I don't have any "likes" yet! :() Click the Facebook button above to head over. I'd love if you popped over and gave me a "like" - if you do, leave some love over there-I would love to choose 3 people randomly who like and comment to choose from my Spring Math Centers or Spring Literacy Centers on TpT! Please include your e-mail and your choice of product! 

I also need to share an awesome giveaway! 

Head over to Learning with Mrs. Leeby and enter to win one of 3 awesome survival kits!

Fabulous Giveaways!

Hi all,

I've returned from my vacation and I'm back in Boston. It feels weird to be home after Monday's events. My heart breaks for the victims and their families. As I drove home from the airport last night, I saw billboards already posting with images of those we lost. This billboard was up too -

It's just too close to home this time - literally, 20 minutes from home. I'm anxious to see my kiddos on Monday - I know they'll be talking about it. Many of them were there to cheer someone on, or just to go for the fun of it. I'm sure we will meet as a staff to discuss the best and most developmentally appropriate response for our students.

On a brighter note, I have nothing educational right now because I'm still in vacation mode :) But, go check out two great giveaways that I am a part of! 

First Grade Fairytales 400 follower giveaway

Kinder Krazy's 100 follower giveaway!

Click on the pictures to go check these fabulous ladies out! 

My goal for today is to finish creating my Facebook for my blog - we'll see how that goes :)

Boston

I cannot comprehend what happened yesterday in my home town. Four months ago, our school tried to find the words to explain Newtown to our students if they asked. Now, we are deciding how to handle discussing something that has hit us so close to home - many of our students were there, somewhere along the marathon route. I have no words.

Vacation!

VACATION!! 

I'm off to Florida! See you all on Thursday :)