Introduction to Squeaky the Rat

Hello Critter Lovers!!

My name is Heather Byers and I'm the author of The Busy Busy Hive blog.  I am so excited to be able to share on this wonderful blog.  I {Puffy} Heart animals, especially ones in the classroom.  I have an unusual pet in my classroom { at least my kiddos' parents think so}.  I have a pet rat.

I think it's his tail that sets people off to rats.  Squeaky is my 3rd classroom pet rat.  He loves to snuggle, be held and he acts a lot like a cat.

 

I was first intoduced to rats as classroom pets when I was teaching 5th grade my 1st year as a teacher.

My partner teacher had 13 rats {yep 13 that wasn't a typo}as pets in her classroom.  She also talked about how calm and wonderful they were as pets and the kids loved them.  That year I had gerbils and hamsters as class pets.  Needless to say both of those types were not my ideal pet.  The gerbils were too fast to handle and the hamsters kept escaping out of their cage.  Not that hamsters and gerbils don't make good pets.  They just weren't the right ones for me and my classroom.  When I started teaching 1st grade I decided to try a pet rat.  I had found my ideal classroom pet.  I will probably always have a rat in my classroom now. 

Squeaky eating his snack.

His favorite part  of the day is snack time.  He always ends up with some banana or apple from someone's snack.  Squeaky is quiet and very good with the kids.  My own kids love it when its Spring break or Summer Vacation because they know that Squeaky will be home.

 

Do you have anything good to eat?

Thank you for reading this little intro to Squeaky.

Squeaky and I look forward to sharing even more

about our classroom adventures and happenings in the future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C&C Guinea Pig Cages

 My guinea pigs, Daisy and Chrysanthemum,  live in a huge C & C cage.  You can purchase them on the Guinea Pig Cages Store website or read about how to make them on Cavy Spirit's Guinea Pig Cages website.

Yes, that is a litter box in the corner and yes they use it!  They don't use it like a cat would.  They really just use it because it is in the corner they want to use as a bathroom.  The trick is to put something they would not want to defecate on in the other corners.  This "trains" them to go in the litter box.  I place the houses, food, and water bottle in the other cornes.  I use basic non-clumping cat litter for the litter box.   Guinea pigs do not jump, so they do not need a lid on the cage.  They do climb or hop on top of their houses.  The cage is still high enough that they cannot get out.  

I use Carefresh Natural Pet Bedding to fill the cage.  Before I place the bedding in the cage, I line the cage with chart paper.  This makes it easier to clean at the end of the week.  I also use a dust pan to get out the old bedding.  

I hope you liked this peak at my piggies' palace!  You must check out some of the creations people have made!  This lady has a guinea pig room...those pigs are living the life!

So long for the summer

Hi fellow educational animal lovers!  I had to share what has been going on with Mr. Weasley at the end of the year.  One of my sweeties was afraid he would get lonely, so he brought him a little play pal.  Several other students have followed his lead and have brought stuffed animals too.   We keep them all on the top of his cage so they can watch over him (See top picture:)).  The bottom picture is of Mr. Weasley and his favorite new friend.  I thought this was just too sweet not to share!  Do you do anything to help your students say good-bye to your class pet?

Great Pet Bedding

Hi there!  This is Deedee from

and I wanted to share with you my absolute favorite pet bedding.

This stuff is the best for Miss Theodora (my guinea pig).  It keeps her cage nice and tidy.   More importantly, it keeps odor away (unless she eats celery...that is a whole other issue).
I have been using this for the last few years and I would never go back to shavings!
Happy Sunday!

What Pets Teach Us

This blog is dedicated to Molly, my classroom pet, who past away in August.   She was 9 1/2 and lived an extremely long and happy life for a guinea pig.  Guinea pigs live to be between 5 and 8 years old.  So, I would say she would be about 105 if she were a person!  Next week, would have been her 10th birthday.   This is a repost with some tweaks of one that I posted on my blog in August.  I have gotten many questions through this blog on how I handle a classroom pet's death and what type of cage I use.  This post answers those questions and more.  It also highlights what pets teach us.

I had known Molly's death was coming and had been preparing myself and the students.  In June, I noticed that she was not handling the heat well and decided she would be better at home in my airconditioned house.  I also thought it better, they not see her dead.  If it had happened I would have handled it with honesty, but if I was able to prevent the children from seeing Molly like that I thought it best I do so.  So, we had a retirement party in my classroom.  We wrote her advice on her retirement.  I scanned a few of the super cute ones and placed them below.

 

(She will relax in a jacuzzi with water and sit by a water jet.)

Molly enjoyed the simple things in life up until the very end. She would squeak for food whenever I walked past her cage.  Then she would purr after I would give her some of her favorite summer treats: watermelon, strawberries, grape tomatoes, and corn.  I am deeply saddened by her loss, but find comfort in the fact that she brought me and over 200 students who came through my classroom such joy.  There is a quote by Dr. Seuss that I love: "Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened."  I want to remember and celebrate all of the special things about her life.

Molly was left in a box in front of Petco early one March morning.  A class mother knew that I was looking to rescue a pet for the classroom and told me about her.  I teach Humane Education in my classroom and thought this would be a great way to teach my students about compassion for animals.  Through the years, Molly not only taught them about compassion, but about so many other important life lessons.  Here are some of the lessons she taught my students and even me:

• Fresh Fruit and Veggies are the Best - She encouraged healthy eating, as the the students were only allowed to share their snack with her if they had fruit or vegetables.  
• Responsibility -She taught the students responsibility, as each month it was one student's job to be pet helper.  When she was younger, she went home with students for the weekend.  For some students, this was a stepping stone to getting their own pets.  On Mondays, we would share her journal entry and photos.  This was also a great way to enhance the "Home-School Connection."  
• It's OK to Laugh in School - Oh she made us laugh!  One time, it was dead silent in the room and she just burst out squealing at the top of her lungs.  The students asked if she was having babies; turns out she just really wanted some lettuce.  Another time, I replaced her well chewed wooden house with a new one.  She tried to fit through the window like she always did, but this window had not been widened by her chewing.  She got stuck in the window like Winnie the Pooh, with her behind hanging out.  It was hysterical!  
• Write About What You Know -Molly was a source of inspiration for Writer's Workshop and was a always on my students' "Things Inside My Heart" lists.  
• Always Dress Your Best - She was the leader of the Halloween parade every year.  She tolerated anything I put on her!  
• Animal Safety - I showed the students appropriate behavior for interacting with domesticated animals, such as the proper way to approach an animal and pet an animal.
• Be On Your Best Behavior - When my students got a bit to noisy, I would tell them that Molly was trying to nap and that they were disturbing her.  She also became a positive behavior reinforcement for the ABA students in my building.  The students would earn lettuce from the cafeteria for good behavior.  Then they would get to feed Molly the lettuce.  
• Say Thank You - Molly always offered a friendly purr or "chud chud" sound every time someone gave her food.
• Greet Your Friends In the Morning - She said "hello" to me every morning by running to her her cage and squeaking.  
• Y can Sound Like a Vowel - Whenever there was a y that sounded like long e at the end of the word, I would remind the students of Molly's name.  This really helped them remember that y could sound like long e!

Thanks for reading this post and helping me celebrate her wonderful life.

Click {here} to view photos of Molly.

Click {here} to read my previous posts about Molly and Humane Education.

If you are thinking of getting a classroom pet,  my advice is that you must think of the classroom pet as your own.  Please, click {here} and download my Critters in the Classroom packet.  As always, make pet adoption your fist option, go to Petfinder to find local rescue groups.

My favorite site about Guinea Pigs is Cavy Spirit.  This is were I got the plans to make her extra large guinea pig cage.

Meet Mr. Weasley!

Hi bloggy friends!  I am Jena from 1st Grade with Miss Snowden, and I am so excited to be a part of Erica's new blog.  I am a big time animal lover.  You can read about my other pets{here}.  However, this post is to introduce our classroom pet, Mr. Weasley. 

In the past, I have had hamsters and fish in my classroom.  Mr. Weasley, a guinea pig, is by far my favorite.  He has a very sweet disposition and loves getting carrots during our afternoon snack. 

Each year when I introduce our class pet, I tell the students what I have named him or her.   I explained to the students that I chose the name Mr. Weasley, because he reminded me of a character from one of my favorite book series.  Our guinea pig has a reddish colored fur just like the red headed Weasley family from the Harry Potter books.  Then I told the students that since he is a class pet, we can rename him if they do not like the name I have chosen.  We brainstormed a list of names, and the students had to write why they believed their chosen name was the best.  This year Mr. Weasley was the winning name, but in years past this activity has spawned some creative names.  We have had Ramona the Hamster (after Ramona Quimby), Micheal Jackson the Beta Fish, and Wild Sucker the Plecostomus (sucker fish).  

You can get your free copy of the "Naming Our Class Pet Writing Prompts" by clicking the image below. 

I encourage you to add the love of an animal to your classroom!

Got Allergies?

Stacee at Tiggeriffic 2nd Graders wanted to know how I handle children with pet allergies in my classroom.

When I set up my classroom in August, I don't bring any of my pets to school for two reasons. One, the heat is too much for them (and me)! Two, I don't yet know if anyone coming into my class has allergies.

So, the first week of school, I send home a packet for parents which includes information on school and class procedures, expectations, schedules, etc. Included in the packet is a parent information form that parents fill out and return to me. I gather a lot of information about my students from this form including, "Does your child have any allergies (including animals)?"

After I get these forms returned, I go from there.

My tarantula comes to school first. No one is ever allergic to it and the kids don't really handle it! And being a desert animal, the heat doesn't bother it, like it does the kids and me.

If a parent lists a pet allergy (other than guinea pig or rabbit) on the information form, I contact them to discuss the severity of the allergy, symptoms, etc. Together we decide which furry animal to introduce into the classroom first. Then we touch base everyday for a couple weeks to see how things go before bringing in the other animal. And the process repeats.

My experience has been that the most common allergies are to dogs or cats. I've only had one child allergic to rabbits, and he was okay as long as he washed after petting the rabbit. His allergy wasn't too severe and his parents were fine with the pets in the class.

I've never had any problems with guinea pigs, hedgehogs, hamsters, walking sticks, snakes, or lizards. Some kids don't want to handle the animals and some know they can't because they sometimes get itchy.

No matter what, kids should always wash after handling any animals! Non-furry pets carry different risks such as salmonella, so washing is a must.

Birds have a different kind of dander (is that what it is called?) that can be difficult for kids with respiratory ailments. I've seen some people sensitive to rat dander, too.

The health and well-being of my students is my top priority, so if a student has a reaction to any of my pets the pet will go home to live. I make sure the parents and kids know that. Yes, the kids would be saddened, but caring for our friends in class is more important.

I've only had one pet go home and it was because one of our specialist that used my room had a reaction.

The worst that can happen is your pet comes home for a while. And after all, they are your pets first and foremost!

Meet Fizz - Hamster to the Rescue!

Meet Fizz! Fizz is a (very) fluffy teddy bear hamster. 

Hi Everybody! It's Molly from Classroom Confetti. I'm so excited to be a part of Erica's new blog dedicated to our classroom critters! This is something that is close to my heart and I'm excited to celebrate animals right along with teaching!

I've recently inherited Fizz, the teddy bear hamster, due to neglect. A fellow student teacher knew about my love for animals and contacted me a few weeks ago because the K5 class she is in had Fizz and the teachers were threatening to" just stop feeding him" because he made too big of mess in the classroom. She told me that the teachers inherited Fizz at the end of last year and did not want him. She said the teachers never referenced him to the kids and wanted nothing to do with a pet in their classroom. At first my friend thought surely not feeding him was a joke but then observed over the next few days that the teacher and her assistant were indeed, not feeding sweet Fizz. (Can you believe that?! Makes me sad that this person is even teaching, but moving on...) She offered to find Fizz a home and the teachers were obviously very open to this idea. So she called me in a panic and I took him. However, my friend that is still in the class said that the students were devastated. As you can imagine, they were asking non stop about where the hamster went, if hes okay, etc. They felt like a member of their classroom family had disappeared and it seemed in their little minds that something terrible must have happened to him. Thankfully, my friend was able to explain to them that the hamster moved somewhere that was easier on him since he was a little bit older. She beautifully turned the yuck situation into something that showed the little ones about treating animals with compassion.
So, on a much happier note, I took the hamster into my class and we have all fallen in love with the little guy, so the story has a very happy ending! My students are learning responsibility, gentleness and appropriate ways to handle small animals. I even see children who didn't normally interact much with one another bonding over the hamster. (Love that!) The story does have a very sweet ending: The little guy was able to teach two different groups of children about treating animals with compassion. The Kinder's are happy that the hamster is safe, and my group is thrilled and think they are super animal saving heroes.  :)

I tell you this story to tell you that issues such as neglect from the Kindergarten teacher are reasons why animal rights groups do not advocate animals in the classroom. This blog is celebrating the oodles of positives that a class pet can bring to a classroom. We know the good that class pets can bring, and it is incredibly sad that animal rights groups don't advocate animals in the classroom for fear that they are not properly taken care of and treated with respect.  As we all know, when it comes down to it, the animal belongs to the teacher and the teacher is responsible for primary care. We as teachers are also responsible for teaching little ones the proper ways to care for and respect animals. (What a fantastic way to put an end to the trend of animal cruelty in our country!) That being said, if you come across an abusive situation as I did, it is our job as animal advocates and concerned citizens to give a voice to these precious creatures who cannot speak for themselves.

Some ways that you can intervene in a neglect/abusive situation like this in a school:

1. Offer to take the pet out of the situation.  If you cannot care for it yourself, contact a local rescue group that will gladly accept the pet. (See below)

2.  If the teacher refuses to relinquish the pet, contact the principal with documented and/or specific issues.
3.  If these steps fail, contact your local animal rescue organization and they will take proper steps to ensure the animal is rescued and safe.

Some rescue organizations that will benefit you in rescuing a classroom pet:
Small Angels Rescue This site specializes in small, classroom pet, types of animals. This site gives you contact information to their staff that can aid you in your rescue. If you are fostering a pet, this site also gives you great re-homing information and resources.
National Humane Society This link gives you resources and names of rescue organizations by state.

What a great opportunity we have as teachers to teach our students about compassion through properly caring for, and respecting animals. They bring such joy to our classrooms, lives, and the world!

Next time, I'll introduce the other fun critter living in our classroom!

Goodbye from Fizz! (who likes to run on top of his wheel instead of inside it!?)

 

Meet Gina - the guinea pig!!!

Hi Everyone!

Ms. Rachel here from Ms. Rachel's Room.  I'm a special education teacher from Michigan.  I teach a moderately cognitively impaired classroom for a range of students aged 12-26.  This year we received a guinea pig from Pet's in the Classroom.  What a great program!

Here is sweet, sweet Gina!

She was named by my students.  I believe the name came from Sesame Street.   Gina has been a great addition to my classroom.  We are learning so much about caring for someone (or something) else, responsibility and all sorts of great things!

(she was feeling photogenic)

One thing I have found to be an amazing part of having a pet in the classroom is how comfortable my students feel with it!  I have students who have been through some extremely tough stuff and they really LOVE Gina.  They love to hold her and just pet her,  I feel as it helps calm them down and gives them a sort of therapy, I feel like I'm rambling, do you know what I mean when I say all that?

I hope you enjoyed meeting Gina!  Come visit my blog, I'll be sharing soon about we take care of Gina!

Sweet Miss Theodora

Hi there!  This is Deedee from Mrs. Wills Kindergarten and I am so excited to be part of Erica's wonderful blog dedicated to our little friends.
Two years ago I decided I wanted a class pet for Christmas.  I have to say, I LOVE MY PIG!

During Writer's Workshop, I wrote about it with my kindergarten kiddos.

You can read more about this writing here.

My husband humored me and we found Miss Theodora!   We seriously went to MANY places before we found her.

 Isn't she beautiful?

 She has a special bond with our evening custodian who sneaks into the kitchen each night to bring her treats.   He was out sick for a few days and I thought she was going to have a FIT!   She kept squeaking at the substitute custodian... poor guy had no idea that was also part of his job description.

Then this summer I was hanging out on Amazon.com and LOOK WHAT I FOUND!

I promise I did not know about this book when I named her!  My class loves this book and we have read it over... and over... and over...

I can't wait to hear about the other fabulous classroom critters that are out there.
Won't you share with us?

Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, and Tarantulas, Oh My!

Hello! This is Erika from The Honey Bunch and I am so excited to be a contributor on Erica Bohrer's new blog dedicated to pets in the classroom.

Teaching is my job and my passion, but animals come a close second. (Some days it comes in first place. You know those days!) As a child, my second career choice (after teaching) was to be a veterinarian, but unfortunately you have to deal with blood, injuries, and hurt animals. Blood makes me pass out, so that pretty much ruled that out! And, to be honest, I prefer animals that are healthy and happy.

This is my eighteenth year teaching, and I have had a class pet (or two) since the very beginning. As an animal lover, it didn't take much to convince me that having a class pet would be a positive and beneficial thing for my students.

I've had a ring-necked dove, guinea pigs, cockatiels, hedgehogs, rabbits, rats, snakes, hamsters, walking sticks and lizards in my classroom.

Currently, I have a rabbit named Bugsy who is an eight year old OLD lady. She loves to hop around nibbling on shoelaces and can often be found in the paper recycling box chewing on paper. When she wants to be pet, she lets you know by nudging you on the foot or leg. She is litter box trained so she can roam around the room a lot.

I also have a guinea pig named Antonia who is about 4 years old. She is a chatterbox! When she wants to be fed, we know it! And she likes to be fed a LOT!

And finally, I have a rose-hair tarantula named Kiwi that is about eight years old. I think it is a she, or maybe it's just wishful thinking since I grew up with Charlotte from Charlotte's Web. My own children named her Kiwi because she is fuzzy like kiwi. (I don't eat that kind of fruit anymore, by the way!)

In future posts, I'd like to share with you some of the positives and negatives about different pets I've had. I also plan on sharing with you some of the ways I use my pets in my teaching. If anyone has a specific topic they'd like covered, please let me know.

Meet the Girls: Daisy and Chrysanthemum

I want to introduce you to my classroom pets, Daisy and Chrysanthemum!  They are guinea pigs and are only about 7 months old.  They were purchased through a Petsmart grant (click {here} to read more about how I got Daisy).

Daisy

Chrysanthemum

Click {here} for more photos of the girls.

This is their cage in school.  I made it using directions from Cavy Spirit, my favorite website about guinea pigs.  Click {here} to jump right to their cage webpage. 

My students love the guinea pigs and think that they are hysterical.  The piggies love to jump on top of their house and squeak at us for veggies or run laps around their cage.   They each have distinct personalities.  Daisy is mellower and Chrysanthemum is loud, rude, and fast!  Chrysanthemum likes to yank food out of your hand or Daisy's mouth, while Daisy takes it gently.  I love reading the journal entries when they come back from a weekend with a family.  It usually takes them about one night to settle in and then their personalities come out.  

All of my students are allowed to pet the guinea pigs with supervision.  A few students earn guinea pig time as a reward for a good day and meeting all their goals on their behavior chart.  A few of the ABA students in the building work to earn carrots to feed the guinea pigs, then their teacher takes them to my classroom where they get to sit at a table and hand feed them.  

Stay tuned for more of Daisy and Chrysanthemum's adventures and photos!

Cute & Cuddly

Click on a picture to download guinea pigs, mice, gerbils, rabbits, and chinchillas tree maps.