Sarah Plum

K-5 Resources for Diverse Classrooms

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Five for Friday! {RAWR!}

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It’s Friday! We’re one week closer to Back-to-School… which the mere mention of gives me anxiety! I’m not ready! I want to soak up more time with my boys, get more things made for my classroom… but that’s how it always is, isn’t it?

How about that Back-to-School sale?! I hope you guys got as great a haul as I did! I have to say that my favorite purchase were Krista Wallden’s dinosaurs… I mean, seriously. Stop. the. world. I bought them not knowing what I was going to use them for and then I heard my two boys “RAWR!”ing at each other. It was then I knew… and this was born!

I am totally on a place value kick right now and I love it. It’s a skill that kiddos need all the time, and I know they are going to beg to place this regularly. I differentiated it so if your kids are working with two-digit numbers but you have some ready for three-digit numbers both needs are met in one game. It’s 50% until tomorrow, which makes it only $1.50! {Leave me a comment with your favorite dinosaur and I’ll pick a winner on Sunday night to get this game!}

My little guy had his Kindergarten screening yesterday and got to meet his prospective teachers. He was so nervous before we went, but then he turned into a totally different kid. We’re talking saying hi to others, using his full name, playing tag, and calling his Nana in New York after we left and speaking to her for almost 10 minutes! I nearly cried because it’s like some little switch was flipped in him. It was SUCH a blessing.



Yesterday I also did my least favorite thing: I went to the dentist. I had to get my first-ever filling {not bad for 28 years old!}. Luckily it wasn’t too painful, but there’s still just something about going to the dentist that is the worst. Here’s to hoping there isn’t another filling in my future!

On Tuesday I went to a fabulous 1/2 day training presented by Yvonne and David Freeman on academic language. I teach almost-exclusively students that speak a language other than English {and next year will have a 100% ESOL class}, so I’m very much immersed in strategies and thinking about teaching through that context. At the training there was a HUGE piece of food for thought that I really think applies to more than just students that come from diverse linguistic backgrounds.


Why don’t we make sure our terminology and “labels” highlight what students have rather than what they lack? We do that when we use person-first language, i.e. “student with autism” rather than “autistic student” — but we don’t do it with students from a diverse linguistic background. Instead we frame it as they lack English.


Discussed was the idea that any student that speaks one language and is in process of learning another should be called an “emerging bilingual.” I love this as it places value on what they come with, rather than what they lack (English). This is especially important in settings where two languages are used, because it truly reflects what’s happening! English-speakers are learning another language, speakers of another language are learning English — both are emerging as bilingual students.




Ugh. This is what I’m bracing for as I’m going to bite the bullet and finally head into my room on Monday to start setting up. I’ve put it off long enough. This meme is also totally relevant because before I start living in my classroom again my husband and I are going to finish binge-watching season 4 of Game of Thrones. We’ve watched ALL four seasons of it this summer. We’re totally behind on all TV shows, but that’s life with a 4.5 year old with special needs and a 15-month old!

Comments

  2. I had to take my son to the dentist this week. While we were waiting for the novacaine (or whatever) to kick in and for the dentist to come back, he bit a huge chunk out of his lip because he couldn't feel any pain. Now his lip and face are all swollen. I feel so bad for him.

    Have a great day!

    Jonathan (Mr. Pearson Teaches 3rd Grade)

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  4. Your little guy is a cutie. I'm so glad he had a great experience when he visited school. My daughter starts first this year. I teach 3rd, but I think I might need to get your new game to play with my girl! It's so cute. Have a great year! I'm going to be in my classroom a lot next week. Hopefully I can avoid paper cuts! 🙂
    Jan
    Laughter and Consistency

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  6. LOVE the game you made!!!! Dinosaurs are the best. My favorite dinosaur is currently (yes, it changes!!) the parasaurolophus. It's that dinosaur with the curved head thingy on top (so scientific, I know!). At any rate, this curved thing was really a gigantic nasal tube that stretched across its head and it made a sound like a foghorn that could warn other dinosaurs. Also, it is a vegetarian, and I tend to like the vegetarian dinos the best. They just seem sweet to me. (That's probably weird, right?!) I love how your kiddo really flipped a switch and was acting so grown up when he met his teacher. So cute. I have never watched TGOT, but I really want to see it! I watch everything on Netflix, and it hasn't ever made it there yet. I am WAAY behind on tv shows, too!!

    Beth
    Adventures of a Schoolmarm

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  8. Place value is so tough for a lot of my special needs students to grasp. Any way to make it engaging is a plus in my book! Love your points about labels for students. As a special ed teacher I know how important it is and I cringe inside anytime someone says someone is autistic. Words are powerful and changing them up even just a little bit can have a huge impact on the students.

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  9. Hi Sarah! I love that your little guy is so excited! As for the dentist….my dentist is the sweetest man. Unfortunately I grew up in an era where taking care of teeth was not a priority and therefore I have tons of teeth troubles now. My dentist is so patient with me and tries to make it less anxious, but I have had so many drills, root canals, crowns, and fillings, I HATE going in. Have a great beginning of school!
    Carol
    Teachers Are Terrific!

    Reply

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