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Sarah Plum

K-5 Resources for Diverse Classrooms

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You are here: Home / Archives for place value

Five for Friday! {RAWR!}

August 8, 2014 by Sarah Plum(itallo) 10 Comments

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!

Filed Under: Other Tagged With: ELL and ESL strategies, family, Five for Friday, math, place value

Five For Friday and a TpT Gift Certificate Giveaway!

August 1, 2014 by Sarah Plum(itallo) 5 Comments

Whew — that is a LOOOOOONG title. And I’m going to take a wild guess and say that your favorite part is that teensy-weensy little word “giveaway.” Yes, that’s right, there’s a TpT gift certificate to be had, just in time for the HUGE Back-to-School sale.

But first, it’s Friday, and I’m linking up with Kacey from Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday!

I have been working like a mad woman this week to finally fulfill all the requests from last school year and get more products up in my TpT store. Let me tell you, PowerPoint has never gotten such a workout! I’m still working on a few, including the debut of my year-long bundle of place value centers {Place Value Through the Year}. Be sure and follow my TpT store because there’s going to be a fan-exclusive freebie released through the “note to followers.”
My sweet, sweet cousin left on Tuesday. {Insert super sad face here.} I had such a wonderful time catching up with her, and I am so so SO happy she finally got to spend some quality time with my boys — including a mini-photo shoot by the river. Family time truly is important, and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to soak it up during the summer months.
Speaking of family… my INCREDIBLE {seriously, y’all, they are the best} in-laws have invited us to come to the beach with them and some of our other NY family. The best part about this — other than seeing them after 8 months! — is that the beach is Ocean City, MD! You might remember me talking about it before, but if you don’t, my heart belongs to Ocean City in ways that are hard to express! I look forward to spending my last few days off {we get back and then I immediately have inservice days} in such a beautiful place with those that I love.
I have decided to get rid of my clip-chart! Stop. the. world. I’ve never been a huge fan {for me, personally; I know they work for others and that’s totally okay} of using them in my classroom, but I have had to as a part of grade-level collaboration. This year I’m trying something different, and I cannot wait to share with you what it is. I’m so excited I almost want to spill the beans now… almost. ðŸ˜‰
I am SO excited to be giving away a $10 TpT gift certificate for you to use during the big sale, as well as the first installment of {Place Value Through the Year}, the Back-to-School edition. Enter using the options below, and be sure to share with your friends — that way they can enter, and you can earn more entries for spreading the word! I so look forward to giving one lucky winner some extra spending money to buy those awesome items on their TpT wishlist! Hurry and enter, it’s a quick one — the giveaway ends when the clock strikes 12 on Sunday night!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Other Tagged With: family, Five for Friday, giveaway, math, place value, Place Value Through the Year

About the Author

Sarah Plum(itallo) is a teacher of emerging multilinguals and 21st Century Grant coordinator in Virginia. She writes curriculum for inclusive classrooms and presents professional development on a variety of topics.

Read more about Sarah and her background in education here.

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