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K-5 Resources for Diverse Classrooms

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You are here: Home / Archives for Sleep is Overrated

I’m allergic to dust.

July 15, 2014 by Sarah Plum(itallo) 3 Comments

It’s a good thing blogs can’t collect dust, because I’m allergic and this one would be covered. I think by now we’ve established that my time management skills outside of my classroom leave a little to be desired!
I was so busy this year fulfilling my many roles that every time I sat down to blog {or finish one of the nine million projects I have for TpT} I fell asleep. No joke — life with a newborn while commuting, teaching, being a team leader, and creating meant several times a week I’d fall asleep in my office!
Luckily it’s summer, and while I’m still teaching {first time doing summer school and I *puffy heart* love it!}, I’m getting back into the groove of being a better blogger!
If you follow me over on Instagram {if you don’t, you SHOULD! I do things like smell new scents of Mr. Sketch markers so you don’t have to!} you’ve probably seen a few of these, but if you haven’t, this was the 2013-2014 school year in a nutshell!
I started the year off with a new alphabet {soon to be in my store — see, yet another project I never posted!} and a still-color-filled room. I even managed to paint my focus wall Oz-green. I somehow did not take a picture. D’oh.
My little guys kept growing and I started missing them like crazy. TMI-alert: I also spent WAY too much time in my classroom bathroom pumping. I think I calculated I spent 90+ hours this school year doing that (not during my contract time).
I won the Red Ribbon Week door decorating contest and got my class a pizza party. And yes, I agree that drugs are despicable, unless they are in fact for a TERRIBLE kidney infection and kidney stones. Then they, and nearly a week off, are SO. TOTALLY. NECESSARY, y’all.
LOTS of math anchor charts were made, and my students came to learn the only way I can remember inequalities (pictured above, right). I don’t know why the alligator thing never worked for me, but it didn’t. Even as an adult if I don’t do the 2 point/1 point method I can’t figure out the inequality. #teacherfail? Maybe.
Christmas Break came and I had never been so thankful in my life. OMG, y’all. The weeks before Christmas were trying enough, but my room flooded with, um, septic materials *gag* and I lost my classroom rugs. *HUGE SADFACE HERE* Those two Christmas cuties and TONS of NY pastries (love our yearly trip to visit family in LI) was TOTALLLLLLY worth the wait and made up for that stinkin’ (literally) flood.
So another reason I never got my resources uploaded, like that “All About Me” book pictured, was because of that little dude. I mean, REALLY. Seriously people, look. at. that. face. Every moment I didn’t *have* to be doing something for school I was doing something with that guy and his older brother. Because really. Look at him!
Oh, did I not mention the Polar Vortex and the million snow days? Including the one on Valentine’s Day (when I received that BEAUTIFUL and totally appropriate mug)? Yeah. Our pacing guide this year was trashed a thousand times over because between the VORTEX. OF. DOOM. and snow. and ice. And more snow. And more ice. We were out of school a total of TWELVE days. TWELVE. Plus TONS of delays. This meant we reduced recess (UGH), added 10 minutes to the school day (DOUBLE UGH), and extended the school year (TRIPLE UGH). The days were nice while they were happening, but… never again. #seriouslynoway
Speaking of days off… Spring Break was spent at the beach, the first time in almost a decade. I live so close, but it’s cost prohibitive to go for a vacation. Because it was the off-season we got a GREAT deal. Love Ocean City. Love it so much. #alsogainedliketwentypounds
We learned about Famous Americans, I got to teach about my favorite person ever (well, one of them — Ms. Susan B.!), and yet again I failed to upload this to TpT. Do you sense a recurring theme? Soon. It’ll be there soon.
After Spring Break we buckled down, did LOTS of opinion writing and started one of my favorite (okay, who am I kidding, they’re all my favorite) social studies units — Native Americans! Pictured are even more things I never uploaded or shared. Go figure, y’all!
Oh, and there was that time when we went to a giant Easter party on the White House lawn. Because clearly, that’s just what you do when you are a teacher! (Our school system was granted some tickets thanks to the generous staff at the White House, and it was the BEST EXPERIENCE EVER. Yes, we waited in line for eons, but everything was well organized, we got healthy snacks, met a ton of William’s favorite characters, and I got to see Mrs. Obama’s garden and bee-hive, which was totally my student’s favorite when I reported back the next morning!)

Behold, the best part of the year. LIFE CYCLE time, y’all! Again, an even larger plethora of things I didn’t upload! But seriously — nothing brings me joy like the discovery and investigation in this unit. This year we saved some of our science/grade level money to purchase monarchs and I might’ve totally jumped up and down when they were delivered (flown overnight from Florida). My kids were OBSESSED, and um, so was I. I look forward to this next year already — I’m thinking more monarchs this time and maybe some black swallowtails, too!
We closed out the year with LOTS of place value practice in math and Ancient Civilizations (oh look, look at that… more un-uploaded units!). The kids were GLUED to learning everything they could about Egypt and China, especially mummies. We totally geeked out and might’ve co-opted our entire language arts blocks to anything related to the two civilizations. Um, that’s cross-curricular learning, right? 😉

Since school let out I’ve been spending some quality time with these dudes, teaching summer school (I know, I know — I just don’t know how to quit working!), and updating my yearly teacher planner. That should be done by the end of the week, and then it’s on to uploading the other nine million things I created this year but never had time to package!
That, ladies and gents, is how to fit an entire year into one blog post.
I’ve got mad skills!

Filed Under: Other Tagged With: Classroom Decor, Current Events, Family Fun, Holidays, It's science., Real Talk, Sleep is Overrated, Writing

Let’s talk about…

August 13, 2013 by Sarah Plum(itallo) Leave a Comment

1. I make cute kids. I may not be cute, but my kids sure as heck are! See the photographic evidence above.
2. I met my husband (pictured above, with our boys) through a mutual online friend online — in 2004! Before online dating was cool! In true “I’m totally ashamed of how we met” fashion, I hid his existence from my parents for months. But my Mom? She totally knew. Hmph, mothers.
3. I’m a wee bit obsessed with the Wizard of Oz (in case you couldn’t tell). I’m not even sure why, because I didn’t see the move in its entirety until I was adult — I was too afraid of the flying monkeys when I was a kid.
4. I have a touch of OCD (see above “hole-punch guide”) when it comes to organization and decor. My teammates will tell you that I’m not one to farm out my copying, printing, or laminating because everything has to be just so. Like rounded corners, for instance. I have to have them.
5. My youngest son and I were the same number of weeks premature (just about four) and he is totally my  (skinner, because I was a fat-fat-fatty) doppleganger.
6. Bacon. That says it all.
7. I have trouble being on time, even when I leave early. For instance, it’s 1am. “Meet the Teacher” was Monday. It is now Tuesday. Oops!
8. I love laminating. The act of doing it. The act of cutting it. And all the pretty laminated things. Including borders (because I’m just that crazy).
9. I’m pretty sure I could teach second grade forever, as in I have no desire to check out the “greener pastures” in other grades. I love the standards for second grade, and the age is such a good fit for me. I’m pretty sure this means I’ve just sealed my fate of moving at some point, but we’ll see…
10. I refuse to hit “mark all as read” on BlogLovin’. REFUSE. I will read those 500 backlogged posts someday, right? Right? Again, this should be marked under “OCD tendencies.”
I’m not so sure that these were exactly “fun” things about me, but it’s 1am and this is what I got!
Now head on over and link up for Teacher Week at Blog Hoppin’!

Filed Under: Other Tagged With: Blog Hoppin', Family Fun, Meet the Teacher, Sleep is Overrated

Currently … only a week late!

August 6, 2013 by Sarah Plum(itallo) 2 Comments

Better late than never, right? I’m linking up with Farley for Currently, one of my favorite linky parties! I love the insight it gives you into the goings-on in our (not so) little blogging community.
LISTENING: I’m up late as we’re preparing to drive back home to VA from Long Island early tomorrow, er, this morning — I can’t ever sleep right before a road trip! I’m the only one awake right now and I’m loving hearing nothing but those little sounds that let you know the house is alive.
LOVING: Catfish is totally my guiltiest pleasure. I will watch re-runs even though they’re spoiled; there’s something about this show that just hooks me in (see what I did there?) every time! Anyone watching the new season?
THINKING: I feel like my to-do list just keeps growing and growing and I’m starting to feel overwhelmed! I’m one of those “I have to do it all!” people, but I’m trying to reign it in this year. Not being pregnant will help… though there is that pesky newborn nursing every two hours…
WANTING: I totally only got my Note II earlier this year, but I already want the Note III! This is by far the best phone I’ve ever had! I love using my Bloglovin’ app and sketching ideas for lessons and what-not with my stylus.
NEEDING: One thing I’m definitely in need of is more portable-storage for my classroom so I can create more well-defined areas for my students to work. I’m planning on hitting up Big Lots, Walmart, Target, and Goodwill (you never know!) when we get back home.
B2S MUST HAVES:
  1. I really regret not taking more pictures of my first class ever last year, so I’m planning on using That’s So Second Grade’s “Snapshots of Our Year” Classroom Timeline to create a designated spot for me to fill with classroom memories. I’m going to encourage my students to use our classroom iPad cameras, too!
  2. I always love planner-shopping. You’d think I’d have an Erin Condren planner by now with my level of planner-obsession, but I actually like a planner without many bells & whistles. I found one I loved at Walmart that actually has Wizard of Oz-like poppies on it!
  3. I use both the school laminator and my own personal laminators. Yes, I have two. One for my classroom at school (you know, for when I have to laminate something that very second) and one for home. I found generic laminating sheets that I love and work really well on Amazon (these, if you’re interested) and can buy a box of 100 for under $10 (monitor the price!).

Later this week I’m meeting for lunch with my new teammates (I’m the only one left from last year!) and may even head into my classroom for a “before” picture. I’ve got lots on my to-do list that I’ll be checking off, and I hope to share some of my plans for this year for beefing up my calendar time/math meeting.
Before I leave, congrats to Lauren from The Sweetest Thing, Karen from Flamingo Fabulous in Second Grade, and Nikki from Teaching in Progress — you guys won my Oz-Inspired Brag Tags (though thank-you to everyone that responded with a tip — I loved reading them)! And congrats to both Crystal from Ms. Jones’ Junction and Angela from Hippo Hooray for Second Grade — you guys won the pre-order of my Marvelous Math Meeting! I’ll e-mail everyone there winnings as soon as I settle back in at home tomorrow.

Filed Under: Other Tagged With: Currently, Family Fun, Giveaway Like It's 1999, Sleep is Overrated, The Wizard of Oz

There’s Someone You Should Probably Meet

June 21, 2013 by Sarah Plum(itallo) 7 Comments

You know what’s funny about good intentions? They’re just intentions. They’re not actual, you know, things that necessarily happen. Like my good intentions for blogging my first year as a teacher.

School’s out now, and I’m headed into the summer before my second year, and wow, could things not be any different. Let’s just say this year was incredibly difficult — and not just because I came in fresh-faced and just a wee bit naive.

The biggest reason my intentions didn’t exactly come to fruition?

Meet Henry Ellis.

Yep. I did pretty much the worst thing you can do your first year of teaching: I got pregnant. And subsequently had a completely adorable baby.

Shortly after my “I swear this is what’s coming up next on the blog!” post, I found out we were expecting Henry. His due date? June 26th. Pretty convenient, exactly one week after the teacher workday marking the end of the year.

Unfortunately, my body doesn’t do pregnancy too well, and by the beginning of April I was going to the doctor twice a week (oh, the sub plans), and by mid-May, I was practically on death’s door because it was just too much to try and teach all day, commute, come home to my 3.5 year old, and oh yeah, carry that little stinker up there.

My last day of school ended up being May 28th, and that handsome guy was born June 1st. It’s been a tiring three weeks, for sure — he is the grand champion of nursing and gaining weight, which is good considering he was a preemie and lost over a pound by the time he left the hospital!

My plans for summer, and this blog, are pretty low-key. Get back in the groove of things, share some things I made this year (some freebies!!!), share my reflections on my summer reading-while-nursing professional development, and create a little for the fall.

Oh. And a blog redesign. Because quite frankly, I’m sick of looking at those shoes and there is a place better than second grade: my bed. For a nap. Because oh, Henry.

P.S. Since Google Reader is going kaput in a few short days, you can follow my blog with Bloglovin instead. I actually like it better than Google Reader now that I’m used to it.

Filed Under: Other Tagged With: Family Fun, Sleep is Overrated

There’s No Place Like Home!

August 11, 2012 by Sarah Plum(itallo) 2 Comments

Really, there isn’t. I absolutely loved my vacation to visit my in-laws in NY, but I missed being home and getting things checked off my massive to-do list. I actually think I might be more stressed out for having had a vacation, but I’m sure an all-nighter tonight to clean our home office (it is a W-R-E-C-K) and make a list of things to purchase at IKEA/Lakeshore tomorrow (VA Blogger Meetup, yay!) will ease my stress. What can I say, organizing is therapeutic!
I’m off to wade through my Google Reader that currently has an “unread” post count of 376… I leave you with my August Currently!

Filed Under: Other Tagged With: Currently, Sleep is Overrated

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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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