Monday, April 1, 2013

April Currently

 
Happy ( SUPER EARLY) Monday Friends! I can be up this late because I am student-less this week as we are on spring break. Even so, it is super late and I need to get to bed. But before I do I wanted to link up with Farley for Currently. 
 
 

Listening:  I don't really like reality television that doesn't involve some level of talent, like The Voice and DWTS. But this gypsy show really sucked me in over the summer and now I am hooked! The things they wear and the way they talk....oh boy!

Loving: That's just an obvious given. Who doesn't love and welcome Spring Break? :)

Thinking: The estimation packet should be ready to go later on today. So check out my Facebook page later on for a giveaway! :)

Wanting: It has definitely warmed up from the crazy winter. Most of the snow is gone. But I was hoping for at least 50- 60 degrees all week. Mama needs to spray paint! :)

(PS: So I woke up this morning to SNOW ON THE GROUND! GRRR! Looks like mother nature is playing a little April Fools joke on us here in Central Michigan.)

Needing: Checked out my TPT wish list over the weekend....it used to be full of activities...now its full of things to make those activities myself. It's exciting and overwhelming all at once. :)

Advice: My BBF ( best bloggy friend) Angela over at Hippo Hooray For 2nd Grade was featured on Amanda Maddens blog Teaching Maddeness  this past week for her budding bloggers showcase. Angela said something that really resonated with me and that was, to be true to yourself. She said something about writing the way that you talk...so she doesn't use y'all in her posts because she is a cheese head and we just don't use that kind of language up north. It made me laugh because I want to use y'all so bad ,but anytime I write it I just feel like I am trying too hard.

I wanted to include Angela's advice because I think it is so important and it has really helped me this week. But I also wanted to add my own. It is hard for me sometimes to not get down on myself or think I have nothing to offer just because I only have 168 followers and someone else has thousands. It is hard for to not get down on myself when I put something on TPT and it doesn't sell like I thought it would. It is hard for me when I read peoples blogs and they seem to really have a niche in the blogging community, like "oh they are the go to person for math", or "they really seem to have 2nd grade nailed."

Sometimes I think I should give up on Diving Into 2nd Grade.

But, I think about the reason why I started blogging in the first place...it is because Pinterest opened this door to a whole teaching community I didn't even know existed. I saw all of these cool ideas and projects and products and I thought " Hey, I want to join in on the fun!" I had, what I thought, was a cute classroom with fun, engaging activities and other teachers blogs have just taken it to the next level. Teacher bloggers have really changed my classroom and my teaching for the better and I want to be a part of that.

Really, my advice is for me. But I hope, if you are struggling with some of the same thoughts as me, that it helps you too.

(Ok, so I woke up this morning to some really awesome comments that made me feel great. So I just had to add to the positive end of my paragraph about remembering why I started a blog. Teacher bloggers are SO helpful and kind to one another. We are so willing to help each other out and I think that is awesome. I think those doubts that I was talking about above plague everyone from time to time. But, like I was reminded this morning, we have to focus on the things we HAVE going for us and give ourselves a little credit. )



16 comments:

  1. Hi Jean! Thank you for the Currently advice. I truly enjoy reading your blog and have felt the same way that you do about having a niche in the blogging community. I think if we're honest and ourselves we're doing well. I also think we don't give ourselves enough credit! :)

    Jessica
    Covered in Glitter and Glue

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    1. You are totally right Jessica....and I would say right back attcha! I don't have you listed as a favorite for nothing. :)
      Jean

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  2. Hey! I found you through the currently linky party. I've never taught 2nd grade. 6 years in K, 2 years in 6th, and this year in 5/6. :)

    Your advice is right on. I want to be where lots of y'all (yes, I live in Alabama!) are with making stuff, but I don't even know where to start with the clipart/font stuff. I know things that I have made (mostly simple upper grade forms) are used by all, but how do I move forward to the cuteness level??? :)

    Have a great spring break-I just finished mine!

    Shannon
    http://www.irunreadteach.wordpress.com

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    1. Wow! K to 6! That is quite a jump! I sent you an email about the clipart/font stuff. :)

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    2. PS....JEALOUS about that darn y'all! :)

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  3. DON'T GIVE UP!!! I kind of took a Pinterest break (GASP!) and when I came back, all I saw was people pinning their own products. How boring is that??? I started blogging to share teaching ideas; not to marketing my own stuff! I mean, yes, you gotta do some of that, but I would LOVE to see more pictures of what you're doing in your classroom. And I had to laugh at that one sentence you wrote, about how everyone has taken your ideas to the next level... because I look at some of the pics you post and think, "WOW that's really awesome!" TRUE STORY!! I'm not even making that up! Just keep doing you thing, and good things will come. At least, that's what I keep telling myself!

    Angela :)
    Hippo Hooray for Second Grade!

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    1. Thanks lady! You made my morning! :)You know part of my problem with blogging/pinterest/TPT is that I am a Gemini and we go in spurts with doing things so bad...it's that adult ADD kicking in! :) And I would say right back at you too! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your blog and I wish we taught together. We would be unstoppable! :)

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  4. Snow on the ground? Wow, I'd want warmer weather, too! Perhaps we can migrate together!
    Amy Howbert
    Little Miss Organized
    amyhowbert1@gmail.com


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  5. I'm so glad that you commented so I could find your blog! I completely agree--Friends is the greatest show ever made. I own all 10 seasons, and it was the best investment ever! I'm your newest follower!

    Ms. Cranfill's Class

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  6. I am addicted to frames and borders. I have issues!
    Enjoy your break.
    tania
    My Second Sense

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    1. Well, yes, I love those too. :) And I plan on enjoying it to the fullest! :)

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  7. No matter which blog I've been bopping to throughout the Currently link-up I think each is speaking to me. Enjoy your spring break!

    Christy
    Teaching Tales Along the Yellow Brick Road

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    1. Christy, I had the same thing happen to me. I feel like a lot of us said essentially the same thing...to be yourself and just enjoy your blogging time. It is a lot more fun to just enjoy yourself....and I definitely am on my spring break. :)Thanks for stopping by.

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  8. I am so glad that I found your blog! I love your theme! I have to say that I was glad to read that there are others out there that are going through some of the same growing pains that I am. Blogging can be overwhelming sometimes, but I think your advice about just being ourselves is very important. Hopefully keeping that in mind will help us find our voices! I am very excited to follow you on your journey.

    Julie
    The Learning Lodge

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Thanks for leaving a comment. You have o"fish" ally made my day. :)