Teacher Appreciation Week

Today wraps up another successful teacher appreciation week.  We teachers are truly spoiled this week by our parents (at least I can speak for the elementary teachers in my district). At my school, the students and parents provide us with flowers, cards, candies, desserts, breakfasts and lunch, and awesome raffle prizes throughout the week.  It is a very thoughtful and well-put together week that shows that the parents and students (mostly the parents) appreciate their child's teacher. 


Now, I know many of my friends are groaning and griping about another "luxury" of being a teacher.  Of course I am referring to those same people who say we have too much vacation time, don't work long enough hours, and just get to play with kids and go on field trips every day.  Well the purpose of this particular post is not to argue or defend those points with you.  I love my job, but not for any of those (misconceived) reasons listed above.  It's this week that reminds me why I do what I do; Why I put so much time and effort into work day in and day out. It's for the kids and for the parents who are trusting me with their kids. 


Many of my friends who criticize my work don't have children.  My only friend with a kid made it a point to call me and wish me a happy Teacher Appreciation Week.  This doesn't upset me at all, but it's very telling.  You can't truly appreciate teachers until you have kids.  When you have kids, you give your precious child to teachers for 6 1/2 hours a day, and trust the teachers to nurture them, teach them, and protect them from all of life's harm.  This is a lot pressure for us teachers.  Teachers probably spend a like amount of time with students as students spend with their parents.  Actually, it is not uncommon for a student to mistakenly call me "mom."

This week, parents go out of their way to thank teachers because we have successfully attended to their child's every need.  We've cleaned up cuts, tied shoes, saved tears, listened to countless long winded stories, fostered friendships, problem solved, reads to and with, and above all, keep their babies safe and,happy as they grow into the next stage of their life. 

One day (my friends without children) you too will appreciate the people who are extremely important in your precious little darlings life.  (Or you will be the parent that thinks teachers do nothing and question our every decision.  It will be a rough going for them. )

A big thanks to all those who already appreciate us teachers, and made our week so special. 

A different set of flowers from all my students =)

Fifty Shades of Grey

I first heard about this book in a tweet from Kristin Cavallari about her "horn dog" friends reading it, and it intrigued me.  I didn't think much of it, but it seems to be everywhere now.  I've heard about it on every morning talk radio show in the past two weeks.  Listeners calling in have commented various things stating: I can't put the book down; Don't read it in public or around your children; Another referred to it as "mom porn"; One listener admitted she has read the trilogy 3 times in 2 weeks-- this is just embarrassing.  Maybe if she put the books down she could find someone to create a reenactment.

I have to admit... what's not intriguing about this book?? It's so raunchy that it has been banned from 3 state libraries (Florida, Georgia, and Wisconsin).  Though from the way the readers have described the novel, I'm not sure this is a book that you want to pass around. Just. Doesn't. Seem. Sanitary.    

So why haven't I read it?  Well for starters, I haven't gotten into a book for a month or so because the last one I read was quite the struggle.  Secondly, I had mixed feelings about reading something so blatantly pornographic.  I'm not really sure what it would say about me.  And finally, other readers revealed that the writing by E.L. James is mediocre at best, so you can't even pretend your reading other than for the sex. 

Well, inquiring minds need to know.  I decide if I get the okay from my two co-workers, then it must be okay.  I brought the idea up to the one, and she said she was going to suggest it for a summer reading book club for us three. (Yup!) Meanwhile, the other one is already 1/2 way through.  I think I got my answer folks. 

I'll justify reading fifty Shades of Grey by noting that it is currently holding the top three spots on the New York Times Best Sellers List with book 1, 2, and 3. ;-).  Happy Reading!! 

Stop this Train

Yesterday, I got to have dinner with one of my best friends since high school.  We shared a bottle of wine and updated each other on our lives and funny happenings.  We eventually recognized that it has been the first time that we have hung out in awhile where we weren't celebrating someones birthday, or meeting up at a bar because we happen to be in the same neighborhood.  It was nice.  It's funny how you can get so caught up in "meeting up" with people but never really "catch up with people.  He wasn't my only high school friend that I caught up with this weekend.  And I have to confess, both interactions made me a little nostalgic. 

I wouldn't say I miss high school.  I wouldn't go back or trade in anything from my life now.  But
there's something about old friends;  Something about high school and childhood friends that's so real.  You know, that no matter how much "you've changed," grown up, or went your separate ways, childhood friends know you to your core.  They know all the embarrassing things and all the happiness and hardships that make you, you.  You'll never have friends like that again.  You'll make new friends, and I'm sure the new memories will be amazing, but they won't replace the old ones. 

The best part about old friends, is that every time you see each other, its like no time has passed at all.  You poke fun at things that happened in the past and the present because you can bare each others faults without consequence.  After some time of catching up, you inevitably get to that conversation of why things aren't the same anymore. Because it's always something.  And this is the part that gets me every time.  Don't you think it's sad that things like this are always changing? Friendships, relationships, family, jobs, life.  They all change whether you want them to or not.  I know change can be good, even great.  But change with people.. it's never easy. 

John Mayer sings a song titled, "Stop This Train" in which the chorus goes:

               *Stop this train*
               *I want to get off and go home again*
               *I can't take the speed it's moving in*
               *I know I can't but honestly won't someone stop this train*


The best part of the song however isn't the chorus. The chorus is the easy way of thinking.  It's the feeling bad for losing touch.  It's the not being as involved with others' lives because yours becomes to busy.  It's the not being a part of something that you always have been in the past.  The past is safe and amicable.. its home.  But no, those lines of the song are the simple part.  It's the conversation with his dad which makes you rethink that "nostalgia".  It's that part of the song that says: Don't look back.  Enjoy everything in the moment and move on with life the way its supposed to.  "Don't for a minute change the place your in."  -- Pretty sound words to live by. 

So I guess that means I should say goodbye to my nostalgia and appreciate where I today and the people who got me here.  So here's to you:  All my friends who've known me so well for so long.. who helped make me the person I am today.. and who are still very much a part of my life everyday, even if you're not physically with me.  I am truly blessed to have so many people in my life that have made a difference and wouldn't change any of my experiences in hope for more happiness.

(Yes, its appropriate to raise your glass to that.)

Avocado-- The Game Changer

Let's start off with a round-of-applause for Jessica.  Though dinner was later than I'd hoped for (which is usually 4:30pm for the old folks special), it was well worth the wait.  Plus, she fed me cherry tomatoes, walnuts, and SANGRIA in the meantime. (What's to complain about?) We both agreed that though the zucchini's were packed with protein, it was still missing a main food dish because the meal was very light.  We also agreed to some of the suggestions for improvement in the comments section: Use chickpeas instead of Cannellini Beans, Only 2 tbsp of oil needed.  We topped them with extra parm cheese instead of oil.  I think we won.  Sorry, no picture... Too much sangria.

But let's not dwell on that.  Yesterday was another fantastic dinner.  This week, I was a little over ambitious at my trip to Trader Joe's. I picked up 4 ripe avocados-- my first mistake.  I'm not really sure why I thought I'd be home to cook 5 fantastic dinners this week (all requiring avocados).  Clearly, I was delusional. (Is that an oxymoron?) But I did. I also decided this week that I needed to up my iron & protein game.  Since I'm not going to stuff my face with red meat, I chose avocados as my building block. 

Did you know that you could put avocado on everything?  I find the best way to do that is to mash it up with a little freshly squeezed lime juice (or lemon, your preference), lots of salt, and a dash (or several dashes) of cayenne pepper.  Waahlaah.  An avocado spread, if you will.

So I first spread this business on some fresh broccoli florets for breakfast one morning (I eat weird breakfasts).  I sliced some avocado to add to my Mexican fiesta salad for lunch, too. And finally, the dinner I had been waiting for: 

Grilled Portobello Onion Pepper Panini Guac Awesomeness.. unofficially named.

Here's what you see:

• White Onions
• Red Pepper
• Portobella Mushrooms
• Tomato Slices
• Udi's Gluten Free Bread
• Avocado Spread (4 avocados, 1 lime squeezed, salt & cayenne pepper)

In my lovely grilling pan (which causes an indoor forest fire every time I use it) grilled the peppers, then onions, then mushrooms.  I brushed each with a tad bit of olive oil before grilling and salted each one (of course).  Then I sprayed the pan with my olive oil cooking spray and grilled both sides of my bread.  I spread the "guac" onto one side of my bread and stacked all the ingredients up for my final masterpiece. 

(If you were wondering, my 4th avocado was Taryn's dinner Saturday night.. she prefers the lemon spread option.)

Bottom line: Avocados make the world go round.  Don't tell me you haven't looked at a restaurant menu and changed your mind to something with avocado in the ingredients list.

Keen-Wah

Have you heard of this magical nutritious food? Well, I have just recently discovered it.  Okay, so  I tried it once and hated it.  I tried this recipe from my good friend Chelsey, and tried to substitute Nutritional Yeast with Baking Soda & Vinegar.  (Gross, I know.  But Google made me do it.) So my first experience literally left a bad taste in my mouth.  I've had two boxes of Quinoa (pronounced Keen-wah) sitting in my cabinet collecting dust until this week when I established a new found love for this delicious food. Yesterday, my coworker (and life partner), Marianne, offered up this delicious Quinoa-balsamic salad that her sister had made, (Laura Z.-- if this is you, I'm waiting for the recipe...) and I fell in love.

Why is quinoa so amazeballs?  It's often mistaken for a grain because it's cooked like pasta, it's texture is pasta-like, but its not pasta. Quinoa is a seed (which is great because I'm not a big fan of pasta.)  It's gluten free and packed with protein and other vital nutrients like magnesium and fiber!

Tonight I will continue my Quinoa kick with this Quinoa Stuffed Zucchini that my roomate is making me.  Hopefully this recipe goes better than my attempt. Doesn't food always taste better when someone else is cooking for you AND cleaning up the dishes??  Life is good.

I'll let you know how Jessica's dinner turned out! For now, enjoy a side of sunshine with your Quinoa (or whatever's on your dinner table!)

Generational Gaps

So I'm sitting in a conference today about technology in the classroom, and the presenter says "Most of us in this room are scared of technology, but kids today start clicking and tapping away without ever reading a single direction. We (adults) read all the directions because we are scared to do something wrong and break it."  This statement was so true.  Looking at a computer game projected on the screen, the professor asked, "What do you do next?"  Everyone in the room is paralyzed or frantically reading every word on the page, but ignoring the obvious answer.  Click the "Play Game" button.  That's what kids would do.  That's what I did.  My 5th graders don't read directions, and neither do I.  They're 10, I'm 26.  Sixteen years apart and we have a comparable comfort level with technology. 

Why is that?  Probably because I grew up with a computer, like my 5th graders. Sure it was ancient, didn't have a mouse, and I only remember being able to play "Concentration" on it.  But it was a computer nonetheless.  It didn't have a word processor, so I did dabble with the Typewriter.  But a few years later, circa 1997, we upgraded to a newer, revolutionary PC.  This bad boy had loads of programs for me to play around with.. and get this.. the INTERNET!  That's right.  This was probably the biggest controversy of the household because we had to clog the land line to use our dial-up connection.  My dad only had one sister which means only two women in his house, which means only two phone users, which means he couldn't handle us all fighting over the phone and Internet.  He caved getting us a second land line.  Thanks to AOL messenger and a ghost type writing program on the Amundsen's computer, I became quite a savvy typist.  While my sister, brother and I clicked away carelessly on the computer figuring out the new technology, my dad was reading the first addition of Internet for Dummies. 

My dad still complains, as he did fifteen years ago, that us kids are breaking his computer every time we use it (though Cam probably is.)  But that's one reason kids are so fearless with technology.  They don't care if they break it because their parents will just replace it.  One of the girls I babysit is now 5. But a year ago, she would take my iTouch and turn it on, click on the game, and play, all without any instruction from me.  Even if she could do something wrong, (which she really can't) she doesn't know it because she doesn't know ownership or responsibility (fair enough she's 5.)  She learned through her own trial and errors.  But this no responsibility idea pretty much continues thru mid high school, and for otherwise thru college and beyond (#yikes #growup #thatsanotherstory) which allows for students to become even more knowledge with the available technology.     

Middle aged adults are not afraid of the cell phone, but their view and use of them are much different than younger generations.  When I'm out with friends, 5 out of 6 people have their phones on the table.  The 6th person is either older (borderline into the next generation), or on it.  We young(?) adults won't necessarily focus our attention on our phones but we like it in our line of sight just in case we need to clarify that your high school friend is pregnant, locate the closest liquor store, or find out if G&B are in Chicago this weekend.  And of course if our phones light up, we need to respond to anyone important for the night's plans.  The generation before ours.. high school to about 20 years old, have their cell phones glued to their texting hands.  They rarely to never use their phones to Google information or have a phone conversation.  Just texting.  You never have this age groups undivided attention because at least 50% of their attention is designated to their cells at all times.  Anyone around the age of 10 with a phone has 12 contacts-- their family members and a few miscellaneous friends who happen to have a cell phone too. They use their phones to get a ride, to tell their mom where they're going, or foward "chain" messages to their friends.  And from my dad, This is what I get.. "Don't text me so late because then my phone beeps all night and I don't know how to shut the dang thing off."  When his phone rings, he has to answer it right away because he doesn't want it to go to voicemail.  While this may not be true for everyone in their 40's and 50's and on, it's safe to say that it takes (most of) them 10 minutes to respond "ok" to a text message.

So what am I getting at here?  Obviously that my generation is the perfect combination of tech savvy and responsibility.  (Probably not-- but I never said I'm unbiased.) I'm also saying I have qualities about me similar to my 10-year old students. Like my kids, I know that computers, iPads, cell phones, etc. are not going to just spontaneously combust.  Ask my in about 20 years how I feel about technology.  I'll probably sound more like my dad.

ABCs

Are boys smarter than girls? Are girls smarter than boys? There's really no substantial evidence for one nor the other. Nor do I don't think that we will ever be able to confidently say that girls are smarter than boys or vice verse. As a teacher, I see lots of smart girls and lots of smart boys.. and some not so bright boys and girls. Their test scores are never gender dominated, but there is one thing that people wouldn't have a hard time arguing... girls do better in school.



This is a fact for the simple reason that girls try harder, girls care more about what other people think (teachers, parents, peers), and girls are generally neater and less lazy. This is evident by 1st grade when you're expected to write & color between the lines. The girls have neat, legible handwriting, and the boys do not. The other day, I was reading directions hand-written by a 28 year old male, and thought aloud, "Well, it's good to know that my 5th grade boys' handwriting is never going to improve." (My apologies to those of you men with really girly handwriting because I know you do exist.)


It's not just handwriting though. Its the overall quality of all their classwork. Boys finish quickly, without detail, and do the bare minimum to get the task accomplished. Girls make everything pretty. This is pretty much the basis for the blanket statement, "Boys are better at math & science. Girls are better at reading and writing." Makes sense. Math & Science have pretty clear cut formulas and answers, and the goal is to get to them as quick as possible. Reading & Writing require time, thought and details with lots of drafts, revisions, and rethinking.


I'm curious, how does this transfer to the real world down the line? Are woman more successful in the workplace because of their need for details and perfection? Or, does it hinder females performance because their employers want quick, but quality work? Efficiency. Then again, I think girls are capable of completing quick, quality work too. But are men able to recognize where & when neatness and details matter when they haven't demonstrated it their entire lives??

This got me thinking about Mad Men, naturally. Peggy is a copywriter. Probably the most up and coming and successful in the business (aside from Pete who is such a little bitch he may as well be female.) She's establishing herself in a predominately male job in a completely different era. Is she better at her advertising job because she can be creative and put in the extra details that the male copywriters are missing?

For so long, woman were kept in the kitchen probably because men knew they'd do their jobs better than them (or at least give them some competition and make them work harder.) I am by no means stating that woman should have every job and could perform better than men. I strongly disagree with that generalization because there are some jobs that women are just too emotional for and furthermore, I would love to have no job at all and be a housewife. I'm just pondering the long term effect of this lazy, bare-minimum work ethic that boys develop in elementary school.

Then again, I know many men who are successful at their jobs and can only imagine the quality (or lack there of) of work they turned into their 5th grade teacher.