Back to School Nervous Tummy

Back to school in the morning and I can't sleep.....

I don't usually make New Years Resolutions because I try to make change when the need arises and not simply at the New Year. But, this year, I made a few resolutions. One BIG one in particular and it starts tomorrow.

I generally vent to Nathan but then do nothing to fix it. I just gripe and complain. It takes a toll on him and our relationship and destroys the balance of our home. He never complains about it to me, but it bothers me.

I read an article in a magazine over break (Whole Living or Real Simple) that talked about the danger of "talking it out." Basically the article said that if you "talk it out" you only end up transferring your stress and frustration to someone else.Valid point, yes, but what about when I need to talk it out because it helps me see multiple sides of an issue? That's why I devised my resolution.

I will not vocalize my frustration or vent to Nathan about anything work related until:

1. I have taken a few deep breaths
2. I have written down, journaled about, and reflected on the problem myself
3. I am ready to really brainstorm workable solutions

Let's see how I do!

Veggie Chili

Being back in MN for the holidays is wonderful. Still getting pampered. But, sometimes I have to help out as well :) The family is so wonderful about my desire to eat vegetarian. Who knows how long this "project" will last, but I really enjoy not having meat in my diet. Anyhow. Mom asked me to make dinner for my dad and Nathan while she was at Grandma's. Mom suggested veggie chili. I was only half listening when she was doling out instructions :) so I agreed to cook something that I have never actually made. Ooops. The final product was quite tasty. Although, I certainly wouldn't call it chili. Chili in my mind will always give you gas and must be consumed with large amounts of cheese. This soup, except maybe for those not accustomed to large amounts of fiber, will not give you gas. And, it didn't pair well with cheese. Definitely not chili. It did however, pair nicely with corn bread. The recipe is adapted from a few recipes I found online. Here's my best recollection of what I made. Wish I had pictures...

Veggie Chili/Soup

2 or 3 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion (mine was yellow), diced

1 tablespoons jarred garlic – probably 3 cloves of fresh

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 ½ teaspoons cumin

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon dried oregano

2 carrots, chopped

1 red pepper, chopped

1 zucchini, chopped

1 28 oz can diced tomatoes including the liquid

2 cups water

2 cups vegetable broth

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 can chick peas, rinsed and drained

Directions

1.     Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat.

2.     Add onions. Cook until soft.

3.     Add spices and cooked until fragrant.

4.     Add the rest of the vegetables. Cook until beginning to soften. (I like vegetables in soups to be a little hard still, you could probably increase this cooking time if you like softer veggies in soup).

5.     Add tomatoes, water, and vegetable broth.

6.     Simmer for 45 minutes.

7.     Bring soup to a boil.

8.     Add beans.

9.     Reduce heat and simmer for 30 more minutes.

Reflection

Hello blog world,

It’s wonderful to take a break from reality (never mind the stack of papers I have to grade and the lessons I still need to plan) and sit at home. I love coming “home” to Minnesota. Even though I live in Indiana and I have a wonderful home with Nathan, coming to my parents’ house is comforting and warm and feels so good. It’s nice to be taken care of when I feel as though all I do is care for others.

Today I went to my old high school and had some wonderful conversations with two of my high school mentors. It was so fantastic to talk to them as colleagues, but to still have them share their wisdom with me in ways that make sense to me. They can still see me as their student and can use that knowledge to help me continue to grow as  a professional. I hope I grow to understand my students in the same way. I hope that in 5 years or 10 years a student can come to me for help and I can still offer them the support that they need.

Walking into my high school makes me think about what I want for my students. I am under no illusion that my high school is perfect and meeting the needs of all students, but there are clearly things working in the building. I know that they have students with challenging lives and students who need tremendous support to get through the day and the year, but there is not the overwhelming culture of panic in the building that I experience on a daily basis.

As I brainstormed with these two teachers about how to be more effective in my classroom two main pieces of advice came through:

1.    Don’t take the politics and current educational climate personally. I am facing a tough evaluation and rehiring process in my district and there is a good chance that as a first year teacher, I wont be back. I want to go back, but it may not be possible. But, I still have a job to do and students to reach and they need me to keep what happens in my classroom consistent and rigorous. They still need to learn. And while I (and the other teachers) are scared and frustrated, the students should not feel our frustration. I have only been doing this for 3.5 months and have a long road ahead of me, so if I keep plugging away and doing what I need to do, eventually I will be a great teacher. 

2.    Continue to reflect. I made a comment to one of my mentors that I have been enjoying reading another one of my high school mentors blogs. She is the most reflective teacher I know and probably one of the best teachers I know and knowing and understanding her students. I always thought in high school that she had it all figured out. Now I clearly see that she doesn’t. I think it’s fantastic. My mentor essentially said – I hope she doesn’t and I hope no one ever does. He’s so right. Complacency is not going to help our educational system improve. Constantly changing, adapting, learning, and reflecting is only going to continue to make teachers improve and therefore the ability (cognitively and socially) of our students will continue to improve.

I feel renewed to go back and face whatever my job hands to me. I’m not there yet (and I may never be there) but I have passion and determination.

7 Weeks In

I have been a teacher for 7 weeks. Perhaps that is enough of an explanation of why I have not been blogging much recently, perhaps not. These last 7 weeks have at times felt like a year has gone by and other times it feels as though seconds have past. I have not had enough time to do anything, yet I have accomplished so much.

A few highlights:

1. I am seen as a colleague and an expert. I do not feel as though I have enough skills and to be considered the first let alone the second. But, it does feel good knowing that my opinions are respected and valued.

2. Nathan and I moved - again. But, I no longer commute an hour and 20 each way. Now I drive 10 minutes each way! The house, while still a little chaotic feels like a home. Which is good because I had to give up my MN driver's license and that did not feel good.

3. Some students hate me and others love me. Yes it's a highlight to have students dislike you for making them work. It is school and students should be working, learning. It is my goal every day to make learning meaningful and relevant, but sometimes that means doing a few unpleasant tasks. The students who say "good morning" and ask me how I am doing make me want to come back everyday and teach.

My desk - classroom photos will have to follow!

Blissful Weekends

Back in June, for our anniversary Nathan and I spent 2 days and 1 night in Indianapolis just to get away for a little while. Going on a mini-vaca is not in the cards for the last two weeks of summer. But, perhaps I can create the feel of our little romantic getaway at home. I'm thinking pancakes or crepes with fresh fruit and tea and a walk to the farmers market or some where else pretty in Muncie.

Lunch at Yats. Delicious.

Afternoon snack,  wine tasting...ended up being free. How lucky!

Dinner and listening to music at the Italian Festival

More food than anyone can eat for breakfast!

Not sure what that herb is!

Breakfast at Taste. Right down the street from the hostel.

 

Spring and Summer Cooking

Recently my cooking has been sub par. So to re-inspire my cooking I decided to post two of my favorites from the late spring and early summer. I've got a lot of back logged recipes to share with you all. Here's a taste :)

Veggie Burgers 

(I feel bad that I can't remember where I found the recipe that I adapted this from.) Paired it with home made pita chips, hummus, and fried zucchini. 

1.     Peel 2 pounds of red potatoes

2.     Boil potatoes until soft. Drain and let cool

3.     In a small bowl, combine:

½ tsp cumin

½ tsp paprika

½ tsp chili powder

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp dried parsley

½ tsp freshly ground

1 tsp salt

4.     In a food processor, combine

1 cup canned chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained

½ cup chopped fresh cilantro

½ cup coarsely chopped carrot

1 jalapeño, seeded and quartered

¼ cup coarsely chopped red onion

5.     In a large bowl, mash potatoes

6.     Then add 1 cup dry bread crumbs, spice mix, and chick pea mixture

7.     Form into patties

8.     Pan Fry

9.     Top burgers with:

Sautéed spinach and onion 

Feta cheese

 

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

 

I always make a pie for major holidays. Nathan requested strawberry Rhubarb Pie. I used my moms crust recipe and then a new filling recipe. Flavor, big stars! But, it was the runniest pie I have ever made!

 

Filling Recipe from one of my favorite cooking blogs Brown Eyed Baker .

Moving House

I’ve done a lot of moving recently and I have a sneaky suspicion I’ll be moving a fair number of times before I settle into one house for more than a few months.

Nathan and I moved into a really nice apartment – not so nice carrying everything to the second floor! I’m sad to not have my own place any more, but excited to start a new chapter of my life. At least I have a room for all my stuff and he has a room for his – I don’t have to totally downsize my belongings just yet!

Seymour likes moving!

Old living room

New living room

 Yes, it looked like this for a few days. It doesn't any more! More pictures soon!