teacher in the kitchen: skewered caprese salad

Hi everyone! So I made the best Caprese Salad (after my cousin Maria told me the secrets!) yesterday. When I asked the boyfriend if he wanted more, he looked up and smiled..."Yes Please!!" It's super easy to make, so I'm delighted to link up with Deb for Teacher in the Kitchen!

Let's start with Ingredients:

You'll need:

• Fresh Basil
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Fresh Mozzarella
• Sea Salt
• Pepper, and
• Balsamic Glaze by Gia Russa:

I skewered everything together on little toothpicks, so some of those too!

It's really pretty simple:

1. Make little kabobs with tomato, basil, cheese
2. Spice it up with some Sea Salt and Pepper
3. Drizzle the glaze over

That's it! It's this Balsamic Glaze that makes the recipe, so don't try and find a substitute. I got mine at Mariano's (I'm in Chicago) but I also found it on Amazon!

The result? A beautiful looking appetizer! I think it's healthy, but then again the cheese, and well, I didn't check the stats on the glaze, but I say it's better than pizza, right?

Let me know if you try it out and what you think! What are you cooking lately? Write up a post and share it with Deb!

maintaing teacher balance

Get the details for this challenge here!

Today we're getting together to share ideas for maintaining balance during the school year. I know right now we're all loving life - being on break and all, but pretty soon, we'll be at 150mph and we're all going to be exhausted. So, what do you do to stay sane? Here's how I take care of myself during the busy busy times.

Sleep
I don't ever give up sleep. Hektor makes so much fun of me for going to bed at 9pm, but I do, almost religiously. I get up around 5:30 every day, so 10pm is my latest for work. I've always loved sleeping, and I don't give it up no matter how busy I am!

Food Prep
I feel best when I'm eating well, so the weeks that I make time to prep a week's worth of lunches, I do so much better. I could eat various versions of Chicken Salads for weeks - months even, and I did during the spring semester. It just takes so much work and time - the grocery shopping and then prepping everything. But, it makes my life so much easier all week long!

Exercise
First yoga: I love yoga, but I haven't gone for the longest time until just yesterday. I tried out a new studio - Zen Yoga Garage - and it was amazeballs. I love hot yoga, and especially when meditative in practice. Some of the classes are like crazy intense with weights and stuff, but I'd rather get on my mat, let the rest of the world go, and not think for 60 minutes. I love the classes (like Saturday's) when there was incense going and we focused on our breathing and our intent (mine: let go of judgment) and just were present with no technology, no dramas, nothing. I find this to be extremely helpful for the rest of my world!

Running: I've been doing such a great job with my Couch to 5K app - I am making progress if I run every day consistently. I like the feeling I have after it's over, but I actually am not a huge fan of running (actually, of exercise in general, if I'm being honest.) But, as my bff says, "You don't have to want to do it, you just have to do it." So for now at least, I'm going. I just need to keep it up when school starts. Any tips for this? Exercise is always the first thing I let go!

I say yes selectively
There's lots to do when you're a teacher. You all know, lots. Actually, too much. So all the things I say yes to, I think long and hard about whether or not I'll do it. Life is too short to be doing things that make you stressed or angry. My rule of thumb is always asking for a night to think about things before I commit. I tell myself it's okay to take 12-24 hours to get back to people. Stress comes when you're trying to do things too fast. When I step away, I almost always get clarity, and I can make the best decisions for me. Bottom line: I'm choosy about what I say yes to. You should be too!

Social Calendar
I love having things to look forward to! I always like to plan things, whether that's a date night, trying out a new restaurant, a long weekend, or a vacation, keeping my calendar full is super important to me. And, I mean events for me personally, but also happy hours with teachers from school. It helps so much to get out of the building and have some chips and salsa (and margaritas) and just catch up with one another. This is especially helpful during the worst time of year - for me, it's the cold, dreary days of January - March. Whether it's for personal or work-related events, I love to keep things on the calendar to get me through the busy weeks we experience!

What about you? Please share how you keep your teacher balance! Looking forward to your ideas!

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sunday letters

Get the details for this challenge here!

Hi friends! Today we're getting together for Sunday Letters. So, compose your letter to a person, place, thing, idea....anything!


Dear Summer Vacation,
You are slipping away much, much to quickly. I need to get off my devices and live in the moment, that's sure to slow it down a bit, right?
Sincerely,
Vacationing Teach

Dear ASU Alumni Association,
Thank you for being in Chicago. I have some of my best friends here because of you and also, I met H because of the alumni club! 
Love,
A grateful Sun Devil

Dear Besties,
So excited that Hektor now knows all six of you! He said to me the other day, "I've finally come full circle!" Makes me happy all my best friends know each other.
Xo,
BFF

Dear Emma,
Thanks for coming this weekend! I'm having so much fun reenacting our memories from years ago, and making new ones. Still need to get sushi and go to the beach. Can't wait!
xo, city cousin

Dear OITNB,
I am officially hooked. This is why I need more days of summer for doing nothing - Need to watch seasons 2 and 3!
Sincerely, Couch Potato

Dear Zen Yoga Garage,
I loved trying out your studio yesterday, but the hot yoga was so so hot. I'm either way out of practice or the room is hotter than what I'm used to. Either way, feels good to get the stretching and sweating on.
Feeling Zen,
Relaxed Teach

Dear TpT Conference,
I had serious FOMO the last few days....totally wish I was able to attend. Next year, I need to put the dates on my calendar so I don't have this double scheduling that I had this year. Can't wait to see all the blogging friends out there. And for now, can't wait to read blogs of everyone who attended!
Best,
BigTime Blogger

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summer pd plans

hi everyone! Welcome back to day 11 of the blogging challenge! Today, if you'd like to follow the prompts, we are writing about our summer PD plans, so share with all of us what you'll be doing!

Here's what I'm up to....

1. Biliteracy Unit Framework (BUF) Planning
Last week I attended a three day class on BUF (pronounced 'boof') planning. It was great! It goes right along with Backwards Design Planning by Wiggins. These units are built around planning for two languages and around big ideas, one content and one language. Then, there's all of the balanced literacy components are integrated into it. This PD was super helpful as we are beginning Dual Language in our school - just two sections of kinder this year, but will roll it up each year after. What I especially loved were the perspectives of multilingualism, and talking about how we need to elevate the status of all languages in our school!

2. Illinois Writing Project
Beginning next week and for two and a half weeks after that, JennieB and I are doing a writing workshop with the IWP. The first week we will be the writers, going through the motions of writing workshop as we would use to teach our kiddos. Then, the week and a half following it's teacher leadership, so we're going to come away with lots of ideas for building writing in our building. I can't wait, and JennieB, I have the coolest surprise for you on Monday!

3. Teaching a PD for Middle School
In August, I'll be giving a PD for the middle school teachers - they are moving to block scheduling and I was asked to put something together for organizing the ELA block. So, in addition to what I'm remembering from when I taught, I'll be spending time with Nancie Atwell to prepare for that!

That's all for me, except for the books I'm reading, too! I ordered The Reading Strategies Book but it's still not here. Eagerly anticipating that!

Get the details for this challenge here!

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best / favorite lessons

Hi all! Today we're blogging about our favorite and/or best lessons! I can't wait to read about all of yours! Be sure to link them up below (and if you want to write about something else, do that, too!)

One of my favorite lessons I used to do was an introductory lesson to the Writing Process. In this lesson, each child uses Play-Doh as I walk them through the process of creating a pencil holder, which serves as a metaphor for teaching writing. The kids end up creating all kinds of little sculptures, like these:

During the lesson, they "Rehearse" their piece in the beginning and we talk about not letting the critic's voice come into play - to just go ahead and create without fear of it not being good enough/pretty enough, etc. After a few minutes of working, I tell them to smash it up and start again, so the creator within them can continue to put ideas forward. They continue working, ignoring the critic, on something new. We spend a fair amount of time rehearsing - creating and then beginning again.

As they carry on, I prompt them to think about their purpose - something that looks good and serves the purpose of holding the pencil. We remind them to think about their audience, and so they ask for feedback from a friend about their creation thus far. They ask their partner, "Do you know where the pencil will go?" If so, the piece has unity and a strong message. 

Next, we encourage students to "see their piece again," as writers do in revision. They are asked to look at it from all points of view - from up high, down low, from across the way. Students make adjustments as needed.

They are then told that we also look at the fine details, which writers do as they edit, and so the kids ask their neighbors to exchange pieces of Play Doh to add the finishing touches to the piece with new colors.

Finally, students display their piece of art on an index cards that has a title and their name. Students gallery walk all pieces so all creations can be seen.

This lesson is super engaging for kids and a fantastic metaphor for the work they will do with the writing process all year! Plus, their pencil holders turn out so so cute!

This was just a little overview, but you can find a more detailed lesson plan here. Additionally, I'm discounting my Writing Process Posters - something that you might like to add to your own Writing Workshop! Check those out here. In addition to the process posters, this doc includes ideas to use for teaching the writing process at each of the six stages!

Get the details for this challenge here!

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daring greatly book study 2/5

Get the details for this challenge here!

Hi there! We are continuing the challenge with a book study! Feel free to participate by linking up a post today - about Daring Greatly, another book, or any content of your choice.

This week, we read chapter three of Daring Greatly by Brené Brown: Understanding and Combating Shame. (Check out my first post on this book here.) While this is a book about embracing vulnerability, in order to be courageous and dare greatly, we have to know about shame and how to be resilient from it. Brené says, "We can't let ourselves be seen if we're terrified by what people might think." (p.41)

Brown defines shame as "the intensely painful feeling or experience of  believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging." (p. 69)

In her research, she found 12 shame categories. They include:

• Appearance and body image (biggest category for women)
• Money and work
• Motherhood/fatherhood
• Family
• Parenting
• Mental and physical health
• Addiction
• Sex
• Aging
• Religion
• Surviving trauma
• Being stereotyped or labeled

As a woman, I can relate to that top category very much so. When those negative thoughts creep in, I have to work really hard on the self-talk: You are enough. You are thin enough. You are a good person. Brown says that this is a form of shame - that it's thinking like this that hides in all corners of our lives. People might think that you have to have some kind of traumatic experience to feel shame, but that's not the case at all. Questioning yourself or hiding yourself in any of these areas (and probably more) are what she means by shame. Bad feelings that make you think you're not worthy of love or connection - that's shame.

Here's another quote to show more about what she means about shame, and how it plays out differently for each of the genders:

Shame is universal, but the messages and expectations that drive shame are organized by gender. These feminine and masculine norms are the foundation of shame triggers, and here's why: If women want to play by the rules, they need to be sweet, thin, and pretty, stay quiet, be perfect moms and wives, and not own their power. One move outside these expectations and BAM! The shame web closes in. Men, on the other hand, need to stop feeling, start earning, put everyone in their place, and clime their way to the top or die trying. Push open the lid of your box to grab a breath of air, or slide that curtain back a bit to see what's going on, and BAM! Shame cuts you down to size. (p.107)

Unfortunately there's enough shame to go around for all of us. The anecdote to all of this: not hiding from shame. We need to find a friend to talk about the shame with, and have them just give empathy so we know we are not alone. Even just adressing the shameful thoughts on your own, and not playing along with them - that's shame resilience.

How does this play out for me, personally? Instead of thinking I need to lose weight, I tell myself to go for a run so I can feel healthy. I accept myself as I am and know that I am more that my outward appearance. If I get something wrong at work, if I stick my foot in my mouth, I don't tell myself I am not a worthy person, but instead, that I made a mistake. I fix it. I understand that my actions, my work, my outward appearance, they are all just parts of me, parts that I can continue to work on and improve.

I want to leave you with one last quote from this chapter that I really love:

"If we're going to find our way out of shame and back to each other, vulnerability is the path and courage is the light. To set down those lists of what we're supposed to be is brave. To love ourselves and support each other in the process of becoming real is perhaps the greatest single act of daring greatly." (p.110)

Next week we'll be talking about Chapter 4, hope to see you back! 

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what I'm loving Wednesday

Get the details for this challenge here!

Hi all! Today we're back for day 8 of the challenge and What I'm Loving Wednesday! For this post, please just share anything that you're currently loving!

❤ Southwest Airlines
If it were up to me, I'd never fly any other airlines. Ticket prices are reasonable and you get to check two bags with the purchase of a ticket. They have super great customer service - last week when I left Chicago to go to Calfornia, I was through baggage check in 10 minutes. Also, in Chicago, they fly out of Midway, which is smaller and I know it like the back of my hand. Highly recommend this fabulous airlines!

❤ wineries with friends
My California girlfriends live super close to a strip of like 40 wineries. We went to this one - Wilson, I think? Delicious sparkling wines! The grounds outside were beautiful and the company was the best!

❤ this
Found on Twitter or Instagram. Does your school have a twitter hashtag? Imagine the possibilities!

❤ Bernie Sanders
He's running against Hillary in the primaries. You need more info! I had never heard of him until just a few weeks ago, but he is not owned by big corporation money. The people who back his campaign are middle class folks, like us, and he wants to restore democracy. He's going to win by a grassroots effort, so get on facebook and twitter and start sharing! Here's one more blog post on him, too!

❤ Wahoos Tacos
If you're ever in Calfornia or Vegas, find one and stop. The. Best. Fish Tacos. Ever. and I had a shrimp one last night too - delish!

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