{Queery} What is the different between a Question and a Queery?
Apr 21, 12
And how can questions be applied in the classroom use to stimulate the brain, how can queeries be applied in the classroom to promote responsibility?
I found this article Toward A Quaker Pedagogy thought provoking and relevant to use in any classroom.
{cook}Spanakopita & Potato Curry Soup
Apr 11, 12
Today's temperature was a 20 degree drop from yesterday's. Spring, my fickle mistress.
It was a day that yearned for soup. Hot and noursishing, comfort in a bowl. I wanted my favorite Potato Curry Soup from Nosh,
{Lesson} Successful Innovation
Apr 10, 12
I came upon a video today, that was the embodiment of the 21st century workplace described by Cathy Davidson in her new book "Now You See It".
Cathy talks about how the modern day American workplace and education system, was created in the 19th century for 20th century innovation, the factory line.
Single-time-oriented-tasks; top-down-hierachies; sit/stand-in-place; work-on-your-own are all ways to create the perfect factory worker. It is reflected in schoolrooms, where children sit at desks, do one subject at a time and listen to one source of knowledge - the teacher.
In the workplace, the same set-up is replicated with cubicles, departments, and bosses. So although our modern workplace may not look like a factory, they operate on the same guiding principles as a factory.
Enter IDEO a company that has created a 21st century workplace. Where people work in teams, creativity is nurtured, failure is encouraged and results are anything but dull.
When you watch who and how the IDEO team works, you will see that diversity is key to their success.
{cook} Tempeh Green Bean Curry, Easy Style
Apr 10, 12
Sometimes dinner is from Trader Joes. Grilled Tempeh, fresh green beans, and Curry Simmer Sauce.
Salad was the TJ's recipe demo for the day, first time I really like the sample enough to make it at home. Tabouli and lentil salad. Use TJ's tabouli salad, pre-cooked lentils, olive oil, fresh lemon, kosher salt and cracked pepper.
Fresh cilantro on the curry and Tandoori Naan rounded out the meal.
Cheat: 7 y.o. had the Chicken Tika Masala meal with green beans, tabouli/lentil salad and naan.
Manhattan Beach is not in New York
Apr 08, 12
We arrived to a sunny and lovely southern california week. The air is cool and the sun is warm. Perfection.
{Things the French Do Better Than We Do} Soap
Feb 24, 12
When I was a quite young, at my very first real NYC job after college, my boss and his boyfriend were taking a trip to Paris. They asked me if I wanted anything. I thought for a moment and said, "Maybe some soap?"
{livres} pour enfants
Jan 30, 12
Archer's Quest by Linda Sue Park is a chapter book that we recently listened to the audio version of while driving to and from school.
We have read and loved Keeping Score also by Linda Sue Park, so when we spied Archer's Quest on the audio book shelf at the local library, we immediately knew we'd get it.
"TWELVE-YEAR-OLD KEVIN, A Korean American boy, is shocked beyond belief when a young man, complete with bow and arrows, crash lands in his bedroom. And that's just the beginning. The man, called Skillful Archer, claims to be a legendary ruler from ancient Korea. While Kevin tries explaining contemporary life to the man he nicknames Archie, the young ruler teaches Kevin about focusing his thoughts in an attempt to help him return to his kingdom. There's not a moment to lose as Kevin uses Korean history and folktales, math, and the Chinese Zodiac to help his friend travel back through time before the Year of the Tiger ends. If Archie can't get home, history will be forever changed."
‎{Audio} We just finished listening to "Archer's Quest" by Linda Sue Park and loved it! We were playing the end of the book coming from N's archery class, on the day before Lunar New Year, on our way to eat Korean BBQ.
Confluence.
Rethinking the role of praise in student learning
Jan 28, 12
Perusing the Durham Magnet Schools new blog, I came upon this reference to praising children sighting two interesting articles:
From the Washington Post In schools, self-esteem boosting is losing favor to rigor, finer-tuned praise.
And, from the Wall Street Journal The Praise a Child Should Never Hear.
What is it about a hotel . . .
Dec 03, 11
"That, too, is something I’ve come to value about hotel stays: how in the accustomed rituals and formalities of arrival and departure, each visit mimics a larger journey. We arrive and go to our rooms and feel relief when the key works and the lock clicks tight so that we can unpack and greet our identities again. We unfold the clothes that we prepared for a temporary imagined future. And in that transition, the span between check-in and check-out, we are liberated from the uncomfortable truth that, sooner than anyone likes to imagine, the trip has ended and the time has come to pay the bill."
My Life in Hotels
GUY TREBAY, NYT
Choosers can be beggars...
Nov 01, 11
Zombie Bash t Motorco Saturday night. Chattting with Flip who was the reason I was there. Flip makes the best taste that my mouth can eat from a food truck in all of Durham and I'd hazard to guess, all of everywhere.
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5 Steps: To Finding A Yoga Class That Is Right For You
Sep 04, 11
There are so many kinds of yoga classes nowadays, it can seem daunting to find a teacher or a class that is right for you.
Are you an athlete, blogger, professional,
Hanai Ohana
Sep 04, 11
Friends so close that they often become our Hanai ohana (adopted or adapted family). I guess we try to create in our friendships the space, love and support that we do not always get from our families.
Floss your teeth! (for fertility and health)
Jul 07, 11
I sometimes wonder why in our culture, dental care is so removed from health care. They not only go hand in hand, but poor dental hygiene can affect many other areas of health.
Read more in Babble.com, Trying to Conceive? Break Out the Dental Floss
[cook] What's for dinner? 15 minute version
Jun 30, 11
Swim team practice takes up the prime dinner making time of day, 4:15 - 6:00pm.
Shopping smart helps. So does prepping earlier in the day. Today, I chose shop smart. And we enjoyed a delicious quick meal, prepared in 15 minutes.
Flounder, my new favorite, easy fish and is available local here in NC. I dust with a mixture of cornmeal, salt, pepper and a tablespoon of whole wheat flour (pretty much the same as for fried green tomatoes). Fry lightly in a hot pan with light oil.
Baby Bok Choy, cleaned, bottoms of stems trimmed. Toss into a hot pan with a little ponzu (citrus soy) and mirin (sweet sake).
Steamed mussels. This is the show stopper for the 7 y.o. Heat small pot with 1 inch of water until boiling, toss in fresh mussels with a celery stalk. Steam for 5 minutes or until shells pop open.
7 y.o. ate easily 15-17 mussels, a fillet of flounder and a bunch of bok choy.
Healthy and quick if not a bit unorthodox. Done and done.
What's for Breakfast? (Gluten free, shhhh) Coconut Waffles
Jun 14, 11
Coconut Waffles. Don't need to tell anyone that they are gluten free. Do tell everyone that they are yummy.
And, have you met Joy? I'm here to introduce you to Joy The Baker, she is exuberant and fun as heck.
What's for dinner? Furikake Salmon!
May 09, 11
Furikake is a nori, sesame condiment that you sprinkle on hot rice to make it delicious.
In Hawaii, it's also a fun ingredient to use for cooking. That is how Furekake Salmon was born, (I think).
Baked Furekake Salmon served with grilled asparagus & mushrooms, sliced cucumbers, brown rice. with some extra krispy nori to wrap rice and make mini dinner musubi.
Kid variation: take 1 small sheet nori, some brown rice, and a bit of salmon for instant salmon sushi.
{make} What's for dinner tonight?
Apr 20, 11
This colorful and tasty vegetarian dinner came together quite easily, once the inspiration struck.
I had wanted to make chana, N boycotted masala style and gave the thumbs up to this summery version made with a light pesto of cilantro, basil and olive oil. We call it Green Chana.
Last night, we had some delicious chinese brocolli that I had flash saute'ed with sesame and ginger. That was the flavor I had in mind when I found this bright and cheerful rainbow chard. Marinated in sesame oil, sake, fresh ginger and a touch of soy sauce.
This Aloo Gobi or cauliflower potato korma is my new favorite warm, comforting vegetable dish. I found the original recipe at Heidi Swanson's 101cookbooks.com. If you haven't yet checked out her blog do so today. She sources from local farms, cooks clean and healthy, california style, and has an amazing eye/takes wonderful photos. 101cookbooks is a pure delight.
{do} Perfect Spring Afternoon
Apr 01, 11
Pick your favorite outdoor spot. Invite a bunch of friends, bring some lunch, a couple of dog friends too and go at it.
In Durham, one of my favorite places to be outdoors is the Eno River. I sometimes call it the Eno Trickle as it's not known for it's impressive size. But after a week of rains, the Eno indulged us.
The sun played hide and seek for a bit. I'm not complaining. Today we were sans mosquitoes, ticks, and poison ivy.
The kids climbed rocks, threw sticks to watch the current, dug in the mud. They chased each other and the dogs, sword fought with pieces of drift wood, collected buckets of river water and boots full of river water.
Thank you beautiful Eno and Spring full of grace.
{use} Cast Iron Skillets, Save the world, save your health
Mar 24, 11
It is widely misunderstood (by me) that cast iron skillets are only for frying bacon and therefore covered in meat juice and not good for vegetarians.
It is also widely accepted that cast iron skillets are difficult to maintain. And what about having to season it first? Too much trouble, give me a good old non-stick anyday, right? I mean aren't cast iron skillets heavy and doesn't everything stick to them and make a big mess?
I'm a convert. The only cast iron I'd been familiar with was my mother's, which was indeed coated in bacon fat. That's what makes the food taste good, you know using the bacon grease from the bacon you just cooked up to fry some eggs in, gives the eggs that special something.
But we were going through our non-stick skillets at about one per year and we'd try to buy the heavy bottomed "good" ones, hoping they'd last longer. Not only were we feeding ourselves and our family teflon (very bad for you) but we were buying into this consumer culture that said you always needed a new this or that. Whomever invented the non-stick pan was brilliant. They don't last long and you always need a new one.
Cast iron lasts for generations. Back in the day, you used to get one handed down to you from your mother or grandmother so it was good and seasoned and ready to use for another lifetime of good meals. Guess what, they sell them new, PRE-SEASONED, ready to use, and they work great. But you never have to replace them. They get better the longer you have them.
They hold their heat so you're actually cooking your food in a real way and using less energy. I make everything in it and it does not stick. At all. And food tastes better. And if some iron gets into you, all the better, it's not bad for you. And it lasts forever, so no replacing every few months (that's the save the world part). To top it all off, they are only between $11 and $15, for a Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet at the hardware store.
I've made scrambled eggs and (veggie) sausage, french toast, sauteed greens, Yaki-tofu, tempeh stroganoff I could go on. You can also use it in the oven, so you can brown something on the stove and continue to cook in the oven. We continue to use and love our good old, new cast iron skillet.
{parenting} 10 Home Birth Lessons for the Hospital
Mar 24, 11
From Babble.com's Stollerderby colunm, one in a series of three articles.
When it comes to talking about birth there can be so much divisiveness: home VS hospital, epidural VS natural, etc. Though these polarized debates can cement an opinion for some, they are confusing as hell to many others. The truth is, most women would be very content with the best of all possible worlds.
cont reading