grad classes – Peaceful Reader

I have two grad classes this summer and they are not easy; lots of homework, and projects. The good thing is I am learning quite a bit and the two books assigned are both very good.

The Formative five: fostering grit, empathy, and other success skills every student needs by Thomas R. Hoerr

This book explains how schools need to get back to the “basics” of teaching a deeper thought process so our students will be better achievers in the job market. Grit, embracing diversity, integrity, empathy, and self-control encompass the skills they need to be successful. The book breaks down each skill and shares methods to integrate into every day. This was an easy read and I will use the new ideas with students. I’ve already compiled lists of picture books to use with students that highlight each essential word.

Creative Schools by Ken Robinson, Ph. D.

I’ve watched Ken Robinson’s Ted Talk “Do schools kill creativity?” and the book extends that thinking. The book shares many examples of schools and programs that are reaching beyond the normal school day. Like Thomas Hoerr, Ken Robinson is looking for a different type of education for all of our students. His ideas are radical and very interesting to me. The book makes me want to set my classes up differently and not sweat the small or big stuff; students need to enjoy school more to keep their creativity and the joy of learning alive!

Outside of my summer studies, I read The tea girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See for book club. See does an amazing amount of research for her books and this one is no exception. This one has great characters, lots of information about the Ahka hill tribe in China, and the tea industry. If you are looking for a good, thrilling read-give this one a try.

(Fuji Mama 1-hour bread)

Last week I offered to make a meal for a theatre set designer and old friend who traveled from St. Paul, MN to come and help put his design into action and work with my husband. Because we haven’t seen this old friend for awhile I offered to make him dinner so we could relax and talk together. I made a pasta sauce from one of my Giada cookbooks, a simple salad and this bread from Fuji Mama –Simple One Hour Homemade Bread.

You see I’d forgotten to pick up a baguette to round out this Italian-inspired meal and I knew I needed bread or the meal would feel incomplete to our guest. When I shared my concern with Groovy Girl, she said: “just make some bread!” What!? but of course, I know how to make bread and have many recipes to follow for wonderful crispy loaves yet they all take at least a couple of hours to create. I had less than 2 hours. Her answer to this: “just Google it”. So simple!

After a quick search for fast homemade bread, I found Fuji Mama’s easy recipe and we loved it. It makes 2 peasant loaves that cook in 25 minutes. They were crusty on the outside and soft on the inside, the perfect combo.

Here is Giada’s Bolognese Sauce that I tossed over fettuccine noodles. The meal was delicious, the conversation lively, and ended with another mutual friend’s treat of cookies.

I’m short on time for everything I do this summer. Two grad classes are keeping me seriously hopping. The two books I’m reading to go along with each class are interesting, The Formative Five by Thomas R. Hoerr and Creative Schools by Ken Robinson, but the assignments cause me to think HARD for hours at a time-not my favorite summer activity. I just want to be reading chapter books for school, hanging in my hammock, or cooking.

Tag: grad classes

Summer classes

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