Teaching
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Sweets and Treats
Sweets and Treats Now that I have mastered Pinterest I’m finally trying some of the incredible recipes. Last weekend was a great success; both desserts turned out scrumptious! The first is from The Sweet Talker. Sweet and Salty Pretzel Tart with Chocolate Ganache and Peanut Butter Swirl To quote any middle schooler “OMG!” This pie is CRAZY good! The Sweet and Salty blog has already done all the work just click on over for the recipe. Then check this out… Peach Upside Down Cake from Midwest Living My motto is: If it doesn’t have chocolate then it’s not dessert. Peach Upside Down Cake is the exception. Wow! The butter with the brown sugar and…
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Intelligence Isn’t Everything
Intelligence Isn’t Everything I’m one of those moms who had their kids tested for intelligence at a very young age. I insisted they be placed in gifted programs as young as kindergarten. I made sure they had music lessons, Eric and I coached Arielle’s Odyssey of The Mind team, and I insisted on straight A’s for many years. Why? I knew my kids were capable of the work and I didn’t want them to be slackers in school like Eric and me. Eric is one of the most all-around intelligent people I know yet in school he did next to nothing and was once sent out of class because he was…
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Drugs and Guns
Drugs and Guns I saw a lot of beauty on our family vacation to California. From riding in the mountains along Pacific Coast Highway to sitting at Nepenthe restaurant on a sunny summer day gazing at the ocean to kayaking in Monterey taking photos of sea lions. However, the most beautiful thing I observed on our vacation was a man simply handing another man a sandwich. Our family was on a bus in San Francisco. When the bus stopped I noticed a homeless man sitting on a bench smiling at everyone that walked by. He was dirty, sunburned, and dressed in ragged clothes. A gentleman came up behind him, tapped him on the shoulder and offered a…
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Candy Cake
While perusing Pinterest I found a piñata cake. I had to give it a try. Here’s the original version and recipe. Claire K. Creations: Lime & Macadamia Piñata Cake! I’m not really a cake person. I’d much rather have a big bowl of ice cream but this cake was amazing! Claire’s already done all the work so pop on over to her page for the print-out recipe. It’s yummy! My first idea was to have a Back to School cake. I was thinking something along the lines of having a treasure chest on top and then yellow M&M’s as the gold treasure. The classroom theme could be: You are all treasured in Mrs. Rausin’s…
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Wisdom Wednesday: Love and Effort
Wisdom Wednesday: Love and Effort Love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well. Vincent Van Gogh Today I had the privilege of speaking, via the Internet, to Florida Virtual School students about MYSTIC. One of the students asked a very thoughtful question, “How do I find my passion?” I told them passion is doing something you love to do. For me, it’s writing. The books I create come from my love of storytelling. However, I think it’s important to also include the necessity of effort whether it’s a passion for sports, music, owning a business, sewing, painting, whatever it may…
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Push Across America!
Let me introduce you to an incredible young man! Ryan Chalmers is a wheelchair athlete at the University of Illinois. I’m very partial to the University of Illinois because my beautiful daughter, Arielle, goes there and is also a member of the team. Ryan is pushing across America using his racing wheelchair. He began yesterday in Los Angeles and will finish in New York. Check him out here on Good Morning America: Click on the picture to see the interview. Teachers this is a great opportunity to talk to your class about disabilities and the importance of determination and hard work. Hey, why not follow Ryan on his journey? Here’s the…
