Parenting
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Stretching Your Intelligence
I’m a huge fan of Kagan’s Multiple Intelligences teaching model. It’s based on the theory that students are smart in different ways. Kagan’s Multiple Intelligences teaches teachers to engage all their students through instructional strategies that target many of the intelligences at the same time. For a list of the intelligences check out one of my previous posts. What’s Your Strongest Intelligence? My strongest intelligence is Intrapersonal or as Kagan describes it: To Know Thyself Philosophers, poets, political leaders, religious figures, theologians, and visionaries have a strong intrapersonal intelligence. One of my weakest intelligences is Visual Spatial. People who appreciate architecture, arranging, decorating, painting, drawing, graphing, building models, solving jigsaw puzzles, people…
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Girl Scout Cookie Brownies
Girl Scout Cookie brownies! Thin Mints on the left and Samoa on the right. They’re easy to make and incredibly delicious! My only regret is that I didn’t buy a box of Tagalongs to try. All you need is a brownie mix and your favorite cookies. Spread half of the brownie mix in the pan. Add cookies. Cover with more batter and a cookie crumble topping. Next time I’ll add the entire cookie for a stronger coconut taste. The Thin Mints brownies were very minty! Just add a dollop of green whipped topping and they’re perfect for a St. Patrick’s Day dessert. You can also make Girl Scout Cookie brownie bites.…
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Horseback Riding at Riding Star Ranch
Horseback Riding at Riding Star Ranch “A companionship with your child must be built. It does not just happen.” Eleanor Roosevelt When the kids were little it was easy to plan family days. Swimming, the zoo, building sandcastles at the beach, even a trip to the park brought smiles and laughter. As Arielle and Kai got older it became more challenging to find activities we’d all enjoy. Even going to the movies usually meant boys in one theatre and girls in the other. However, we all love horses and horseback riding. This past weekend Eric, Kai and I saddled up and went for a trail ride at Riding Star Ranch. Here’s…
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FCAT Stress
FCAT Stress There are four letters that when placed next to each other are sure to cause stress in teachers. FCAT stress is running high this time of year. I see it on the teacher’s faces when I go into schools. FCAT Florida Writes is next week followed by math, reading and science FCAT in April. I have been there done that and I can say it was one of the most stressful times of my life. I loved being with the kids, had many supportive parents, but the pressure of the test was with me from August through March. Believe me, if teachers were allowed to spend more time creating their own lessons…
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Fear and Exhilaration
Here I’m showing the kids my mad illustration skills. Thank goodness Mina Sanwald was the illustartor for the map and Timothy Banks the illustrator for the cover. This past week I found myself fluctuating between extreme fear and exhilaration. The date was set for me to have my first author visit in a school. For years I’d dreamed of when I could be in front of students as an author instead of a classroom teacher. Now it was really happening. Really happening!!! My stomach was churning all week. My gym workouts were easy. I had enough nervous energy to run for miles! I created a PowerPoint, packed extra books of mine,…
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Information and Inspiration
Information and Inspiration Do you know how when you take on a new project around your home like cleaning out a closet, painting a bedroom, or planting flowers, all the other jobs such as cooking dinner, doing dishes or vacuuming still have to be done and you can feel happy that you’ve accomplished something new but overwhelmed because your laundry is sprawled over a bed or bureau? Well, that’s me right now. Happy and overwhelmed. If you have no idea what I’m writing about and your laundry is always folded and put away right out of the dryer then you might want to stop reading right now because you’re about to…
