6 Reasons Teaching Rocks

In the age of teacher morale plummeting and state mandates rising, its great to consider the upsides of your job.

1. Your students are hilarious.

         Somedays you don't realize it because you are worried about assessments, lesson plans, classroom management etc. When you slow down, you realize the comedy that goes on everyday.

Me: why do you have wax in your hair??

Student: Probably because I put my head in my lunchbox.... It's cold in there

Student: I don't want to put my teddy bear in my backpack

Me: Why?

Student: He's like real to me, so I don't want to do that to him.

2. You have a second home.

          Your classroom is your domain. You take pride in your anchor charts and laminated posters. You have a place for your coat and winter gear. You have your coffee maker and microwave by your desk and ready for any parent-teacher conference/ 12 hour day/ weekend grading session. 

3. You are the boss.

        ....most of the time. You make the decisions for the room, because you are responsible for the development of all these young minds (not intimidating at all). You have the prerogative to cancel turkey bingo if your students are out of control; yep, that happened. 

4. You make an impact.

          I worship/ed some of my teachers. They taught me how to cope with emotions, math, knotted shoes laces and friend problems. They helped me navigate some of the hardest times in my life. I see my impact when a student say "ohhhh, now I get it!" Or when a student gives me a random hug during the day. It's those moments that you live for as a teacher.

5. Summers and snow days.

          All I have to say.

6. Watching "your kids" grow up.

           I haven't gotten there yet, but I saw a coworker holding a former students new baby and my eyes teared up. You are a part of your students lives, now and forever. When students think of a grade level, a subject or a special: they think of you.

Thank a teacher this week. They work to improve lives, make an impact and change the world. Plus they love you a lot!

-Meli McG

Weekend Treats and TV shows

I always have more trouble staying healthy on the weekend. Sitting around and watching Downton Abbey, leads me to wanting tea... and chocolate.

Here is a my new favorite weekend brunch recipe: perfect for a lunch on your own or for entertaining guests. It's super easy, healthy and delicious. It'll kick that chocolate craving to the curb! The quinoa in the recipe adds protein and keeps you full plus (unlike most quinoa recipes) you don't have to cook the quinoa before!

The recipe was adapted from a recipe on whole foods website.

 I found the recipe here.

Quinoa Egg Bake

Ingredients

-1 whole egg

-2T skim milk

-1t minced garlic

-1/4t ground thyme

-1/4C diced onions

-1/4C diced red pepper

-1.5T quinoa, uncooked

-salt, pepper

1. Grease an oven proof ramekin or small bowl, or hose it down with nonstick spray.

2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees

3. In a small bowl mix together egg, milk, thyme, onions, salt, pepper, garlic and pepper and quinoa.

4. Pour the mixture into the ramekin and lightly shake so the quinoa will sink to the bottom to form a crust.

5. Bake for 40 mins, until nothing jiggles! I also chose to put a cookie sheet on the rack under the bowl in case the egg expanded too much.

6. Enjoy it in the ramekin or take it out and put it on a plate.

This recipe could easily be doubled, tripled or quadrupled. Just add the quinoa into the ramekins separate so that it's evenly distributed and no one ends up with ALL the protein packed goodness.

Isn't that ramekin too darn cute! I got it from a coworker for Christmas :-) Thanks Jen!

The egg bakes were delicious! Perfect texture with the quinoa forming a crust on the bottom. At 166 calories each they make for a no guilt lunch! They also remind me of a mini quiche that would be perfect with a large teapot full of Earl Grey.

Now to find out what happens to Mr. Matthew Crowley and Lady Mary.... ;-)

Happy eating!
-Meli