LEAD 2021

LEAD 2021 is a new vision for our school district. It is very progressive and I think it will stretch some of the older teachers who tend to just give worksheets all the time. 

I received an email from Erin at the administration building asking me if I would consider being on the LEAD Assessment Team. She was putting together her "dream team" of people from all over the district. I was honored, as a 2nd year teacher, to even have my name put into the mix. She told me she had gotten my name from the Director of Assessment for the district, Karen Vance. I had Karen's son in my class last year and Karen told Erin that she "had to have me." We studied a lot about education at Baylor, so I feel confident in my ability to be able to contribute. I'm hoping to be able to push the issue of less massive amounts of homework, and more quality homework. Then I really want to show people how projects and mini-projects is an excellent form of summative assessment, rather than paper and pencil tests. I know my ways work; I just have to get everyone to see that. I wish people would come into my classroom every day to see how it is run. I'm not saying it's perfect, but my students are learning. There are so many classrooms where adolescents are doing anything but learning. So I am excited to get started and throw my ideas out there!

I'm writing this blog from my bed. First day I've taken off, but for an excellent reason. I am headed to the first Rangers playoff game!!!! I'm beyond excited and have had a wonderful morning of eggs/spinach and blogging.

Let's Go CJ!!!!!!!!

Are you Ready for some Football?!?

First off, I love that song. It's one of my favorite parts of the beginning of a football game!!! I want to be Faith Hill and sing along with her every single week.

I am so happy for football season! Cowboys will hopefully pull through and won't disappoint me. I will continue to support them no matter what! But, as always, I am way more super duper pumped for college football!! I just think there is nothing like it!! These kids are playing for their team; and at this point in their lives, there is nothing better. 

 This is Terrance Ganaway and he was my intramural football coach. He has been named Baylor's starting running back. Terrance and I actually formed a pretty close relationship just through playing football together. He's worked really hard and overcome a lot, including the death of his mother. This past week was an amazing start for him and I can't wait to see what he does over the whole season! I ask that you would pray for him and that God would protect him from injury. He is such an awesome guy and definitely gives all the glory to God. To top everything off, he proposed to his girlfriend Saturday night after the big upset over TCU! And with alllll of this going on, he told me he's going to try and make it to one of my middle school volleyball games! He has such a sweet heart and I'm already so proud of him! 

Our Game Winning Tradition

Cooking Adventures!

So, now that I've been living on my own for a while. I've really started to cook for myself.... slash 10 people. I always end up with so much food that I take it to friends/invite people over/end up eating leftovers forever!!!! Most of my recipes come from the same spot: www.skinnytaste.com  the lady is excellent and every recipe I've ever made has turned out well!

Here is my adventure from tonight: Baked Spinach Macaroni and Cheese with a Black Bean Salad 

I only thought of taking pictures after I'd made the cheese. There's onions, chicken broth, milk, flour, and scallions.

Then you add the noodles and 4 cups of baby spinach!

Put a little Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs on top and voila! (I should have let the bread crumbs brown a little longer before I took the picture)

Very similar to the summer tomato salad Melanie and I made but without the crab and less tomatoes, plus black beans!! I could eat this every day.

This was exactly what I wanted!!

I will definitely make this again. You could easily add chicken and possibly green chiles are my two ideas. My upcoming recipes I want to try are Greek Turkey Meatballs (they seem a little more difficult!) and an amazing looking Pumpkin Spice Dip (... I'm waiting for a little more fall weather for this)! 

Relaxing weekends with cooking adventures are the best!!!