Reposting the homemade Hamburger Helper I made this past weekend. We'll have a taste test later this week. 👌🏼 
Also, just wanted to brag about the Grinch appetizer I made for Christmas. 💚
I was inspired by and AI image and decided I could make a real one. 
I tried something new today. I prepped 3 different Hamburger Helper recipes (lasagna, stroganoff, & cheeseburger macaroni). I can't say for certain whether it was cost effective or not, but I can say I know what ingredients are in my food.
I plan to do the calculations tomorrow.
Here's a link to the YouTube video that inspired this endeavor - https://youtu.be/TtEuXVYEC5Q
Today.
Students: why do we have to learn about the civil war AGAIN?
moments later
Students: who are the Yankees? Were they named after the New York Yankees?
How to survive a 3 hour professional development meeting - create a bingo card with educational buzz words.
I bet I'll be a wayyyy more effective teacher after this!
It was certainly dry at times and there were moments where I had to put it down for a week or so and pick it back up again, but I'm glad I finished it. I wasn't 100% in love with the author's style, sometimes it annoyed me but I understood why he wrote the way he did to get his point across.
Yep. Sorry Elon. You can't pick and choose who gets to exercise freedom of speech.
On a more positive note, I finished reading "The Creature from Jekyll Island" the other day and I don't think I'll ever be the same.
Here are the things I should be doing instead:
1. Creating seating charts. New semester = new students
2. Creating a semester syllabus newly mandated by the district (and making copies of course)
3. Editing & copying bellringers (x2 - I have 2 preps) to ensure I teach the mandatory vocabulary curriculum that is isolated from any ELA text we teach.
4. Editing and copying lesson materials for both preps for the next 5 days...
5. Editing and posting the district mandated calendar
6. Editing and posting the district mandated lesson plans
7. Editing and posting the district mandated agenda
Notice a pattern...
I know it's been a while...
Isn't it a disservice to the children (students) if their teachers are not allocated time to prepare and plan for their return after a holiday break?
We had 2 weeks off for Christmas and we (teachers) have 1 day back at "work" before they return.
That day will be spent split between two meetings.
Meeting 1 - listening to a man speak about effect size, learning intentions, & other strategies THAT WE WERE ALREADY TAUGHT ABOUT pre-pandemic.
My district wasn't able to fulfill his contract due to the pandemic. So they're fulfilling it now... years later. Did I forget to mention that I was on a committee that created district lesson plans based on this man's model of learning that have been lost by the district since it's been so many years since 
? And they want us to recreate the wheel so to speak?
Meeting 2 - faculty meeting about something that could be an email.
I'll add a pic of my countdown timer until I quit. I can't wait to be able to serve my own children fulltime.
✨ Instant Pot Shepherds Pie ✨ https://video.nostr.build/503ee569d0c961cc3d48f94f847f5e23bb33f85e48b358727e82906aa3180e40.mp4
✨ new pic thanks to nostr:npub1zmc6qyqdfnllhnzzxr5wpepfpnzcf8q6m3jdveflmgruqvd3qa9sjv7f60
that's comforting to hear. are you homeschooling? if so, any resources you recommend?
I'm a public school teacher living a double life. I'm prepping to begin my LAST year teaching while simultaneously buying homeschool supplies to hoard until next August. 🤫
nostr:npub1zmc6qyqdfnllhnzzxr5wpepfpnzcf8q6m3jdveflmgruqvd3qa9sjv7f60 is so supportive and willing to sacrifice so our family can transition into the SAHM/homeschool season of life.
If you would've asked me 7 years ago - "would you ever quit teaching?" - I would've looked at you like you had 2 heads. However, after having 2 children and doing some soul searching, I can't imagine staying in public education.
I think it's okay to change your mind. It's only natural to adapt to different seasons of life.
I'm counting down the days until I begin this new journey and I'm truly looking forward to it.
if anyone has any advice or resources for homeschool, please send them our way!
I figured I'd share a variation of my pasta salad recipe too. 😁
🍅 Homemade tomato basil sauce food storage in 4 easy steps. 🍅
https://m.primal.net/JcBh.webp
https://m.primal.net/JcBi.webp
https://m.primal.net/JcBj.webp
🥒Meal idea 🍅
Shop your pantry and make pasta salad.
✨ Grilled chicken breast
✨ Parmesan
✨ Cherry tomatoes
✨ Cucumber
✨ Kalamata olives
✨vRotini
✨ Italian dressing
🌨️ Good morning 🌨️
I found a perfect cuke hiding and some of my snacking peppers are ripening.
It's gonna be a good day.
