Author: teachermama

Stir Fry Crazy

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I love stir fry. One daughter requested my chicken stir fry for dinner last night, and the other said, “Not stir fry again! You make it twice a week!” In my defense, I always make a different one! But this one is easy, colorful, delicious, and THE TWELVE-YEAR-OLD said, “It’s really the mushrooms that make this, Mom.”

“I thought you didn’t like mushrooms?”

“I don’t. Except in here.”

Okaaaaay. Works for me. Anytime I can get someone to eat mushrooms, I consider it a victory. (I don’t trust people who don’t like mushrooms.)

Quick Chicken Stir Fry

Combine 3/4 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips; 1 T each cornstarch and soy sauce, 2 cloves minced garlic, and 1/2 t. minced fresh ginger root (I left this out b/c hubby doesn’t like it.) 😦

Combine 3T soy sauce, 1 T corn starch, 3/4 c. water.

Heat 1T veg. oil in wok or large skillet on med-high heat. Add chicken. Stir fry until nice and slightly browned. Remove.

Heat another 1T oil in same pan. Add 1 red bell pepper and an onion, sliced. Add 1/4 lb each sliced mushrooms and snow peas; stir fry 5 min.

Stir in chicken and soy sauce mixture. Cook, stirring, until sauce boils and thickens. Serve over hot cooked rice.

Substitute Teacher

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Image

First year teaching, 1991

When I was a little girl and people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I said, “A substitute teacher.” My dad thought this was hilarious (and a little lame, I’m pretty sure). Who wants to be a substitute anything? My rationale was that I thought substitute teachers were the nicest, prettiest, most fun grown ups I ever encountered! They showed up at school unexpectedly, usually in a pretty dress, and kind of let me boss them around while they got the lay of the land. What could be better than that?

Fast forward 30 years or so, and I find myself exactly that — a substitute teacher. After 20 years teaching middle school English, I followed my husband’s career to another state as a “trailing spouse.” While I was bummed to give up an awesome job, I thought that a year out of the classroom to take care of my family and home might be kind of nice. But I underestimated how much I would miss teaching! So I am baby-stepping back in and answering the 6 am wakeup call to be a “guest teacher” as they call us nowadays.

In some ways it’s harder than having your own classroom. Pluses = no grading, no meetings. Those are BIG pluses. Minuses = no rapport with students, no classroom space of your own, no teacher buddies to talk to. Half the battle, no–the whole battle–with students is establishing rapport. You show them respect; they give you respect. It’s awesome. But it takes a couple of weeks to make it happen. You can’t just walk in and feel the love. 😦

That said, I discovered this week that I no longer hate geometry. I can even teach it. That’s a pretty cool change in the life of this substitute teacher.

P.S. The best thing about this old photo? The Warriner’s grammar books lined up on the shelf behind me. You’d never find those in an English classroom today.

Sweet 16

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So, oops, my first post and I screwed it up. Wanted the pic and text together, but I guess they are separate items. Sigh. Anyway, I’m kind of proud of myself for working on my daughter’s Sweet 16 party for the past month. Usually I make a detailed list of plans and then throw it all together the DAY OF. But, in this case, I knew I wanted to craft some DIY to make a country chic backyard party truly special. No crepe paper! This little girl of mine is all grown up (well, mostly). She knows she likes pink tulle and cowboy boots. Hmmm. . .might have said the same of her at 3! So here we go. . . 50 or so teens in my backyard with a dance floor, music, white lights, candles in jars, and burlap draped everywhere. I can’t wait!

-the spoon

Sweet 16

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Sweet 16

table runners for desserts, drinks tables in the backyard