Taco Cat

One of the fun things about spending a few weeks in Rochester, MN this summer was the street festival that was held every Thursday. Music, food, and craft vendors lined the streets across from the Mayo Clinic and just a few blocks from where we were staying.

My mom really enjoyed the cauliflower tacos that one of the local restaurants was serving, so much so that we set out to develop our own recipe. We started with all the components she liked-- cauliflower (of course), corn, quick-pickled cabbage slaw, tortilla strips, and a creamy salsa squirted over the top, and from there built our own versions of each: a little more spice, a little more acid, a little less heat, a little more greenage.

We enjoyed those tacos more than once while we were there, and tonight when I made them for our dinner here in Virginia, I was missing my mom and the time we spent together this summer in Minnesota.

Free Lunch

At the end of the third week of school, the sixth graders finally got their iPads today, and let me tell you-- it was like a holiday! They were all very excited and appreciative, and the goodwill engendered by handing out free electronic devices worth hundreds of dollars lasted all day. Oh, in the not too distant future there will be scuffles and confrontations over the distractions that their tablets are, but today? We were like Santa on Christmas Eve, which was a good way to spend the Friday after Back-to-school-night.

Tough Audience

Years ago, my sister asked me how my new students were. "Well," I answered, "they are smaller than the kids last year, and not quite as quick thinkers." I paused. "I guess they're kind of short and stupid!"

I was joking, of course, but now that my 27th  Back-to-school-night has come and gone, I've decided that, like their children, parents, too have a group identity. Some years, it's kind of a reunion-- the parents know each other, some of them know me, and there is a pervasive party vibe. Other years, the parents seem to really get the program and what we are trying to do with their kids in a writing workshop. They are excited and engaged by the possibilities I present. Some years there are a lot of characters that stand out-- eccentric parents, outspoken parents, one year I even had some drunk parents. Those make for good stories to swap the next day at lunch.

But this year? It was very low key. No one laughed at my little jokes, and no one had any questions about my presentation. A couple told me that their kids like the class, and that's always nice to hear, but in general, it was kind of drudgery for all involved. I'd like to blame it on the information overload in the 20 minute video we all have to watch at the beginning; it doesn't set a very inviting tone, but to be honest? I've overcome it in the past.

I think these parents are just tall and boring.

Means and Ends

Our staff meeting today involved walking around, doing math activities, pairing up with a stranger, answering random questions, and then describing the math experience.

Oh, I did fine. I played Challenge 24 for a little while, high-fived the first person I made eye contact with (who happened to be the new social worker), and told her that, as an introvert, I would prefer to be rich with no friends rather than poor with lots of friends. She raised an eyebrow at that, but I got her back when we had to talk about our math experience.

"I didn't do it," she confessed.

"You better have a good reason!" I mock scolded her, and we laughed.

"I actually do," she said.

"Let's hear it! We have 30 seconds to kill!" I joked.

She told me about an undocumented parent whose child, a student at our school, is quite ill. This mom doesn't have insurance and was seeking help. "She's not eligible for anything because she's undocumented," she finished.

"What about the kid?" I asked. "Isn't he or she a citizen?"

Her eyes lit up. "My gosh!" she said. "That might be the answer. Although, the way things are now, if Mom's applying for documentation, she can't have any record of social services."

Right then, time was up, and we were told to high five each other again, say how amazing we were, and return to our seats.

A New Approach?

Not yet as popular as Marie Kondo but with every chance of getting his own Netflix show is Garr Reynolds and his concept of Presentation Zen. For anyone who has ever sat through an excruciating slideshow, or worse yet, created and presented one, Reynolds has a set of guidelines meant to make your presentation more engaging and more memorable.

As a teacher? This notion speaks loudly to me. Streamlining my lessons is always my goal. And as the victim of many, Many, MANY boring slideshow-based presentations?

Back to school night is my first project. Here are the tenets I am using to design my 27th BSN presentation:

1. Think before you turn on the computer. I have all my notes on a legal pad.
2. Keep your audience in mind. What do the parents want to know when they leave?
3. Have a solid structure. In progress
4. Have a clear theme. Guiding question for the year: How can we become better writers? 
5. Remove the non-essential. I usually run out of time. Why?
6. Hook 'em early. In progress
7. Show a clear conflict. Writing is a struggle and so is working hard to improve on anything. 
8. Demonstrate a clear change. Supporting writers in their practice will help them improve.
9. Show or do the unexpected. Um....
10. Make 'em feel. Writing is thinking, and writing is an effective way to show what you know, and connect with others.
11. Be authentic. Aw, shucks.

Still Dumb

"Doesn't that distract the students?" several colleagues have asked upon noticing the endless recess that goes on at the elementary school right outside my window.

To be honest? After the first day, the kids pretty much ignored their younger counterparts romping and climbing and running and yes, fighting and crying,often unnoticed by the adults out there, but for me it stirs resentment I still haven't resolved about the whole situation. I still think building a school in that space was a dumb idea, and I'm still annoyed that the powers that be went ahead and did it anyway despite many objections.

This morning as I waited for 3 buses to make the turn from the bus lane to the narrow street that leads to both schools so that I could enter the underground garage and descend two levels to park in one of the lotteried spaces walk up two flights of steps and then enter the school as I did for 25 years, I challenged Heidi to think of one positive thing about the present circumstances. We parked and walked and climbed and walked in silence.

"I can't," she admitted as we pushed through the entry doors.

"Me neither," I sighed as we walked past the latest construction.

"Have a good day!" we said together as we went our separate ways.

Pumpkin Dreams

"What is that?" I pointed to a large, green butternut squash shaped object growing by the fence. We had stopped by the garden for the first time in a couple of weeks. The last time I had visited, I had pretty much picked everything clean, and with the droughty conditions, I didn't expect much to be growing.

I traced the vine back to the spot where I had transplanted a handful of seedlings in early July. They had come from a grow-your-own-pumpkin kit that I received in my stocking. Could it be a pumpkin? I wondered with rising excitement, but upon close examination, I just didn't think so. It was the only one of its sort growing, and although the other vines were gangbusters, none of them were bearing any fruit.

Since I had no idea if it were ripe or not, I decided to leave it there and gently turned it over, so that the garden side might see some sunshine. A little research when I got home suggested that it may likely be a Lunga di Napoli squash, an Italian heirloom similar to our butternut, but with green skin instead of tan.

Even so, I'll leave it there and check again next weekend to see if there are any signs that it may turn bright orange by October.