tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.comments2014-07-08T21:02:23.217-07:00An English Teachin' VeganMs. L-Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01967831804786550876noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-87126057579681272062011-05-05T10:45:30.349-07:002011-05-05T10:45:30.349-07:00I did a similar project in Oakland, with similar r...I did a similar project in Oakland, with similar results. We had read the news all semester about the violence in the city, and I framed a writing project around it. Many students loved it, others whined and fought it. I got more and more frustrated, because I thought I had come up with a project with relevance. One student (who later became my favorite), openly fought me on it. While other students were working, and he was causing trouble, he started yelling out across the classroom that the assignment was stupid, and he loved Oakland. He had taken offense to the idea that he thought I was suggesting that his city was all bad. <br /><br />I ended up opening up the assignment, and they were also allowed to write about something positive in the city (with research they had to complete on their own, as I hadn't done the background work). He took that option and ran with it. I believe it was the first assignment he completed all year, with revisions and all. <br /><br />And then he read his essay about the good in his community to his class 4 days after his brother was shot and killed right in front of his house. <br /><br />I'm not sure exactly how to interpret my own little anecdote, other than to say that I'm all for choice.Mandy Eppleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05965957489342351575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-37232536071738057342011-04-27T16:38:51.926-07:002011-04-27T16:38:51.926-07:00Thank you so much! So nice to hear from another b...Thank you so much! So nice to hear from another bike-riding teacher :) I also enjoyed checking out your blog - keep up the good work!Ms. L-Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01967831804786550876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-59605308993343428902011-04-27T08:25:02.498-07:002011-04-27T08:25:02.498-07:00What a beautiful entry! I too am a bike riding tea...What a beautiful entry! I too am a bike riding teacher from new England who is enjoying watching the trees, and her students bloom. It is nice to know there are people like us out there. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-68576802201854399572011-04-24T15:52:31.189-07:002011-04-24T15:52:31.189-07:00Why is it always the assignments they remember doi...Why is it always the assignments they remember doing "years ago" that they can't seem to do right. Is that just my students? I'm sure you can show them some of their writing from earlier in the year, right? Or maybe next year make them do the same on-demand writing prompt the first and last week of school... Hmmm... maybe I'll do that this year...<br /><br />Thanks for posting that cupcake recipe, they were SO good!<br /><br />And thanks for hanging out Friday!!!Mandy Eppleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05965957489342351575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-35528023839108820282011-03-30T08:19:13.128-07:002011-03-30T08:19:13.128-07:00I really appreciate the thoughtfulness of this pos...I really appreciate the thoughtfulness of this post. I'm a teacher too and I find the most rewarding part of the job is the relationships we establish with individual students. I find this goes both ways. Some of the most significant moments I had as a student were when teachers recognized me as an individual.<br />If you are pressed for face time, try getting your kids to post some of their writing online on a wiki page. I started doing this last year for a few assignments and it was great. I find I can spend a lot more time dwelling on the writing of an individual kid if I can do this on my couch at night with my laptop. I find that kids will write back and they really appreciate the effort made to connect with them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-10274330135179346332011-02-17T04:50:48.174-08:002011-02-17T04:50:48.174-08:00Salutations Marie, Thanks for an enlightened blog,...Salutations Marie, Thanks for an enlightened blog, and the great recipes as well.<br />Sincerely,<br />Jesse TurnerJesse Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02556420250629971130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-84690220258099586792010-12-18T05:41:25.463-08:002010-12-18T05:41:25.463-08:00Test commentTest commentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-1478094874029978912010-11-26T17:55:06.651-08:002010-11-26T17:55:06.651-08:00Seriously! My old district did this and it made s...Seriously! My old district did this and it made so much sense. Plus it made it way easier for me to go to the NCTE Annual Convention - didn't make it this year, but hope to next year!Ms. L-Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01967831804786550876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-29349401621458209482010-11-26T13:58:16.618-08:002010-11-26T13:58:16.618-08:00Your week sounds like mine. Many of the schools ar...Your week sounds like mine. Many of the schools around here have gone to having all Thanksgiving week off--I think they're on to something!Jackie Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01314417590749514764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-32703204124233125422010-11-14T10:12:44.333-08:002010-11-14T10:12:44.333-08:00I haven't checked that one out in a while - I ...I haven't checked that one out in a while - I remember lots of cheese recipies, but that might just be the pages I flipped to. Thanks for the suggestion - didn't he also just come out with another book called something like "Vegan Until 6"?Ms. L-Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01967831804786550876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-79563488844051711402010-11-14T08:45:04.542-08:002010-11-14T08:45:04.542-08:00Do you have Mark Bittman's 'How To Cook Ev...Do you have Mark Bittman's 'How To Cook Everything Vegetarian'? I think it fits all of your criteria. I LOVE it. Favorite cookbook, hands down.Kelmithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10263720555295470116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-41715886812541440992010-11-06T17:46:39.170-07:002010-11-06T17:46:39.170-07:00"Write Beside Them" has become my bible ..."Write Beside Them" has become my bible this year. I love both the ideas in it and the way the author explains things so clearly! I just started teaching this writing class and I'm trying to move it more in that direction, although I work with two other teachers who haven't read the book yet.Ms. L-Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01967831804786550876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-27203912168921014992010-11-06T17:19:56.314-07:002010-11-06T17:19:56.314-07:00It's so exciting when students see something i...It's so exciting when students see something in a new way--makes teaching worth it! Have you finished "Write Beside Them" yet? I finally did & thought it was fantastic.Jackie Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01314417590749514764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-11276970278128391932010-09-14T11:41:13.505-07:002010-09-14T11:41:13.505-07:00I'm also reading Penny Kittle's book. It i...I'm also reading Penny Kittle's book. It is wonderful! I've never "seen" writing workshop done in the high school setting: I think she's doing an honest job of revealing herself and her teaching. I'm also watching the DVD bit by bit, which adds an extra dimension to the writing.<br /><br />Have you gone through the National Writing Project in your area? That's where I found out about Kittle. I went through this summer and it completely refreshed me and crystallized for me how and why I believe what I believe about the teaching of writing. I highly recommend it.Jackie Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01314417590749514764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-67047895684637864682010-03-16T09:51:37.470-07:002010-03-16T09:51:37.470-07:00Thanks for the comment! I didn't really plan ...Thanks for the comment! I didn't really plan on making a plug for Trader Joe's, but it kind of worked that way :) I normally make our veggies meals from scratch too - its so much better that way - but with the baby frozen meals have become a temporary godsend.Ms. L-Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01967831804786550876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-54311514457097942452010-03-15T18:40:53.390-07:002010-03-15T18:40:53.390-07:00Nice list! We shop Trader Joe's too, but make ...Nice list! We shop Trader Joe's too, but make most of our veggie meals from scratch.Clotilde M.http://delicioso1.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-74280938905152209992010-01-08T12:25:08.647-08:002010-01-08T12:25:08.647-08:00Hi.I'm a teacher (primary) (and a vegan) and I...Hi.I'm a teacher (primary) (and a vegan) and I think what you are doing is absolutely fine! Don't think that just because some or all of your class don't understand that you have wasted their/your time! There is always something that can be taken from it. Maybe they just a few extra lessons for it all to fall into place. Maybe you have learnt from your teaching. Whatever 'lesson' has been learnt, it was never a waste of time.<br /><br />TahnTahnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07827351141693150739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-51693353059038562602009-12-12T03:01:35.381-08:002009-12-12T03:01:35.381-08:00Wow - Marie, ha after all these years your married...Wow - Marie, ha after all these years your married with a kid! Congrats, your meal sounds wonderful. Add me on FB, lets keep in touch. best wishes to you and gary!! i'm at abogi@aol.comabogihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05946648322596735193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-52342288214044559412009-10-20T15:09:40.569-07:002009-10-20T15:09:40.569-07:00This looks like a wonderful soup.This looks like a wonderful soup.Tamihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07308956967318305639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-15290851701639196482009-09-13T13:17:56.231-07:002009-09-13T13:17:56.231-07:00That's such a great attitude-- I wish I could ...That's such a great attitude-- I wish I could embody it [better]. <br /><br />Congrats on your new home responsibilities :)Kelmithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10263720555295470116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-62209097631894123292009-06-28T16:02:54.062-07:002009-06-28T16:02:54.062-07:00We made the soup tonight and it was great! Of cou...We made the soup tonight and it was great! Of course we used what I think was turkey stock we had in the freezer, so it was no longer vegan, but still. Chris said "I don't like soup" at the beginning of the meal, but when we looked over at the end he was finishing his last bite of it. Alex couldn't get enough of it and was trying to leap out of his highchair for more. THanks for the recipe!Mandy Eppleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05965957489342351575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-22196482329401484652009-06-05T11:57:10.508-07:002009-06-05T11:57:10.508-07:00Marie, my dear, are you saying that your weekly &q...Marie, my dear, are you saying that your weekly "treat" is eggplant stew over quinoa?! I may have to force-feed you a carrot muffin tomorrow (yes, it's vegan, don't worry).Mandy Eppleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05965957489342351575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-45822848979109432152009-05-07T15:34:00.000-07:002009-05-07T15:34:00.000-07:00Thanks for the comments - they are always exciting...Thanks for the comments - they are always exciting to read :) I also have become less and less of a fan of fake cheese and meat, although I think it is because I find myself having so many other exciting meals that don't seem to lend themselves to those types of foods. But every once in a while that type of "faux" recipe helps combat nostalgia for food I ate growing up. And I have to say - tasting this lasagna, vegan mozzarella and all, made me so happy because it reminded me of my mom's. Yet I could see someone liking it a lot less because there was no such connection. Either way, I will definitely make it for you sometime :)Ms. L-Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01967831804786550876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-70072813586461724582009-04-20T20:58:00.000-07:002009-04-20T20:58:00.000-07:00Haha! I love VT.
I'm really enjoying reading you...Haha! I love VT. <br /><br />I'm really enjoying reading your blog. <br /><br />Do you bake the focaccia in the bread machine??? Or do you just transfer it to the oven? If the former, I'd love to learn your secret. Love the bread machine.<br /><br />I'm really looking forward to meeting up and hearing all about your new house, teaching, life, and being a 'joyful' vegan. (I was a vegan for several years, but I would never have called myself 'joyful'.)Kelmithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10263720555295470116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216765556650916458.post-14934136083643409852009-04-18T17:21:00.000-07:002009-04-18T17:21:00.000-07:00It may not be perfect, but I'm sure your understan...It may not be perfect, but I'm sure your understanding of the role of race in schools is far better than most people's.<br /><br />I don't know how I feel about the vegan lasagna. There is too much fake cheese involved. Of course, I view any fake cheese (or meat) as too much. <br /><br />I've found in our (very slow) shift toward vegandom, that I prefer original vegan meals to recreations of dairy and meat based meals. I vastly prefer tofu to textured protein replacer and Gardenburgers (or grilled portabella caps) to fake beef patties. I wonder if that would change if I completely denied myself the possibility of having, for example, a real lasagna again.<br /><br />You'll have to attempt to sell me on the vegan lasagna sometime.Marmadukehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08821077486103359942noreply@blogger.com