We have a one hour presentation today by Chef Gary, the most amazing chef ever, but even more than that...my new sustainability guru. Five years ago, he joined the Lawrenceville community and has turned the entire food world in both the school and local community upside down. He is an educator of the highest degree and is what we could only hope that all of our schools could have, Alice Waters, eat your heart out.
I am happy to share his ppt. with anyone interested but I will point you to some neat things for reading pleasure.
http://www.sustainablefare.com/index.htm
http://www.terhuneorchards.com/
http://www.attrainternships.ncat.org/internDetail2.asp?id=408
I will mostly extol the virtues of tonight's salad. Greens (including arugula!!) from the Lawrenceville School garden (KSI friends helped pick them), local blueberries, local goat cheese, walnuts, and lemon honey vinaigrette.
Amazing. Inspiring. Overwhelming.
Peace.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
yesterday at camp
This was supposed to be yesterday's blog, but Blogger decided to eat part of the post.
Oh the best part of today, other than the food, of course, was just found at the end of the day. After exhilerating and challenging sessions in our Diversity groups (where our topic was White Privilege), the campus was a-buzz with chatter. Everyone was leaving the sessions wanted to talk more, wanting to continue to have the conversations, it was thrilling.
Being among this group of educators is challenging, humbling, and invigorating. Just like going to Chorus camp or soccer camp or computer camp brings delight to kids being grouped together by affinities, being at "KSI Teacher Camp" is that same feeling. I am here, on this amazing campus, with 75 other passionate, caring, dedicated, and dare I say intelligent teachers. Teachers who value life-long learning, who are not satisfied with the status quo and dare to go beyond the current state of their own schools to reach our children better.
I have struggled in the last few days with feeling really inadequate in my curriculum group. I am not a classroom teacher and worry that all of the wonderful information I'm learning will be very hard to apply in 40-min./week classes. I also worry that my contributions to the class are not useful to the other colleagues. I hope that I can bring some kind of perspective as to the role the specialist teacher can play, but I'm not sure how that is in the cards yet. However, today for a few minutes, I felt really useful as I set up a new NING for the group. I am very thankful to my school friends AA and ABD for teaching me about NINGs this year. They are such a great networking tool and when they catch on, are so useful in so many situations. I hope that the group finds this helpful.
(I wrote a whole three more paragraphs before blogger went into shut down....here is my attempted re-creation.)
In my search to get off of the LS campus in order to focus, I went into Princeton. The biggest reason I went was to burn off the desperate desire to go to the Life is Good store on the main street. After getting my fill of that, I headed over to Small World Coffee for a different study spot. Oh My Goodness, Good Coffee. Strangely served in a pint glass (burn unit anyone?), but tasty and not burnt like many coffees. I subsequently learned that SWC can be found in Lawrenceville at the local bakery. Once I was happily buzzed and up to my ears in readings, I hustled back to campus in time for dinner.
I am so glad that I came back for dinner. We have had good food but this was off the cuff good. Shrimp and Mussels Zuppa (not for me, but smelled great), Homemade cheese tortellini with local fresh tomato sauce, local roasted summer squash, local heirloom tomato and local (a mile down the road local) fresh mozzarella with basil, bread from the bakery across the street. We topped it all off homemade (again, across the street) shortcake with fresh organic whipped cream, local blueberries and strawberries. We were quite sufficiently stuffed as we went into our diversity session.
My head is in a constant state of whirl and I'm finding my addiction to caffeine growing stronger the more I don't sleep, but it is just because there is so much to do that there isn't enough time to process any of it. What I have processed is that there is so much I want to do at my school and I'm fearful that I won't even be able to do one-tenth of my hopes.
Alas, for now, I hold dearly onto my coffee cup, baby mac, and highlighter.
Peace.
Oh the best part of today, other than the food, of course, was just found at the end of the day. After exhilerating and challenging sessions in our Diversity groups (where our topic was White Privilege), the campus was a-buzz with chatter. Everyone was leaving the sessions wanted to talk more, wanting to continue to have the conversations, it was thrilling.
Being among this group of educators is challenging, humbling, and invigorating. Just like going to Chorus camp or soccer camp or computer camp brings delight to kids being grouped together by affinities, being at "KSI Teacher Camp" is that same feeling. I am here, on this amazing campus, with 75 other passionate, caring, dedicated, and dare I say intelligent teachers. Teachers who value life-long learning, who are not satisfied with the status quo and dare to go beyond the current state of their own schools to reach our children better.
I have struggled in the last few days with feeling really inadequate in my curriculum group. I am not a classroom teacher and worry that all of the wonderful information I'm learning will be very hard to apply in 40-min./week classes. I also worry that my contributions to the class are not useful to the other colleagues. I hope that I can bring some kind of perspective as to the role the specialist teacher can play, but I'm not sure how that is in the cards yet. However, today for a few minutes, I felt really useful as I set up a new NING for the group. I am very thankful to my school friends AA and ABD for teaching me about NINGs this year. They are such a great networking tool and when they catch on, are so useful in so many situations. I hope that the group finds this helpful.
(I wrote a whole three more paragraphs before blogger went into shut down....here is my attempted re-creation.)
In my search to get off of the LS campus in order to focus, I went into Princeton. The biggest reason I went was to burn off the desperate desire to go to the Life is Good store on the main street. After getting my fill of that, I headed over to Small World Coffee for a different study spot. Oh My Goodness, Good Coffee. Strangely served in a pint glass (burn unit anyone?), but tasty and not burnt like many coffees. I subsequently learned that SWC can be found in Lawrenceville at the local bakery. Once I was happily buzzed and up to my ears in readings, I hustled back to campus in time for dinner.
I am so glad that I came back for dinner. We have had good food but this was off the cuff good. Shrimp and Mussels Zuppa (not for me, but smelled great), Homemade cheese tortellini with local fresh tomato sauce, local roasted summer squash, local heirloom tomato and local (a mile down the road local) fresh mozzarella with basil, bread from the bakery across the street. We topped it all off homemade (again, across the street) shortcake with fresh organic whipped cream, local blueberries and strawberries. We were quite sufficiently stuffed as we went into our diversity session.
My head is in a constant state of whirl and I'm finding my addiction to caffeine growing stronger the more I don't sleep, but it is just because there is so much to do that there isn't enough time to process any of it. What I have processed is that there is so much I want to do at my school and I'm fearful that I won't even be able to do one-tenth of my hopes.
Alas, for now, I hold dearly onto my coffee cup, baby mac, and highlighter.
Peace.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
mid-day report
I need five minutes of break from reading so I'll give an update...
Last night, about 45 of us went into Princeton and enjoyed a very LOUD meal at the Triumph Brewery. It was a great place with good beer and food. I think I must have eaten too much because I really felt quite poor and did not finish all but a few sips of my second Honey Wheat. (WHat? An unfinished beer? Surely something is wrong)
Luckily, some new friends wanted to traipse the old world campus of Princeton and that, while difficult due to ailment, was neat. What a campus. That's a whole 'nother entry entirely.
Decided not to go for the evening's party of frivolity and beer pong due to digestional disarray and felt quite hard to sleep for 10 hours!!!
Got up and rode my bike about 15 miles including all the way down to the main road and back onto the Princeton campus. Again, it was amazing to look at the vast castles within which teenager/young adults actually have the privilege to learn. It was here that I found the one "small" (very small) hill of the day and rode it in a big gear to simulate a much larger hill experience.
Returned to LS campus just in time to be safe from a short but loud thunderstorm. Since brunch I have been reading and reflecting on topics such as, "behavorism vs. cognitivism/cognitive science", "operant vs. classical conditioning", and effort based vs. intelligence based praise....
I have an hour until our work returns. Tonight we have 2 hours of curriculum group and then 2 hours of plenary session entitled, "Teacher as Diagnostician". We have a tremendous amount of homework for Monday, so I picture a LONG night.
Tomorrow the week of full day work begins. This is really difficult work, but for the first time in a LONG LONG time, I feel challenged. I think however that I may need a week off after all of this just to process and re-gain sleep...
By the way...Happy 89th Birthday to my awesome Grandma!!!!
Peace.
Last night, about 45 of us went into Princeton and enjoyed a very LOUD meal at the Triumph Brewery. It was a great place with good beer and food. I think I must have eaten too much because I really felt quite poor and did not finish all but a few sips of my second Honey Wheat. (WHat? An unfinished beer? Surely something is wrong)
Luckily, some new friends wanted to traipse the old world campus of Princeton and that, while difficult due to ailment, was neat. What a campus. That's a whole 'nother entry entirely.
Decided not to go for the evening's party of frivolity and beer pong due to digestional disarray and felt quite hard to sleep for 10 hours!!!
Got up and rode my bike about 15 miles including all the way down to the main road and back onto the Princeton campus. Again, it was amazing to look at the vast castles within which teenager/young adults actually have the privilege to learn. It was here that I found the one "small" (very small) hill of the day and rode it in a big gear to simulate a much larger hill experience.
Returned to LS campus just in time to be safe from a short but loud thunderstorm. Since brunch I have been reading and reflecting on topics such as, "behavorism vs. cognitivism/cognitive science", "operant vs. classical conditioning", and effort based vs. intelligence based praise....
I have an hour until our work returns. Tonight we have 2 hours of curriculum group and then 2 hours of plenary session entitled, "Teacher as Diagnostician". We have a tremendous amount of homework for Monday, so I picture a LONG night.
Tomorrow the week of full day work begins. This is really difficult work, but for the first time in a LONG LONG time, I feel challenged. I think however that I may need a week off after all of this just to process and re-gain sleep...
By the way...Happy 89th Birthday to my awesome Grandma!!!!
Peace.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
the ultimate.
Just played Ultimate Frisbee for two hours with new friends at "teacher camp". I have never played before and am notorious for having bad hand-eye coordination but nevertheless had a kick-butt time. It was so nice to do a really heart pumping activity that was A. not solitary and B. did not require any excessive materials. Plus, my teammates were nice enough to pass me a few and never made me feel bad for missing!
Good Times...
Good Times...
rest for rest's sake.
Each day at "teacher camp" we have two and a half hours of "rest". As you've read in previous posts I have spent all previous rest times reading/writing except for a brief one hour interlude for a bike yesterday.
Today we have rest from 1pm-tomorrow at 4pm which allows for recreation, socialization (some are going to Princeton, others to the city tonight), and of course....studying. Lots and lots of studying. This is an intense program and we are working our brains tremendously. So last night's evening cocktails (courtesy of the institute) and todays extended rest are SO important.
A large group is planning "day of sports" this afternoon at 2 and I find myself very tempted to stay in the comfort of this bed and resting until our Princeton outing, but I know that I will end up studying and part of this time is SUPPOSED to be rest and recreation...so, I will go off in ten minutes to the field.
In my quiet bunk rest, I found this great article in the Daily Cafe from EDOW about admitting to times of rest both literal and figurative in our society, perhaps you will enjoy it.
Peace.
Today we have rest from 1pm-tomorrow at 4pm which allows for recreation, socialization (some are going to Princeton, others to the city tonight), and of course....studying. Lots and lots of studying. This is an intense program and we are working our brains tremendously. So last night's evening cocktails (courtesy of the institute) and todays extended rest are SO important.
A large group is planning "day of sports" this afternoon at 2 and I find myself very tempted to stay in the comfort of this bed and resting until our Princeton outing, but I know that I will end up studying and part of this time is SUPPOSED to be rest and recreation...so, I will go off in ten minutes to the field.
In my quiet bunk rest, I found this great article in the Daily Cafe from EDOW about admitting to times of rest both literal and figurative in our society, perhaps you will enjoy it.
Peace.
Friday, June 20, 2008
my thoughts on NJ roads...
Met up with a nice gal from CT to ride during "rest"...we had a nice 50 minute flat road ride in and around Lawrenceville. Not sure how fast or far, don't really care as it was more about getting outside and pushing my feet forward in the GORGEOUS weather. (How lucky are we on the East Coast this week huh?)
My comment is this, NJ roads stink! No, that is really mean, but they certainly do not have the find smooth quality of Western Howard County. Thank goodness my tires are hearty. Plus I was surprised at the amount of traffic for 3:45-4:30 in the afternoon, a steady stream of cars similar to what one might see during Rush Hour on Rt. 108...not the most comforting given the debris and hole-ridden right hand side of the lanes. (no bike lanes) Not going to get much hill time around here but I think that the roads are long enough to make self-explanatory loops. Look forward to a much longer ride either this weekend or next week.
All right...shower and STUDY!
(Lunch Report-Thai Chicken curry on Jasmine rice with Cucumber-Mint Salad, plus a tossed salad with the world's BEST homemade croutons EVER.)
My comment is this, NJ roads stink! No, that is really mean, but they certainly do not have the find smooth quality of Western Howard County. Thank goodness my tires are hearty. Plus I was surprised at the amount of traffic for 3:45-4:30 in the afternoon, a steady stream of cars similar to what one might see during Rush Hour on Rt. 108...not the most comforting given the debris and hole-ridden right hand side of the lanes. (no bike lanes) Not going to get much hill time around here but I think that the roads are long enough to make self-explanatory loops. Look forward to a much longer ride either this weekend or next week.
All right...shower and STUDY!
(Lunch Report-Thai Chicken curry on Jasmine rice with Cucumber-Mint Salad, plus a tossed salad with the world's BEST homemade croutons EVER.)
Thursday, June 19, 2008
irony.
This afternoon during "rest", I went to the library to do some reading. I was searching for the perfect "nook" that I could make mine for the next two weeks. I walked up the winding staircase of the palatial library and wandered into the "Art Book" room. I turned the corner and ah-ha, there it was a corner slightly quadrilateral-like room complete with window seat and two chair table. I knew it was mine. I opened up the window shade to allow the natural light and hunkered down. It was not until I took a moment to look up that I realized I was in the "music book" section. To my right-Mahler. To my left-Wagner and Weill. Ah....
(just for those of you who care, dinner was Moroccan spiced flank steak, braised fennel, mashed potatoes, and spinach/gorgonzola salad...oh and at "teacher camp", they serve alcohol with dinner!)
The evening session in our diversity small groups is over and now it is time to read some more....then write...then bed.
Good Night, dear reader.
(just for those of you who care, dinner was Moroccan spiced flank steak, braised fennel, mashed potatoes, and spinach/gorgonzola salad...oh and at "teacher camp", they serve alcohol with dinner!)
The evening session in our diversity small groups is over and now it is time to read some more....then write...then bed.
Good Night, dear reader.
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