Geography Songs

I'm getting ready for our school's geography bee later this week. Since I am the social studies teacher, and it's a yearly tradition, I am in the midst of planning. We do the normal geography bee things, like early rounds earlier in the week to narrow down our finalists and prepare with more geography lessons, but I also tried some new things last year. It was my first year and I was still figuring things out. I incorporated songs all the kids could sing, participants and observers. Here are the two I had the students learn last year: The Alphabet of Nations by They Might Be Giants (no West Xylaphone isn't a country, but they approach it in a cool way in this video-the kids love it, even my middle schoolers!) Also: Fifty States that Rhyme (We are from Ohio so we hold our nose when we say Michigan and Say Ohio rather loudly ;)) The students still sing and remember them, which I love! :) I'm thinking of trying a new song this year: Animaniacs Geography Song It needs some updating-some country names have changed, but it might be fun to get them thinking-maybe I will just show parts?

January 7, 2013

7 posts in 7 days. My goal is 365. We'll see. I know I won't post everyday, I can't even stick with a month long blogging goal. But this I can do, I think. I can post more than one per day (like yesterday) and not worry that I didn't get to it the day before that. As far as my other goals: 1. Less worry, more growth: I haven't had very many moments to worry about our girls, they have been involved in their normal activities, at home and school. I have been praying for them, and that helps keep the worry at bay, though. 2. I need to grow in wisdom...I Have 2 books on my "To Read" list: Thomas Jefferson, The Art of Power and Ladies of Liberty {Thought this would be perfect for Women's History Month coming up!} 3. Attention span -too much social media... Well, it's beginning to erode my happiness, also. People say the meanest things, or false things they don't look up before they post. That is frustrating. 4. I need my time with the Lord and His Word to grow. I have appreciated my time working on this, thus far-and our church sermon was good today, as well. We were encouraged to come up and light candles as the need struck us. My oldest took my hand and had me come with her because she wanted to. So sweet it made me teary. 5. My exercise has been worked on and not ignored. 6. I scrapbooked last night with some friends, and accomplished a bit! 7. I want to grow in activities, but haven't taken action on skiing or kayaking... 8. I will be sending at least two cards/notes this week. It's on my schedule! 9. I have been documenting in a notebook and blogging, as well! 10. Organization goals haven't been met, but I think the work on some of the above goals has been good for the first 7 days of January! :)

Another new recipe: Overnight French Toast Casserole from Betty Crocker

I am trying a new recipe this evening, as well. I had printed a recipe out quite some time ago and then never got to it. Today, I found it again. I thought my girls, who love breakfast foods, would like it. I found a version of the recipe, here, so I could share it with you. I think it looks like a yummy way to start the day... albeit not necessarily a low-fat option! Casserole: 1 loaf challah or French bread (1 lb), cut into 1-inch slices 8 eggs 2 cups whole, low-fat (2%) or soy milk 1 cup half-and-half 4 teaspoons packed light brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon vanilla Topping 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small cubes 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1/2 cup chopped pecans Maple-flavored or real maple syrup, if desired Butter bottom only of 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. Place bread slices in 2 rows, overlapping each other on an angle, in baking dish. In large bowl, beat eggs, milk, half-and-half, brown sugar, salt, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, the nutmeg and vanilla until thoroughly combined. Carefully pour mixture over slices, making sure each slice is completely coated. Cover baking dish with foil or plastic wrap; refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. At serving time, heat oven to 350°F. Uncover baking dish; sprinkle butter, granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon and the pecans over bread. Bake 40 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with maple syrup. Makes 8 to 10 servings

Yum, a Jambalaya Recipe

One of my goals in 2013 is to plan our meals ahead of time, so we're not tempted to cook things that aren't healthy. We weren't doing too badly at the end of 2012, but I am trying to make a conscious effort at trying healthier recipes, too. Today I made the week's menu, picking a couple new recipes and the grocery list. My husband went to the grocery for me (yay! I dislike the grocery on the weekend since it is so busy). Then he came home and began work on a recipe I had selected. I put away the other groceries and cut up some of our veggies for the week. He made a fish, shrimp and sausage jambalaya. He used what we had, which was tilapia instead of the other fish and a spicy sausage that wasn't andouille. We also used cilantro instead of parsley. It was so delicious! Great for a cold, winter day! INGREDIENTS: 1/4 cup butter 10 ounces andouille sausage, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/4-inch half-moons 1 cup diced onion 1 cup diced celery 1 cup diced green bell pepper 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce (such as Lea & Perrins®) 1 1/2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning (such as Tony Chachere's), or to taste 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth 2 cups medium-grain rice 3/4 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined 3/4 pound cod fillets, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks (optional) salt to taste 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley DIRECTIONS: 1. Melt butter in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Cook andouille sausage in the melted butter until completely browned, about 5 minutes. Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towel. 2. Cook and stir onion, celery, and green bell pepper in the butter remaining in the pot until the onion becomes translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. 3. Stir garlic into the onion mixture; cook and stir together for 1 minute. 4. Stir tomato paste through the vegetable mixture; cook and stir another 3 to 5 minutes. 5. Return andouille sausage to the pot along with diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, Cajun seasoning, and black pepper; stir to combine. 6. Pour chicken broth over the sausage mixture; bring to a boil. 7. Stir rice into the mixture, place a cover on the pot, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook undisturbed until the rice is tender, 25 to 30 minutes. 8. Add shrimp and cod to the rice mixture. Increase heat to medium-high and cook until the mixture comes to a boil; reduce heat again to medium-low and cook uncovered another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 9. Season with salt and fold parsley into the jambalaya to serve.

Words for 2013

Really enjoying reading about people's words for 2013. Here is are just a few: *Aby Garvey from Creative Organizing *Ali Edwards *Lisa Leonard *Lemonandraspberry's word *This Kalil Life's *WhippyCake's word *