Tips From a High School Teacher

I do not yet have school age children, but I am a high school teacher. These are some of the things I would recommend to parents who have a student in high school.

1) For freshmen students: help your child feel familiar with the new building. Take advantage of tours and welcome events. Practice opening his or her locker using the combination.

2) Be sure your high schooler gets involved in at least one activity. All the research shows that kids who are involved in activities do better academically and have a more positive high school experience.

3) Get to know your child's guidance counselor. Send an introductory email or stop in and meet him or her. This person will be your child's advocate and you want to build a relationship with him or her.

4) Talk to your child about your academic expectations and help them set goals. Let your child know that his or her school performance is important to you.

5) Utilize online student information systems. Most districs have online gradebooks, blogs, etc. Check to see how your child is doing. If you don't have access to the online gradebook contact the school and find out how to get access. Don't be afraid to contact teachers when you have concerns, but don't abuse this either. The last thing any teacher wants is to be hounded daily by the same parent.

6) Work with the school, not against it. Teachers and administrators truly want what is best for your child. If we have concerns, they are valid and we want to work with you as part of a team to help your child. Nothing is more frustrating than parents who see the school as the enemy who just wants to pick on your child.

7) Ask your child about school. If he or she does not want to open up, ask questions like "What is something good that happened to you today?"

8) Attend parent-teacher conferences. Our attendance at conferences constantly dwindles and some of that can be attributed to all the information available online, but nothing beats a face-to-face conversation.

9) Help your child develop the habit of tackling homework as soon as he or she comes home from school. Don't nag your child about homework, but periodically check to see how he or she is doing. If your child routinely comes home with no homework, contact his or her teachers. All high schoolers have homework.

10) Monitor your child's friendships. I have seen so many bright young people pulled completely off track by poor choices in friends. Making certain friendships off limits will backfire, but talking about the importance of good friends and your expectations will help your child stay on the right track.

Schedule for a Young Toddler

My DS (dear son) is 21 months old. He has always been very laid back and easy going. He had a routine for his days, but not a schedule. About two weeks ago, I started noticing some definite changes in his behavior. More tantrums. More screaming. More irritability. He just wasn't his easy going self anymore.

I did quite a bit of reading and this is the general consensus: toddlers need a routine and a schedule to feel secure. The daily timing of meals, naps, and bedtime on that schedule should not vary more than 15 minutes in either direction.

The schedule looks like this:

6:30-6:45am Wake Up, Milk, Cuddle with Mom, Change Diaper, Get Dressed

7:30am Breakfast

Free Play

Walk in Stroller

Snack

Play outside or play with mom inside

11:30am Lunch

Free Play

Quiet Activity

Read Books

12:30pm-2:30pm Nap

Milk

Free Play

Daily Activity

Run Errands with Mom

5:00pm or 5:30pm Mom prepares dinner, DS watches short video

6:00pm Dinner

6:30pm Play outside

7:30pm Bath, Pajamas, Books, Milk

8:00pm Bed

After about a week and a half, DS is back to his easy going self. And, as long as we stick to his schedule most of the time the times when he gets off schedule (Sundays, special outings) are not nearly as hard to overcome as they were before.

Note: I rotate toys so his free play activities vary every day or every other day. I have a basket in the living room that I change out when I rotate toys.

Favorite Summer Recipes

Two of our favorite summer recipes








Zesty Italian Salad
Mix together in a large bowl:
1 box/bag tri-color rotini pasta,cooked and rinsed in cold water
1 package pepperoni, cut pieces in half
1 green pepper diced
1 cucumber, peeled, quartered, and sliced
1 container grape tomatoes, cut in half
1 can sliced black olives, drained
*Omit any vegetables you choose.

Pour 1/2 cup Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing over the top

Sprinkle with 1/4 cup parmesan cheese and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

Toss together, chilll, and serve






Turkey Bacon Guacamole Sandwiches

On a hoagie roll, wrap, or whatever bread you choose, layer oven roasted deli turkey, mozzarella cheese slices, and thinly sliced red onion. Toast in a toaster oven until cheese is melted. Top with tomato slices, shredded lettuce, guacamole, and ranch dressing. Enjoy!

Conveniencing Family Favorites

I love to cook and used to be able to spend lots of time in the kitchen. Now I'm a mama to an adorable, active 18month old toddler who has been home from Korea for 8 months. I work full-time. And, I'm 23 weeks pregnant. I need to be able to put dinner together in the time it takes Bible Action Songs to play through (2o minutes).

Here's what's currently working for me...

1) I buy chicken tenderloins at Sam's, divide them into one pound portions, chop them up, and freeze them. When I need cut up chicken all I have to do is thaw and cook. (I'm not a fan of frozen cooked chicken at all).

2) I do as much prep work as possible on Saturdays adn Sundays during nap time. Chopping vegetables, etc.

3) When I make a casserole or something for the oven that bakes in a 9x13, I divide it into two 8x8 dishes. I bake one and freeze the other.

4) I am now best friends with my crock pot. We love cheesy crock pot chicken, beef stroganoff, pizza pork chops, and Granny's swiss steak. I also use my crock pot to slow cook my chicken for chicken enchiladas.

5) Two thawed frozen dinner rolls make an excellent calzone. A package of thawed frozen dinner rolls makes enough for a family.

5 Recipes that Use 5 Ingredients (or Less)

I am so excited about this week's Works for me Wednesday. I love to cook, but I also love quick recipes.

Here are five of our family's five ingredient (or less) favorites.

Taco Taters


One of the sandwich chains in our area made these famous. They are so tasty and super easy to do at home.






Ingredients:

4 large baking potatoes (more if you want) baked at 375 for one hour. Can also bake in the crock pot if you want to reduce heat.
1 pound ground beef or turkey, browned, drained, and seasoned with taco seasoning.
Taco toppings (salsa, sour cream, cheddar cheese)

Directions:

Potatoes will be super tender. Simply cut in half and mash lightly. Top with taco meat and taco toppings.



Smashed Red Potatoes

We like this as a side dish for roasts, steaks, oven fried pork chops/chicken, and swiss steak.

Ingredients:

2 red potatoes per person, rinsed, cleaned, and eyes removed (leave skin on)
1/4 cup vegetable flavored cream cheese (more if desired)
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Boil potatoes in salted water until fork tender. Drain. Smash with a potato masher (I use my kitchen aid). Potatoes should be broken up, but not smooth. Add cream cheese, salt, and pepper.



Oven Fried Pork Chops

My DH loves these and they are so easy.

Ingredients:

2T melted butter
4 boneless pork chops (3/4" thick). Can also use chicken.
1 beaten egg with a dash of peppper
2T milk
1 1/2 cups seasoned bread crumbs

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425. Trim fat from meat. Pour butter into a 9x13 baking dish, tilting the pan to coat the bottom. In a shallow dish combine the egg, milk, and pepper. Place bread crumbs in another dish. Dip chops into egg mixture. Coat both sides with stuffing mix. Place in prepared pan. Bake uncovered for 10 minutes. Turn chops. Bake for another 10-15 minutes or until juices run clear. (Chicken might take longer to bake).


Apple Juice Pork Chops

A summer favorite at our house!!!

Ingredients:

4 pork chops (boneless or bone in)
2T apple juice concentrate
2T Dijon mustard
dash garlic powder
Salt and pepper

Trim fat from chops. Combine apple juice concentrate, Dijon mustard, and garlic powder. Mix well. Brush one half of apple juice mixture over chops. Broil** chops for 5 minutes. Use tongs to turn over chops and brush with remaining mixture. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil for another five minutes or until no longer pink in the center.

**We grill these in the summer.



Corn Bake

This is a great potluck dish.

Ingredients:

1 pkg Jiffy corn muffin mix (8.5 oz)
1 can creamed corn (15 oz)
1 egg
1/2 stick butter, melted
1/4 cup buttermilk**


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Mix ingredients together. Pour ingredients into a 9x13 baking dish. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

**Buttermilk can be made by adding 1teaspoon of vinegar to milk and letting it sit 15 minutes.