A Deliciously Satisfying Meal

Think about the last meal you had before reading this blog.

Okay - its just past lunch time here so I had a handful of grape tomatoes, some baby carrots and Cottage Cheese Doubles (have you had these combo cottage cheese/fruit filling packages? Quite good, especially the peach). Was it a great meal? Nope. Satisfying - yes, in someways. Delicious? Not really. If I'd had my druthers it would have been a grilled chicken salad with spinach, romaine lettuce, sliced carrots, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, a little red onion, croutons, sprouts, peas and grated cheese; homemade bleu cheese dressing on the side and a tall glass of something chilled and sweet.

So many things combine to make a meal delicious: freshness of ingredients, the mix of flavors and scents, presentation, time to savor the food, company present while eating, etc.

Don't you find learning is very similar to eating? How is information presented? Are you enjoying the company of the people in your class - whether you're the instructor or the student? Do you have time to learn the material or are you rushed (or rushing)? Is the material stale and dull like cold french fries or more like fresh squeezed orange juice - lively and tangy? When you push away from the table will you think: "Don't need to eat here again" or "I'm making my next reservation on the way out!"

I love to learn and I love to eat. Both events can excite the senses and invite the brain on a magical journey. To me, nothing is more invigorating than learning something new (Windows Math, anyone?) or chomping on a beautifully made BLT (wheat toast, mayo, Diet Coke, pretzels).

When we invite our students to sit at our tables and feast - what are we serving? Is the meal colorful? Do the scents make mouths water and tummies grumble? Are people smiling and their eyes shining with anticipation?

Knowing that between 50 - 80% of our students have learning challenges creates a wonderful opportunity to be creative with our recipes. What's on your menu this week? How will you be adapting lessons so your students can dig in when you ring the dinner bell?

Tonight I'm making taco salad for dinner - one of my summertime favorites. Join us on the front porch with a heapin' helpin' and a tall glass of sweet tea.