Cooking While Hunkering Down at Home

During this pandemic while we are staying at home, I have noticed more sharing of jokes, memes, and funny stories in my emails and posts on social media. I think it’s great that we can have a good laugh even while cooped up at home for who-knows-how-long. I’ve also noticed that more of my Facebook friends are sharing the meals they are cooking, and many look amazing! Earlier, I received 3 emails asking me to send a recipe to the first name on the list, add my name to the bottom, and I would receive recipes in return. Sorry, Esther, Traci, and Naomi. I broke the chain. 😔

When I became a mom of 3 sons, I cooked, but mostly, they were simple dishes. My hubby Randy is satisfied with a dinner of beef stew, spaghetti, chili, Spam/eggs/and rice or other simple meals, and because we were often on-the-run when the boys were growing up, that’s what I would prepare. After I became a principal, I often got home late so it became a habit to go out to eat or to pick up fast food. This stay-at-home mandate means I am starting to cook again.

This morning, for some reason, I started thinking about breaking that recipe chain, and I began to reflect on all the good memories of food as I was growing up. I remember Grandma Amemiya’s maki sushi; my sisters and I tried to roll the sushi like hers, but while her fillings were perfect and in the middle, ours were usually off-center. Grandma also made the good luck New Year’s Eve ozoni (mochi soup) which we looked forward to. After Grandma passed away 18 years ago, my Mom asked me if could take over the responsibility of  making the ozoni for our extended family. After the first year, I wasn’t so sure I wanted to continue; it’s hard work preparing all the ingredients, and my arms and back ached for a few days afterwards. Luckily, I stuck with it, figured out how to mise en place (French for ‘getting everything ready’), and ozoni is something our family looks forward to every year. Mom was also a great role model for cooking; she took what was available - often veggies from Dad’s garden or fish/seafood he had caught - and turned them into meals for our family of 7. She also made the best jams and jellies from pineapple, guava, and strawberries. My mother-in-law was also a great cook, and I don’t think I ever quite lived up to Randy’s expectations. After all, Mom’s cooking is always the best, right? Now, our son Justin is undoubtedly better than me when it comes to cooking. He experiments and tries to replicate what he eats at restaurants. He shares his love for cooking with our grandson; it is amazing how much this 10-year-old knows about cooking! (Here’s a blog about him: From Cook to Chef)

Although it’s a little late, I decided to share two recipes which I could have shared for that recipe exchange. The first is my Dad’s handwritten recipe for the kim chee he made with the cucumbers he grew, and the second is a recipe for Swiss Steak that my mother-in-law shared with me, a favorite of Randy’s.

Enjoy!

Dad’s Cucumber Kim Chee

Swiss Steak

1 1/2 pounds round steak, 1 1/2 inches thick
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons melted fat
1 1/2 cups canned tomatoes
3 large onions, peeled and sliced

1. Trim excess fat from meat; cut into serving size pieces.
2. Combine flour, salt, pepper.
3. Place meat on cutting board; sprinkle with half of flour mixture; pound it into meat.
4. Turn meat; pound remaining flour into second side.
5. Melt fat in heavy fry pan or Dutch oven.
6. Brown meat on both sides over medium heat.
7. Add canned tomatoes, onions; cover and cook over low heat 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until meat is tender.
8. More water may be added if necessary during cooking.

Will We Have the Courage to Change?

I’ve been thinking about what life will be like post-COVID-19. This has been a challenging time for all of us, and because we are social creatures of habit, making drastic changes in how we live day-to-day during this lockdown has been difficult.

For myself, part of the older generation that is most impacted by this virus, staying at home has now become a way of life. Although we are both retired, my husband and I continued to have a schedule with appointments, luncheons, the gym, meetings, and other activities which kept us busy. It’s a bit strange to see “No more events. Your day is clear” every day when I put my watch on in the morning. This stay-at-home order means planning what we need so I can go to the market once a week instead of every day or every-other-day like I often did pre-pandemic. It means going for walks twice a day if the weather is nice: once with Randy (who now appreciates walking) and once with Iwak. It means more hand washing and keeping sanitizing wipes in my purse. It means calling my 92-year-old mom to make sure she is okay and checking in more often with our son and grandsons who live on the mainland.  It means physical distancing and wearing a mask when we go shopping to ensure others’ safety as well as ours. It means keeping up with the latest news on COVID-19 but turning to a different TV station when the news gets too depressing. It means appreciating that we are doing okay and that we are weathering this silent storm.

But there are times when I think about what will happen when this is all over. Will we just go back to what we were doing before this pandemic disrupted our lives? Or will we use what we are learning now to make major changes?

My parents’ generation lived through the Great Depression as well as World War II. I believe it is why they were resourceful throughout their lives. They saved for a rainy day, and they only spent what they could afford, choosing to go without rather than go into debt. Today’s generation is different. Things are so accessible to us and we are wasteful, not just with what we purchase but with our time as well. COVID-19 has disrupted our daily lives and gives us a perfect opportunity to reflect and to change what we’re doing to improve our quality of life. And it gives our systems a chance to reinvent itself, too. A proverb states that “Necessity is the mother of invention.” If so, here are some of my thoughts for discussion:

Schools:  Now that buildings are closed, probably for the rest of the school year, educators have had to reinvent how they provide learning opportunities for their students as well as professional development and collaborative opportunities for their staff. By using virtual tools such as videoconferencing, online classrooms, blogs, videos and tons of other resources that are and have been made available for their use, teachers are expanding their resource library to engage and empower students in their learning. School building closures have brought to light the reality about the important roles that education plays in our communities. Schools are not just places for learning; they also provide students with a sense of safety and continuity; it is where students may learn how to navigate important social-emotional and friendship issues; and schools address health and well-being challenges which may be impeding students’ well-being. The closing of schools has given educators an opportunity to try new ideas. I sincerely hope schools discuss how they can use what they have learned through this unprecedented time to change teaching and learning. Here are a few ideas that educators might consider: blended learning (face-to-face as well as collaborating via technology) for all students; passion projects or project-based learning based on student interests as well as current issues; working on projects across grade levels or with different schools across the state or nation; online classes or internships in the community for high school students where they can work anywhere, anytime and be better-prepared for their future; or employing different ways of assessing student learning such as video portfolios, performances, or presentations to a panel. Schools need to be relevant if we want students and educators to be engaged and empowered; this is a good time to implement new ideas.

Small Businesses: Small businesses have been hit hardest, I believe, during this time of sheltering-in-place, and having government funds for loans is essential. After all, small business owners are crucial partners in our communities. It is heartwarming to see that some businesses are reinventing themselves during this difficult time. For example, restaurants have expanded their take-out services or provide free delivery to customers; we are encouraged to order meals from them. Imagine if restaurants continue this service when they reopen; it is possible that more staff could be hired. This is a great time for businesses to be looking ahead to streamline their operations, to make their products more accessible to the public, to offer their products on-line, or to try something new to bring in customers once they are able to reopen. This can be a time to experiment with an idea on a smaller scale in order to get feedback. Businesses are at the heart of our communities, and now more than ever, they need our support.

Diversifying Our Economy:  Hawaii relies so heavily on our tourism industry. There were over 10.4 million visitors to our state in 2019. While that may be good for the economy, generating income for our state, we cannot rely on tourism to fill our state coffers especially in these times when tourism has literally come to a halt. Tourism means additional cars on the road and spending extra time in our cars, stuck in traffic. (See article.) Without tourists filling our hotel rooms, many workers lose their jobs. We cannot rely only on tourism.  In the past, Hawaii has tried to expand our innovation technology industry via tax credits, and as a result, we saw an increase in startup companies. This pandemic has given us the opportunity to branch out in this area; innovators can explore new methods of testing, or create a new app like one developed by a University of Hawaii professor, or to research possible vaccines for COVID-19.  Another area could be diversifying agriculture; growing our own food is essential since we are an island state and rely on much of our food being imported. Additionally, Hawaii’s goal of 100% renewable energy by 2045  puts us in the spotlight; we need to continue to move forward on this ambitious goal. If these types of companies are to be successful, it will take support from our government as well as from investors.

Quality of Life:  There is virtually no traffic during this lockdown when only essential workers are commuting to work. Studies in California have indicated that there are fewer traffic jams and less air pollution. In fact, the air in Los Angeles has had the longest period of good air days since 1995. People are working remotely from home and connecting via videoconferencing, emails, texts, phone calls, etc. Perhaps workers could be given the option to come to work for part of the week and work from home the remaining days. It would improve the workers’ quality of life to not spend hours in traffic, and that could mean more time for themselves and/or for their families. Having employees work remotely can also impact traffic with fewer cars on the road. It is an idea that I hope will be offered to employees.

Inequity and Inequality:  This COVID-19 pandemic has clearly identified the inequity and inequality in our country today. Schools realize that many students have no access to WIFI or technology or support from home, and sometimes, older children are expected to care for their younger siblings at home. Meanwhile students in higher income areas or in private schools continue to receive quality educational opportunities. The result could be a widening of the achievement gap when students return to school. Additionally, data shows that minorities are more at-risk to contract and to die from COVID-19; this is a problem that our government must address. Access to quality medical care is an issue for many low-income families or for those who cannot afford to take time off from work to go to the doctor. They are then more susceptible to long-term health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or asthma, issues that put them at-risk for COVID-19. Our government must address issues of income inequality and ensure that even those who cannot afford it will have access to affordable health insurance.

Family Time:  Sheltering-in-place can mean more time for families to spend time together. Photos on social media show parents and children playing board games, working on puzzles, building things, doing art projects, cooking, sewing, and having fun together. As I shared in my book, “Too often, we schedule our kids with multiple activities such as sports or dance or tutoring, leaving us exhausted and running from one activity to the next. This may mean rushing to get dinner started or picking up fast food if it’s getting late. The kids are grouchy because they still have homework to do, and parents are annoyed with the kids for grumbling. Let’s take a deep breath and really reflect on how we’re spending our time.” I hope families realize this gift of time they have been given and learn to prioritize what is really important.

Leadership:  “When things are in turmoil, lead from the front. When things are going well, lead from the back.” We are in turbulent times; no one could have predicted this pandemic and its impact on our world. We need strong leadership to get us through any crisis, leaders who are calm in the face of a crisis, who give us hope that we can get through this together, who are empathetic to our fears, who listen to advice from those who have more knowledge, and who answer questions honestly. As President Truman stated, “The buck stops here.” Leaders know that they have the responsibility to make a decision and accept responsibility for that decision. Now, more than ever, we need strong leadership we can trust. We don’t need a cheerleader in the back of the line; we need someone who will lead us through this turmoil.

My husband Randy says I am a good housemate while we are sheltering-in-place in our home. We know that even after the lockdown is lifted, our behaviors will reflect the new habits that will become our new normal, and I hope that these months of uncertainty will lead to positive changes in our families, our schools, our communities, our state, our nation, and our world.

Playing with Math

I was pretty good in math when I was in school. I was able to answer the problems correctly and my SAT score for math was considerably higher than my verbal score. That was many, many years ago, and unfortunately, I don’t recall much about the math I took back then.

When I became a teacher,  I tried to make math more meaningful. We had lots of manipulatives for students to use - math tiles, base ten blocks, Cuisenaire rods, tangrams, link cubes, pattern blocks,  pentominoes - and we learned new concepts using these concrete materials first before going to the representational and abstract in mathematics. We did “number of the day” and students were encouraged to do mental math as they came up with pretty awesome equations.  I learned about problem-solving and having students discuss how they got their answers, and students were able to share their strategies and discuss the reasonableness of an answer. As a teacher, I did my best to stay away from misconceptions that might be a barrier for my students’ math understanding later on in their schooling. But the more I read blogs by mathematicians like Sunil Singh and books about math like Mathematical Mindsets by Jo Boaler, the more I realize that I fell short as an educator and as a parent. In fact, as the graphic below shows, math should be about exploring and discovering as opposed to just learning specific skills and formulas to solve problems or to pass a test. I decided that during this time where staying-at-home is necessary, I would “play” with math and include my grandsons in the process.

I saw a tweet and a screenshot by Sunil Singh about the Is This Prime? game, and I was hooked. I shared the link with my grandsons and my son since they live on the mainland. I challenged them to beat their high score. I found myself frustrated at making the same mistakes so I decided to make a list of prime and not-prime numbers, looking for patterns. I got up to 201. Then I asked myself why it was important to learn about prime numbers and did a search. Here’s a great article, supposedly written for children, about why prime numbers are exciting and important. I also realized that I could have used a hundreds chart to determine all the prime numbers from 1-100, but that’s okay because writing down factors helped me to see patterns. I know that won’t help me to beat my son’s top score (62) or Sunil’s top score (66), but that’s okay. I was exploring and discovering something about mathematics that I didn’t know before.

One of my friends posted a “Crack the Code” game on Facebook. It was another fun math activity; I’ll admit that my first try was wrong, but I realized what my mistake was. Making mistakes and having math stamina (aka not giving up) is something I need to accept as part of playing with math. Can you crack the code?

Then I saw a video on Twitter and was fascinated by it; I shared it with my grandsons. Does it really work? I had to find out; it did! Then I saw that my son had posted a photo on his Facebook page with this caption: Day 13 of quarantine... Grandma has the boys playing with a cardboard box. My son explained that he knew this would work because that’s what they did when he helped with packing and moving households as part of his job for several summers. However, he wanted his boys to see this for themselves. I think they were as pleasantly surprised as I was that it actually worked. Then we had a little discussion via text about which box had the greater volume. Hands on, relevant math.

Now my grandsons and I are going to play a modified version of “24” which might be a bit of a challenge since we’re not in the same room. Hopefully, though, the problems will make all of us think more creatively about math operations. 

Check out this video from the International Day of Mathematics. There is so much more for me to explore and discover as a mathematician; after all mathematics is everywhere! 

Falling Behind . . .

I’ve learned a lot since I retired as a school principal. I wrote a book, created a website, and was slowly gaining more confidence as a speaker. (This continues to be a real challenge for me.) 

This COVID-19 lockdown has been quite an experience for educators. I follow teachers on social media here in Hawaii and across the nation who are scrambling to create distance learning lessons and assignments for their students. I see photos of groups meeting virtually to plan professional development or lesson plans. I watch teachers figure out ways to connect and share with their students socially and emotionally as well as academically. And l realize that I have fallen behind. Could I do what they are doing? Probably not without a lot of assistance and support.

This was made so apparent to me last night. I was invited to join a Hawaii Educators W-rite session which would be held virtually for the first time. Back in July 2019, I spoke to this group of educators who were committed to support each other through writing, and since then, their group has grown in number and expanded to two other islands. This would be a great time to reconnect with these educators and continue my learning and commitment to writing.

I was ready at 6:30, the start time for the virtual meeting. I had my iPad ready with my earphones plugged in. I had logged on to the site. Unfortunately, no one could hear me as I was asked to introduce myself. Wait, let me unmute my microphone. Hmm. . . They still couldn’t hear me. I plugged and unplugged my earphones. Still nothing. Someone suggested I use the microphone on my computer. (Where is it on my iPad?) Oh, well, by then, everyone was busy writing so I decided to get working on my blog. (Truth: I deleted what I wrote last night and started this blog instead.)

The last half hour of every W-rite session is set aside for a guest speaker. I ended up using my phone to connect to the virtual meeting so I could hear Nanea Kalani, the guest speaker for this session. She has written for several newspapers and is now with the Department’s Communications Office. Nanea was informative; I wish I’d written down her four main points because I’m sure they will be helpful IF I decide to write another book and as I continue to blog.

When I was a principal, I knew that I had support from our tech team if I ever encountered a problem. Now that I am retired and at home, I am aware that learning on my own is a reality but that there are lots of resources and people who can help me to navigate this new way of meeting. I’m thinking that I might want to try Zoom or another similar app just to see how I might be able to use it in the future. 

I’ve got a lot of catching up to do!

Rays of Light During this Lockdown

We are all feeling it. Our lives have changed with the COVID-19 pandemic. It is our new normal, and thus far, most of us are complying with social distancing, washing our hands more often, and staying on lockdown until further notice, going out only when necessary.

Social media has given me hope that people have taken the pandemic seriously. I’ve seen photos of parents spending quality family time with their children doing things like playing board games, reading books, gardening, cooking, doing art or music or fitness activities. I smile when I see the joy on everyone’s faces. I know it’s early in the lockdown, but hopefully, this family time will become the norm.

Teachers across the nation and the world are using social media to communicate with each other. Just this past weekend, a virtual 808Unconference was held here in Hawaii on Twitter with nearly 100 educators logging on to share, converse, and learn together. They were asking questions and discussing  concerns and were already preparing for virtual learning while they were technically on Spring Break. So many resources have been shared for teachers and students, and many of them are free. There are videos of authors sharing their books, or artists demonstrating a technique or getting students to draw or paint. There are free virtual tours of museums or national parks or places of historical significance. This is a time when teachers can explore and discover new online resources that they can use in their classrooms, not just now, but in the future as well.

Life goes on during this pandemic. Our nephew and his wife had a baby earlier this year, and one positive outcome of this lockdown, according to our nephew, is that he gets to spend more time with his little boy. I am happy for him; new dads don’t always get that opportunity.

Last week, we were supposed to attend a wedding of a dear friend’s grandson. We got the message that the event would be cancelled due to social distancing and crowds of ten or fewer people. Yesterday, my friend posted a photo on Facebook of the newlyweds with their immediate family. I commented that in the future, the happy couple would have quite a story to share with their children about their wedding day. The following picture was then posted:

Isn’t that what life is about? Making memories, having a sense of humor, and sharing special moments with those we love. This pandemic is not over, and we continue to be in lockdown for a few more weeks. I hope we can all remember to look for rays of light and to share those moments with others. Take care, everyone. 😊

A New Way of Teaching and Learning

The coronavirus pandemic is changing teaching and learning for schools across the country. Tomorrow, Hawaii public school teachers will be back at work to plan instruction for their students. They’ll be working remotely from home and meeting virtually with administrators and their colleagues.

A few years ago, our school received a grant to pilot blended learning with about 25 fourth and fifth graders. Students attended class 3 days a week and accessed their curriculum at home for the other 2 days. Projects and assignments were all submitted on-line. Through this blended learning pilot program, we learned lessons which teachers can consider when they begin planning for virtual learning for their students.

• According to studies, on-line teachers can burn out more quickly than those who teach in face-to-face environments. This is something we want to avoid. Our blended learning teachers were not available 24/7; they had “office hours” when students could contact them to ask questions. They learned not to respond when a student contacted them after-hours whether it was an email, a comment on the website, or a phone call. 
• Designing lessons to be placed on-line is challenging, especially if a teacher has not had experience or training. Directions need to be clear and not too lengthy or students may be confused. Teachers need to determine how they will teach a new lesson or a new concept or how they will encourage discussion amongst students. It might be easy for some teachers, but for others, it will be a struggle. 
• In order to be successful in a virtual classroom, students need to be self-directed. As teachers, we have control over our classrooms. Students are told when to listen and when to talk, when to work, when and where to turn in their assignments, etc. There may be few opportunities for students to learn to organize or manage their time or to have choices in their assignments or even how to share their learning. Our successful blended learning students learned to prioritize, to be organized so they could check what they completed and what they needed to do next. They learned to ask for help, not just from their teacher, but also from their classmates or from tutorials which the teacher created as a resource. They were able to choose their own projects and to determine the best way to share what they learned. This didn’t happen overnight; like any classroom, some students were self-directed from the beginning while others took awhile to get going. Hopefully, since we are in the fourth quarter, students know what is expected of them, and teachers can check in on those students who may need more assistance. Checking-in is imperative to avoid students falling behind. 
• This is an opportunity for teachers to begin integrating technology seamlessly into their classrooms. Some teachers will have no problem making the transition to a virtual classroom; other teachers will need more support.  In the best possible world, professional development and coaching would have been provided so that teachers are already using blended learning strategies and activities with their students. With this short timeline to prepare a curriculum for students, it might be wiser for some teachers to prepare packets of assignments while also scheduling time to check in with their students via a phone call or a videoconferencing app. Low-tech may be preferable especially for younger students or for teachers who are not yet comfortable with virtual learning.
• Our kids are much more comfortable with technology than we are as adults. I was amazed that students in the blended learning classroom were able to creatively share their learning using apps that they found on their own.  I remember a second grade teacher sharing PSAs that her students created; a few students figured out how to use an app and taught the rest of their classmates how to use it. Give students some flexibility to share what they’ve learned, and they may surprise you!

This coronavirus pandemic has changed how we live our lives. This is an unprecedented time in history, and students are undoubtedly feeling a range of emotions just as we adults are. They need to write, to document what they’re thinking, what questions they have, what their fears are. They can share those journal entries with you, or they may choose to keep it personal. Dave Wee, my Twitter friend, writes “So . . . I’ve been trying to convince teachers that the one assignment I think every kid doing remote learning in America should be doing is to journal or blog THEIR HISTORIES of this important moment in history and their lives.” I agree with Dave, and I would add that I hope teachers make the time to document about their experiences and their feelings, too. 

Educating Kids in this COVID-19 Era

“When things are in turmoil, lead from the front. 

When things are going well, lead from the back.”

Unknown

Our world is in turmoil right now. This COVID-19 pandemic is impacting our lives in ways we would not have expected. This is a time when our leaders need to step up and lead from the front.

Unfortunately, I don’t feel our government is inspiring confidence right now. We don’t have enough tests or supplies, and our health care system is unable to handle all of the testing required. The number of people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 increases at an alarming rate, and the constant news is depressing. Most of us are following the advice of health experts by social distancing or sheltering-in-place to avoid contact with others to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Restaurants are take-out or delivery only, events are being postponed or cancelled, and our daily lives have changed as we follow the instructions of the doctors and health care professionals.

I am concerned about COVID-19’s impact on everyone. As a retired educator, one of my major concerns is with our schools. School is where students can learn new things, where they can discover what they are passionate about, where they can make new friends and learn how to work with others. Teachers chose to be educators; they love working with kids, and they create lessons that meet the needs of their students. Teachers work tirelessly, and positive memories can last long after a student leaves the classroom.

Schools have been impacted by this pandemic. Students, teachers, and communities are uncertain about when or whether schools will reopen and whether they will be safe. We want to ensure that students are ready for the next step in their educational journey. However, questions about health and safety in this coronavirus era will linger especially with the number of new cases being identified every day. Many schools and districts have opted to go to distance learning, but that can be challenging for students as well as teachers.

I read a post by a teacher friend on social media who teaches in another state; she is using flexible learning with her elementary school students. She wrote, “Being ‘on-call’ is tiring. Waking up by 8am, answering questions from parents and students all morning through night, while interacting with students through Google classroom with texting and messaging, and providing daily ‘Check for Understanding’ question threads. Along with countless correcting/editing their daily journal entries, math, and checking their iReady responses and their progress. I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE WEEKEND!” Other teachers shared that they were similarly exhausted with this new way of teaching. Fortunately, these teachers are able to continue teaching their students from home via flexible learning; this can be challenging!

I agree that learning needs to continue during this COVID-19 pandemic. I also agree that the health and safety of our school personnel needs to be taken into consideration. This is the time for school leaders to lead from the front, to get feedback from their teachers about what they feel is best for their students, and to let teachers drive teaching and learning in this new social distancing environment. I think this is an opportunity for professional growth, for sharing ideas that work, and for thinking outside the box to engage and empower students in their own learning.

Sometimes, it takes something major to make changes in how we do things. This is one of those times. School leaders can use this time of turmoil to lead from the front. Teachers will have an opportunity to be creative and to try new ways of teaching, and students will be the beneficiaries of this collaboration.