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August 19, 2008

Tuesdays with Dorie: Granola Grabbers

Thanks to Michelle of Bad Girl Baking, who chose this week's Tuesdays with Dorie recipe (you can see the full recipe on Michelle's blog). The "Granola Grabbers" made a great breakfast treat for the first week of school!


I started a new job this week. After 8 years of teaching college composition and literature courses, I'm now teaching high school English. I just couldn't make ends meet on an adjunct's pay, especially now that I am divorced. I was teaching 3-4 classes two days a week for a university, teaching 1-2 nights a week for a community college, AND working 3-4 days (including weekends) at the cooking school. It was exhausting! I simply couldn't pass up the salary, insurance, and retirement benefits of a high school job!

It all happened very suddenly. About three weeks ago, I got a call from the superintendent of a district near where I live (the school is about 10 minutes from my house) about interviewing. They needed someone with a Masters Degree in English to teach their college-credit courses. I hadn't applied to the district, but they somehow got my name from someone in my hometown. I interviewed two days later (on a Thursday), was offered the job two days after that (on a Saturday), then officially hired by the school board the next week (the following Tuesday). I signed my contract that Wednesday, organized my room all last week, and started teacher workshops this week. The students start tomorrow.

I'll be teaching four classes: a sophomore literature class, two college English classes, and a two-hour European studies course that will be team taught with a history teacher.

Even though I taught middle school many years ago, I had forgotten all of the extra things that teachers have to do...like standards-alignment, assessment, and such. I have been feeling overwhelmed and anxious. I just want to start teaching. When I plan my classes, I get excited about the possibilities. I hope my students will get excited about something, too, this semester.

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Anyway, I made the batter for these granola cookies on Sunday, baked a batch, and was amazed at how good--and healthy--they are! I altered the recipe slightly by using ingredients I had on hand...mixed dried berries (blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, & cherries) instead of raisins, macadamia nuts instead of almonds & peanuts, and wheat bran instead of wheat germ.

I put the rest of the batter in the fridge and will bake them tonight, so that I can take them to school tomorrow...a treat for the teachers' lounge on the first day of school.

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15 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:50 AM

    congratulations on leaving adjunct hell! i hope it doesn't take long to settle back into the groove. you didn't have very long to plan all those different courses!

    and your cookies are gorgeous, btw.

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  2. Good luck with the beginning of the school year. Enjoy the cookies

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  3. Good luck on the new job! I know the teachers will be thrilled with the cookies.

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  4. While teaching high schoolers isn't a walk in the park - at least all your work will be in one location and the benefits sound great! Your grabbers look great.

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  5. Wow, well at least all your work will be at one place - sounds like there was a lot of juggling before this! Good luck with the new job, and nice cookies.

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  6. Congratulations! Waiter, another round of cookies for the lady.
    Enjoy your new path.

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  7. Congratulations on the new job, best of luck! Your cookies will definitely be a big hit with all the other teachers!

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  8. Congrats on the new job! Your cookies look fabulous!

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  9. Mmmm mixed berries sound like a great addition!

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  10. Anonymous8:50 PM

    Congrats on the new job!!

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  11. Anonymous10:42 PM

    Cookies for the teachers' lounge. You will make friends there in no time. ;)

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  12. Congrats! I am just starting my second year... you are going to have a wonderful time being back, i just know it.
    I loved having these cookies around because I am going through a bunch of orientations right now, and they have so many store-bought donuts and muffins for refreshments. I just "grabbed" my cookies instead! :) Good luck.

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  13. Congratulations on the new job! I've always been impressed by those who teach and I wish you every success. Hope the first day went well and that everyone enjoyed the treat you baked them. The cookies look good, and I'm glad you enjoyed them.

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  14. Good luck with your new job! Hope things settle into a routine soon.

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