Novel Approach Additions

As I mentioned in my last post, I am in the final stages of updating our resource for incorporating fiction into the FACS classroom.  When I originally wrote A Novel Approach to FACS, I was blissfully unaware of how rapidly teen novels go out of print.  I spent the better part of a year reading teen novels to select what I thought was a great collection of FACS-friendly novels.  Imagine my surprise when I found that several of those carefully chosen titles went out of print after only a year or two of publication!  Arrrrggghhhh!!!  Apparently, teen readers have very short interest spans.  Now who should that surprise?

Anyway, I had no choice but to update Novel Approach, deleting the novels that are out of print and adding new ones.  The novels that will be eliminated from Novel Approach 2011 are:

Sister of the Bride by Beverly Cleary. (This one is a classic that I expect to be republished, but not in the foreseeable future. Sigh.)

Chicks with Sticks—It’s a Purl Thing by Elizabeth Lenhard  (This is the first book in a series of three teen novels based on knitting.  So well written and engaging, but sadly no longer available.)

Stirring It Up—Dish #1 by Diane Muldrow  (A great series for middle school and reluctant readers all about learning to cook and develop recipes.  There are, I think, about 12 books in the series.  I’ve found them on clearance tables in books stores.  If you see them, you might want to pick them up for your classroom.)

I was just about to give Rules by Cynthia Lord the axe when a new paperback version was released.  Yeah!!  It’s a great easy read that will generate lots of discussion about autism and family dynamics.  Great for parenting and child development classes.

The novels that will be added to the new version of Novel Approach are:

Artichoke’s Heart by Suzanne Supplee  (Great novel for dealing with the topics of nutrition, weight loss, eating disorders, etc.) http://www.suzannesupplee.com/index.html

Close to Famous by Joan Bauer  (Oh my gosh, I can’t tell you how much I love Joan Bauer’s novels!!  They’re amazing!  This one deals with a young girl’s challenges after her dad is killed fighting in Iraq and how she finds solace and confidence in becoming a great baker!  Fabulous!  http://www.joanbauer.com

Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer (A teenaged girl abandoned by her mother, a waitress, and raised by her aunt, a restaurant cook copes with life on the move and an uncertain family history.  Joan Bauer shares more about the food service industry as well as great practical wisdom in this novel than you’ll find in the pages of any culinary arts textbook!  You’ll love it and so will your students.  I promise!)

The Cupcake Queen by Heather Helper  (Funny, poignant, and full of insights into running a bakery—you’ll rout for Penny, the heroine of the story as she makes new friends, deals with her parents divorce and outsmarts the mean girls in her new school.  Great book!)  http://www.heatherhepler.com/

Lynn Visible by Julia DeVillers  (This is a charming tale of individualism, creativity and sewing!  Perfectly reflecting the current pop culture while still dealing with some of the challenges of following your own must as a teenager when all you really want to do is “fit in”.  Delightful!)

Now, I know I took out only three novels and added five new ones to Novel Approach 2011.  I just could not decide which of the novels above didn’t make the cut, so I kept them all.  In upcoming posts, I’ll give you a plot summary of each novel and some ideas of how they can be used in the FACS classroom  In the meantime, I hope you’ll check out the author websites I’ve provided.

I’d love to know what you think of my new selections!  Do you have any books to recommend for use in the FACS curriculum?  We’d all love to hear from you!

Have a Fresh FACS day!

Ramona

Can We Talk?

I’ve been writing this blog for nearly two years now and I truly enjoy sharing information, project ideas, articles I’ve found, and experiences that I think might interest my readers.  My one big disappointment has been the lack of participation from you.  I know from the data that’s available to me as the blog administrator that between 200 and 300 FACS teachers and others read this blog on a regular basis.  While that fact is definitely encouraging, I  would still love to hear your opinions and experiences related to the topics I choose as my subjects.

In an effort to encourage you to comment on my blog posts, I’ve removed the comment restrictions that I put in place when I created this blog.  You no longer need to register in order to be able to post a comment.  I chose to require registration initially because I am very concerned about inappropriate comments being posted by spammers and others who take some inexplicable pleasure in leaving obscene remarks in public forums like this one.

It is my sincere hope that you will feel free to share your thoughts, ideas and experiences with the readers of this blog.  As I have stated many times, I am not an expert in the field of teaching Family Consumer Science or any of the related topics that fall under that very broad umbrella.  I am simply a FACS professional who has a deep passion for FACS and FACS education.  Your input will make this blog a much richer and more meaningful endeavor.  So please, feel free to join the conversation!  We will all benefit from the free exchange of ideas!

Just to give you a preview of upcoming posts—I plan to give you an overview of the novels that will be included in the new version of A Novel Approach to FACS—Fiction in the FACS Curriculum.  I’ve discovered some wonderful new teen novels that fit the FACS curriculum so perfectly.  Can’t wait to tell you about them and give you some ideas of how that can be used in your classroom. 

Are you currently incorporating reading into your FACS classroom?  Do you have a teen novel that you would like to recommend to our readers?  If you have experiences to share on this or a related topic, we’d love to hear from you!

Have a Fresh FACS day!

Ramona

A Dream Comes True

Sorry that it’s been a while since I posted.  You all understand how life is.  From time to time things just get so busy that you have to let something go.  That’s been the story of my life for the last few weeks.  It’s all good!  I love to be busy and everything that’s been going on has been positive. 

I’m working feverishly on revisions to existing resources and writing a brand new one as well.  FACS on Board will be a resource for making the most of the interactive whiteboard in the FACS classroom.   FACS on Board will be available for purchase January 1.  To be alerted when it’s available, Like us on Facebook.  http://www.facebook.com/FreshFACS  Our FB Fans receive first notification of all new Fresh FACS products, activities and events plus useful links, info and more.  We’d love to count you as one of our FB fans.

Just thought I’d share with you the home improvement project that has kept us very busy for the last week.  I’ve wanted a pergola added to the patio of our house for over ten years and now it’s finally a reality.  Enjoy this gallery of project photos.

 

 

A dream realized!  If you’re ever in the Pinckneyville area, drop by and sit a while with us!  Have a Fresh FACS day!

Ramona

Food Rules

I’ve just finished reading Food Rules by Michael Pollan and I consider it a must read for anyone interested in eating better or teaching students to make better food choices. 

This very readable, easy-to-use guide boils down all of the nutritional hype and conflicting advice that constantly assaults us into practical terms.  This handbook lays out a set of straightforward, memorable rules for eating wisely.  I highly recommend reading for your personal information and using it with your students.

Food Rule # 5 is one of my favorites. 

“Avoid food products containing ingredients that no ordinary human would keep in the pantry.” 

Reading food labels we often come across words like ethoxylated diglycerides, xanthan gum, calcium propionate, ammonium sulfate, and fructo-oligosaccharide.  Crazy right?  Much of our food currently more closely resembles something you’d find in a chemistry lab than on our dinner table.  The jury is still out on exactly the long-term ramifications of this disturbing trend.

Here’s an idea for making your students aware of the extent to which food scientists have invaded our daily diet.  Select a variety of packaged foods that have long lists of chemical additives as part of their ingredient list.  Ask students to create a “word cloud” by entering all of the ingredients in their assigned product at the website http://www.wordle.net/. 

Print out the word art designs generated from the activity and then create a display in a high-traffic area of your school.  Ask students to attempt to match up foods with the word clouds of ingredients.  The display should generate some good discussion and draw attention to not only the composition of common foods but your program as well.

If you implement this activity, please share your feedback with us on this blog.  Have a great week and make it a Fresh FACS day!

Ramona

Let’s Make History

A feature story on the morning news today voiced concern over the poor performance of US students in the area of history.  The reporter speculated that a contributing factor was the emphasis on reading and math in the No Child Left Behind legislation.  However, an expert interviewed for the story also voiced concern that history is not being presented in the classroom as the story of real people and their day to day lives. 

I’m sure that both factors have contributed to our lack of proficiency and interest in history, but the question is, “What can be done to correct the problem?”.  I think that this is another area in which the value of FACS is being underutilized.  We can teach history through our curriculum in a way that students can understand and appreciate.

There are some wonderful historical novels that fit beautifully into the FACS curriculum.  Here are a few of my personal favorites.

• Bread and Roses, Too by Katherine Paterson
• Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
• Penny From Heaven by Jennifer Holm
• The Sugar Camp Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini
• Leaving Gee’s Bend by Irene Latham
• Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

A couple of years ago I wrote a resource At Home With History, Project, Recipes and Fun Facts to Bring Social Studies to Life in the FACS Classroom.  In this resource I share lots of ideas for seamlessly incorporating American history into FACS.  Some of the activities in At Home With History include:

• My Family History Project
• Heritage Scrapbooking
• 50 recipes which have historical significance
• Profiles and activities for 20 FACS Pioneers
• Crafts and costumes
• Today in FACS History

Teaching American history can be fun and fascinating and it can be an integral part of the FACS curriculum.  I encourage you to look for opportunities to bring history into your classroom.  It’s an area where our students need a boost and like always, FACS teachers are ready and able to step up to the plate.  Show your administrator that you’re ready to get in the game!

Have a Fresh FACS day!

Ramona

Show Me the Money!

I know what it’s like trying to stretch the often meager budget you’re given by your school districts.  That’s why I thought I’d share a few money-saving ideas I’ve recently come across.  Hope you find something here that you can use.

I just finished the revisions to High Tech Home Ec Version 3.1 and two of the new sections I included use great tools from Calculated Industries:  KitchenCalc and Quilter’s FabricCalc.  Both of these amazing devices would be very useful in the FACS curriculum.  Learn more about these devices, go to http://www.calculated.com/  Click on the Quick Product Index to access product information.

Here’s the money-saving news.  Calculated Industries offers a very generous discount to schools on the purchase of their calculators.  Educators can purchase a single calculator for 25% of the MSRP.  The discount goes up to 36% off when you purchase six or more calculators for classroom use.  They also offer an Emulator that can be loaded on a computer to provide calculator functionality for use with SMART Boards and other interactive whiteboards.  To receive these discounts, you need to contact the company directly and ask for someone in the Education Division.  Call 775.445.6256 and ask for the Education Division or email Jeff Spector at jeffs@calculated.com.

Here’s an opportunity to apply for a grant to enhance your program through a gardening project.  Whole Foods Market is sponsoring a School Garden Grant Program and the application process just opened August 17th.  Whole Kids Foundation will grant 1000 schools $2000 each to build or expand a school garden.  Why not follow Alice Waters’ example and partner with your Agriculture department, local elementary school, community collect or community garden club and develop a school garden?  (Don’t know Alice Waters?  Learn more at http://www.chezpanisse.com/about/alice-waters/) Your students could learn so much from growing, harvesting, preparing and preserving fresh produce!  Grant information is available at: http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/2011/08/apply-school-garden-grant/?utm_source=Responsys&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2011_08_17_Specials

For inspiration, check out these websites:

www.edibleschoolyard.org

http://www.ecoliteracy.org/change/school-gardens

I’ll continue to be on the look out for ways to stretch your FACS budget.  Do you have financial wisdom or insights to share?  We’d love to post them on this blog.  Just register as a user and send them along to share with your FACS friends.

Have a Fresh FACS day and a super weekend!

Ramona

The Face of FACS

If you are a fan of Fresh FACS on Facebook (If you aren’t a fan, I hope you’ll Like us today!), you probably saw my post about Julia Roberts yesterday.  In that post I referenced an article where Ms. Roberts shared that if she wasn’t an actor she would like to be a Home Economics teacher.  How cool is that??!!  Okay, I know that she used the old name for our field, but I’m happy to forgive her in return for the status her remark gives us!  Call me star struck if you want, but I think this is pretty cool!  If you haven’t checked out the article, you will find the link when you go to our Facebook page to become a fan.  http://www.facebook.com/FreshFACS  

(Wasn’t that a sneaky way to get you to visit our page?)

I’ve been thinking for some time that as FACS professionals we desperately need to shed the cloak of invisibility that surrounds us and show the world what we have to offer.  I’d even given some thought to the value of having a celebrity spokesperson as the face of FACS.  I must admit that I had never thought about Julia Roberts as that spokesperson, but wouldn’t that be great?! 

Some of the celebrities that I’ve considered for the coveted title of The FACE of FACS are Ashley Judd, Eva Longoria and Jennifer Garner.  They are all beautiful young women who have publically demonstrated their appreciation for the skills that we teach.  (I’ve seen each of them on the Martha Stewart Show at least once!)  An association with any one of them would definitely elevate the status of FACS to a whole new level, don’t you think?

Okay, so we have four great candidates to become The FACE of FACS!  Which of these stars would you select for the title?  Do you have other candidates to add to the list?  I’d love to hear from you on this important topic!  Let’s continue our FACS Makeover by selecting a celebrity spokesperson!  Don’t miss out on the fun!  Nominate your candidate today or show your support for one of the four current candidates!  We’re waiting to hear from you!

Have a Fresh FACS day!

Ramona

Summer Conference Wrap Up

Most of the month of July saw Fresh FACS on the road to several conferences around the Midwest.  It was our pleasure to meet and talk with teachers from Kentucky, our home state of Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.  We consider it a real privilege to be a part of events where FACS teachers come to share ideas, learn from their peers and presenters and to evaluate current classroom resources.  If you are part of a planning committee for your organization’s FACS conference, we would be honored to be invited to join you in 2012! 

The most photogenic location we visited on our recent travels was Frankenmuth, Michigan.  Hope you enjoy the snapshots of this quaint little town.  So pretty!

“Far away, there in the sunshine, are my highest aspirations.  I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them and try to follow where they lead.”—LOUISA MAY ALCOTT

Have a Fresh FACS Day!

Ramona

Out of Touch!

Sorry that I haven’t posted anything new for a while!  Most of the month of July has been devoted to participation in FACS conferences all across the Midwest.  The last one for the season is in Michigan next week.  Phew!  It’s been a busy month!  I promise to get back to posting more regularly soon!  Hope you’re having a great summer!

Have a Fresh FACS day and weekend!

Ramona

Let’s Talk Blueberries

Did you know that July is National Blueberry Month?

The Blueberry Muffins in the photo above were made from my favorite recipe.  The recipe was originally published in an old cookbook from Kraft Foods.  I’ve used it for years and I’ve yet to find a recipe that is more moist and flavorful.  You’ll find this recipe on our website at http://www.freshfacs.com/Recipes/recipes/blueberry_muffins.htm.

Blueberries are nutritional powerhouses.  Consider these facts:

• Blueberries are low in fat.
• Blueberries have just 80 calories per cup.
• Blueberries are high in vitamin C, which promotes a healthy immune system.
• Blueberries contain manganese, which plays an important role in bone development.
• Scientific studies show that blueberries contain substances with antioxidant properties.  Antioxidants help to neutralize free radicals, which are unstable molecules linked to the development of a number of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease and other age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s.
• They’re also a good source of dietary fiber, which contributes to heart health, helping to keep cholesterol in check.

If you aren’t in the mood to bake on this hot summer day, how about reading about blueberry muffins.  Blueberry Muffin Murder by Joanne Fluke.

In the third novel in the Hannah Swensen culinary mystery series, preparations are underway for Lake Eden, Minnesota’s annual Winter Carnival—and Hannah is set to bake up a storm.  But when famous lifestyle maven Connie Mac is murdered at Hannah’s bakeshop, The Cookie Jar, she’s got to find a way to find a killer and save her business. 

Reading a novel set against the backdrop of a Minnesota winter should be a cool escape from summer’s heat.  You’re welcome!

Have a Fresh FACS day!

Ramona

A Novel for National Chocolate Day!

In case you weren't aware of it, July 7 is National Chocolate Day.  I think a day dedicated to celebrating the best candy ever is a great idea, don’t you?  So since this blog is all about fiction and FACS, it only seems appropriate to introduce you to a novel with a chocolate connection.

Since chocolate is such a popular food, you can imagine how many novels there are that have chocolate in the title or story line.  My favorite chocolate-themed novel is Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke.  I liked this novel so much that a few years ago I created an entire FACS curriculum based on this fun novel.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder is the first novel in the Hannah Swenson mystery series.

Hannah Swenson already has her hands full trying to dodge her mother’s attempts to marry her off while running The Cookie Jar, Lake Eden, Minnesota’s most popular bakery.  But once Ron LaSalle, the beloved delivery man from the Cozy Cow Dairy, is found murdered behind her bakery with Hannah’s famous Chocolate Chip Crunchies scattered around him, her life just can’t get any worse.  Determined not to let her cookies get a bad reputation, she sets out to track down a killer.

Who would have the sheer audacity and the motive to kill the most punctual delivery man Hannah ever had?  Topping the list is the high school football coach.  What exactly was his wife doing, making the rounds with the milkman?  Could Max Turner, owner of Cozy Cow Dairy, have had a secret he didn’t want to share with his top employee?  The more Hannah snoops, the more suspects turn up.  Why has Lake Eden’s most prominent prodigal son, Benton Woodley, just resurfaced?  And what about the mysterious Mr. Harris who seemed interested in buying the property next to the dairy, but then disappeared?  This is one murder that’s starting to leave a very bad taste in Hannah’s mouth.  And if she doesn’t watch her back, Hannah’s sweet life may get burned to a crisp.

This and all other novels in the Hannah Swenson series includes several original recipes.  The Chocolate Chip Crunchies mentioned in the plot summary is included in CCCM so we can safely assume that they were not to blame for Ron LaSalle’s death.  Phew! It’s all in good fun and you and your students are sure to enjoy reading it.

The Recipe for Reading curriculum includes activities for all FACS content areas.  To learn more about this resource, click on the book image above or go to our website www.freshfacs.com. 

Enjoy National Chocolate Day!

Ramona

Delicious Novels for Mature Students and You!

As I mentioned yesterday, I have been busy lately selecting the novels for the new edition of A Novel Approach to FACS.  My search lead me to the Bride Quartet series by Nora Roberts.  There are four books in this delightful series which follow the lives and loves of four friends who run Vows, a wedding-planning company.

Each novel in the series focuses on one of the four main characters and their role in Vows:  wedding photographer, floral designer, wedding cake designer and baker, and event coordinator.  The author does a wonderful job of describing the skills and expectations that are part of each of the girls’ careers.  She doesn’t sugar coat anything, accurately describing the long hours, hard work, and challenges of each profession.  She also reveals to readers the deep satisfaction the characters experience as they help to make a bride’s wedding day magical and beautiful.  In this respect, these four novels could be used very effectively in the FACS classroom.  However, due to some mature content, I recommend that these novels only be used as supplemental reading for mature students. 

Read the novels for yourself and then decide whether or not they are appropriate for your classroom.  Even if you decide not to make them a part of your FACS program, I’m sure you’ll enjoy them.  They’re a great read.

Have a Fresh FACS Day!

Ramona

Changes are in the Works!

I must apologize for my long absence from posting to this blog!  It’s been a busy spring and summer with lots of changes to our websites, revisions to nearly all of our resources and lots of time spent reading novels for our FACS By The Book website.  We’re still deeply involved in all of these projects, but I thought I’d take a few minutes to tell you about our new edition of A Novel Approach to FACS—Fiction in the FACS Classroom.

When I originally wrote A Novel Approach in 2007, I wasn’t aware just how quickly novels, particularly teen novels, go out publication.  Three of the novels that I included in this resource are no longer available from the publishers:  Rules by Cynthia Lord, Chicks with Sticks by Elizabeth Lenhard, and Dish #1: Stirring It Up by Diane Muldrow.  Individual copies of these great novels can still be found, but because classroom sets are almost impossible to acquire, I will be replacing those novels in the 2011 edition of A Novel Approach to FACS.  I will also be replacing Chew On This, the only work of non-fiction in the 2007 edition.

The novels that will be replacing the out-of-print novels are:  Artichoke’s Heart by Suzanne Supplee, Close to Famous and Hope Was Here, both by Joan Bauer, The Cupcake Queen by Heather Helper and Lynn Visible by Julia DeVillers.

The new edition of A Novel Approach to FACS should be ready for distribution August 1.  I hope you’ll check out these great teen novels and consider making reading a part of your FACS curriculum for the 2011 – 2012 school year.

Have a Fresh FACS day!

Ramona

FACS or Fiction Workshop

Dusty and I had the privilege of participating in the regional FACS teachers' meeting in Geneseo, Illinois on Tuesday, April 5.  This very active group of FACS educators enthusiastically participated in all of the activities I'd planned for them.  They were a total delight to work with and we thoroughly enjoyed the day.  Thanks so much for inviting us to be a part of your event, ladies!

The teachers spent the morning participating in six different small group activities related to the theme of incorporating fiction into the FACS classroom.  The activities included food prepartion, sewing and repurposing projects.  Each activity related to one of the teen novels below.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, Candy for Christmas

Close to Famous

Vintage Veronica

Hattie Big Sky

Lynn Visible 
A Thread of Truth



Another group decorated chocolate cupcakes (Thanks so much for baking them, Deb!) in a manner similar to those mentioned in the novel Close to Famous.  They were beautiful and yummy!



The other groups stitched quilt blocks and redesigned a t-shirt.



This group made fudge in the microwave similar to the recipe in Candy for Christmas.  Cooking in a library requires a certain amount of adaptability.  Minus a microwave-safe bowl, this group used a coffee can as a mixing bowl.  Good job, ladies!

My goal in asking the teachers to complete these simple projects was to demonstrate the connection between the skills taught in the FACS curriculum and selected works of teen fiction.  I hope that the teachers left this workshop inspired to investigate the benefits of making literacy a part of their FACS programs. 

Thanks so much for allowing us to share our "novel approach" to FACS!  Feel free to contact us if you have questions about FACS literacy or any of the other topics we discussed. 

Ramona

Proud to be a Woman!

Each year in March we commemorate the accomplishments of remarkable American women by celebrating Women's History Month.  Throughout our history women have made important contributions to our country and our society.  Here are just a few examples.


Alice Waters



Bonnie Cashin

Brownie Wise

Coco Chanel

Dolley Madison

Dr. Frances Horwich

Ellen Swallow Richards

Fannie Merritt Farmer

Josephine Cochran

Julia Childs

Marion Donovan

Mary Randolph

Ruth Benerito

Ruth Handler

Ruth Wakefield





Marion Donovan invented the disposable diaper.

Josephine Cochran invented the automatic dishwasher in 1886.

Ellen Swallow Richards founded the profession of Home Economics.

Children's educational programming was pioneered by Dr. Frances Horwich.

Fannie Merrit Farmer published the first modern cookbook in America in 1896.

The wash and wear treatment for fabrics was invented by Ruth Benerito in 1958.

Julia Child's pioneered the first cooking show on public television.

The first American cookbook was written by Mary Randolph.

Dolley Madison functioned as First Lady to President Thomas Jefferson and saved priceless documents and artifacts from falling into British hands in 1814.

Ruth Wakefield developed the recipe for America's favorite cookie--the chocolate chip cookie.

Bonnie Cashin designed the classic car coat and other iconic fashion creations.

Ruth Handler designed the Barbie doll in 1959.

Brownie Wise pioneered and perfected the profitable home party sales technique when she worked for the Tupperware company.

Coco Chanel declared that every woman should own a version of the "little black dress."

Alice Waters pioneered the organic and slow food movements popular today.

You'll find many historical novels that will help you introduce students in your FACS programs to the important role of women in American history.  Check out the selection at http://www.facsbythebook.com/ and our curriculum At Home With History at http://www.freshfacs.com/ .