Cook to Read and Read to Cook
As I was driving south on 355 this morning, I was listening to two people have a discussion about how beneficial it is for children to spend time cooking with their parents. They were emphasizing the merits of children learning how to cook, learning about good nutrition and spending quality time with their parents. If I could have called in, I would have added that reading recipes and following the directions helps a student's reading ability. In fact, one part of the reading section of the ISAT test is devoted to reading something like a recipe or directions for making or doing something. Then questions are asked about that reading. When students read a recipe, they have to comprehend what the recipe is telling them to do in order to come out with a tasty product. Measuring helps math skills. Volume and fractions are learned hands-on. Double the recipe to make it more exciting - then share some with someone who could use a little cheering up. Cooking together has now turned into a character building exercise. So, pick out a delicious sounding recipe and have some fun together. There are numerous reasons to do so.
