Try these easy-to-bake cinnamon spiced pumpkin muffins as a snack. They’re perfect for Halloween!
Serves 12
Easy
Prep:
Cook:
Ingredients
225g all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
100g sugar
50g light brown sugar
200g pumpkin purée (about 1/2 standard 15 oz. can)
2 large eggs
125g salted butter, melted
Equipment needed:
12-hole muffin or cupcake pan
paper muffin/cupcake cups
2 bowls, one large, one medium
whisk
wire rack for cooling muffins
Method
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350. Place paper muffin cups in muffin pan. Mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and both sugars together in a large bowl. Break up any lumps of brown sugar by rubbing them between your fingers.
Step 2: Whisk the pumpkin puree and eggs together in the smaller bowl, then add to the dry ingredients with the melted butter. Whisk for 2 minutes or so until just combined.
Step 3: Bake for about 15 minutes, until golden and puffed and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Cool completely on a wire rack. Will keep for three days in an airtight container.
violently – adv., to do something with force and anger
flourished – v., to thrive, to grow well
harmony – n., getting along, working together
tribes – n., groups of people who share a culture
throughout – prep., all over, everywhere
colonize – v., to take control of a new place
concern – n., caring, wanting someone to feel safe or feel better
dominance – n. control, authority
Indigenous – adj., being the people who originally lived in a region
proclaim – v., to announce for the public to know
resilience – n, able to recover quickly from difficulty
determination to preserve – expression, to have a firm goal to protect something
campaign – n., a series of planned actions to reach a goal
displacement – n, forced out of a home territory
assimilation – n., when minority groups absorb the characteristics of the dominant culture
What, exactly, is this day? It is a day to remember and honor the Native Americans, the people who lived here long before white settlers invaded and violently took their land.
Over 400 years ago, a peaceful society flourished in the Americas. The Native Americans lived with each other and in harmony with nature. They worshiped the earth and the sky, and took good care of their children and their elders. There were many different tribes of Native Americans throughout what is now the United States.
Europeans arrived after Columbus’ discovery of North America and soon colonized the new country. They did this without respect or concern for the people who were here before them. Terrible fights between the white people and the Native Americans led to white dominance over the lands that had belonged to the tribes.
President Biden, in 2021, became the first U.S. president to recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day officially.
He proclaimed the second Monday in October as a day to honor Native Americans, their “resilience and strength” and determination to preserve “land, language, spirit, knowledge, and tradition,” even as they have faced a “centuries-long campaign of violence, displacement, assimilation, and terror,” he said.
Simple ways to study, remember new words, and feel ready for the school year.
The beginning of the school year is a fresh start. New classmates, new books, and new routines mean that school can feel exciting and hard at the same time.
The good news is this: you do not need to study for many hours all at once. It is better to use small, strong habits every day. Testing yourself, reviewing over time, and taking breaks can help you remember more than only rereading or highlighting. These habits can help you build confidence, learn vocabulary, and understand class lessons better.
1. Space Out Your Studying
Do not wait until the night before a test. Study a little bit frequently. For example, review new vocabulary on Monday, practice again on Wednesday, and quiz yourself on Friday. This helps your brain remember words and ideas for a longer time. Short study times are also less tiring.
2. Practice Active Recall
Reading your notes again can help, but it is not enough. Active recall means you close your book and try to remember. You can use flashcards, answer practice questions, or write what you remember on a blank page This is a great way to practice vocabulary, sentence patterns, and important class ideas.
3. Use the Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique is simple. Study for 25 minutes. Then take a 5-minute break. During study time, choose one job, such as “learn 8 new words”. During the break, stand up, stretch, or drink water. This helps your brain stay fresh.
4. Teach the Material
One good way to check your understanding is to teach the lesson to someone else. You can explain it to a classmate, a family member, or even to yourself. Use simple English. If you cannot explain an idea, you will know what to study again.
5. Establish a Dedicated Study Routine
Try to study at the same time each day. A routine helps your brain know, “This is study time.” Choose a small goal before you begin. Instead of saying, “I will study English,” say, “I will practice 10 vocabulary words,” or “I will write five sentences using the past tense.” Small goals are easier to achieve.
6. Eliminate Distractions
It is hard to learn when your phone, games, or noise keep pulling your attention away. Put your phone in another room or turn on “Do Not Disturb.” Keep your study space clean. Put only the things you need on your desk: your book, notebook, pencil, and dictionary or translation tool if needed.
7. Prioritize Your Physical Health
Your body helps your brain learn. Try to sleep 7 to 9 hours each night. Sleep helps your brain save what you learned. It can also help to review new words or notes for a few minutes before bed. Eat healthy food, drink water, and move your body. A rested brain can focus better.
A Simple Plan for the First Month
Start small. Choose two habits this week, such as using flashcards and studying for 25 minutes. Next week, add one more habit. You do not have to be perfect. The goal is to practice often. Little by little, these habits will help you learn English, understand your classes, and feel ready for the school year.
Don’t forget, classes start the week of September 19th!
Do you enjoy writing? Do you want to get better and feel more confident? The Advanced Writing Class at University Settlement is a welcoming place for you. It is open to anyone who loves writing and wants to improve. In this class, people learn together, share ideas, and support each other as writers.
The class is taught by a professor from New York University (NYU). NYU is a respected university with a strong writing program. This means students can learn from an experienced teacher who can help them grow, improve their skills, and try new ways of writing.
At the end of the year, students have the special chance to see their work published in a collection of writing. This is a proud moment for many writers. It is also a wonderful way to celebrate each person’s hard work, progress, and voice.
If you or someone you know may be interested, please reach out to the Adult Literacy office at the beginning of the school year. We would love to welcome new writers into our community. Whether you have been writing for years or are just starting again, this class is a place to learn, connect, and grow.
For many of us, summer is the time when we have more time for ourselves. No classes, no rushed schedule of school, kids and work. Things move at a slower pace, maybe it’s the heat of a NYC summer, but maybe it’s just all of us taking the time to slow down a little, a change from the busy-ness of the rest of the year. What’s better to do with this found time than read a book? Or read several books?
First things first! Get a library card!
If you’re 13 or older, and live, work, attend, or pay property taxes in NY State, you are eligible for a card. Your card can be physical or digital.
If you prefer to complete the application for a physical library card in person, please visit an NYPL location with proof of ID and address. Find a location near you.
The New York Public Library even has a special card for this year!
With thanks to the New York Times, University Settlement has prepared a reading challenge list:
📖 ☐ Read a really short book. 📘 ☐ Read a really long book. 🕵️ ☐ Read a mystery book. 🎬 ☐ Read a book that’s been adapted for a movie. ☀️ ☐ Read a book that takes place in the summer. 🎧 ☐ Listen to an audiobook.
Competition — n., a contest to see which participant is the best
Host nation — n., the country where the event will be held
Stadiums — n., a large field surrounded by many seats for a large audience
Championship — n., the final game where the winner receives the trophy
Minimal — adj., the smallest amount possible
The FIFA World Cup is starting this month! This international football (soccer) competition occurs every four years. Teams from all over the world compete to win the World Cup Trophy. Only the best teams in the world can be part of this competition.
There is also a competition for the host nation, the country where the games will take place. Many countries want to host the matches because millions of people watch them. Some are in the stadiums to watch in person, but most watch on television. More people watch the World Cup matches than watch the Olympics!
The FIFA World Cup is being played in 16 different cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. 48 teams will play 104 matches, and the championship game will be played in New Jersey, just a short distance from New York City!
Many people also love to play soccer. Equipment is minimal — all that’s needed is a ball and some feet! No wonder football is played all over the world.
Oasis, n. – some place that provides refreshing relief
Tranquility, n. – peacefulness, calm
Maintain, v. – to take care of
Stumble, v. – to trip or to find something unexpectedly
Distinctive, adj. – something which stands out from its surroundings
Flora, n. – plant life
Contemplation, n. – deep thought or meditation
Drown out the noise, expression – to cover up noise
New York City has plenty of pavement, but did you know there are also little pockets of green space? Nature turns up in unexpected places and we’re providing a list of secret gardens that will be fun to explore this summer.
First up, the Creative Little Garden, “an oasis of tranquility in New York’s East Village.”
Located at 530 East Sixth Street, between Avenues A & B, the Creative Little Garden has been a “community backyard,” maintained by volunteers from the neighborhood since 1978. You can sit and relax, have your lunch, or just enjoy the landscaping.
Heading north and west, we stumble into the Jefferson Market Garden, now celebrating 50 years in Greenwich Village. This garden welcomes everyone, and drinks are permitted, but not food. They have a “blooming guide” on their website, https://www.jeffersonmarketgarden.org/bloom-guide so you can plan to visit your favorite flowers. Open from April to October, this garden is located on Greenwich Avenue, between 6th Avenue & West 10th Street.
The gardens at St. Luke-in-the-Fields are special and extensive. You are welcome to visit “some of the most distinctive and admired gardens in New York City, comprising more than two-thirds of an acre of walks, lawns, and a fine collection of garden standards…and native American flora.” These gardens are open for quiet contemplation; cell phone use, smoking, and pets are not allowed.
Another lovely urban green space can be found on the east side of Manhattan, at Tudor City (between First and Second Avenues, just south of 42nd street). Tudor City Greens is open to the public daily between 7 am and 10 pm. They also host events, from Halloween parades to Afternoon Teas.
Finally, we recommend a visit to Greenacre Park, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With plenty of seating to enjoy the sound of the waterfall (and drown out the noise of the city!) this beautifully landscaped pocket park is at 217 East 51st Street, between Second and Third Avenues.
