This is not a drill- Fire Alarms

It's Thursday, January 24, 2019.

I have set up my swivl device to record myself teaching, lesson plans are prepared, powerpoints made, bellwork on the board.

Video is recording. 

10:39.
Warning Bell rings.

Student shoves entire face in camera screen.
Redirect students to seats and explain that we will address the technology at a later time.


10:40. 
Bell rings.
Students, if you haven't already, you should be working to complete the bellwork which is displayed on the screen (Apple TV).
As I am directing students to complete the bellwork....

Fire alarm goes off. 


Ms. Cashell- Grabs the binder, redirects students to exit through the side door.
Ms. Stauffer- Holds the side door open and counts students, directing them on where to go.

10:42. 
Principal- Who are you missing?
Student.
Principal radios to find student.
Student is located.

Other students- Really, a fire drill in the pouring rain?
Principal- This is NOT a drill. Do you seriously think that I would make you all come out here in the pouring rain on the second to last day of the semester?

10 Minutes later. 

Principal- Students, you may go underneath the awning but do not enter the building.

2 minutes later.
Principal- Go back to class.

Recount students to ensure everyone is safe and back in the building. 

Okay students, we have a lot to get done today and not a lot of time, and that fire alarm did not help.

Gems: 
-Remained calm, ensured that all students were safe.
-Tried to create a sense of urgency for students to get everything accomplished.

Opportunities for improvement: 
-Set the stage for next semesters students that I am a student teacher which means that I will need to record our lessons every now and then in order to improve myself and continue growing as a teacher.
-Always be prepared, know where the emergency folder is and what the protocol is.




How was your week?

Preparation: Lessons Learned

It's Thursday ya'll!
We are more than halfway through week 2 of my student teaching internship experience in Boonsboro, Maryland. I don't know about the rest of you, but this week was definitely not the best. I beat myself up a little, cried a little, but oh did I learn a whole lot!

Monday: Intro to Floriculture CDE and Ms. Stauffer
2 hour delay.
First day with students.
My thoughts: "Complete trainwreck"
Cooperating teachers thoughts: "Hard class given the circumstances, you did well"

Tuesday: How to make a Boutonniere
-Gave up on trying new technology.
-Started addressing students by name, getting to know the class.
-Attempted to explain how to price a boutonniere... not my best moment.

Wednesday: How to make a corsage
-Cried. A lot.
-Was going to not even touch on how to make a bow for a corsage
-Figured out that I needed to add that to the criteria...
-Determined that I have no idea how to make a pinch bow
-Became frustrated with myself and thought I let students down
-Wait time improved
-More names were learned
-Tried to incorporate the ipad again so that I was able to show students on the big screen how to create a corsage.

Thursday: How to make a pinch bow/finishing corsages
-Named every student at the beginning of the class
-Provided time limits
-Addressed students using phones in class
-Planned for lesson to end at 11:36, class ended at 11:32, but was able to adapt and change
-Still need to increase wait time.

Friday: How to create an arrangement on a budge for a customer.

Monday and Tuesday, I was feeling out the class, got to know my students, learned what their strengths and weaknesses were.
Wednesday, I felt like I was falling apart. I had not originally planned to include bow making due to myself not being comfortable with the content as well as having some life skills students in my class.

However, Wednesday afternoon, I stayed at school late to work on lesson plans for the rest of the week and into next week since the semester ends next Friday and we do not have school on Monday and have a 2 1/2 hour early dismissal on Friday. I was able to enjoy some pizza and cinnamon twists with Ms. Cashell and one of our officers. I was also able to participate in my first ever Escape Room with our officer team as well as with Ms. Cashell and Mr. G.

I haven't gotten a chance to sit down and debrief with Ms. Cashell on how my lesson went today, but my gems and opps are listed above under my Thursday lesson.

Big take aways:
Never miss the opportunity to talk to a student.
Get to know your students.
Interact with them outside of the classroom (sporting events, escape room with officers)
Always be one day ahead of your students.
If you are having a bad day, don't let it show in your teaching because your students will notice.
REMEMBER WHY YOU ARE HERE.

Greetings from Maryland

I began my student teaching internship by trucking my way down to Hagerstown, Maryland on Sunday evening.

Yes, I wrote that correctly, I am currently sitting in a classroom in Maryland.

While my peers were experiencing their first day as student teachers by taking their students to Mid-Winter Convention and exploring the Pennsylvania Farm Show, I was in Maryland learning everything that I need to learn as I prepare to teach my first class this upcoming Monday.

This week has been filled with multiple tears shed, realizations made, but also a love gained for the students that I get to interact with for the next 15 weeks.

Day 1 was fairly simple, observing Mrs. Cashell-Martin, learning all of the ins and outs of her school day, discussing the expectations throughout the next 15 weeks, and having a small heart to heart about the difficulty of this experience but also being reassured that people have faith in me and I CAN do this.

Day 2. LONG. That's the only word that I  can think of to describe yesterday. I began my day waking up at 6:30 am, and did not return to my home away from home away from home until 9:00 pm. Seven of those hours were spent observing and teaching students. Two of those hours were spent planning for the next week as well as the remainder of this internship. Three of those hours were spent in committee meetings followed by alumni meetings. Of the 24 hours in a day, approximately 14 1/2 of them were spent either in the classroom, planning, or attending to FFA related meetings, events, or activities. That means that I was at my home away from home away from home for approximately 10 hours yesterday. You can do the math.


What I've realized going into Day 3 is that I have a new appreciation for Agricultural Educators and FFA Advisors. While I had an incredible fondness for them prior to this week, I am finding that my appreciation and respect for them as well as everything that Penn State has prepare me for continues to increase each and every day.

Let's do this friends, FOR THE KIDS!

GO WARRIORS!