Snow Days- A blessing and a curse (Week 6)

When I was in high school, I saw snow days as a blessing. I got to sleep in and catch up on homework that I most likely didn't finish (procrastination at its finest). As an upcoming teacher, I'm finding that snow days can be a blessing and a curse at the same time.

Blessings:
More time for planning, polishing lessons for the rest of the week
Starting to plan lessons for the next week
Running errands and gathering supplies that I may have otherwise had to stop before heading into school to get

Curse:
Entire week is thrown off
Jam packed week already turns into an even more jam packed week when you lose not just one but TWO days to snow/ice
Materials that you may have needed on Monday night are now stuck at school until Wednesday morning

The biggest curse:
Strawberry sale orders were due by students on Friday, February 8. I have only received 4 or 5 order forms. We handed out way more than 4 or 5 order forms to members. Even bigger problem- orders are due today, we are not in school, all of the order forms and information are at school in my desk drawer.

What I've learned:
Take advantage of snow days!
This weekend we begin our festivities for National FFA Week with a pancake breakfast on Saturday morning followed by an Alumni Basket BINGO event Sunday afternoon.
If you can begin planning for your week ahead, especially when it is National FFA Week and the schedule will be hectic, take advantage of your snow days to plan and prepare.

Questions that I have:
1) How do I make up for 2 lost days of instruction? Do I cut one of my lessons and try to merge the two into one day so that I'm only one day behind instead of two?

2) What are some pro-tips on fundraisers that you have?

3) How do you keep your sanity through National FFA Week without getting overwhelmed?

Do what you love. (Week 5)

It's crazy to think that we are 1/3 of the way through this experience.

It's even crazier to think of all of my cohort members who will be graduating in May, getting jobs, and some even getting married.

As I think back on the week, a lot of things stuck with me. I've learned to do what I love and love what I do.

The week started off on the wrong foot, I knew it was going to be a hectic week so I worked hard to complete my lessons for the week over the weekend, but also tried to master the work-life balance of spending quality time with my family for the super bowl.


Tuesday I was able to assist Mrs. Cashell-Martin with gathering the remaining supplies needed for our Alumni Basket BINGO event next week, I was also excited to connect with my #PSUAgEd19 family and talk about their instructional "protips".


The remaining three days of the week are a blur to be quite honest.
Thursday evening I was able to attend the "Taste of Maryland Agriculture" event with Dr. Foster and Mrs. Cashell-Martin. The evening ended late with an early morning and observations by Dr. Foster.


Through the hectic week and the feedback from my University Supervisor I've learned a few things.

1. Confidence comes with content knowledge, always be a day ahead of your students.
2. Love what you do, and do what you love.
3. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
4. Coffee comes in handy when you have late nights and early morning.
5. Keep pushing and increasing rigor.

My students have been amazing. They challenge not only themselves but also me to think beyond the content that's been taught. I've learned that although we are only scratching the surface in most subjects as we are agriculture educators and juggling many different balls at the same time, you always need to dig deeper into content knowledge.

I've learned that although I have a special passion for #AgEd4All, there is other ways to channel that passion while also serving the needs of the general education student population. I've found that your passion shines through in the subjects that you are passionate about, but you need to channel that passion and find something in every aspect of agriculture that you are passionate about to better serve the needs of your students.

I've learned that although some days are tough and you will truly never "know enough" about a topic, that the more that you push, and the more that you nurture that love and passion that you have created over the years, the more passion will shine through while you are educating and the more engaged your students will be.

I've also learned that it's never too late to change the ending.

Short Days and Discipline Derbies

Howdy Folks!

It is now the end of week 4 and beginning of week 5 in this crazy journey.


This week was a whirlwind of a lot of excitement and testing my flexibility.


Between the early dismissals, 2 hour delays, and managing some student misbehaviors, I would say that I learned a lot this week.


The main thing that sticks out for me this week was the ability to be flexible. Throughout the week, we had multiple surprises in regards to winter weather.


Monday: Normal Class Schedule
Tuesday: 2 hour early dismissal
Wednesday: 2 hour delay
Thursday: 2 hour delay
Friday: Normal Class Schedule

What did this mean for me and my planning?
This schedule effected each of my classes differently.

Power Mechanics 1- Total Class Time: 3 1/2 hours
Greenhouse- Total Class Time: 3 1/2 Hours
Intro to Ag Science- Total Class Time: 3 Hours

I lost an entire day with my Intro to Ag Science students.

I learned that not only am I an excellent planner, but I am also incredibly flexible. When things happen spur of the moment, I am able to adapt and change at the drop of a hat. I have been complimented numerous times on my ability to be flexible, however, I was finally able to see this shine through throughout this past week.

Not only was I able to be flexible with my plans and delivery, I was also able to experience when a student misbehaved in front of my eyes, or used disrespectful words when I asked politely for him to follow school rules by removing his hood.

I was able to think in the moment and react in a matter of seconds.
What I've learned from this: breathe! Don't make any rash decisions, they are just kids.

Gems from the week:
-Flexibility
-Planning/Being organized

Opportunities for improvement:
-Think before you react
-Don't be afraid to ask for help!

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!

Integrated Science Lab

SLURB's are very social creatures! They like to interact with anyone that they come into contact with. Much like the penguins pictured below.

What exactly is a SLURB? A slurb is a made up creature that I utilized during my integrated science lab. In all reality, all it was, was flour. However, one of them contained baking soda as well!

The SLURB's were told to interact with one another for approximately 5 minutes. At the end of the 5 minutes, I told students to return to their seats. I explained to them that there had been an outbreak! One of the SLURB's that was interacting with everyone was carrying a harmful disease and now we needed to determine who was initially infected and how many others had become infected.

How exactly did we determine who was infected? I added vinegar to each of the cups, if the contents in the cup bubbled, I knew that baking soda was present which meant that the SLURB was infected.
The problem: All of the SLURB's were infected because everyone interacted with the same people.

Let's Gem and Opp it out!

Gems:
Students were able to move around the room.
The activity was very interactive. 
The activity connected well to the lesson: how diseases spread.






Opportunities for improvement:
Provide a worksheet to help students keep track of who they came into contact with.
Explain to students that they should try not to interact with everyone.
Provide more instruction prior to "letting them go".

At the end of the day, I feel as though my lesson went well and I will definitely be using it with some tweaks during my student teaching experience!