Action Research=Research In Action!

Assignment #3 Action Research Reflective Blog:

My reaction to this assignment changed from intimidated to heartened in the course of a month because it focused upon Sam, a student who otherwise was slated for removal from the class roster due to chronic absenteeism, truancy (skipping out on class), and logging more time in In School Suspension than the classroom. I documented this students fate, prior to the month I spent in applied research, through the ABC Moodle Module assignment.
In discussion about the process and headache associated with Sam's removal from the class with Mr. Anderson he related how difficult it was to have a student removed at that point in the semester but, pointed out the validity of his justification with the statement "how can I pass a student enrolled in an Agriculture Mechanics I class when he's never even struck an arc!" Over the course of our conversation the subject of my action research project came up and it was decided by Mr. Anderson and agreed to by me that Sam would be the subject of my action research project. I was told near the end of the conversation that I "was his only hope at this point!"
Mr. Anderson and I mapped out a plan with the remaining time I had to implement it and determined there to be 23 instructional days available in my final month of student teaching. I used this timeline to create a sense of urgency with Sam through authentic conversation regarding his attendance during the "flex" period in the morning and class in the afternoon. I was highly respectful of him and his situation and gained his respect through my dedication to him and the ability to relate to his life outside school.
Sam showed up for many but, not all of our "flex" sessions and we even squeezed in some shop time during the course of a few class sessions in the lab. My work with Sam was intense, requiring focused demonstration, condensed practice that I reminded and reinforced with Sam that this was a "crash course" in arc welding. Surprisingly, Sam effectively internalized the urgency and focus necessary to implement the action research plan despite his at times sporadic attendance. When I had him, "I had him!" On nearly every occasion I had him break into a rolling sweat in 20 minutes! He worked that hard and was that intent upon the task at hand. I don't think this project would have been implemented successfully without that level of effort!

Sam - working hard at it!

Some of the highlights of this project for me were seeing Sam go from a total joke amongst his peers to inclusion and a level of acceptance that I hope I had a hand in modeling. One of the best examples of highlights came as a result of a chance encounter Sam had with one of the prettiest girls (and the best welder!) in the class. At the end of one of our initial sessions during a normal block period she approached him as he was cleaning up and struck up a conversation about how cool welding was, I left them to talk with the pride of progress toward inclusion as a byproduct of my research. It felt really good. Sam's inclusion and acceptance was sealed when I was not even around! I had to return to campus for a Friday session and without me in the shop to guide him I was afraid it would cost me a precious day out of the 23 we had to implement the plan. Instead, he got one-on-one instruction from the best welder Mr. Anderson has had in his Agriculture Mechanics course in years from the girl whom he had the conversation with early on. Mr. Anderson was excited enough about the situation enough to text me about it that day!

Sam included! That's the girl on the end!

I successfully completed my action research project with Sam and only had 1 day to spare before I finished my time student teaching. Mr. Anderson graded the C clamp as Sam's summative assessment for the arc welding unit and texted me a picture of the rubric and a final grade of 83%! Based upon his formative welding assessment rubric grades all ranging from the 80's to 90+ , Sam and I accomplished what we set out to do and he went from failing out to passing the class.
I took the time as we counted down my days to plant the seed of a career in welding with Sam and it must have had an impact because he shared his aspirations with his Father and is even conspiring with a friend to enroll in the CTC program for welding. He is looking forward to finishing the semester with the torch welding unit and has expressed more interest in that type of welding than arc welding. I will always remember Sam with pride and pray for the best outcome!

Experience of a lifetime!

Student Teaching Internship Experience Final Blog Entry

My student teaching experience with Mr. Mark Anderson at Elizabethtown High School was a tremendous experience that will benefit me for the rest of my life. Mr. Anderson is not only a great agriculture education instructor but, also one of the most authentic men I have known. He is truly a cooperating teacher that approaches the student teaching experience without an ego and the intention to develop an agriculture educator that "can get it done where it counts, in front of the students!" His ability to shape an educator in the period of time we are allotted is inspiring because he allows the student teacher to grow and develop in an experiential fashion that is approached with 22 years of experience when we sat down at lunch and at the end of each day to develop, plan, and evaluate my progress in this experience. He excels at critiquing and complimenting the various parts of lessons in a way that comes across as a chance for improvement and development, not criticism. In trying to change my approach, techniques, methods, and ideas he is able to present options for consideration that give the student teacher the flexibility to implement them without spoon feeding how it should be done. This created for me the opportunity to take his advice and put my spin or style on it to try it out and develop something that worked for me by incorporating his suggestions. His approach to agriculture education and instruction is proven in the results of his students achievements in the classroom, shop, FFA, and later in life's pursuits. I hope someday I am one of those students who reflect well upon him!

Mr. Anderson a model educator in Action: Gentlemen start (to disassemble) Your Engines!

He gave me every opportunity in the classroom, shop, greenhouse, FFA, and with SAE's that he had to offer, to develop what I hope to become as a dynamic agriculture educator.
One of the best aspects of student teaching with Mr. Anderson was the attitude, skills, and awareness of the school as a community that might easily be overlooked. His relationship and standing in the Elizabethtown School District from the District Administrative Office, Principals Office including Deans and secretaries, all the way out to the maintenance department is one of the best examples I could have had to ensure I understand my role, place, and responsibilities in the school community.
I was blessed with great students at Elizabethtown demonstrated by the students in the agriculture program, in FFA pursuits, and the general population. I did have the usual challenges with classroom management and individual students but, all that proved to me is students are the same today as when I was in high school. They are there to be educated, socialized, shaped, and molded into the next generation of citizens. Is that easy? No! Is it worth it? Yes! I know because I am a product of public education and high school, especially agriculture education programs including FFA and SAE's are one of the last, best chances to positively influence and impact students lives!
I will be forever indebted to Mr. Anderson for the time, wisdom, attitude, influence, and friendship he shared with me! I truly benefitted from over 55 years of teaching experience during my student teaching internship with my cooperating teacher Mark Anderson and Ron Frederick as my University Supervisor. I am humbled and grateful for the time, patience, and effort they shared in furthering my development as an agriculture educator.

Final Teaching Internship Post

Week of 4/14/4 to 4/18/14

This final full week of student teaching went well with the students as focused on Small Gas Engines and Landscape Management as I was on finishing this experience strong. The student I chose to focus upon for my Action Research picked up on the urgency created by my final full week at Etown. He showed up during the morning "flex" period and class! The intensity I create with him had the sweat rolling off his face nearly every time he showed up. I am simultaneously building his enthusiasm for torch welding which follows SGE's so that he can finish his semester strong in Ag. Mechanics I.

Another experience I really valued this week was getting some pointers on MIG welding from the student I managed in my independent study assignment. He practically grew up with a welder in his hand. His family operates a welding and fabricating business so it was a great opportunity to fine tune my MIG welding skills from someone who does it every day. I also had him fabricate and weld a square fire pit insert for the female student (actually it was for her Grandfather!) in our class who was so helpful in assisting the Action Research student with his stick welding while I was on campus.

I felt like this week went well because I have developed the beginning of an internal sense of pace without consciously thinking about it or having to refer to the clock to manage my time. I also felt good about managing the flow of classroom management with the students response to periodic lapses to the point where they're neither a distraction of disruption of our session.

The students are really getting into the greenhouse routine and most of them enjoy "working" in the greenhouse. The geraniums Mark grows for graduation are growing like weeds which really creates positive feedback for the students because they can see the fruits of their efforts and attention. A small example of hard work eliciting noticeable results.

We ended the week in Greenhouse Mgmt. and Landscape Design by taking advantage of the nice spring weather to do some hands on topographical mapping and begin to discuss the elements of the art and science of landscape design.

I am still not looking forward to the end of my daily interaction with Mark, he is a great mentor, model, and exemplary teacher! Even my wife is not looking forward to what she has labeled as"your Mark withdrawal!"

If a picture is worth a 1000 words...

Week 4/7/14 - 4/11/14

SGE presentations like this...

 

Got us hands on by Friday!!














 

This was a great week of dynamic and fast paced student teaching experiences. Kicking off small gas engines on Monday in Ag. Mech. to a fun pH lesson that included taste testing got the momentum going. With Mr. Anderson out Tuesday and Wednesday I felt I was successful in motivating the students to do their research and presentations on SGE's to get us out in the shop and hands on by Friday. The attached pictures are a pretty good representation of their efforts!

Effort like this...



The Ag. Mech. CDE was a great experience
I even pitched in as the Excel score keeper!
 





One of the best welders in the room, hard at it!

Getting the "gentlemen start you engines" speech for electrical component!



Ag Mech. CDE Written Component
Ended the week with a visit from Brittany Rigg that was an awesome experience for us both and a great lesson on application of the 3-4-5 Triangle in Landscape Design!

The girls were actually the most accurate with their 3-4-5 Triangle!
 

The boy's thought a sledge hammer would "help" their accuracy!

 

Getting Down and Dirty!

Monday 3/31-Friday 4/4

This week we all literally got down and dirty whether it was in either section of Ag. Mechanics or Greenhouse management and landscape design. It was a jam packed week of hands on activities that prompted student engagement at admirable levels. Similar to the welding unit there were few challenges with enthusiasm and a get r done attitude.

The agriculture mechanics sections wrapped up the basic engine component identification lessons which included handling the parts as they were introduced and discussed. No one dosed off during these classroom sessions. From that foundation we rolled into Mr. Andersons Lawnmower maintenance community service project that included an impressive number of 31 mowers consisting of push behind and ride on mowers.

This is what I call getting down and dirty!

Everyone from faculty to student parents and the student teacher brought mowers in to be serviced. The program includes spark plug cleaning and gapping, blade sharpening and balancing, and oil change. All for the price of a quart of oil. This was a great experience for the students because their expectation of challenges in a "maintenance" program were very low. It taught them that what may seem simple and straight forward can quickly become a challenge whether its a seized blade mounting bolt or an oil drain nut that simply won't budge. I firmly believe that this program does the obvious, tangible service to the community and provides a demonstrated learning experience, what it does for student confidence in themselves is why I'm here.

In greenhouse management the students are motivated to tackle the classroom component with the promise of time in the greenhouse each day. It is almost like a reward to go "work" in the greenhouse. They are so motivated to "work" that we have even gotten some of Mr. Andersons spring cleaning in and around the greenhouse done. Again, there are demonstrated skills and applied knowledge that are tied to the knowledge we share in the classroom, it is their attitude toward "work" that is hard to duplicate and so valuable as a life skill. I continue to solicit comments in class that I am "really making us think!" that just egg me on and provide personal confirmation of my approach and development in this student teaching experience.

Mark and I attended two meetings this week. The first meeting was a Beef Quality Assurance Meeting for individual certification. I enjoyed the chance to learn a few things I didn't know, visit with some of my cohort and fellow ag. teachers. They even had a hands on component practicing sub Q and IM shots with syringes and banana's. Great idea to borrow for future use. It was also another chance to tour a different school based ag. programs facilities which I find really interesting to see the diversity in resources and programming  emphasis. The second meeting we attended was the regional PAAE meeting where they simultaneously held an FFA SOC's meeting that one of our students attended. Again it was a great chance to join together as an ag. family and enjoy good food, fellowship, and organization.

Practicing BQA injections - Hands On!

I see the finish line here at E-town a little over two weeks away now and I am NOT looking forward to it. My students believe I should apply for a deferred grade and finished what I started, especially in greenhouse management. I must admit I kinda share their sentiment...

This is worth clicking on to read Teach Ag!

Home Stretch!

Monday - Today we put the finishing touches on our C - clamp project, painting the clamps a choice of colors to show some individualism and personality, I chose John Deere green! This project from start to finish was a great example of the culmination of the electric arc welding unit because the growth, development, and confidence gained was evident along the way and demonstrated with a useful tool they can take justifiably take pride in.
The greenhouse competition reached a frenzy this afternoon with an Olympic theme, three places up for grabs! This activity taught me a lot about variability in instruction. I was shocked by the level of competition these students could apply to greenhouse layout when there was Math, Composition, and hands on elements. I did not realize it was possible to generate enthusiasm around these cross disciplinary subject areas but, all it took was the spark of "competition" to bring it on! The students ultimately placed the team pairs with judging based upon all three components.

And the winner is......!

This week at 5 weeks out with the student teaching experience I have mixed emotions about the "home stretch." I am determined to finish stronger with development accelerating toward the conclusion of this experience. To me that will include developing consistency, rhythm, and pace in addition to other aspects of this craft I'm tackling. Honestly, when it comes to leaving the students and especially  Mr. Anderson I am NOT looking forward to leaving, something I don't want to think about until its over.

Must have run out of green paint last year....because its so popular!

Tuesday - Today we put the second coat on our C - clamp's prior to assessment and wound the unit down prior to a test with a C - clamp reflection sheet. This activity impressed me again with the thoughtful reflections the students were able to summon. It's just not something that would have occurred to me, the assessment I get, the reflection component blows me away!
Greenhouse management block was really rough today! We shifted gears into a soils unit and it seemed like they all  missed the bus. I felt like the content was appropriate and engaging, I had even built up to it requesting soil samples from two students on the previous day. I developed and activity around the two samples to orient the students to soil texture, composition, and structure. Surprisingly in my opinion it was a 50/50 fail at best with half the normally engaged students willing to dig into it an the other half or more utilizing the time to catch up on social events/issues in their lives. My best efforts prompting, using proximity control, etc. had no effect.
I let my frustration get the best of me and that snowballed on the way home to the point where I developed an overreaction to the session, questioning my progress, confidence, and abilities.

Wednesday - I used our second block to discuss the prior days' experience because Mr. Anderson attended an event with FFA students immediately after school yesterday. He did a great job of breaking it down for me and developing a sound perspective on the situation that unfolded. He was so effective that I felt better for "having one of those days" because it created a great opportunity to learn from what otherwise was a negative experience. I have been knocked down enough in my 48 years to get right back up ready for another round without thinking about it. This experience reinforced the value of both the knock down and the get right back up. Their are lessons to be learned in our mistakes, missteps, frustrations, etc if we are willing to get back up, listen and reflect on the experience while continuing in forward direction.
Mr. Anderson's advice allowed me to tweak my approach for today turning the Greenhouse section into a productive and rewarding experience further reinforcing my attitude toward refining my instructional approach in the time remaining to walk out the door with enough experience to continue my development in the right direction avoiding as many of the first year teacher headaches as possible.

Thursday - Today went much better after my pow wow with Mr. Anderson and I made a huge leap in my effort to give up the crutch of power points in an effort to be a dynamic and flexible instructor. At his suggestion I decided to try using old school overheads to refine my pace and develop consistent timing during my sessions. In addition to my plan to use it in Greenhouse an issue came up where Mr. Anderson needed to meet with an administrator and asked me if I was willing to teach the first 30 minutes using his overheads. I told him I was game and it worked really well for me. Mr. Anderson ended up finishing his meeting early and was able to observe me twice using the overheads. He and I both felt good about how it went and I have decided to stick with it if it works and develops the pacing and consistency we feel I need to nail.

Friday - Today was a great day that started out with working one on one with a student who I am working with to get him caught up in Ag. Mechanics. He has progressed from failure to passing just in time because the marking period ended Thursday. I have this student breaking a sweat in the short flex period first thing in the morning, we are that intense and he is that in to it. Charges my day up too right out of the gate!
I am also determined to continue what some may consider an old school approach with overheads to develop the pace and consistency Mark and I are aiming for. Just because its old school doesn't mean its obsolete. I had back to back sessions in Ag. Mechanics successfully using the overheads achieving the kind of engagement I am after every day!
We got the geranium plugs that will ultimately be on display at graduation for the parents to enjoy and take home at the end! We spent the better part of the block potting the inserts and all the students were intent and intense enough that we finished potting the inserts ahead of Mr. Anderson's expectations. I must admit that I was pretty into it as well. Rounded out a great Friday.

Getting A Clue

Monday - Today I approached the classroom with a personal challenge to avoid using Power points during my 80  minute greenhouse management class. I want to develop delivery, rhythm, and a framework without the use of power points. I generally view power points as a crutch which may make me "old school" but, I have come to realize they are a useful tool in developing my craft, not the tool of instruction. In my experience, in most audiences the only person who is excited about another power point presentation is the presenter. Students and adults alike prefer other means of instruction. Power points have their usefulness, I am simply challenging myself to develop other components of my instructional approach.

Tuesday - I limited my power points to an agreed upon target with Mr. Anderson and came within 1 slide of meeting the time limit we established. This experience is developing a solid rhythm with the students that keeps their attention and engagement however, I need to hone my discussion approach to limit the tangents that the students (and I) seem eager to pursue around our topics. Interestingly, the students are starting to develop a sense of actual greenhouse management with our regular trips out to the greenhouse, the students are recognizing what to look for in their plant projects, and identify signs of success, stress, and failure in their pursuits.
Today we held another FFA meeting and I think it was the best so far because the officers shared a lot of detail about recent experiences at SLLC. They also seemed a lot more personable than I had seen them at prior meetings, willing to laugh, share funny stories, or interesting comments.

Wednesday - Today was a university supervisor observation day. I was glad my supervisor was able to come early and spend some time observing 2 out of the 3 blocks we have each day. I felt really good about the lesson we planned and the students seemed to respond to some of the tweaks Mark and I decided to do for the lesson such as making the "work" a competition. Don't know why we never tried it before! The techniques Mark is trying to help me develop and practice as well as the bag of tricks teachers draw upon really reflect the depth of 22 years of experience he has. I feel so fortunate to share a teaching experience with a veteran like that!

Thursday - Today I feel like I snatched a student from failure and possibly hooked him on Ag., just when I had about given up on him. He was behind since joining our ag. mechanics class and constantly either absent or in In School Suspension. He finally showed up for a scheduled one on one Welding Crash Course that I have been trying to get him to do for over a month! I had him sweating, smiling, and enthusiastic by the end of our first session. After our first session one on one, he showed up for class (instead of dodging school skipping out the set of doors near our classroom), and after practicing for 80 minutes, the most competent welder, and cutest girl in the class came up to him and engaged him in a conversation about how cool it was to weld etc. I don't know the rest of the conversation because I walked away but the next day while I was in SC she worked with him to develop his welding techniques. I think that's awesome and I am glad that I hung in there just long enough for him to show up. Probably go down as one of my most memorable moments of the entire student teaching experience!

Friday - Friday we had a seminar on campus that was a good experience utilizing a two session framework. The session that definitely served me well was the lesson plan tuning exercise with my peers, I felt it could be kicked up a notch with a facilitator instead of a time keeper because peer input from fellow neophytes is of limited benefit. A facilitator might bring out more valuable input prompted by peers or lead advice and conversation in a more constructive direction. The other session with multiple scenarios was good practice for what's ahead in dealing with administrators, students, fellow teachers, and parents.
Overall, this week I felt like I may be getting a clue in this student teaching experience where the experience becomes effective in shaping my development enough to do a solid job. I now have 5 weeks to gain some confidence, consistency, and pacing as part of the bigger picture of my development.