National FFA Week Reflections

Monday - I spent the weekend at ACES and really enjoyed the event with Mr. Anderson, another teacher chaperon, and the students. It was a great chance to get to know another teacher in more than passing here at Etown. The more time I spend at Etown the more I value the time at Etown. I am stretching myself and testing different approaches which is of great value in trying to establish my craft. Of equal importance to me is the experiences I am sharing with Mr. Anderson and opportunities like ACES to get to know others in the profession on a closer level than possible in passing. I consider these experiences to be vital to what I consider my survival kit that I will need to navigate the various administrative, political, and other relationships that are part of joining a community of educators.
I really appreciated a lot of the planning that goes into an event like ACES because the FFA students really benefit from an engaging and balanced experience that is really not available anywhere else in public education to my knowledge. I heard many positive comments from my centers' students as well as other student teachers' students about both the activities and the evening entertainment.

Tuesday - My experience co teaching two sections of Ag. Mechanics stands out as one of the most unexpected benefits of my student teaching experience thus far. While I was exposed to the concept and practice of co teaching at PSU, it is another experience to do it with someone who really embodies the ideal of a mentor. In my experience there are moments of synergy or chemistry that can happen in co teaching where the two are able to truly share themselves selflessly in an exchange of knowledge that would be hard to duplicate when you are the only one on stage. The students benefit in many conventional ways that I have touched on before but I now see them benefit from the relationship they are witness too and derive a better level of engagement that comes with witnessing two educators invested in their experience. Superficially, they initially experience this with reduced student teacher ratios and later on a deeper level in my perception.

Wednesday - Today was camo day for FFA Week and I decided to try out a camo bow tie which for me personally respresented a visible sign of the stretch I am trying to make in my student teaching experience. While I can tie a mean double windsor with a conventional tie, I have never been bold enough to sport a bow tie. Consistent with my prior experiences the stretch is often rewarded with good experiences, I got compliments on my tie and this gave me confidence in the stretch. The student teaching experience is unique in my years of experience as a great chance to experiment to determine what works and doesn't work without the monetary, career, or other high stakes experiences where your neck is on the line if you stick it out.
I continue to face a challenge kicking off new units or content that is not closely related because I tend toward overestimating where my students are in relation to where I want to begin. It seems like it takes us a good day or two to get synchronized or a rhythm developed. It's a valuable experience but, it can be frustrating and take it out of you by the end of the day.
Interestingly, when we went to pick up a half a hog for tomorrow's hog roast the butcher asked Mr. Anderson how many or did he have many FFA members. I found this interesting because beside a few comments about the winter we're having this person was interested in the level of FFA participation in this day and age. I don't think it is too much of a stretch to wonder if a country butcher who grew a successful business with the surrounding areas was really wondering about the next generation that will raise the hogs, beef, and other animals to feed the people of Lancaster county the way he has.

Thursday - Today the students cleaned the shop in preparation for the hog roast that afternoon, it was great to see them take pride in their shop and the FFA program. It was a great experience to visit with other faculty and break bread in an atmosphere of enjoyment as a community of educators. I had a challenging experience with my Greenhouse class today where it seemed like I could never hit a stride due to fire alarms and student participation issues. I felt like I had hit two days in a row that weren't working like I expect in my classroom and the frustration got the better of me today. On my way home I used the commute to evaluate primarily my reaction and frustration because I feel like while I have the tools for classroom management and kids will always be kids, how I react to them is where I have control.
It was cool to see the FFA Week buzz really hit a high note with the drive your tractor to school event. The students who drove really made an impression with their rigs. Events like these really polish the image of agriculture education in the school and the community.

Enjoying some roast pork!

Hands on snow load sampling!

Friday - Today I took an opportunity to hit the reset button with my students by developing a snow load lesson that gave me another opportunity to discuss class participation in activities and class discussion. Instead of the responsibility of participation resting upon me to generate through dynamic activities and engaging discussion I am trying to create a community of learners responsible for their part in the exchange of knowledge. Participation will be worth a test grade in the grade scheme and each student being human will have a "bye" card they can use each week if they weren't feeling up to it, having a bad day, or being annoyed by the "student teacher." There seemed to be a positive reaction to this change because those who participate are not being penalized or scolded for the actions of a few who choose not to participate.
I continue to face a challenge to create dynamic lessons on a timely basis that are at the students level and feel like I haven't fully visualized my approach prior to execution due to the
pressure I put on myself to be relevant,  dynamic, and engaging. I need to hit a stride where I am prepared further out on the planning horizon, since I feel like I don't even have one in Greenhouse mgmt.

Week 4 Student Teaching @etown

Monday - Today was a great day in all three sections. In both sections of Ag. Mech. I Mr. Anderson and I have really developed a co-teaching approach that has benefited the students beyond just at reduction in the student/teacher ratio. The students are showing competent development in their welding skills due to on the spot interactions with their instructors. I enjoy the students considering my guidance and looking to me to help them develop their basic welding skills. Part of what its all about to be an ag.ed. teacher to me.
My Greenhouse management section has hit their stride in developing their research projects and should be ready tomorrow to present their papers and posters providing the first full blown public speaking/presentation experience for many of them. I am going to work hard to set the stage for this experience to make it a positive, productive, and dynamic form of assessment. My approach with objectives continues to keep the students focused on our mission each day, beginning with the end in mind.

Tuesday -  Co-teaching with primary responsibility in the lab for both sections of Ag. Mech. I is going really well with the students comfortable with me hovering around them or seeking me out for advice. It really works well when I am able to refer the students to Mr. Anderson that need to fine tune their techniques because I am able to listen in for both his advice and his approach to handling the fine welding skills that are needed to move on to the next phase. He has a great way of working through the good, the bad, and the ugly without sounding like he is the authority on running beads. He and the student work through the good part of the bead and areas for improvement so that the student walks away with a feeling of accomplishment and attitude toward continuous improvement. I have used Mr. Anderson's approach and adapted it to query the students when they come to me as to what they like and dislike about their welds before I offer any input. We then discuss both techniques for improvement and mental adjustments that might for example, slow them down.  One example, counting one thousands might help some develop rhythm in their welding technique. This holistic approach seems to help some of them improve their competency.
Today was presentation day for half of the groups culminating their experience as "Botanist's For a Week" using technology in the classroom. I used this opportunity to develop good presentation skills and a relaxed demeanor, especially in students who were presenting for the first time. I considered it to be a success and was impressed with the academic content that the students focused upon. We also used the opportunity to discuss media in presentations comparing and contrasting three different YouTube videos and three different posters. I would definitely do this exercise again and believe it would also suit different content applications providing a learner centered experience that puts much of the responsibility for learning and content, on the learner. I will bring it all together after the last three groups present tomorrow.
I am still challenged to make sure I am taking the time to get everyone's attention before I speak, you would not think it would be that difficult to develop the "teacher look" or use silence but, sometimes I seem to get myself in a hurry or my mind is trying to stay one step ahead to keep things rolling. I need to think about that and work on it!
Wednesday- Today was presentation day for the last three groups in our Botanist for a week activity. The groups impressed me for the most part given it was the first time for a lot of them. We prepared for the presentations by reviewing presentation skills and techniques that they have learned or seen over the course of this experience. I even used myself as an example. We spent a considerable amount of time discussing the presentations and wrapping the unit up tying it all together by bringing in the relevancy of this project around to Greenhouse Management and Landscape Design.
Both agriculture mechanics sections made great strides in three days going from no experience with running a bead to doing a respectable job in their submissions for grades. Again, the co-teaching component of this experience with Mr. Anderson really is a bonus unexpected experience for me and I appreciate his flexibility in sharing it with me.
Work on the Bear Trap with our independent study student is really progressing nicely with it now looking and functioning as a real bear trap.

Thursday was a snow day and Friday was @ PSU which was one of the more beneficial seminars we have had to date. I left State College and spent the night in Harrisburg to avoid any weather related issues with ACES Saturday morning. I am glad I did!

Week 3 Student Teaching @Etown

Monday - School was closed due to inclement weather. I used the time to further develop and tweak a week long research project that emphasizes technology and a learner centered approach to the unit I had planned. When I told Mr. Anderson about my unit for the upcoming week we started to discuss approaches to the material and use of technology, so I decided to run with it instead of the power point/worksheet/activity approach that I had taken to this point. By Monday evening I felt I had a solid concept and outline that incorporated a piece of Mr. Anderson's evaluation advise to develop examples of the work I expect, not just lay out objectives and expectations, I'm trying to show them what success, creativity, and engaged learning look and feel like!

Tuesday - Our day was cut short by 2 hours due to the weather but I was able to kick off my technology in the classroom research project titled "You're a Botanist for a Week". The kids seemed confused at first because it was a totally different experience than they were used to. I probably confused them (unintended) when I handed out the project with a Test 1 cover sheet and indicated I hoped they had studied! This had its intended affect of getting them to pay attention and realize the assessment value of the project because while the title could be considered "fake" in traditional assessment, the fact that it's still worth 15% or 150 points is not fake. By the time they got over the fake test shock they appeared to engage in the initial exploration of their assigned topics and when they got a hold of the computers it was like throwing a switch on their enthusiasm and engagement.
One of my concerns with this assignment is the resistance or unease some of the students expressed who appear to be conditioned to spoon feeding of knowledge and really challenged to think critically. I do feel I will hook them on an engaged style of learning and critical thinking.
I reflecting upon my introduction to this project I feel I missed the chance to hook them with a dynamic interest approach and develop an appreciation for the subject matter. I am not sure what happened but I did feel pressured by the time constraints to the point where I didn't share a story or introduction with a hook.
I had a good review today and further reinforces what a great mentor I have in Mr. Anderson, his ability to take it all in and identify strengths as well as opportunities for improvement continue to impress me. To me this is what I envisioned my student teaching experience to be like and he makes me feel enthusiastic about the areas of improvement that will contribute to my overall development.

Wednesday - School was closed today due to the weather so I took the opportunity to work on Moodle assignments based upon a suggestion made in our online faculty meeting yesterday.
In further reflection on my approach Tuesday I think I will use the break created by a snow day to reintroduce and reenergize the enthusiasm for this project when I return on Thursday. I am also going to heed the advice of Mark and use the board instead of power points with my bell work and develop objectives that are less formal than what might appear in the lesson plan. I don't feel like formal objectives as we have been taught to create are reaching the students where they're at or creating a sense of engagement in the topic.  Sometimes the interest approach peaks their interest and I can feel a palpable let down when I go over objectives for the session. I'm simply going to experiment and try to "repackage" my objectives.

Thursday - Today was a good rebound from yesterday primarily due to the advice I got from Mr. Anderson coupled with me settling down about snow days and trying to be flexible when my intended pace clashes with reality. I felt posting objectives worded at the students level were not only more effective but, served an unexpected purpose when I was able to keep the students on task with our project and the efficient use of technology by pointing out the objectives periodically where appropriate.
Mr. Anderson demonstrating running a bead! No problems with short teenage attention spans or keeping them engaged in learning in the lab!

 

Friday - I really looked forward to today because our ag. mechanics sections are in the shop running their first beads and Dr. Holcomb, a former PSU Horticulture Professor, is coming in as a resource person to introduce the students to orchid care and propagation as part of his association with.
I enjoy circulating amongst the students as they develop their welding skills and I am in my zone when I am with them where time does not exist. That's part of why I chose to Teach Ag!
We had a great experience with Dr. Holcomb and the students really enjoyed being in the greenhouse. The experience really hit home with me as a future ag. educator when a couple of students told me they were lost when it came to repotting the orchids, they were lost because no one had demonstrated how to repot an orchid, orally delivering directions is not nearly as effective coupling it with a demonstration. We all enjoyed the hands on component in the greenhouse doing something that probably only an outside resource can provide with ordchids!