Interim Position

For the past two weeks, I was lucky enough to serve as the Interim Advisor to the Portland FFA Chapter. Amy Barnett was out on maternity leave for her second child and I was able to finish the year out for her. There were tons of experiences I had that make me feel so much more prepared for my permanent job. One of the most difficult tasks was to teach the Career Management Success class. These students were ... unfocused, to say the least. However, in the last two weeks I got to know them and we had fun conducting mock interviews and playing a game to review for their final. I was amazed that my attitude seemed to define theirs - the first few days, I had a preconceived notion of what they were like from hearing it from other people. Once I threw that away and treated them like everyone else, however, they LOVED preparing for interviews and showcasing their talents. I learned so much about the students when I asked them what "job" they'd like to interview for. Not only did many students want to become a vet, a mechanic, or other productive careers - some opened up and revealed singing, dancing, and writing talents. We made those interviews into "auditions" where they sang a German song, danced the tango, and played a song he had written that a band recorded (for money, the real deal!) I was so impressed! I hope they know in the future those talents can be what keeps them on the right track. I feel like that was one of the biggest reasons I was able to have this experience.

The other, of course, was to work again with my lovely Portland FFA students. We worked mainly on the banquet. It all culminated into a wonderful night - I was even recognized as an advisor! I got to walk in with Terry and Amy and say the last portion of the advisors part in Opening and Closing. I also recognized the Stars, as that's what Amy usually does. Also, this year's officer team gave me a beautiful picture frame with their picture and a wonderfully smelling Strawberry Shortcake Paula Deen candle. In addition, they awarded me an Honorary Chapter Degree. I love that I'll always be a member of the Portland chapter now!



After we cleaned up, some of the alumni and students hung out at Sonic (the social hot spot in Portland, apparently.) It was fun to wrap everything up by just sitting around and talking. I'll always love those people!

Now my summer will be filled with job interviews (or at least, I hope so!) I have one next week in East Tennessee and have recently sent my information to another school in Middle. It has also become heavily evident that to be more marketable, I'll have to be open to teaching Ag Mechanics. I never really considered myself to be a mechanics teacher, but I have the summer to brush up and really feel comfortable. I'm nervous but my mom said I can do anything, so it must be true, right? I feel confident that the Lord will keep and guide me. I'm excited to see what the future holds!

GRADUATION!

I'm a college graduate!

Student Teaching - Day 45 (LAST DAY!)

TODAY WAS MY LAST DAY OF STUDENT TEACHING!

We took the greenhouse class, along with other members who worked in the greenhouse, to the Opryland Hotel and on the General Jackson showboat. We observed the plants in the hotel before we had a great meal on the boat. I also got some great news while we were cruising down the river - I have a job interview on Monday! It's potentially my dream job, so I was really excited when the principal called me to schedule an interview. What a great day all around!

My students got me a card and signed it with really sweet things. They were so special - I'll miss them so much!

The entire semester has been an amazing experience. Usually I'm not good with straight prose, so a recap of my semester in a "top ten" list seems appropriate.

Top 10 Student Teaching Memories

10. Clint bringing his guns to my Portland wildlife class. It made me realize the long journey it's taken from my first 4-H class were he was probably my age when I was a 4th grader, through my FFA activites, to now, when I could utilize his talents. Thank God for adopted family like him!

9. Working in the greenhouse at Beech. I still (literally) have soil under my nails from working in the greenhouse. I have a greater appreciation for what it takes to run a greenhouse now, and feel much more at ease for when I will do so in the future. The radio set on a country station helped, too!

8. Taking Melia, Leah, Carla and Rebecca to the Middle Tennessee Awards Banquet. Yes, I drove the state winning Comm team to the banquet, but the dancing to silly music on the way down there made it even more fun.

7. 4th block Ag Sales and Services. No, we did not always work on business or sales related curriculum. Yes, we played many leadership games. Yes, we did loose some PE equipment in the pond, but no, I will never forget any of it!

6. Miller Monte Technical College trip. Leah and Melissa were fun while we drove to Cracker Barrel - and even though I was really tired that day, it rejuvenated my love of finding a place in the world for everyone. That day I saw some guys in an Ag Mech class that might be perfect for that college; I hope I can do that for a class one day.

5. Being silly and playing cards at State Convention with Portland. Sometimes it's the small things that leave the biggest impact. It might have been late night card games, maybe the inside catch phrases like, "Do you want it?", or getting my hair curled by some awesomely talented students, but the down time at state convention really meant a lot to me.

4. Lunchtime around the conference table. It was comforting to know there are people that are usually are hungry as I am - like Jena, Natalie, and Leah! Maybe we were all starving and no one brought lunch, or Mac bought us all Chik-fil-A, either way it was always fun.

3. Preparation for state - tons and tons of it. Every aspect of state officer elections with Michelle. Grilling Cayce for Extempt. Listening to Par Pro...over and over. Seeing all of the students apply what they had done was inspiring. I was overwhelmed with pride.

2. Learning from other agriculture educators. Aside from my amazing cooperating teachers, others like Pam Farmer Walker have really inspired, comforted, and prepared me for what's next. I love these people!

1. My students - all of them. The few I knew beforehand, the talkatives ones, the ones I liked to pick on, the ones who picked on me, the ones that loved me, the ones that may have not liked me. No matter where we stood, I saw the potential in every one of them and endure to fufill the challenge they gave me indirectly. They each deserve an amazing educational experience, and I can't wait to remember that every day when I go to work.

Student Teaching - Day 44

My second to last day student teaching was very informative. I really appreciated the conversation I had with Mac after school in the greenhouse. Out of the blue, he said, "You know, when I started, I didn't know anything about raising plants." He went on to tell me that he didn't start growing anything for about 2 years after he was hired and he has killed everything he's successfully grown at least once. He was giving me advice and finally said, "I know you worry about not knowing everything you need to know, but don't panic." That's basically the kind of thing I need to hear - he's a very wise man!

Student Teaching - Day 52

So .... today I realized I had taught a unit on plant parts and taxonomy and hadn't discussed photosynthesis.

We were reviewing with an online test and one of my students got to a question (on the test made by Mac, which is why I wouldn't have noticed) that illustrated the formula for photosynthesis. She turns to me and says, "I have no idea what this is." I felt horrible! Mac looks at me and says, "Surely you've discussed photosynthesis in this unit." So I had a tiny melt down. I went to the book, thinking all of the activities we had done by the guidelines of the text hadn't highlighted photosynthesis. I finally found that in the unit we were going over, the formula was mentioned in a inlaid picture when discussing the functions of leaves. I flipped to the next chapter - which was all about photosynthesis. I showed it to Mac just to let him know I'm not totally out of it!

Student Teaching - Day 50 and 51

The best thing about Monday was working on the chapter t-shirt with Casey and Jena. We found an awesome font (free) that is the set of pictographs used by the national parks. Having a fondness for the beautiful Tennessee State Parks and lessons related to them, I really wished I had found it when I had my Portland wildlife management class play pictionary with the symbols. Now I'll have it!

On a side note and unrelated to teaching, it was my dad's birthday. We bought him a new computer and he loved it!

On Tuesday, Mac went over Opening and Closing with the freshman to see which team would "win". It was great to see them enjoy speaking, especially the words of the OC ceremonies. One student in particular who did poorly when we first went over it (because he didn't study or memorize it) had obviously studied the advisors part and wow'ed me when he recited it. When he got done he looked at me and I gave him a big thumbs up - I was proud! Since then I've heard him say some amazing things. When the Comm girls talked about their state winning plaque, he said, "I'm gonna have one of those one day!" and when other students discussed banquet, he mentioned that he can't wait until next year because he'll have gotten all kinds of awards. I hope and think that eventually as he matures, he'll realize it's not just about plaques and awards, but his positive attitude has really impressed me. Just in the time I've been there, I've seen a great improvement.

Afterwards, I went to Wilson Central to conduct their chapter officer interviews along with Brett and Michael. (And not to brag, but my slate was the one we eventually decided on. :) ) Afterwards, Pam and I went to get some supper and had a great talk. While we were eating, I got a very important phone call that I was worried would come a lot later. Life is good, and Pam is good luck!

Student Teaching - Day 48 and 49

On Thursday I left early to get some reference letters in order and speak to some people about an interview for a possible job. I like to get excited, but not overly-confident! I can honestly say that the awesome experiences I've had at both my placements has prepared me greatly for facing the teaching job market.

I also had a conversation with Clint about what I might do later in life. I never really contemplated not being a teacher, but he was motivating me to pursue education in a larger venue ... maybe a Director of Schools or Commissioner of Education. One day!

On Friday, I went to MTSU instead of Beech to work on the ABAS monthly newsletter. Our department hasn't put one out in years so it was a very large and comprehensive. I organized it by the type of story and even got to add my own. I also took smaller stories that weren't large enough for an article and made them "Spotlights" that were featured throughout the newsletter. I was glad to do it regardless, but now I have another awesome thing to put in my portfolio.