Student Teaching - Day 14

Friday started out with a surprise - Doc came to see me! I don't teach in first block yet, so he came back during 2nd. He observed me during 2nd block for Wildlife, where those who didn't finish their Dilemma cards read them in front of the class. I only had a few discipline problems while Doc was observing me, but it worked out well. They listened to me and I didn't have to repeatedly ask the students to sit up, stop talking, etc.

I then had some of them read their personal Hunting/Wildlife Code of Ethics in front of the class. We would then discuss which of the 4 values we studied earlier in the week that the person mentioned. It tied in nicely and I was very proud of their behavior and participation!

When Doc left about halfway through the lesson, he handed me my evaluation. I got an A++! He loved the class participation, was very impressed that the students were engaged and asking questions, and liked that I disciplined them with a smile. He also wrote that he "loved the dilemma cards to get them involved, and loved the Hunting/Wildlife Code of Ethics." He also said that the teaching and learning was relevant to the students. That's probably one of the biggest compliments he could give - I constantly try to relate to why our discussions and lessons relate to real life!

Afterwards, Michelle and some of the officers and I were attempting to surprise Mr. Shartzer for his birthday! I made a cake the night before and hid it in my car before lunch. We had racked our brains trying to get a distraction during lunch so he would leave and we could set out the cake, light the candles, put up balloons, all that jazz. But, as luck would have it, he needed me to drive him to get his son who had stayed home sick, and take him for the rest of the day to his middle school. He doesn't currently have a seperate vehicle, and his wife had the family van, so it was perfect that I could drive while the students set everything up. When we got back about 20 minutes later, the classroom was dark. When I opened the door and stepped out of the way, he could see the cake and candles lit in the dark, then everyone popped out and yelled "Surprise!". It was perfect, and he was sincerely surprised. And he loved his cake and wasn't mad that it was a little jab at his age, and his area of expertise - as a plant and soil science man, he hates the word "dirt".

In fourth block, we formed committees and elected a chair and secretary from each committee. Then Amber suggested that we have a Greenhouse manager, someone who is in charge of the entire class. I felt her idea was a great one, so I asked who would like that position. I would have had an informal election, but Amber was the only one willing to fill that position, so she became manager. I loved her initiative to not only suggest the idea, but also in her dealings with the committees. I gave them some time to split up and discuss what their committees needed. I loved that I could trust them enough to discuss everything without worrying about calming them down or getting them back on task. They had wonderful ideas, and I can't wait to see how this sale turns out!

For the last 30 minutes of class, they wanted to try a teamwork game called Human Knot over again. We played on Monday, but they couldn't get it figured out. I decided to take them outside, due to the close proximity of game. They worked on it for a while alone, until the neighboring Auto Cad class decided to come outside and see what all the fuss was about. We let them join in so they could experience the fun of Human Knot, too!

I stayed after until about 6 to get everything for the State Officer run-off ready for Sunday. I wanted to practice for Discussion Meet (and watch the Super Bowl), so I decided to get everything printed, put in folders, organized, put in the correct rooms, and to make an agenda for the day so that Mr. Shartzer and Amy wouldn't have to do anything but show up and bring the judges. I really value the run-off process at the chapter level, having to go through it many times when I was in high school. It's important to make it fair, professional, and complete so that the best person from the chapter can represent Portland at state convention. I hope that Mr. Shartzer and Amy like the way I set it all up. I'll find out Monday when I talk to them! Now I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend so I can get my thoughts together on Discussion Meet (which I leave for in LESS THAN A WEEK!) and take a little break to watch some footbaaaaall. :)

Student Teaching - Day 13

Thursday morning was an EARLY one. We have officer breakfast at 7am, and I had said I'd bring breakfast, so I essentially had to get up at 4:15 to get ready by 5:15 to get to Portland about 30 minutes later so that I could have time to buy food and be there at 7. But it seemed I overestimated the amount of time it would take to do all that, and I was at school about 45 minutes early. Oh well!

In second block, we discussed the difference between Legal and Ethical decisions when it comes to hunting and wildlife. I made Dilemma Cards that had a hunting, fishing, or wildlife problem for them to solve. I had them come in front of the class when it was their turn to read their card, then I wanted them to tell why they picked their choice. I then wanted them to tell why they thought the other choices were bad, similar to giving a set of reasons. The entire class would then discuss what they would do, is this a legal or ethical matter, or both? I then had them write a personal Hunting/Wildlife Code of Ethics.

In third block, we went to the middle school and the students read to a class of 1st graders for PLOW. I loved seeing it, considering I was a member of the state officer team that developed PLOW!
Every student had a "high school pal" that they would sit down and read with for about 30 minutes. I loved seeing our high schoolers being so patient and kind with the little ones. Adorable! Also, the 1st grade teacher knew who I was and that I was part of the team that designed the program. She was asking me questions and wondering if this is how other chapters do it.

In fourth block, we've been talking about characteristics of a business person. Because we will be marketing the products of the 1st block floriculture class, we needed to devise a business plan. I had each student take one question from the business plan, and answer it in their own words. We then read them outloud and I told them that tomorrow, we would create our own committees related to the sale, and then elect a chair and secretary from each to keep up with each committee.
Overall, it was a good day!

Student Teaching - Day 11 and 12

Snow Days! Two in a row. I decided to post even though I didn't have any commentary on teaching because I have some snow pictures! I don't have any from yesterday, considering it was just an "ice day". I woke up yesterday at 5:15 and hadn't gotten a text from News Channel 5 for Sumner Co. schools closing, so I assumed we weren't closed. I turned on the TV as I got up to get ready, and the first name at the bottom of the screen for the closings was Sumner! I clicked it off and went right back to sleep and didn't wake back up until 10:30. I studied Discussion Meet and watched The Dark Knight with Dad. Lazy day!

This morning I woke up before my alarm at about 4:45, and once again I didn't have a text from News Channel 5 so I assumed we were still open. When I turned the TV on, Lelan Statom was saying that lots of the officials who make decisions about school closings are listening to him, and although there wasn't any snow yet, it was coming. Then he said he was getting two new closings that moment, Robertson and ... Sumner! So I once again turned the TV back off and slept until about 8:30. I woke up because I heard a male voice that was not my Dad's. By the time I got into the kitchen, Mom was the only one home. She said that Dad's truck had broken down just down the road, and his friend from work took him back to the house to get a part. He had to lie on the ground in the middle of our country road to fix it - then it started snowing! He said once he got it fixed, he almost lost control on the road and decided to just come back home. I'm just glad he's ok! This is him walking back to put his tools up.





I braved the cold to take some pictures. The sun was obviously not shining so they are a little dreary. Now the sun is out but the snow hasn't melted, it's beautiful.

After I relax a little more, I'm going to practice Discussion Meet some more. Yay for lazy snow days!

Student Teaching - Day 10

Today was not my first day of teaching, but it was my first day to have develop the lesson plans relating to the curriculum, instead of coming up with some activities or discussions on the fly because Mr. Shartzer didn't have them doing anything. He said last week I could "start" Monday, and I did!

Although I'm not teaching his first block normally, I did want to talk about job interview skills with them because they are structuring the class much like a factory would structure jobs. They voted on a CEO, then today he interviewed 4 Executives, then those Executives interviewed their foreman and crew after that. Before we got into the interviews, though, I took the first half of class to talk to them about the Do's and Don'ts of an interview. I also gave them the laminated business cards I made last night that had Tips for Interviews on one side, and Do's and Don'ts on the other. I made these because I was certain that when they do go to interview for a real job in a year or two that they probably wouldn't have kept the notes from Ag Mech class, but they could keep the laminated card I made to fit their wallet.

In Wildlife, the major class I've planned lessons for, we discussed what wildlife really means, defined some official definitions of wildlife, then we broke into a jigsaw and discussed food & water, philosophy of wildlife, and cover. Once the group doing cover finished, I had them all sit back in their seats, close their eyes and choose an animal to be. Then I played on my iPod and portable speakers a thunderstorm soundtrack and read a description of a thunderstorm in nature. They were to imagine how their animal would take cover, and what other senses they felt during the storm. I then turned the music down and told them the storm had passed, then asked what they felt, saw, heard, etc. The animals they decided to be were funny - poison dart frog, elephant, lizard, lyger. And even funnier is that many of them didn't survive the thunderstorm - they said they were just "washed away". I also asked them if they felt panic, as if they didn't feel they could find over. I also asked if the cover that people did find was the only cover in the area. We then described how its important to be aware that we share our environments with these same animals, (well, maybe not the elephant and poison dart frog), and when we aren't good stewards of the land and animals, we could be negatively affecting an animal's habitat. We then did a different jigsaw discussing the 4 values of wildlife. Tomorrow (unless we have a snow day, because I think we will!), we're going to play a hunting/management practice ethics dilemma game. Fun!

In 4th block we discussed the important characteristics of an agribusiness person, and then played some games relating to some of those characteristics. Some of them required moving the desks and getting physical - I think they had a lot of fun, judging from the constant flow of laughter for most of the class. Those kids are great!

Final thought for today - I think we'll have two snow days in a row. Even though I have things planned out and I enjoy teaching so far, I still would love to be able to sleep in. I'm off to do the official, yet very secret, teacher snow dance!

Student Teaching - Day 8 and 9

Thursday was a great day - Speaking contest day!
I was at school at 7am for the weekly officer breakfast. We discussed ways to recruit middle school members. Although I haven't worked it all out yet, I'd like to think of some very creative ways to promote Ag and FFA in the middle school.
In Wildlife, I made a very large list on the board of what they wrote to me saying they'd like to study this semester in Wildlife. We then had a discussion on what does "wildlife" really means.
After school, we drove to Station Camp High School for the speaking contests. I got to see all of the awesome Sumner and Wilson Co. ag teachers that I love, and this time I was one of them! It felt great to stand around and socialize as a teacher, with the other teachers, when just 4 years ago I would have been one of the students.
I also got to judge my FAVORITE contest, Creed Speaking! Amy and I were the only judges for the Cordell Hull Creed, so inbetween the speakers and the scoring of them, we got to socialize. Afterwards, I got announce the results! This seems silly and small, but I remember being one of the speakers, always listening so carefully and nervously for my chapter to be called, so I took the duty seriously! I remember hating how some teachers would go on and on about how great the contest was, blah blah. So I decided to simply say "thank you, the results are...".
The best part of the night was when the speakers who get to continue come up and ask for advice, just like I remember doing for Creed, Job Interview, and Prepared. The winner was from Wilson Central, and she was fantastic. There were only a few things she could improve upon to be exemplary. When she came up to me, Benny Jo was with her. She asked what I could improve upon, and when I started talking, Benny Jo pulled out a notepad and pen so she could write them down. He was also listening and really taking in what I had to say. It just made me feel great, considering I really admire his ability to train great speakers and leaders, and he was really wanting to hear what I had to say. Great day!

Uneventful Friday for the most part. We cleaned the Greenhouse in first block, and worked on proficiencies and resumes in the other classes. After class I went to the 4-H office to get materials for Wildlife. Clint had an enormous amount of things to give me, and I've been planning the syllaus today. I'm going to go to WalMart later with Mom to see what they have discounted as far as hunting equipment goes, Clint said they have great discounts this time of year. I want to get some things to give as prizes for the games we're going to play. I can't wait for this class on Monday, it's going to be great!

Student Teaching - Day 6 and 7

I won't downplay - Tuesday was a hard day. Maybe even a "bad" day, although no day can be too bad when I get to teach ag.

It seems that the inauguration brought out the worst in certain people. I realize that being in a rural area meant a predominant Republican bias. I understand, being a Republican myself, the struggle it is to wish your country well and still be a patriot when your country has elected someone who you did not support. However, I came to the realization yesterday that I love my country more than I love my political party, and that it was time to back the new leader of my country. I didn't expect everyone to hold this same viewpoint, but I did expect respect while we watched Obama take his oath of office. Mr. Shartzer told me right before he left for the day that he would be at a textbook adoption committee meeting all day, and so I would have to run all of his classes. Although normally I wouldn't have a problem with that, he wanted them to do proficiency applications. There are many areas of expertise I possess in the FFA, but proficiency applications are not one of them. Therefore, I could only help them so much. In addition, many of them didn't even have an SAE to fill out a proficiency form for. Therefore, I was left with a large percentage of students who had nothing to do. I felt like watching the inauguration festivities would be a great learning experience, for a few reasons. First of all, regardless of their feelings toward President Obama, it was certainly a moment in history, and a good teacher would want to share that with her students. Secondly, tolerance can be illustrated in many ways, and I felt like integrating his moment into our day would allow others to see the beauty in diversity. But the unintended lesson became his well-written address to the country. I hope one day the students in those classes, even the ones I had to discipline for inappropriate comments, understand the enormity of the moment they saw in high school.

At 6:30, I came back for the chapter meeting. I was interested to see that they actually used parliamentary procedure, and followed an agenda. Our chapter meetings in high school were usually related to an activity, and opening and closing ceremonies was about as formal as it got. I get to say the advisor's part next meeting!

Today was better. I spent first block in Amy's class, making an outline for one topic of the discussion meet. In second block I came back to Mr. Shartzer's class and planned to continue working on it, but ended up working on Michelle's resume and cover letter for job interview - which is tomorrow!! Tomorrow is one of my favorite days of the FFA year. I love love love the speaking contests, even if it means a long day and waiting around for the extemp speakers to finish. I haven't had much time to help Michelle or the Creed speaker, Will, but I have tried to contribute what I can. I know in the future I will be able to prepare my students months beforehand. Tomorrow will also be exciting because I'll also be able to see the Sumner Co. ag teachers that I love! I can't wait!

Student Teaching - Day 5

It seems like my day on Thursday was already a week ago, so much as happened since then! Since I wasn't at Portland on Wednesday, some of the students asked me where I had been and some said, "You're back!" when they came into class. It was sweet!
The day was most uneventful, with the exception of my disciplining a student in 2nd block. I was very forceful when he smarted off to me, but Mr. Shartzer made him apologize and I accepted it, so I feel like we can still work together.

Michelle brought her new kid to class. I think his name is Spanky! When anyone would put him down after we held him, he wasn't used to the slick floor. We said it was like he was ice skating. :)

I left 4th block early to meet Jessica and Mr. Curtis in Murfreesboro at Dr. Hillman's house. Dr. Hillman is a voice and diction coach, and he helped me and Jessica clear up some of our incorrect speech patterns, words we say incorrectly, etc. It was very enlightening! I never knew I did some of the things he pointed out. I've been practicing since Thursday night to try to incorporate the things he said. I have 19 days until Discussion Meet, so I think I can do it! Afterwards I went to Ashley's to watch Grey's, then I heard school was out the next day, so we went to see Twilight at 10 that night.

On Friday I got to sleep in, then I went to Clint and Tracy's to play Wii with Austin and Allison, and get Clint's opinion of the Discussion Meet topics. Tracy made egg rolls and I had never tried them - I didn't know what to expect, but oh my gosh! They were amazing. She gave me some to take home, I might make them later tonight. They also gave me my Christmas present, a digital picture frame!
Today Mom, Bridget, and I went to see Twilight (yes, again! That's the 5th time!). We stopped by Wal-Mart so I could get My Best Friend's Girl on DVD. Now I'm relaxing at home. Danny and Amanda are coming over, so we're all going to watch it together. I also get Monday off, so tonight it like Friday night all over again!