Cattle Call

Hi all,
Do to a death in the family last week I am still a little behind but will be posting about National FFA week  in a later post to catch you all up.

So this week (6) I have to say a lot developed but Friday my have been or at least was pretty close to being "that moment". That certain people want me to have to change my mind about extension and take the school based rout, I'm slowly wearing down but not there yet. If you can remember back to week two (week one of actually teaching) the student that I have had class room management difficulties with ,ok the majority of the time may be more factual to explain the management struggle,had his light bulb light!

The first day of Large Animal Science's Reproduction Unit was an inquiry based lesson in titled "Cattle Call", I picked up the idea from the NAAE Preserves Teachers Program, the lesson is designed to have students explore the working of Mendel's Theory of Genetics by looking at different developing countries and developing the "Perfect" breed of cattle for the environment and people. This student came into class like always , I figured here we go again, but instead of the complaints I thought I would hear I hared  excitement real excitement. "Oh yea we got Vietnam!" I was shocked almost as much as his group members were, I wanted to ask "Who are and nice to meet you" but I re-framed. I had them read their articles ( 8 groups of three each with a different country)highlighting any thing they thought might help them to answer the proposed question "What factors go into developing a new breed?". Oh, also for this lesson I handed out question cards that limited each group to three questions, including "can I use the restroom, sharpen my pencil,& get a drink?". I think a firing squad would have been more friendly than my students were when I explained the cards and started collecting them.

One think to keep in mind for any one wanting to use them have any other teachers leave the room or collect cards to, the students will try  asking them their questions to try and avoid losing a card. This student had a question and I probably shouldn't have but I didn't take his card for asking, I was still to shocked, "Can I get the laptop or us my phone to look up something (tempter) I can't find in our article?"  "Yes, of cores you can use your phone or a laptop to look up more!!" I figured the sky was going to fall on us all but at the same time it was what happen for it to finally click for this kid and please don't go away. I told you I didn't take a card from their group and he reminded me that I had forgotten to take his card, I told him it was OK they could keep it because it was for the good of the whole class. A little while later he had another question about something he had found ( if the temp is in C than what is it in F) but before he asked he asked his group if it was alright to use on of their cards to ask. They both said Yes and said what I had been thinking the whole time, "Who are and nice to meet you!", he didn't respond just asked his question and gave me a card. You could have knocked me over with one finger.

When it came time to discuss Vietnam was the first in line, with full thoughts and comments on why they did what they did and why the pick the two breeds of cattle and how effective their breedings were. All the students enjoyed the lesson some were frustrated more than others but they all could explain the concepts that they had to explore on their own. At the end of class this student told my test was one of the first he had studied for and passed without using notes and it really help his grade and that's why he decided I didn't need a hard time any more, that and because I had made further than what he had bet I would. Go back to before the bet  and say what?!?! I did what ?  Thank you was all I could say to him and if you need any help just ask was what I finally said once he asked me if I was OK, I was speechless for only the second time in my life and must have looked sick or shell shocked and boy I was.

 This week have learned quite a bit about myself, having patients, keeping band-aids close by, and the power of even if you think you aren't getting through don't give up on any student they will all ways surprise you!!!    

Til next time!