Pass It on Down

Hi All,

Career Development Events, but who is the development for? the students or the teacher? The answer both! Over the past three weeks both of my  introduction to Ag classes have been working of their class Job Interview, Creed Speaking, and Jr. Prepared Public Speaking CDE project/event (equivalent to the local contest as Derry is the only program in the County). During this time I spent a lot of time with my freshmen, having them come up during their study halls, homeroom, and staying after school working to make sure that they understood the rules and components of their CDE. Like any think some got it and other didn't but pretended they did. However, the main reason I have come to the "both" conclusion of who the D in CDE is because the students and I put all the work into prepping for the Event, but after the first couple of speeches and interviews it was every obvious I forgot a component.  I had forgotten to demonstrating the expectation, the difference between a speech and a report, as well as how a job interview works. Perfect example of I know so I assume the students know. Wrong!

Additionally, to the CDE preparations I have been working with six of my seniors on their Teach Ag Essays and Lesson plans. After my  not so successful go at the CDE preparation it was nice to see a place that I had put all the pieces together resulting in student success ( in my opinion). All the students understood an
d developed complete and comprehensive lesson plans. As well as each took a way their very own lesson as teacher for a day.

This week has been quite interesting in terms of lessons for myself, in making sure the pieces are all their in order for success to be reached and sometimes the lessons you think went the best are missing a piece and the ones you question may have been the one that pulled it all together. You can't second guess your self or the students, only time will tell.            

        Till next time!

The Complete Ag Ed Experience at Derry

Hi all,

As I looked at the calendar today, checking due dates for class projects. I realized their is only 28 days left to my time here at Derry. Looking back it has been quite the experience, the "Complete" Ag Ed experience (instruction, SAE, and FFA). Never being in an Ag program and getting what experience I do have from 4-H and College , not even close.

Observing my cooperating teacher for the first week and then transitioning my self into the role of instructor allowed me to see  first hand a variety of  teaching methods and strategies. The availability of different lab areas (food science, animal science, mechanics, floral, and greenhouse) aided in the way the content was presented to the students. The routine at Derry is consistent by having the in class content (lecture) along with the hands on component (labs). Presenting the lessons  in two different ways,insures that all students (8 multiple intelligences ) receive the content in an applicable form for their thought process.

In addition to the instruction received all the students take part in a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE), offered as a credited course for Senior and Junior that have schedule conflicts ( help students reach becoming a completer). With 95% of  students participating in an SAE their is quite the variety. Derry SAEs range from the traditional production Ag enterprise and placement experiences to more innovative experiences , such as Food Science Research, Volunteer Fireman Experiential, and many more. Each student has two scheduled visits to the site of their SAE with their Ag instructor. Additional visits are scheduled on an as needed bases. This summer I had the opportunity to go along on some of these visits. The SAEs I visited were all traditional enterprise( market animals, gardens, laying hens, and horses). During my internship I have had several opportunities to talk to all the students about their SAEs and conduct a few visits with some nontraditional programs (Fireman , Hydroponics, Demolition tractors, Feedlot employment). Along with the SAEs participation all of the students were encouraged and coached one on one to prepare and send their record books to the state contest ( AET up date day is every Friday) as well as all the upperclassman were encouraged and coached one on one for their Proficiency awards.   

Before the State went to affiliate membership, all the students at Derry were members of the FFA. The chapter has officer meetings every other Tuesday, to review their POA and discuss any other information that needs to be discussed. On the alternating Tuesdays there is an all members meeting to keep all members informed. Derry's FFA year kicks off with the chapter officers developing an extensive POA from there its  presented  to the instructor and then put in to action , after their summer retreat/debriefing . FLC is one of the big events for the freshmen members, all the freshman( first year members) that they can take go to be introduced to the extensiveness of the FFA organization in PA. I have had the opportunity to go with 14 students to the ACES conference, and more recently with 6 students to SLLC. All these experiences have shown me how the organization helps to develop the students' leadership and career skills as well as how it works to supplement the curriculum at the same time.

In my opinion I still have allot to learn but the learning is much more effective through student teaching verses setting in a classroom even with guest speakers. It really puts it all into perfect perspective.             

Piglets Are Here !!!!

Hi all,

This week was the farthest thing from normal. Three days in Harrisburg for SLLC, first interview for a "Big Kid Job", Piglets arrived, and CDE practices kicked off. Oh the life of an Ag Teacher!

With all the goings on this week  the lesson that shown through the most was the importance of student success. Seeing the reaction of my students as they received their certificate for best homemade shirts at SLLC on Sunday night was just the start. On Tuesday the students were recognized by the Senate for their participation in SLLC , as well as their work with local Agriculture in their local community.

A pone returning to school on Thursday the importance of student success continued to echo. I figured that when I saw the two students who had tried for Proficiency awards (Small Animal Care) they would be a little disappointed. But to my surprise their only concerned that I was disappointed in them. Once I explained that was in no way the case, I was just proud of them for putting all the time and dedication into their SAE and their award applications. It was amazing to see how that reassurance and praise for their hard work completely changed the attitudes of these two students.

Continuing on this same train of thought, the students in my floral design class had work extremely hard on their contemporary arrangements ( Fresh- landscape & Silk - student's choice). I had been trying to work with the principal to have the arrangements displayed in the school lobby, however, do to the fear of the arrangements being destroyed by the vocational students and the fact that the Ag department had just had the display cases for FFA week my request we denied. The students and I were relay disappointed. With a little help from Mrs.Reed ( the department Secretary) I was able to pressured the school librarian into letting the floral class display their arrangements in the library.

When I returned on Thursday the students had no idea what was going on when they looked at their objectives, 1) Filed Trip.  I gave them instructions to go to the lab and load all the fresh arrangements out of the cooler and on to a cart, as well as to get their silk arrangements to carry down to the high school library. They light up and could get over how I did it. The librarian greeted us at the door and told the student they could put their arrangements any where they would like and they would be high lighted during the library's open house, coming up this week. Teachers that had their classes in the library were stunned by the classes work and kept complementing all of them. Seeing the students' smiles grow as they placed their arrangements and talked to the teachers about their arrangements was one of the best moments I have had during student teaching.

Additionally, this week The freshmen had the opportunity for hands on lamb/sheep fitting in the greenhouse. On Wednesday  large animal science class got to deliver ten of the twelve piglets,getting to assist with two breached piglets. Friday we had a USDA community recourse person come to demonstrate how to process the piglets. Removing needle teeth, ear knock, and give shoots (Iron).

Till next time!        

Hands on learning of sorts

Hi all,  well this week had hands on learning seemed to be the them, maybe more so on my part than the students.

This week we were trying to finalize every thing for SLLC including proficiency award applications, which are a lot more complicated than what they need to be explaining why most students just don't bother with them. I had decided earlier in the week that Friday would be set aside for the Large Animal Science class to clean their side of the barn. It was appositely repulsing!  The standing agreement is that all group leaders are to arrange for their group to get together at least once a month to clean out their assigned pens, however, none of the pens have been cleaned sense Thanksgiving. A Yorkshire Gilt, Dairy heifer calf, two Dorset X ewes, and a Nubian doe ; that should be more than enough to explain the smell. Needless to say the barn manager and I had a long discussion on the health issues, human and animal, that were bound to ensue.

I wish it hadn't  but by Thursday my words had come true, the goat had had her kid and developed mastitis. Not completely but in a larger part to her unsanitary living conditions, in addition to this the calf was about to be taken from the programs care. Students just seem to have to learn the hard way. Manual labor my be one of the best teaching tools, as all the student quickly learned why the barn needs to be cleaned because, it makes the pens even harder to clean and the smell is horrendous. Additionally it allowed me to work on my classroom management, keeping all the students productive in the cleaning process. We didn't get completely done in the 45 minuet period but some of the students volunteered to come back up during their study halls and finish up.

The fallowing two periods were even more interesting having a fire drill, that the teachers didn't know about, and some of the students that were working on the farrowing crate in the shop promised they didn't cause. It was funny how quick they came out of the shop saying  "we didn't do it, the fire was last period". When we saw the main school evaluating to we knew they relay hadn't set the alarm off. Finally, we got to go back in to the school for 8th period.                      

Having two students needing to finish their proficiency award applications, we decided to have the remaining students up date their AET. while we worked on figuring out were the errors were coming from.At this time the office had sent up machinates because the new welders were on their way and work still need to be done to  the shop so Mr.Campbell had to go assist them, leaving me to work out the bugs. Relay, it would have went a lot smother with two of us looking not just the one who had never seen or filled the form out before.  I was looking at the one and talking at loud and one student did what I was saying and fixed theirs in what seemed like no time. Helpful hint pay more attention in Ag business class. The bell had rang at some point and I still couldn't fix the same errors on the application I was looking at because cells wouldn't allow us to change them. We finally, had the students leave so they didn't miss their rides. Staying after to figure out what to do but with both Mr.Campbell and I having appointments after school it was deiced that Mr.Campbell would take it home and look at it again and if need to call another teacher to see if they could give us a hand.

Lesson for the week their is no substitute for hands on learning for the teacher and the students.          

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!                 

You Always Remember Your First........ ACES

An interesting fact about me I was not in FFA Not by choices my school was lame and didn't have an Ag program. 

With that being said This was my first ACES experience and boy was it an experience I honestly believe that may be my chapter should start leaving me at home,every time we go we are in the middle of  the storm of the centenary. After a change of plans do to the inclement weather I ended up riding with my chapter to ACES instead of  driving down and meeting them their, which turned out to be a great advisor learning moment. The school districts two vans had been reserved for us to take ,14 students, for a months. Saturday, however, when Mr.Campbell and Mrs.Reed went to pick up the vans there was only one not a pretty picture and 14 student standing in the pounding of the snow locked out of the buildings. Mr.Campbell called the bus line and a neighboring bus line to try and find our van or an alternative. Needless to say our 7:00 am departure turned into a 9:45 am  departure we asked two parents to stay that had larger vehicles so that the students could get out of the snow til the van showed once it was located 30 minuets away in Apollo. Always double check reservations on transportation, keep a paper trail, and have the person responsible on speed dial with plan B,C,&D. 

Once the van arrived and both were fueled up we loaded the students and headed for Donegal and the trunpicke, Which was a question if we could even get to after previous attempts two days prior in 4X4 the vans are only 2 wheel drive oh boy. We made it thankfully an additional hour later. The ride its self was interesting for me as I was with two of the three freshman we took with us they didn't stop talking the hole time and they had to ask Ms.Ross what she thought about every conversation topic on nothing!! We stopped for the restroom and a quick lunch and COFFEE Cup 1 around 11:55 am! We finally arrived right around 1:10 pm, missed opening ceremonies, and just made the first workshop. The students got their folders and took off  I got mine and the T-shirts for every one along with COFFEE Cup 2 ! During the AET teacher workshop it worked out quite well having a student account log in from 311 to work through the student side without making a fake one or messing a students up. Mr.Campbell and I switch for the workshop so He could see the student side and I could play with the Teacher side of things. I worked on the chapters website, highlight real of student SAEs !  Our workshop wasn't  as long as the students so we had time to check into our rooms before we had to keep track of all of our Minoans and their rooms. 

When every one was checked in we meet for dinner every on was there but the two freshmen Surprise Not they had gotten lost in their room Really? It was realized that we had forgotten the chapter camera amongst all the confusion in the morning. However, I had mine fro my blog with me so it worked out I went up to get it when I went to find our two missing girls. During Dinner they told us about their workshops and how We have to do the "Teach Ag Photo Contest for you (me)" and he last three students in my Leadership class deiced to join the rest and do the TAGS essay contest. They were dismissed and changed quicker then you would think possible to get ready for the dance I was just as guilty I wanted my Jeans. The student teachers found a table and kept tabs on our students, they all thought it was funny that one of mine had a fireman's helmet on til Meagan's came in with a full Spider man costume on. All the students' wanted was for the student teachers to join them on the dance floor they succeed for the Chicken dance and Timber  in hindsight may have been a bad idea for being sour form Thursday but it was great to see that the student really want to just have fun with their teachers and us student teachers.  

After the dance I checked all our girls into their rooms for the evening telling them to have all their stuff packed and ready to go before we all went to the moment of inspiration in the morning. Then I went with Quinn and Meagan to volunteer for courtesy call, which we thought went on till around midnight but they called us back before than. I relay felt like a teacher because I kept checking on my Freshman girls' room and asked Meagan to check my girlfriend to one of the boys room on her floor what felt like 20 times, checked on her room at least 5 myself.   Once back to our room we started to talk about our student teaching experiences but both fell asleep in mid conversation. 
 
In the morning I checked all our girls rooms again making sure they were all up and ready I didn't have to but I just wanted to check on them so the day was smooth running, that and if they listened to my instructions from the night before. They were all ready, well the freshman were missing from their room It scared the crap out of me and I started to panic. They turned up dressed and ready to go in the Girlfriend room.Thank You God! We all headed down to the banquet hall for our moment of inspiration and breakfast. during inspiration, Mr.Campbell was very impressed  that I had everyone there and ready to go ,I was relay happy to see one of the quieter girls who wasn't going to come volunteer for a part in the services. At the end of the closing program we instructed them all to go get their things and head to the vans. The ride home was just as interesting as the ride down, it really makes you appreciate and the weekends your student. We hit bad weather right on the boarder of Summerset and Bedfored and our good time home ended up 30minuets passed the estimated time, positive we didn't have to wait for any parents.

Overall my first impression of ACES was confused and it still is confused as to why chapters travail to Harrisburg for one not even a half a day of workshops squeezed into a short amount of time, the longest part is the dances! I feel that they need to look at the 4-H teen leader reiterate set up so that the students get more out of it and it makes it more worth wild for the chapters.

On to the Next adventure ,SLC, til then!      

All you need is Love......Well More like All you need is Food

Hi all I know I'm late again.....I'm working on it.

This week was full of those blog-able moments, in part some to Dr. Ewing's visit on Wednesday you can only give so many empty threats to students before they call your bluff ! Thursday had to be in my opinion, that is what this is all about,the one to talk about. In my large 8animal science class I am not playing favorites they are just very interesting students, they just as surprised by what they pull most of the time it was the last day of goat nutrition finally we went back to a point that was mentioned a few time throughout the lesson but never really hit hard "Goats are Selective Eaters". To  drive this point home I had them take 3 different kinds of cereal always remember to take the supply list wit you to Walmart or you end up improvising/ grabbing random crap you don't need or is just wrong it ended up being 2 kinds of cereal and potato sticks, long story short it worked.

The Students say food when they walked into class and Ms.Ross became "your my  favorite teacher". This went on up to the point I told them "Now, separate the cereal out again" after they had mixed it all up real good oh all the moaning and yet I found myself laughing at how fast their feelings changed ,when asked how did  you feel about that, hard or easy, it was the hardest thing in the world I know this could have gone wrong ,but I ignored this student frustration, it was really just high school students being high school students. After more discussion the next step was to remix the cereals together, boy were they hesitant to mix up as well as they did the first time, right up to the point I told them to put it into their zip lock baggie they thought they were down hahaha not so easy. For lack of better wording on my part I told them to take their bag and pound the crap out of it All the pounding and caring on made Mr. Campbell a little nervous because he came into the room pretty quick to see what was going on. 

Once the bags had all landed on desks and looked like sweepings of the floor the students were instructed to separate the cereal out again, they didn't whine this just laughed at me till they realized I was dead series. "It's Impossible" "It can't be done", "You're crazy" yes but that's not the point I picked the discussion back up and with the very first question , how did you feel about that, easy or hard? All the light bulbs went off at the same time I need sunglasses they were literally trying to scream the answer over each other  I was smiling so much and couldn't stop once order was restored each of them got to share or add on to the others thought on grinding the feed finer prevents goats from picking out ingredients in their feed compared to larger textured mix yes yes yes. After this great epiphany I figured I would go head and push my luck, so we mad a deal if they could answer all of my questions and each one of them answered just one correctly they wouldn't have a written quiz on Monday I was hoping this didn't back fire and ruin my day, Mr.Campbell's face definitely echoed that thought with a why are you pushing it. Lucky I wasn't disappointed by my students, each one of them answered at least one and they were all correct Ms.Ross was the favorite again  HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY, really made remember Why I love teaching Ag and me glad I stuck it out! It also probably didn't hurt that I left them eat the rest of the cereal and random things we didn't us.  

Til next time!