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!                                              

Lost in Translation ......

Hi all I know I'm a little late with this but better late than never right?

This past Tuesday  was my first official observation from Mr. Campbell and I don't know if I could have picked a worse day to introduce one of the long term projects for my Animal Science class. Their project is tracking livestock market values from January 27th  to April 21st to if their is a change and factors effecting these changes.  I was really excited  but all that enthusiasm got the best of me sending clarity right out the door, I was not communicating the instructions as well as what I thought ignoring  the need to know and adding to much nice to know. To make maters a little worse I had opened class on a shaky foot with my students giving them a  Pop Quiz to gauge where they stood and more importantly where my instruction stood.

When the bell rang to end this nightmare I already new that it had gone awful, may be horrendous is a better word , it was written all over my face but Mr.Campbell still asked "What do you think?"  kinda laughing at my answer that he said he all ready new and went on to tell me that it wasn't as bad as what I thought and I'm right where I should be at this point. Easy for him to say, I was the one in front of the class digging a huge hole to put myself in. "Remember you know the content,they don't that's why you are here to Teach them as you Learn." True True. That made me calm down and realize I was over reacting this was week two of teaching and this was just one day, I'd hit refresh and start over tomorrow. But that pop quiz popped back in my mind. What if they flunked it, I can't do this . The first thing I did was grade those quizzes during lunch, to my relief  19 of the 23 passed it with an 80% or higher (1 student still needs to take it) and those  who didn't t thought it was romper room ,because Ms.Ross is a  student teacher, the first couple of classes.  Oh oh yes yes yes I did it they got it so I did it, why did I doubt  myself, Mr. Campbell was right. 

Breathing and reevaluating the days lesson I decided that this project was to valuable for the students  just to trash based on today. So I made up a Cheat Sheet with step by step instructions, definitions , and example for each item the students need to find. It turned out that was the key ,now they understand and have something to refer back to. They also know that they just need to ask when they are stuck because no mater how much I hate to admit it I forget and need to refer back once in while.     

The rest of the week went much better when the students walked into the classroom and found ruminant puzzle pieces on their desks Wednesday as their ,up and moving, bell work for What is a ruminant?, originally a Beef lesson but was relocated for relevance and a nice review seaway into sheep/goat nutrition.   Thursday they found a note on the board to go to the barn, so they could all see the newest additions. 

The biggest take away from this week for me was I don't need to be perfect right out of the box "I'm here to teach  and intern be taught."  I thought I was ready to turn in my towel but with a little pep talk, real data evidence ,  and some self reflection I can do this and have no desire to have the words I can't cross my mind or lips again. 

Til next time !    

                

Snowday,Tail docking, school board meeting, FFA week planing OH My!!

One word AMAZING !!!
Hi all it is the end of week two and it has been anything but dull. Yes, I understand it is still the so called Honeymoon phase but it has been great. It started on Monday starting my first class Large Animal Science, well that's not completely true it started Sunday with playing school with my friends Jodi and Chris to prepare for my lesson and try and cure my sever case of butterflies. The preparation paid off but no such luck with the butterflies, they would stick around till after my class.

Monday, I assisted teaching Poultry terminology to both the 1st and 4th period Introduction classes. Far from my strong point but it turned out to be a good thing when confusion ensued over two terms being miss used. I have to admit before this goes any further that if I could hide during  3rd period I would beyond  dreading teaching this class for the one unit I have in Ag Construction. Ok, now that's out of the way, we can move on. The Experts , as they will be referred to from now on, decided to criticizes and harass Mr.Campbell during his pipe cutting demonstration, as well as were hats and no safety glasses in the shop. They also like to try and buffalo myself , to add to this some of the shop hand tools and implements have been growing legs after this particular period. 5th period is Greenhouse Production and Floral Design, I observed greenhouse as the were learning how to use the seeder to plant their spring crops that they had selected/assigned the previous week. Finally,  it was time for my first class. Introduced myself, got the students expectation and brief background, went over classroom expectations/ procedures/ consequences, and the essential Sheep & Goat need to knows. Right after this if you had asked me how I did  I would have told you Crash & Burned, however, after some refection during my observation in 8th period Career & Leadership class as they finished up their Job Shadowing letters before I started teaching on Wednesday. Reflection with Mr.Campbell at the end of the day went well he said " It was very appropriate for the first day  class and introducing the unit." he also felt that it went well.

Tuesday was well below zero so I had a "Snow Day" and like every responsible student teacher I had arts and craft day.

Wednesday, was a 2 hour delay that really made me brain dead day for some reason ,I walked off without my days lesson plan because I had taken to make sure I was well prepared.  In addition to this I got to the school left my keys in my truck ,luckily the doors were not locked, and when I came back in and took my coat off realized I had my sweater on backwards , no one was there to see it thankfully. To add to the morning in it was a delay schedule that skips 1st and 2nd period and goes straight to 3rd. Their was another commentary demonstration by the experts and almost fire, when one of them didn't turn off the propane torch and knocked it off the table into one of the wood working projects, it only scorched no flame actually had the chance to start. In 4th period it was lab day, I was put with the horticulture group to finish their Valentine candy sundae arrangements. Once I found all the materials it went really well. In 5th period it dawned on me to go on dropbox to get a copy of my lesson plan and make sure the power point worked, success! During my large animal science class I posted my DID YOU KNOW...goats are great swimmers. We also introduced our semester farm plan project (first part is due February 25th), hypothesized why the sheep & goat industry was developed  and what came first the chicken or the egg.  I got every answer but chicken or egg the most popular dinosaur, thank goodness they got the next question what came first the sheep or the goat?  sheep, goat, both. Real answer the Goat. 8th period students continued to work on their Job Shadowing letters. I felt that the lesson went really well compared to the day before and Mr.Campbell had the same thought. After school I attended my first Derry FFA officers meeting were planing for FFA week were under way for a high school teacher appreciation breakfast, Blue& Gold day Boot day, Hat day,Plaid day, Canned food drive,Hot Chocolate & Popsicle sale , and Snow tubing. 

Thursday, was finally a full day of school and the 9th graders in 1st and 4th period got to another lab day to make up for some of the snow day  interference . Once again I worked with the horticulture groups finishing the arrangements and then getting them started on their green house crop research before planting. 4th period had one small incident with a girl playing a game on her ipod not phone as she informed me when I told her to put it away after she went into the restroom and screamed the F word as loud as she could because her game or what ever killed her.  She received a zero for her lab grade for the day, even tho she told me I couldn't do that, Surprise, I Can!  5th period I observed the floral design class that I will start teaching this coming Wednesday. Animal Science we took a small detour from our lesson on breeding systems to ear tag and dock the lambs. (Tag the left ear , when looking at the back of the head 1/3rd  away from the head; Docking- Market between the 1st & 2nd vertebrata Breeding between the 2nd & 3rd vertebrata). I demonstrated and talked through the process on the first lamb asking my favorite question WHY?  before we went up to the barn I handed out to job sheets so everyone had the steps to both process handy as well as an article on the  controversy of dock length . I also answered a question from the day before as my DID YOU KNOW....the folds of skin on the breast and neck of a Merino Sheep is called a Dewlap. After my demonstration I had a different student hold the 2nd lamb while one student docked the tail and another tagged. 8th period was my first day of Career& Leadership introduced myself, got the students expectation and brief background, went over classroom expectations/ procedures/ consequences, and did charades to introduced the importance of communication. At the end of the day reflection I felt really really good about both classes and received a great review from Mr.Campbell. Monday will be my first official review. After school was an all members FFA meeting and then at 6pm I attended a school board meeting where the advisory committee proposed hiring a second teacher for the program which was met with the majority of support, however, there was some resistance, it will go to vote in the following week. 

This has been an AMAZING week I'm loving  Student Teaching at DAH ,Till next time !!!!!!    

          

snow Snow SNOW

Hi all! Here is my review of week one, it is coming a little early as this week I wrap up a little early do to the infamies Praxis testing. 

The week started out with an in service day on Monday. I got here at the regular start time, but as I found out in service days run like two hour delays, except the additional time is tacked on at the end of the day not the year, ops. Good thing is I now have met the high school office secretarial staff and got my ID and parking pass. So, it actually turned into a positive.  The rest of the day I assisted with looking at ATE recorded books that where being finished grading, some were really great and others well were far from it to say the least, which was truly disappointing because a few of the students really have the ability but lack the gumption to have a great recorded book (I hope to change that for some of them). I went to a school district wide meeting with Mr.Campbell on Professionalism and I have to say after two semesters, one full week, and this meeting I believe I have grasped the concept and made the appropriate changes. After this we headed back to the Ag/Hort complexes whit the majority of the high school instructors to take part in the Ag open house. 

The FFA officers had decided to host this event to let the other teachers many of which had never been to the building see the STEAM is incorporated in their curriculum. I went into the different rooms to listen and see what the students where presenting to the teachers, they did a great job of showing the workings of the three circle model. One example they g lave the teachers was in the large animal science they received instruction on the workings of the digestive system and how to meet its nutritional needs, then dissected a pigs digestive system (showing some of the preserved parts in jars), explaining how they related it to their market or breeding production SAE s nutrition and were inspired for the topic of their CDE prepared speech.   The reaction of some of the teachers to the lambs and guineas was priceless.  At the end of the tour they introduced all the teachers to their new breed gilt and had a door prize raffle :1 dozen eggs,  hydroponics lettuce, and liquorish plants but to this disappointment of one teacher no lambs were given as prizes. The next day was to be an introduction day for me of my expectations, procedures, and consequences; along with being the regional PAAE meeting in the evening (rescheduled for Tuesday the 28th). But the storm of the century hit again.

My first snow day experience in my new role was boooorrrriiiinnnngggg. I did, however, accomplish getting my 4-H leaders Safe Penn State Test completed and my ANSC 100 homework for the week. The next day was a two hour delay, skipping first and second periods and starting with third and fourth. 

Wednesday of the week turned into my introductory and a little bit of a debriefing day as well as being the last day of the semester trying to finish putting grades in. In the food science course books were being collected and most students did everything they could to find a book to try and turn in so they wouldn’t have to pay for their lost book, one student even tried to pass off an old old old edition but it didn’t play out for him. This week has been the start of 2014-15 student courses scheduling so we have been preparing for 8^th grade recruitment day on Thursday. 

 Today has been filled with excitement the FFA officers and a handful of students have all been excused from their classes today to give tours and run short labs for the 8^th grade science classes that are coming up today to see what the Ag program has to offer. Labs consist of: cuttings (greenhouse), fruit rollups (food science), measurements ( Ag mechanics), and animals ( large/small ANSC).  I spent the day supervising the classes not helping with the 8^th graders and keeping them on task while Mr. Campbell helped with the recruitment.  During lunch we went over what would be my first lessons and what classes I would start teaching the upcoming week. I’m glade to announce I will be starting with Large Animal Science –Sheep & Goats starting Monday! The rest of the day went for the most part the same as the morning. This evening I was introduced to the rest of the high school teachers and administrators at this evenings Faculty meeting, followed by a tour of the high school and setting up a meeting on Monday morning with the IEP department. 

Over all if I had to do this week over I would have liked to have been more involved in the open house and recruitment but know that I will soon be submerged in FFA week preparation.  This week went pretty slow as it was just observation but I did give me insight into the students’ behavior and classroom management.

On to the next week and another adventure!!

Farm Show Adventure

Over the years I have worn many different hats well attending the PA Farm Show; visitor, exhibitor, master showman, babysitter, jockey, and new to this list student teacher/adviser. This new role was quite an experience! Starting with  below zero weather and a bit of  anxiety, our 4 hour bus ride went fairly fast ( of course I may have slept a bit). We passed out maps and itineraries letting the students know they could explore the exhibitors and vendors on their own ( use the buddy system) till 1:15pm. then we would meet up and go into the large arena for midwinter convention. It was made clear that this was in No Way Optional.

At first I wasn't sure if the on  your own time included  me or not so I went with Mr.Campbell and our two other chaperons  to see the butter sculpture and FFA exhibits to get ideas for next years agriscience fair and landscape displeases. We finally all split up to go see our  different areas of  intrastate. And I have to say I was looking forward to seeing the pig show, some of the wool vendors and wool art entries. However, I have Never had me time at the farm show and I soon found myself not knowing what to do without my brothers, sisters, or younger 4-H members tagging along. so I watched the pig show till it was time to meet the group for my first midwinter conversion.

I was the first chaperons to meet up with the students who surprisingly there early to meet up. Mrs.Reed and I took the majority of the group to find setts well Mr.Campbell took our Keystone Degree recipients down to the arena floor and picked up two  jackets for students that could not make it. Watching from above I have to say it was quite over whelming to see that much Blue and Gold in on area and also to see how many times some students could ask to go to the restroom (like you don't know they just want to walk around). Hearing from Governor Corbet , Secretary Greig, and Secretary Dumaresq showed that what we do as instructors and more importantly what the students are doing is truly seen and appropriated. After convention the students where released for a little more exploration and pitchers were taken of the Keystone Degrees. I went to go catch the champion drive, after witch I found myself watching the oxen demonstration till it was time to meet up again to head for the bus. 

Two students had to be called for over the speakers and well Mr. Campbell and Mrs.Reed waited and looked for them I herded the rest to the bus. Once the students were accounted for we headed for Hershey for dinner. Which was all so event full. I was getting to know some of the students and then I embarrassingly shared with them (not meaning to) that I am the worlds biggest cults when I sent two chicken tenders flying down the table.  I wanted to crawl under the table but laughed it off as the students asked/requested Mr.Campbell if I was being supervised in the shop. Which I am glad to say Yes I am Being Supervised. After dinner we got to the hotel and the students took off for the pool, I was nominated to be the supervision. We had the students meet at 10:45 in the lobby to go over breakfast and checking out for in the morning.  Also emphasizing  that 11:00 was room checks and then No one was to leave their rooms. The two other chaperons conducted the room checks for the second floor while Mr. Campbell and I checked the rooms on the forth floor. One phone call "No this isn't *****'s room and It doesn't matter what room she's in you aren't  leaving yours." and a "That is an joining room door and you do not knock on them, especial when you don't know who in the other room." it was time to pack up and head to the lobby. We ate breakfast, had to find four students and then head to Harley Davidson in York.

At the Harley plant we were split up into to groups for our factory tour myself and one chaperon(so their was an adult and not just a funny senior student with the group on their tour)  took the first group and Mr.Campbell and Mrs. Reed took the second group. One of the students from the second group didn't quite make it through the tour before finding a garbage can and being taken with Mr.Campbell to the lobby and restrooms. Thankfully the only problem in my group was getting them to pick up their feet and Move Faster. The Ag Construction and Power Systems students were a little disappointed that some of the work was done by robots but no the less a few of the students asked about internships and employment after high school ( sound like Success!!) . We loaded up the bus and head for Long Wood Gardens for our horticulture students, stooping along the way for lunch at McDonald. I had No idea that 31 high school students could be so fascinated and entertained  by play in the habit-trail in the children's' play area.

At long wood gardens we were shuttled up to the green house and then the we all went and explored on our own, somehow Mrs.Reed  and I ended up kidnapped by the  seniors . at 2:30 we meet back up and were split into three groups to go a behind the sens tour of their production greenhouses. I got the bad group! They won't stop talking or listen to the tour guide I yelled at them she yelled at them. Finally I had had it and split the three of them up but then I had another problem of one girl (that had been sick at Harley) was feeling much better but couldn't walk apparently needing on of the trouble makers to piggy back her, so I had to tell the whole group to walk on their own two legs. By the end of the tour we finally had an understanding. One student in the group asked about a possible internship or employment opportunity ( which he is applying for, Student Success !!!) Once we were all shuttled back we started on our 6 hour drive back to Derry. The bus ride was far from quiet we had to split two students , Mr. Campbell moved to the back, I yelled at a window artist, finally we got back, and  before leaving we had to jump start a students care.

Like I said in the beginning it was quite the adventure and I may be crazy but I can't wait for the next one to start!!