SAE: Why It Matters

The three circle model is the base of agricultural education.  Most of the time I explain it as a three legged stool, if one of the legs is not as even- the stool does not function properly.  It is easy to forget about some of these, and SAE is one of the portions of the program that can be easily pushed aside, especially because it requires a great deal of commitment outside of classroom time.  But it is worth it and provides students with an way to apply what they are learning and build upon skills we might not be able to teach in the classroom.  This week we went to visit one of the students who is doing an agricultural mechanics SAE where him and his dad are rebuilding a Ranger.  I might not know much about rangers- but it was an awesome visit.  

Community & Parent Engagement.

We headed out to this students house to check out his SAE, and his SAE supervisor- which happened to be his dad.  This was really cool to see him and his dad interact and how he is learning a lot of his mechanics skills from his dad and how they are exploring some things together.  This is something that they mentioned is being passed down from generation to generation.  SAE allows agriculture teachers to build these community and family connections that sometimes isn't always possible in the classroom or through parent teacher conferences.  I think of it almost as a show and tell- but both ways.  This may be a childish way of putting it, but the students gets to show off their project or experience and the teachers are able to tell the parents the growth they have seen in their child or the progress they have made.  Watching Mr. Masser and Ms. VanSant do this was awesome.  I was also able to ask a few questions about how he found the ranger.  He heard about it and him and his dad went to look at it, and then took on this project because they enjoy it. 

Financial & Resume Builder.

SAE provides a resume or portfolio builder along with teaching students about keeping records and being financially literate.  Sure I learned all of this in methods classes, but it is different to see it in action.  At Pequea Valley students need a senior project, which provides us a unique opportunity to allow SAE to be part of that, along with build students portfolios.  We were able to ask the student about financial records and how he is able to finance this project.  Him and his dad continued to share with us that they have a running total, where the student continues to repay the father for the supplies bought.  We encouraged them to keep this in the experience tracker for his records.  This student is working int he community, but then taking what he earns there and investing it in this project, not something students always choose to do.  

Their World. 

Lastly SAE allows teachers to enter the students world, to see a home or a business or in this case a garage.  Sure it's about the records, the project and the learning- but it is even more about entering a students world and giving them the time, coaching and encouragement necessary to show that we care, and they are worth it.  And showing parents, communities and families the same. 

The almost half way mark… student teaching reflections week 7.

The sweetness taste testing lab provided some laughs at some of
the facial expressions after tasting!

Yesterday in the middle of a Foods Unwrapped lab I said to Mr. Masser- I just want one lab to go perfectly…. His response, it’s only week 6 of teaching, it will come.  Nothing went bad, I just want perfection- but we are human and we are not perfect.  I am learning a lot about setting up and concluding laboratory experiences in the agriscience setting and the agricultural mechanics setting.  I realized that asking questions based off of the procedures I ask students to read and providing demonstrations is essential.  I was able to include that this week, which I felt went very well.  There were a few glitches with materials and the time frame I had planned, but overall it went well.  Every lab continues to improve, it is my power technology lab that now needs more focus. 

Not only are these gentlemen coaching the small gas
engines team, but they also are helping out this student teacher
with engine knowledge and making sure my personal car
is running okay!

Power Technology is focused around small gas engines, and we have spent a lot of time in the classroom focusing on theory- and I think these six gentlemen are getting antsy, and in all honesty I am too.  I am spending some time this weekend to strategically plan out the next unit and how I can combine theory and practicums to reinforce content.  This is I know I need to grow in my comfort and confidence in. 

Lastly this week was FFA week.  The students planned three main things: blue and gold day, teacher goodie bags and a movie on Wednesday afternoon- which is a time used for providing extra assistance, work time and club meetings.  Oh and they spoke on the radio and did so well!  As I helped finish the officers put goodie bags together I noticed there were kids animal masks in the bags- at first I thought this is a little odd….but it turned out to be a hit, and all because the students thought it would be fun!  This  turned into a faculty meeting simply to take a picture with animal masks and the FFA sign, what a neat way to end FFA week!

This weeks gems and Opps:

Gems:

• Continued rapport with students

• Labs are continuing to go well

• Introductions/bellworks and interest approaches are getting better

Opps: 

• Conclusions- this was an opp last week as well, but I need to do a better job of putting book ends on all lessons- here is to continuing to charge through. 

• Leaving the challenge from one class at the door and starting fresh with the next 

Who says you can't have fun at work? 

Busy Week, Better People: Week 6 Reflections

The deeper into student teaching I get, the more the days fly by.  I continue to enjoy it and I continue to realize the amount of time and planning teaching takes.  This week was FULL from teaching to an IEP meeting to the Curriculum Fair and various student and visitor meetings.  This was  a busy week, but it's the people that make it better. 

This week I was able to attend an IEP meeting for one of the students I have in class.  This was extremely helpful for me right now and will continue to be as I move into a job in the future.  This helped me understand some of the direct instruction on specific skills this specific student receives. I realize there are some techniques I could use to help her even more in my class.  IEP meetings also give teachers a glimpse into the ideas students have for their future career and the thoughts and desires of parents.  I am excited to try some different things to not only help this student but others in my class, as well as continue to interact with the special education faculty. 

Student teaching is hard but the students and faculty at Pequea Valley make it worth it.   This week we had our Curriculum Fair which is similar to parent teacher conferences, but all the teachers are in one room and parents can visit each table.  During this time I was able to meet a few parents, but what made things really neat was the conversations I was able to have with a handful of teachers.  This week I asked a few teachers for help outside of the agriculture department, one who is flipped his classroom and the other about mixing chemistry solutions.   Both stopped and checked in with me, along with the assistant principal.  All wanting to make sure that I am welcomed, growing and desiring to stay in the profession.  Mr. Masser and Ms. VanSant along with the rest of the school make me feel welcome in a place where I am only temporarily. 

Gems:

-       Conversations and time spent talking with other teachers about ideas and receiveing help.

-       Lab- in Foods Unwrapped this week I adapted a pH and foods lab and as picky as I want to be it went well.  It helped me see what is necessary and what is not in a lab, and how I can continue to adapt labs like this in the future.

-       Friday morning a freshman came in to practice the creed.  He mentioned he would come in, but end of the week on a Friday morning, I sort of forgot.  He came in quick and said ‘Ms. Hack’ I have the first few lines down.’ He said the first few and read the rest- Day. Made.

Opps:

-       Conclusions:  I have done well with doing bell works and opening the class, but I have not done as well closing it. This is a habit that I need to get myself and students into, because it provides that ‘cognitive connect’ that we learned about in our methods classes.  

-       Directions:  This is one area that I KNOW I can do, but it slips my mind.  This week I want to be purposeful about writing out directions and slowing down when I say them.  This also goes for labs.  Following a procedure that is lengthy is difficult for some students- heck sometimes even for me! I want to be intentional about finding breaks. 

It's a Process.

This week was a week of another batch of new and interesting learning experiences, but a place where I can put a post in the ground and say "I will grow because of this".  This week included my visit from my university supervisor,  starting from ground zero and the exciting news of recieving a grant and learning what happens with planning when you have snow days, delays and you have to be gone from school.   This entire process is just that a PROCESS- the perfectionist in me does not like being in the process, but I trust it and I know I am growing in it.  I am seeing some of that growth, but I am also seeing more areas to grow in.

My week started with a visit from my university supervisor Dr. Laura Rice.  There is something about observation and feedback that I crave, I know it will help me grow, but as my very first one I have to say it was a little intimidating.  It wasn't my best day, but it was the best day to receive that feedback! Dr. Rice saw things I didn't see and provided the context around why the pieces I needed improvement on mattered.   It was also a refreshing reminder after we discussed and debriefed the day, that she challenges me, because she knows I want to grow.

The other learning moment of the week was: adaptability is key.  Snowdays are a double edged sword, I want a work day- but it is also sometimes frustrating, it messes up ALL my plans.  It was good to learn this week, that I have to be willing to adjust and go with the flow.

Gems of the Week:

• We received a grant through our local Education Foundation!  This grant will fund a flower arranging project that will happen in the classroom and then continue outside of the classroom where students will plan and present a 'How To' workshop on flower arranging at the community center.
• I am helping with leadership development events, and this week was able to help a few students practice extemporaneous speaking and their creed speaking, which was exciting. 
• These students just make me laugh.  
• This week we had a Job Prep Boot Camp Seminar in State College, this was exciting to see what is next and really received some feedback on that. 

Opportunities of the Week: 

• Clarity in directions and questions.  I can give directions, I know how, but I need to strive to be concise and to the point- the provide clarification if I am not.  
• Connectedness: Does my bell work connect to my objective, then to my closing activity
• Always answer: What are we learning? Why are we learning it? Why does it matter to me as a learner?
• The details matter- taking one more glance at that assignment or test matters. 

Here is to a weekend at the ACES leadership conference and another week of teaching! 

Can I be real for a second?

He was right- this is not for the faint of heart- the professor that told me that a few years ago...he was so right.  Allow me to be real with you for a second.  I write this reflective blog this week a little overwhelmed.  Consider yourself warned.  I am sure part of it is because things became more 'real' this week, I am really hard on myself and just want to do well everywhere- and there are some things I am struggling with and that is frustrating to me.  I don't think I am doing terrible, or failing- I think Mr. Masser and Mrs. VanSant would have let me know by now- but they have helped me see some areas of growth in the most encouraging ways.  They provide feedback that I am extremely thankful for.  They call this student teaching for a reason- because I am learning, and doing it alongside some encouraging and real people. This week I realized it is okay to be overwhelmed and it is even more okay to ask for help but that also takes a response on my part.


I had that first moment this week where I just threw up my hands when I got home, cried a little, took a hot shower and called it a night.  I was exhausted, overwhelmed and felt pretty terrible.   I know I am not terrible, my students aren't terrible- but sometimes I just feel that way.  This is hard.  And it was in a few of those moments where I saw some of my own faults and that those are the best places for growth and for looking to my mentors.  It is okay to ask for help.  I need it.  Many times this week I started to ask more questions- not just 'how do I use this equipment- or can you take a look at this'.  But how in the world do I teach this? And- is this correct? Because I feel like I am going to teach these students the wrong information.  Because I am the stubborn, "I can do this" lady that I am- this forces me to lay down my pride and admit my downfalls and recognize the areas I NEED to grow.  It is not only that I want to grow, I need to.  Those kids deserve more and better.  Some of this can be because I picked up another class, which has a much different dynamic than all of my other classes and because I had poor planning practices this week.  Here are my opportunities of the week, and areas I WILL grow in.

Opps: 

Planning includes being more
prepared with what I know to be
 difficult technical
skills

1. Planning. Planning. Planning.  I have to figure out a better system.  I don't like the feeling of being unprepared- I planned ALL weekend, yet felt unprepared throughout the week.  Here is to trying a new system this coming week.

2. Rapport with the classes that I just picked up this week.  It is a class I only have every other day, so I need to find ways to engage and build rapport.

3. Power Tech is hard for me in so many ways. In the student dynamic and the content.  This is going to require work and require even more creativity.


If you made it to this point- you made it through the overwhelming feelings I had this week.  I say that because that is the bulk of how I felt about this week- but I know it wasn't all that rocky so to convince myself that I am not crazy, and I can continue doing this, there are some pretty cool moments of the week:

Gems:

1. We applied for a grant!  This is exciting to me in many ways: it will allow student to learn the skills of flower arranging AND sharing that skill with the community by teaching it.  If all goes through it will take place at a community center- which if you know me, you know that community/outreach centers are close to my heart.


2. I just LOVE my Foods Unwrapped class, it is where I have the best rapport, the content is really cool (really difficult as well) and I have found new ways to engage reluctant students early in the morning.  Because I love to cook and hunger/poverty are close to my heart- food science and technology make sense- they are the end product of what agriculture is all about.  They are the class that makes me laugh and say things like "Ms. Hack- more like Ms. Sass."

3.  I am trying some cool blended learning things- and trying to use technology in purposeful ways.  I have reached out to other teachers in the school that are doing neat things- and I have explored many apps and programs, I hope they enjoy them as much as I enjoy learning about them.

How can you not just LOVE this.  These guys and two gals
make me laugh so much! 

4.  Officer Training Night that we hosted Friday night- really neat things they want to do and I can't wait to help them with!

5. Intro to Ag Mech- a class I co-teach is hilarious.  So many excited freshman. They learned how to use fire extinguishers this week- from a fire chief- way cool!


Here is to week 5!  I will grow, and I will put some time into things DAILY that I need to.  This is so hard, so exhausting, but so so worth it.  And I will hang my hat on the laughs of the week: "Ms. Sass", "Are you married?", "When will you bake pie for us?" and "We get to give you a quiz if you give us one." Oh the officer that laughs at my laugh every time.  At least it's contagious laughter!