Reflecting Upon the Past and Looking Ahead to the Future

         If you would have asked me how I liked student teaching after the first week, I would have gave you a standard response of “it’s going good” or “yeah I like it.” If you would have asked me the same question around the end of February/beginning of March, I would have said “I hate this; I can’t wait until it’s over. I’m never going to teach.” If you would have asked me about student teaching today, on my last day, I would have burst into tears, which is exactly what I have been doing the last 24 hours. Everything I have been through the last four years has led me to this point: figuring out my purpose in life. Although I wasn’t sure up until this point, I can wholeheartedly say agricultural education is where I belong.

            As I sit here and reflect on this entire experience, I am overcome with emotions. I am beyond blessed that I had the opportunity to student teach at Elizabethtown with Mr. Anderson and work with his students. I am so sad that these 15 weeks are over and my student teaching experience has come to a close. I am anxious to see what lies in store for me next; they always say when one door closes, another one opens. Most of all, I feel whole. I have a lifetime of memories I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I have figured out my purpose in life and have grown into the young professional I was meant to become.

            I can’t help but think back to the beginning of this entire process. I began contacting and visiting schools in March of 2014. I visited four schools and selected my top three; none of them being Elizabethtown. In fact, I didn’t know anything about Elizabethtown! As April rolled around and our student teaching placements were announced, I was very surprised to learn that I had been placed at Elizabethtown. I was actually more than surprised…I was angry and upset! How could they place me at a school I knew nothing about without any prior warning?! Why were all three of my top choices given to other student teachers and not me?! I cried the day I found out and in turn was dreading student teaching. I shouldn’t admit this but I had even considered dropping my major I was that upset!

            I now realize how extremely foolish I was at that time. After visiting Elizabethtown for the first time in April of 2014, I knew that I could not have had a better placement! Mr. Anderson is one of the most down to earth, realistic, hardworking, kind hearted, and funniest individuals I know. We had a great connection from the start and I quickly realized how much I was looking forward to student teaching. He has helped me in more ways than he even realizes throughout this entire experience. He has helped me grow and prosper as a student teacher and even more so as a person. He has provided me with advice, personal experience, honest opinions, and friendship. We have shared so many laughs and jokes together; ones that have helped me get through stressful times that come with student teaching. He truly is a selfless, inspiring individual and I will miss him greatly now that my time at Elizabethtown is up.

            Arguably the biggest thing I have learned through all of this is that if you aren’t happy, nothing is ever worth it. Were there times throughout this experience that I was stressed, tired, miserable, and dreading going to school the next day? You bet there were. But were there times when I was excited beyond belief to teach a unique lesson, attend an FFA conference, share jokes with my students, and work with students until I saw a lightbulb go off? Even more so. I realized that while not every day will be good, there certainly is good in every day. I have had so many instances when I was having a bad day and the smallest action turned my day right around. I realized that no matter what job you have, you will always have a bad day. That’s life. What matters is how you handle that bad day and what you do to turn it around!

            Everybody tells you about the impact you will have on your students, the difference you will make in their lives, you will be a “positive agent of change,” etc. but nobody really tells you the difference your students will make in your life, the impact they will have on you. Maybe it’s just because I’m a big softie but these students, all 54 I had in my classes and the countless others I have interacted with through FFA, have taught me a lesson and impacted me in their own individual way. Every single student from the straight a college bound seniors to the disadvantaged lower ability level underclassman have left their mark on me. Each student has a story; some are more open to share than others. My eyes have truly been opened from this experience and I have realized that not all students are as lucky as I was.

            Another big question I have been getting asked from those around me is what’s next? You graduate in two weeks, what will you be doing?  My response is typically the same: “I’m not sure what’s next but I know I want to teach.” I have applied for many jobs, not all of them teaching, just to have something to fall back on. I know the right opportunity will arise in God’s timing; putting my faith in Him assures me that I will end up just where I am meant to be! Would I love to have a job lined up by the time I walk across the graduation stage in two weeks? Absolutely! Do I have a full time job lined up at this point? Nope. But honestly, I am okay with that. This experience has taught me to be flexible, patient, and reassured me that it’s okay not to have it all figured out. Having a plan is great but things can change in a split second. You need to trust the process, have faith, and remain persistent.

            As I walk out the doors of Elizabethtown High School for the final time today, there will be tears. I know I will see some of these students again at the FFA banquet next month but it won’t be the same. I know that one day I will have the opportunity to have a program of my own, be a mentor like those who have mentored me and helped me reach this point. I know you can’t reach every student, but I have learned that every student can reach you. This was proven true when I found myself stuffing 54 goodie bags, signing 54 individualized cards, and baking 8 dozen cookies to show my students and my cooperating teacher just how much this experience meant to me. 

Week 15: Goodbyes and Good Memories

                      

           I can’t believe it. I cannot believe that my 15 weeks at Elizabethtown are up. My time as a student teacher is over. This is still hard for me to fathom and I have been trying to let it sink in. I had mixed feelings as this last week began. Part of me was excited to see what comes next in my life but part of me was very sad knowing this would be the last time I will see many of these students. I began the week with the mindset that I would make it a great work and really enjoy the last few days with my students and Mr. Anderson. On Monday, I had a busy day as I prepared for the final week. I made copies and prepared lessons during my prep period and some of this continued into second block. In aquatics, I continued teaching students about reptiles and amphibians. Students took notes and then completed a fun activity involving puzzles and a summarizing worksheet. In intro to agribusiness, I taught a lesson on budgeting. Students completed an activity to help them realize the importance of a budget and then completed an inquiry based activity on budgets. The night ended with an ag advisory board meeting at 7pm.

            On Tuesday, most of my day was spent outside. My students, Mr. Anderson, and I were all glad to get outside and enjoy the nice weather. I finished the rest of my lessons for the week during flex and my prep period today. In aquatics, Mr. Anderson and I took students out to Bear Creek, a piece of land owned by the school district which houses two ponds and a wooded lot. I created a worksheet I wanted students to fill out using field guides to identify various aquatic species at the pond. It was sunny and breezy, a perfect day to get students outside. In intro to agribusiness, Mr. Anderson and I also took students down to Bear Creek, but for a different lesson. I wanted students to tie together everything we have been learning about: marketing plans, budgets, cash flow statements, etc. together in a final unit project. I explained to students that they would have to individually create a final project using Bear Creek as the basis. Students were to determine how they would create some sort of agribusiness or company at Bear Creek such as an environmental center or fishing guide service. I explained they could get creative with their ideas but had to be school appropriate. Students came up with a lot of great ideas and I’m excited to see their final products!

 

            I had such a great day on Wednesday! This was the day that I would finish my community based unit of instruction by taking students in my aquatic resources class stocking trout with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission! 16 students from my aquatic resources class, as well as several who took the course in the fall, went along on the trip. We left the high school at 10:15 and arrived back at 2:30. Mr. Anderson and I enjoyed the stocking trip just as much as our students! We stocked at several places along three creeks in northern Lancaster County: Conoy Creek, Little Chiquies Creek, and Little Conestoga Creek. The day started off perfect for stocking: warm and sunny. As the day went on, clouds rolled in and it was raining by the time we got to the last stop. Students enjoyed applying concepts we discussed in class to a real life setting. This was a great way for me to connect with more of my students as my final week came to a close.

            Thursday was an enjoyable day! I finalized several assignments during my prep period, as well as prepared for the lesson component of my DIY project. Students had to solve a crime scene and determine which of the four possible suspects accidentally killed fish in the tanks in the aquatics lab. I gave students brief background information while making sure I didn’t “give it away” so to speak. Students remained engaged throughout the lesson and were happy to discover that no fish actually died. I would make sure that I was not the culprit as I was in this case if I taught this lesson again. I would probably pair students up to complete the activity together with such a broad spectrum of ability levels in one class. In ag business, students watered and fertilized all of the plants in the greenhouse. They continued to work on their finance project that they started yesterday. I had to play catch up with many students who were not in class yesterday as well.

            Friday was a very emotional day. I ended up crying most of the day. I didn’t realize how much I was going to miss being at Elizabethtown! I had such a great group of students and an amazing cooperating teacher; I didn’t want this experience to end! I prepared a goodie bag for every single student, as well as a hand written card. I handed these out to each class and then shared a short PowerPoint presentation as a reflection upon my time here. I cannot begin to explain how I felt as I was talking, looking out across each class to my students and seeing tears roll down their faces! Seeing my cooperating teacher cry was even harder. I could not have asked for a better experience and everything I have done up to this point, all of the exams, projects, assignments, everything made this experience worth it. Next week will be hard, knowing I won’t be walking through the doors Monday morning to see my students. I will cherish the memories I have made here and embrace the young teacher I have become. One day I hope to be half the teacher that Mr. Anderson is to his students and also a mentor to student teachers like me.

Teacher DIY Development Project

             For my Teacher DIY project, I decided to incorporate forensic chemistry concepts into my aquatic resources class. Several of my students have taken the forensics chemistry course at Elizabethtown with Mr. Scott Baylor. I have heard great things about this course and have overhead my students talking about it several times. I have taken part in a wildlife forensics workshop with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and decided to combine principles I learned in the workshop into my aquatic resources class with the assistance of Mr. Baylor.

            After explaining my idea to my cooperating teacher Mr. Anderson as well as my university supervisor Dr. Ewing, I received approval of my initial idea. Per the assignment, I was required to write a formal proposal outlining my idea, how I would carry out the lesson, how I would receive the professional development component, and how I would evaluate the project. In order to gain a better understanding of forensic chemistry and determine how I could work some of its principles into my aquatics class, I contacted Mr. Baylor in early February and explained my idea. I had already completed my science classroom observation with Mr. Baylor in January. I observed his forensic chemistry course in January which sparked my interest in utilizing forensics in my one of my classes.

            I met with Mr. Baylor in early April during a teacher in-service day. We met in his room and discussed my project for an hour and a half. I refreshed Mr. Baylor’s memory of my ideas and listened as he talked me through examples of things he has done and showed me some possible resources I could use. He provided me with several handouts, worksheets, ink pads, and published book resources to utilize. I left the meeting feeling very confident in how I would finalize my forensics lesson. With Mr. Baylor’s assistance, my final lesson would be as follows:

·         Set up scenario that several fish in the tanks in the aquatics lab have suddenly died

·         Determine what was used to kill the fish (bleach)

·         Collect fingerprints of possible suspects

·         Create handout with information about possible subjects

·         Provide clues for student use (fingerprints on bleach bottle, jacket, etc.)

·         Provide water testing supplies for students to test contaminated water

·         Allow students to determine suspect, motive, and means

·         Summarize lesson with the creation of a newspaper article by students

            Once I had the majority of my lesson created, the other details came easily. The day before the lesson, I made sure I had all necessary materials copied and the crime scene was set up. The day of the lesson, I put the bleach into water samples I collected from the tanks. I had the water testing kits displayed at the front of the classroom, as well as pieces of evidence and fingerprints. I explained to students that 8 of the fish died in the fish tanks and these pieces of evidence were found in the lab. As Mr. Baylor suggested, I introduced the lesson as a mystery and made it as realistic as possible. Students actually believed that fish died and were very engaged in the lesson!

            Reflecting on the lesson and the entire professional development process, I have gained so much growth in presenting inquiry, tying forensics concepts into natural resources, and maintaining student interest throughout a lesson. Due to the mixed ability of my students, I wanted to keep the mystery solvable. I didn’t want to give students too much information and make it easy but I also didn’t want it to be too difficult that they would give up easily. If I were doing this again, I would make sure to choose a different individual as the criminal; choosing myself was too easy for students to figure out. I would also provide students a copy of the fingerprints I collected rather than having one copy. This was also a suggestion for improvement by Mr. Baylor. I met with him after the lesson to debrief, talk about what worked well, and ask for suggestions if I were to carry out this lesson again. He thought I did a great job presenting the lesson and said I worked will to accommodate all learners. He suggested I provide more detailed descriptions and have more sources of possible evidence Overall, I thought this was a great way for me to gain a deeper understanding of science and technology principles and how they can be used in an agricultural classroom. It also allowed me to collaborate with a professional in the field and expand my knowledge of forensics. This was a great activity and with some modification, it will be a great lesson to utilize in the future!

Week 14: Winding Down

           After a much needed relaxing weekend, I was anxious to finish up my second to last week at Elizabethtown! The week was another busy one, a common theme I have discovered with each week that passes. Between regional CDE sign ups, speaking contests, officer elections, and lots of fun lessons planned, it was definitely a good week! On Monday, students in my ag mechanics class finished up the lawn mower service project. 27 lawn mowers later and we were finished! I think the students enjoyed the project just as much as I did. I learned a lot from the project while I also realized how much I did actually know and remember about small gas engines. That was a great feeling! In aquatics, I taught a lesson on panfish species found in Pennsylvania. Students worked to identify the 14 species while completing a worksheet and using identification posters. In intro to agribusiness, I began a new unit and taught a lesson on income statements. Students completed an article as well as another assignment to go along with information I taught them in class. I also had the chance to review speeches for the regional speaking contest that will be held Thursday. This was my favorite contest as an FFA member and I was excited to assist with the speeches!

            On Tuesday, I gave back ag mechanics to Mr. Anderson. Students were back in the classroom and learned more about internal combustion engines and began learning about engine parts. In aquatic resources, I took a risk and decided to give an idea I came up with a try. I wanted students to create a dichotomous key of their own as a way to identify and learn the 14 species of panfish found in Pennsylvania. At first, students complained that they didn’t know how to create a dichotomous key, moaned and groaned about how hard the assignment was, and expressed how they didn’t want to complete the assignment. By the end of the block, students turned in some awesome dichotomous keys! They seemed more interested once they figured out a system that worked. I was very proud of them for their attempts and hard work. I also felt proud for taking a risk and was pleased with how the assignment turned out. In ag business, I taught a lesson on cash flow statements. Students completed an activity related to cash flow statements with current agribusinesses.

            Wednesday in aquatics, students took a quiz on panfish species found in Pennsylvania. I also introduced the migratory and miscellaneous fish species. This is the last group of fish that students will have to identify. In into to agribusiness, I taught a lesson on balance sheets, assets, and liabilities. Students completed examples of balance sheets, including one from the PA FFA record book worksheets. On Thursday, Mr. Anderson and I attended the regional speaking contests in Lebanon County. We had one creed speaker and two extemporaneous speakers. None of the speakers placed but I was still proud of their confidence and willingness to try something new! I assisted with parliamentary procedure judging, something I haven’t done before. I caught on fairly quickly and actually enjoyed myself! Students in aquatics completed two worksheets relating to migratory and miscellaneous PA fish while I was gone. In into to agribusiness, students completed a worksheet related to credit. They also read an article related to American agriculture and agribusiness and wrote a reflective essay about the article.

            Friday hit me that I only had a week left at Elizabethtown. In seven short days, my time with these students would be over. In aquatic resources, students took their final PA fish ID quiz. I then introduced the reptile and amphibian section of the unit with an introductory worksheet. In intro to agribusiness, students spent just about the entire duration of the block period in the greenhouse watering plants, adding fertilizer, and picking buds on the plants. Next week, I will finish teaching both classes. In aquatics, we will continue with reptiles and amphibians. Our stocking trip will be held on Wednesday and students are excited for the field trip! In intro to agribusiness, we will continue with personal finance and start talking about budgets.

            As I reflect on the week and look ahead to my final week, I realize how upset I am. I cannot believe how fast student teaching has gone. As my students realize how little time I have with them, they express their sadness as well. This makes me feel good in a way; I feel like I have touched their lives in some way. I realize that I have reached out and impacted more students than I thought. I also realize how these students, and Mr. Anderson, have impacted me more than I ever would have thought. While next week will definitely be upsetting, I plan to make the most out of my last five days with these students!

Week 13: Mowers, Meetings, and Marketing

           Holy cow I cannot believe it is week 13 of student teaching! Time has been going by so fast and I will be graduated before I know it! I had a long, relaxing birthday/Easter weekend this past weekend. I was feeling refreshed and ready to begin another week of student teaching. Students did not have school on Monday; it was an in-service make up day for teachers. We were in the building from 8-4. The day started off with breakfast provided by the school. I finished my undergraduate thesis, prepared several lesson plans, and made a lot of progress on my DIY project. I was grateful for the in-service day because it was very productive for me. It was also a nice transition back into my routine after a long weekend at home.

            On Tuesday, it was back to the swing of things! In ag mechanics, students eagerly got back into the lawn mower service project. It was exciting for me to watch how passionate they were about what the task at hand. It was one of those things that makes a bad day all worth it! Students worked together nicely as they took apart the lawn mowers which was also encouraging to watch. In aquatics, students who were not in class on Thursday made up the PA cold water fish ID quiz. Afterwards, students completed an identifying characteristics worksheet on PA cool/warm water fish. Students had to describe the 11 species of fish based off of their pictures on the posters hanging in class. Students began working on the corresponding worksheet but then ran out of time. In intro to agribusiness, I taught a short lesson on customer issues and relations in agrimarketing. Class was interrupted halfway through by a fire drill. While an interruption was not ideal, it seemed to energize the students once we came back into the classroom. Students completed an assignment based on a change in consumer trends of a chosen agricultural product. I noticed that students enjoy using the iPads but seem frustrated when assignments require higher level thinking!

            On Wednesday, Mr. Anderson and I went along with Mrs. Thoman’s pre-vet class on a field trip to Covance in Denver, PA. Covance is a biomedical research facility that works to develop and test drugs and pharmaceuticals. Individuals from the Pennsylvania Society for Biomedical Research were also present. 19 students went along on the trip. In the morning, we attended several presentations including an introduction, vaccination presentation, virtual tour of the facility, and the use of horses in creating anti-venin from black widow spiders. We were able to tour the large animal facility which housed goats, sheep, pigs, and a burro. We also had the opportunity to tour the horse facility; I think this was the student’s favorite part! We reconvened for lunch, were introduced to several other employees, and then headed back to school. I was thankful for the opportunity to travel with the pre-vet class on this field trip. Biomedical research is one area that I do not know much about but this trip definitely sparked an interest! After returning to school, Mr. Anderson and I traveled to the Eastern Region PAAE Meeting at Garden Spot High School. We took one FFA member along who attended the State Officer Candidacy School (SOCS) while we were at the meeting. The meeting was very informative and kept me up to date with what is happening in agricultural education here in Pennsylvania!

            I was very tired by Thursday morning. However, I drank my morning coffee and made it through the day! In ag mechanics, students continued to work on the lawn mower service project. In aquatics, students completed an inquiry activity related to Smallmouth Bass in the Susquehanna River and why the bass are getting sick. I thought it was a cool way for the students to play detective and then “publish their findings.” However, students were not excited about it like I was. They wanted me to just give them the answers rather than thinking on their own. This is frustrating as a teacher because I try to encourage them to think and create activities that will be fun and engaging. We also reviewed for the cool water fish ID quiz on Friday. In intro to agribusiness, I worked on getting everyone caught up since so many students were absent the previous days. Students completed a study guide and I went over it at the end of class for the test on Friday.

 

            In ag mechanics on Friday, students continued to work on the lawn mower service project. I enjoy walking around and helping students. This class is made up of a great group of kids and I will surely miss their personalities when I leave. In aquatics, students took the cool water fish ID quiz. Since so many students have been absent or getting behind on their work, Mr. Anderson and I decided to use the remainder of the class to catch up those students who were behind while rewarding the students who got their work done on time. This may not have been the ideal thing to do but I was getting very frustrated with their performance. The students had a stern warning about their classroom behavior and performance; I am hoping since the issue was addressed, it will not be as big of a problem. In intro to agribusiness, students took the marketing unit exam. Afterwards, students went to the greenhouse to take care of the geraniums. I also worked with several students who have been absent to catch them up.

            Reflecting on the week, I think it is safe to say that shorter weeks tend to feel longer. I had a very busy and productive week, as usual. This week was full of ups and downs as well as many opportunities for growth and learning. I was struggling with students not working to their fullest potential and hopefully addressing the issue will improve the classroom dynamics for the rest of my time here. I think it hard for both the students, particularly the seniors, and myself to feel senioritis. I mean I only have two weeks left here! I’m not letting this get in the way of my teaching however. It is just hard not to think about what is coming next! I know I must be doing something right because my fourth block baked me my favorite cupcakes for my birthday this week. It’s the little things like this that make everything else worth it!

Pennsylvania's Professional Agricultural Education Organization: PAAE

          On Wednesday April 8^th, 2015, I had the opportunity to travel with my cooperating teacher Mr. Anderson to the Eastern Region Pennsylvania Association of Agricultural Educators (PAAE) meeting at Garden Spot High School in Lancaster County. Supper began at 5:30 and the meeting began promptly at 6pm. Ms. Heather Pray, an agricultural educator at Garden Spot, conducted the meeting. Executive board officer reports were given by Mr. David Bittner of Midd-West and Mr. Mike Brammer, the executive secretary. Some of the highlights from these reports included news that new CIP code task lists for production and general programs have been created and closely align with the NOCTI exams. Meet and greets in Harrisburg occurred with state congressmen advocating for agricultural education and updates regarding the PAAE summer conference that will be held in Tyrone this July were given.

            Another highlight of the meeting included a vote as to whether PAAE would match the Center for Professional Personnel Development (CPPD) at Penn State to continue to fund the SAE/AET Technologist position for 2015-2016. Members voted to match the center’s budget of $5,000 for the upcoming year. One of the biggest issues of the night involved industry certification/credentials for program approval by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). This news was conveyed to members at the meeting and is a new initiative under the new governor. Agricultural education programs are supposed to start offering industry certifications if this is something they do not do already. The certifications are supposed to align with students’ perspective career goals that they filled out on the PDE informational sheet at the beginning of the school year. Some of these certifications include Pork Quality Assurance, National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation, and ServSafe. There were many concerns among members, as well as many unanswered questions. I had many of the same questions myself including how many certifications will programs be required to offer? How much will these certifications cost? Who will pay for the certifications?

            Cliff Day also gave reports from PDE, Mike Brammer gave reports from FFA, and Deb Seibert gave reports from NAAE, the National Association of Agricultural Educators. Members were reminded of new CDE requirements and eligibility as State Activities Week draws closer. One other large portion of the night included discussion about the development of a new Keystone Degree application through AET, the agricultural experience tracker. There were several concerns and questions as the transition from the traditional excel application to the AET application occurs. From my understanding, some of the requirements for the degree do not align in AET and there are some issues that will need to be worked out. Also, there was discussion as to whether the applications should be verified regionally, and how this should occur. I feel that if each region were to verify the applications, the process should be the same across the board.

            As the meeting wrapped up, two new regional Eastern Region Vice Presidents were elected: Heather Pray and Heather Anderson. The two newly elected officers will decide who is serving the one year term and the two year term at a later date. Mr. Anderson also talked about the field trip we attended earlier that day when we visited Covance and learned about biomedical research. Many members were interested in taking their students there for a tour. There was talk about holding the 2017 PAAE summer conference at W.B. Saul in Philadelphia as well.

            Overall, this was a very informative meeting and I took lots of notes! It was great to see so many agricultural teachers come together in one spot to discuss upcoming events, ideas, and concerns within the field. This meeting gave me a different perspective of the life of an ag teacher. It brought my attention to things going on throughout the state, things I will come into contact with if I acquire a position as a secondary agricultural educator. There were roughly 30 PAAE members at the meeting last night. Not every ag teacher in the region is a member; I personally think it is a great way to get involved and stay up to date within the profession. It was interesting to hear opinions and thoughts of ag teachers across the region. Whether they agree or disagree on the issues at hand, it is assuring to know that they are all there for the same reason: they care greatly about agricultural education and the students they teach!

Week 12: Excitement for Easter Break!

            I started off week 12 feeling very tired, I could not fall asleep Sunday night for some unknown reason! This week was a short week with no school on Friday for the observation of Good Friday. On Monday in ag mechanics, students completed a review guide in class for the welding unit. In aquatics, I introduced fish identification and started with coldwater fish. I utilized resources from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to assist me with this. Students completed a worksheet in which they had to describe the 12 different species of fish in great detail to help them identify the fish. Students then completed a worksheet in class which I went over at the end. We had a non-emergency shelter in place during this class which caused class to run a half hour later than normal. This was an instance that I was not prepared for but my students and I made the most of it! In intro to agribusiness, I taught a lesson about risk in agribusiness. Students then completed an in class project relating to risk and an agricultural product of their choosing.

 

            On Tuesday, I was feeling much more refreshed. Students in ag mechanics took the welding unit exam. Afterwards, they turned in their c-clamps to be graded. In aquatic resources, I continued teaching about coldwater fish. Students completed a worksheet in class which I went over with them once they were finished. Afterwards, students completed  a project where they had to select a coldwater species of fish, draw a picture of its habitat, provide a description of its habitat, and then draw a picture of the fish. In intro to agribusiness, I taught a lesson about middlemen in agribusiness. Students read an article and answered questions about the local farming/CSA movement and how it leaves out the middlemen. Afterwards, students had an in class debate about the necessity of the middleman in agriculture. I think I enjoyed this activity much more than the students!

            Dr. Ewing came to visit on Wednesday. I had three awesome lessons planned and I think all of them went well! In ag mechanics, I taught an introductory lesson on small gas engines, particularly four stroke and two stroke engines. I gave students a pre-test to see how much they knew about small gas engine operation. I was surprised at how little they actually knew, despite how much they talk about trucks and engines! After I taught the lesson, students used an iPad to answer questions relating to the information covered in class. In aquatic resources, I changed things up a bit and completed an inquiry lesson on why native Brook Trout populations are declining in Pennsylvania. The class seemed to struggle with the higher level thinking and just wanted me to tell them the answers; they didn’t like me asking thought provoking questions! In intro to ag business, students completed an introductory worksheet on what they thought goes into a marketing plan. This lead into a short lesson on marketing plans. Students then created a marketing plan on a product of their choice. I think students enjoyed the freedom they had with this project and this particular class seemed to handle the inquiry style lesson well!

            By Thursday, everyone was ready for Easter Break. Today was also the infamous senior skip day so my classes were fairly empty! In ag mechanics, students began the annual lawn mower service project. Students got into four groups of four and each worked on a lawn mower. Students tightened the spark plug gap, changed the oil, cleaned the air filter, and sharpened the blades. The students seemed to enjoy the activity which is good for them because we have 27 lawn mowers total! In aquatics, 8 out of the 21 students were present. These students took the quiz on PA coldwater fish and then cleaned the tanks and clatifier in the aquatics lab. In intro to agribusiness, 6 out of 14 students were there. We cleaned up the greenhouse, transplanted the tomatoes, watered the geraniums, and did some landscape planning for the courtyard outside of the ag shop.

            This week was a short week but busy nonetheless. I feel like I am connecting more with some of my students and it has been awesome! Looking back, this week has also reiterated the point that I need to think on my feet and be able to be flexible! I feel like I have made a good deal of improvement since the beginning of student teaching and hope to continue to improve in my last three weeks. As student teaching ends and graduation draws closer, I am also on the job hunt. I have applied and interviewed at several places. I know that my dream job is out there, I just have to keep searching. Reflecting upon the week, it is safe to say that I finally figured out what I am supposed to do in life…teach agriculture.

Visiting a Dairy Farm: SAE Visit #2!

         On Wednesday April 1^st, 2015, I completed my second SAE visit with Mr. Anderson. We visited Carmen Becker at his family’s dairy farm in Elizabethtown.  Carmen is a junior at Elizabethtown and is the treasurer on this year’s FFA officer team. After discussion with Mr. Anderson about a student to visit, he suggested we visit Carmen to observe an entrepreneurship SAE. I spoke with Carmen a week ago about a potential visit. After talking with his family, he informed us that Wednesday April 1^st would best fit their schedule.

                 Upon arriving to Carmen’s farm, it was evident that he and his family were very busy! Aside from milking 90 Holstein cows, with a total of 150 animals on the farm, there was a lot of updating and renovation occurring on the farm. A new manure pit was recently installed which holds up to 800,000 gallons of manure. The pit would have to be emptied every 6 months, according to Carmen. Workers were there as we visited, constructing a new heifer and dry cow barn. Carmen also informed us of other renovations that his family was planning in the coming months including updating barns and replacing roofs. Carmen assists with milking cows, feeding, spraying, planting, and harvesting crops. The Becker's farm about 200 acres total. Carmen also owns his own tractor. His grandfather purchased the farm in the 1950’s. and it has remained in his family ever since. His grandfather and father have a partnership on the farm. Once he graduates high school, Carmen plans to return to the farm.

            After viewing Carmen’s family farm and his SAE project, I would rate the program as excellent. I was very impressed with Carmen’s work ethic and dedication to his family’s farm. He showed great interest in taking over the farm one day; which I think is truly awesome! I was familiar with dairy farms since I have worked on one in my hometown. However, it is always interesting to me to see how other dairy farms are set up and operate. Carmen’s family milks at 4am and 4pm, another way that Carmen demonstrated a strong work ethic. One thing that stood out of me about this entrepreneurship project was the fact that Carmen won an SAE grant this past year through National FFA for $1000. He purchased three calf hutches with the grant.

            One recommendation I suggested to Carmen is to continue his involvement with FFA. I encouraged him to maintain his records and earn his Keystone Degree next year as a senior. If he wanted, Carmen could even apply for his American Degree. He has put in the time and money and would definitely be able to qualify! Overall, Carmen has a great SAE project and definitely has support from his family. Carmen is just as passionate and dedicated to agriculture and farming as his family. I am excited to get to know Carmen more and work with him in class during my last few weeks here at Elizabethtown!

Action Research: Analyzing Student Achievement in Aquatics

           Over the course of my time student teaching at Elizabethtown, I completed an action research project with the guidance of my cooperating teacher Mr. Anderson. I chose the aquatic resources course I was teaching as the basis for my action research. After getting to know the dynamics and ability levels of the students in the course, I developed the following research question: does student achievement occur at a higher rate when students work together versus working alone on an assignment? This particular class was made up of 22 mixed level ability students in grades 10^th through 12^th.  10 of the 22 students have IEP’s of all scopes. I also noticed early on that students liked to work in pairs or small groups on assignments. Because of these factors, I thought the research question I posed was appropriate.

            The data I collected would be used to determine if student achievement occurred at a higher level when students worked individually on an assignment or when they worked with partners. If higher student achievement occurred one way rather than the other way, I would try to incorporate more of this type of activity into the course. I hypothesized that student achievement would be higher when students worked in pairs rather than alone on assignments. In order to test this hypothesis, I collected data over a four week time period in the same unit of instruction: water quality. Each assignment was graded out of 20 points.

            The first set of individual data was collected on Wednesday February 25^th, 2015. Students were required to create a poster on water quality impacts. This information was based on material covered in that day’s lesson. The first set of partner data was collected on Friday February 27^th, 2015. Students worked together to create a poster that explained one of four agricultural impacts on water quality of their choosing. This information was also based on material covered in the day’s lesson. The second set of individual data was collected on Tuesday March ^10th, 2015. Students created a poster that displayed water testing results from testing water quality in the fish tanks in the aquatics lab. The second set of partner data was collected on Monday March 23^rd, 2015. This information was based off of March measurements from weighing and measuring fish.

            On the first individual assignment, student achievement averaged at 86%. On the second individual assignment, student achievement averaged at 98%, a 12% increase. On the first partner assignment, student achievement averaged at 88%. On the second partner assignment, student achievement averaged at 97%. a 9% increase. After much analysis with Mr. Anderson and myself, it was determined that the data collected was not sufficient in answering the overall research question. However, a conclusion was reached that overall student achievement improved as the course went on. This could be a result of several things. Students may have been more comfortable with my teaching style. I know for certain that during this time, I realized that students need to have verbal and written directions as to what exactly I want from students on an assignment. Students may have found the water testing and measurement results more interesting and meaningful because it is something they carried out on their own.

            After much personal reflection, as well as reflecting on the project with Mr. Anderson, I came to several more conclusions regarding the action research, as well as recommendations for future research. One conclusion I reached is that the data might be slightly biased because students were allowed to choose their own partners. If I chose partners for students, I would have mixed ability levels. I noticed that similar ability students tended to work with each other on these assignments rather than work with different ability level students. One recommendation for future research is to assign partners for the group posters rather than allowing students to select their own. I feel that I would be able to control possible bias in this way.

            Another recommendation that was reached is to collect and compare data across courses. The ag mechanics course I taught had mixed ability levels and half of the students had IEPs, similar to my aquatics class. In order to provide a wider range of data to analyze, I could have collected data from more than four assignments. Many of the assignments I gave students in the class have been individual and I was somewhat limited in what assignments I could assign with partners. Students did not seem more or less on task when working on both individual and partner assignments. One fear I had when assigning partner projects was that one student would do most or all of the work while the other student did not contribute.

            Overall, I was pleased with my action research project. Mr. Anderson and I both felt that it was worthwhile to complete and the research question was valid. I think it was appropriate for a mixed ability class such as my aquatic resources class. If I completed a similar action research project in the future, I would be sure to have a larger source of data to analyze. I would also assign partners rather than allowing students to choose their own. Even though I reject my original hypothesis because I did not have sufficient data to answer the question, I still found data and reached a conclusion. I think this project was somewhat easier for me to understand and carry out than my peers because of my undergraduate research project. This project helped me understand the dynamics of my class and have prepared me future action research projects!

Early Mornings, Long Nights, and Lots of Memories: Week 11

          I had a very relaxing and refreshing weekend which prepared me for the busy week ahead! My time spent student teaching here at Elizabethtown is winding down and it is definitely bitter sweet. On Sunday, I took a hike with my dad up the mountain behind our house. As I was hiking the steep incline on the last section of the trail towards the summit, I thought about my student teaching experience. As I close in on the last few weeks of student teaching, I know it will be very busy and even challenging at times. Between lessons, spring CDE’s, meetings, and assignments; it is easy to feel like the end isn’t in sight. Just like that hike, I know that the end is near and the view from the top, just like the end of student teaching, will be well worth it.

            On Monday, students continued building their c-clamps. Students cut the threaded rod and cut the small square piece to attach to the top piece of metal. In aquatics, I began teaching about fish, a topic I will cover over the next few days. After a lesson, students completed a worksheet where they had to label fish fins and internal organs. Afterwards, students had to color and create their own fish, making sure to include all body parts found on the rubric. In intro to agribusiness, students worked in the greenhouse for the period. The graduation geraniums will soon be arriving. In order to make room, all other plants had to be transplanted into individual pots. I stayed after school with Mr. Anderson to help prepare the ag mechanics CDE team for their event on Thursday.

            Tuesday was a long day, but productive nonetheless! In ag mechanics, students attached the hex screws to their c-clamp. Some students managed to weld the hex nuts and get their threaded rod stuck in the process, myself included! It was an easy fix as we used threading taps and oil to unscrew the rod. In aquatics, I taught a lesson on fish movement and senses. Students then had to complete a worksheet about fish senses and then write a three paragraph journal entry as if they were a species of Pennsylvania fish. I heard lots of complaints about writing but encouraged students to get creative. In ag business, we finished transplanting plants in the greenhouse and prepared for the arrival of the graduation geraniums on Wednesday. There was about a half hour left in the period so students completed a worksheet on a discontinued food product of their choosing and how it related to agrimarketing. I stayed after school for the student teacher online meeting. Elizabethtown had an all member FFA meeting at 7pm which could end up being my last one as a student teacher! It made me realize how fast time is going and the thought of this experience coming to an end made me sad!

            Wednesday was another very long but eventful day. In ag mechanics, many students began to finish actual construction of their c-clamps. The final pieces were welded onto the clamps. Some other students worked to get caught up because they were absent. In aquatics, I taught a lesson on fish reproduction and spawning. I showed two short videos that really highlighted main points from the lesson. Afterwards, students completed a worksheet related to fish reproduction on a Pennsylvania fish of their choice. In ag business, students were in the greenhouse replanting the graduation geraniums which arrived that morning. After school, I traveled with Mr. Anderson and his wife to the Shady Maple smorgasboard for New and Beginning Teacher Meeting. I had the opportunity to meet other teachers in the area, gather new teaching resources, catch up with other student teachers, and eat plenty of good food!

            Thursday was my last day teaching for the week because I was traveling to Penn State on Friday for our second student teacher workshop! The county ag mechanics CDE was supposed to be held on Thursday but was canceled due to lack of interest. The students on the team were bummed, understandably, as was I. I was looking forward to watching the CDE for the first time and thought that our team would have done well! In ag mechanics, students were finishing up their c-clamps. Many finished welding, grinding, and touching up their clamp and moved on to the final step: spray painting. Students will need time to finish up tomorrow as well; some are still playing catch up. In aquatics, students dissected four of the striped bass that passed away over the course of this semester. Students split up into groups and really seemed to enjoy the activity! Students completed a worksheet relating to the process which included review questions as well as more thought provoking questions. I reviewed the questions with the class at the end in order to make sure everyone understood the information as well as summarize main points. In ag business, students finished planting graduation geraniums and cleaned the greenhouse. This process did take the whole period but the greenhouse looks amazing!

            While Friday will be spent at Penn State, I must admit I will miss these students while I am gone. As stressful and hectic as the weeks can be, I do enjoy the time spent with my students and Mr. Anderson. Some days the students seem to drive me crazy but every day, they make me smile. As I look back upon the week, I feel that I am interacting with students more than before, especially in my ag mechanics course of 17 boys. I feel like I am finding my “teaching routine” so to speak too. Looking ahead to next week, it will be just as busy. I have an SAE visit, a formal observation by Dr. Ewing, and a snow make up day.  Even though it might not seem like it, and just like the hike I took last weekend, the view will be worth it from the top!

Center for Professional Personnel Development Presents....Shady Maple!

            On Wednesday, March 25^th, 2015, I attended a New and Beginning Teacher Dinner at the Shady Maple Smorgasboard in Lancaster County. There were over 30 guests present: student teachers, cooperating teachers, as well as regional teachers. I carpooled with Mr. Anderson, Mrs. Anderson, and their daughter. The meeting began at 5pm and lasted until about 8:30. Mr. Ron Frederick was in charge of running the meeting; I always enjoy seeing him out and about! After we signed in, we were able to begin eating. I had been to Shady Maple once before but I was much younger. I did not remember exactly how big the smorgasboard was but let’s just say I did not leave hungry!

            After everyone finished eating, we went around the room and carried out introductions. We were asked to bring a lesson, pamphlet, or something that our chapter/program uses to share with others. This was our “payment” for the meal. I brought the oil spill inquiry lesson I used in my aquatic resources class on the day that Dr. Ewing came for my first observation. I got some other great resources from fellow student teachers, cooperating teachers, and other ag teachers. One resource that stands out is a Briggs and Stratton informational packet that one of the teachers from Solanco handed out. It contained awesome resources for teachers including workshop information, instructional materials, and information for students. Mr. Frederick also provided resources and handouts as well.
 

            Aside from introductions, we also had to fill out a notecard anonymously. Mr. Frederick asked four questions throughout the night. He then read some of the notecards and answers that stood out to him. The first question asked us to explain the funniest thing that happened to us this school year. The second question allowed us to ask any question we wanted answered. The third question asked what type of workshop or professional development should be held in the region. The final question asked us to describe something we wish we would have known about this profession before entering the field. I thought this was an interesting activity which helped break up the night as well as add some entertainment and insight.

              Overall, I enjoyed the meal and meeting at Shady Maple last night. It was great to meet new teachers as well as catch up with familiar ones. I was also happy to reconnect with several of the student teachers who were in attendance. I had the opportunity to enjoy great food and fellowship with others in the profession. The meeting was more informal than I thought it was going to be but I feel that is needed every now and then. This was just another unique opportunity I had the chance to experience as a student teacher and maybe one day, I will get to experience a similar meeting as an actual ag teacher!

Fish, FFA, and Fun!

         This week was another very busy but productive week at Elizabethtown! I met Mr. Anderson as well as six FFA officers Sunday morning outside of the ag shop. We traveled to the 28^th Pennsylvania FFA State Legislative Leadership Conference in Harrisburg. After stopping for breakfast and checking in at the hotel, students attended their sessions all afternoon. I networked with other ag teachers across the state, former teachers, and fellow student teachers. After supper, students had another session. I used this time to catch up on emails and prepare for the week. On Monday morning, students had another session while teachers took part in several professional development workshops. After lunch, we departed to our community service activity. Etown FFA members had the opportunity to clean up a courtyard/garden at a retirement home. We ate supper at Hoss’s before the dance. After final reflections, it was time for bed as Tuesday morning required an early start.

            We checked out of the hotel by 6:30am, packed the van, and headed to the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Camp Hill for breakfast with legislators. A legislator from the Elizabethtown region was not present for the breakfast. State lawmakers were not in session and I believe this is the reason for lower attendance at the breakfast. Afterwards, we decided to visit Wildwood Park in Harrisburg, the nature center where I interned during the summer of 2013. We visited the nature center and walked the trails around the lake. After stopping for lunch, we returned to Elizabethtown. I was exhausted after the conference but had such an amazing time with the students and Mr. Anderson. We shared many laughs and it was definitely a great bonding experience. I was sad to see the conference end so soon but I was excited to get back into teaching!

 

            On Wednesday, I had another busy day! I had a busy planning period during first block as I prepared for the day. In second block, we cut metal for our c-clamp project. My students seemed very interested in this project. I am making a c-clamp as well and can’t wait to see how it compares to the one I made in AEE 350 last fall. In aquatics, students took a summative assessment on the water quality unit which concluded today. Afterwards, I introduced the game headbands to my students. I had them create headband cards on aquatic organisms in Pennsylvania including fish, reptiles, amphibians, insects, birds, and plants. Students loved the game and I enjoyed watching them play! In intro to agribusiness, students watered and fertilized the plants in the greenhouse. Afterwards, I introduced the marketing unit. Students completed marketing vocab words which ended out the day.

            Thursday was a great day teaching! I helped some students one on one to catch up on their c-clamp projects. It was a great feeling knowing students were coming to me for help and asking me questions! My aquatics class was well behaved today and I had a great period with them! I taught an introductory lesson on Pennsylvania aquatic life. I then had students complete a worksheet where they had to select a PA species of fish, reptiles, amphibians, insects, birds, and plants. They had to answer a few questions and draw a picture. In intro to agribusiness, I stepped out of my comfort zone to teach a lesson on agrimarketing, future markets, and hedging. I was not very familiar with these topics but with the help of the textbook and Mr. Anderson, I was able to make it through the lesson with minimal problems. It was somewhat hard for me to expand on some of the information but I tried my best!

            I was surprised to know we had a full day of school on Friday, I thought we would have a delay or early dismissal for sure! Jenna Moser observed me teach today, which was a nice addition to the classroom! In ag mechanics, students continued to work on their c-clamps. They finished welding the three pieces together as well as grinded the welds down with an angle grinder. Aquatics started off smoothly but ended up with me having to give a stern warning to the class. Students were weighing and measuring the fish in the aquatics lab. Two of the students acted out in an inappropriate way after I asked them to stop. The incident put me in an instant bad mood and I knew I would have to talk to my students. I was shaking as I spoke because this is the first time I ever rose my voice and got angry with students. I maintained my composure and took care of the situation in a professional, appropriate manner. Students were on task and fairly quiet the remainder of the period. They knew I was not happy with their actions and I think they understood that I was serious. I hope they will show me more respect and things will go smoothly from here on out. In intro to agribusiness, students completed the marketing project that we started at the end of class yesterday. They had to select an agricultural product, answer several marketing questions, and then create a poster marketing their product. Students enjoyed the project and I enjoyed viewing their final results.

 

            Overall, this was a very busy, tiring week. Looking back, it was definitely worth it. I had great interactions with the FFA officer team, as well as with students in class. I feel like I am getting to the point where they respect me but can still get their work done and have fun. I felt bad getting very stern with my aquatics students but at the same token, it was something that had to happen. The students were used to seeing a more relaxed, laid back side of me. I sometimes feel like they took advantage of my nice personality. I feel that these students will respect me more but know that class can still be an enjoyable experience. I am anxious to see what the remaining weeks hold and I know they will be extremely busy!

Student Teaching High's and Low's

         I started off my ninth week of student teaching feeling refreshed and re-energized, despite daylight savings time over the weekend. I was anxious to get back to a more normal schedule, or at least one that wouldn’t be impacted by winter weather! I had a very busy and productive prep period as I prepared for the week. In ag mechanics second block, students finished welding t-joints. I practiced welding as well and showed good improvement from the beginning to the end of the block. In third block aquatics, I took my students to the aquatics lab where they completed water quality testing. Students tested the water in both of the fish tanks for the following measurements: pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, dissolved oxygen, and temperature. In intro to agribusiness, I took students to the greenhouse where they watered all of the plants. Afterwards, I taught an introductory lesson on economic systems and the history of economics. Students began working on a poster project in which they had to differentiate between three economic systems.

            Tuesday started off very somber and melancholy: on Monday afternoon, a middle school student was fatally struck by an automobile just down the road from the school. Teachers and faculty were briefed on how to handle the situation in the morning, as well as taking part in a debrief after school. Even though I did not have the student in class, it hit home for me because he was part of the school district. I remained strong for my students as some of them expressed hurt and emotions throughout the day. In ag mechanics, I taught an intro lesson on electricity. Students then completed a worksheet on material I taught. In aquatics, students created graphs from the data collected from testing the water quality in the aquatics lab fish tanks. Students then created notecards as a study tool for a vocab quiz the next day. In intro to agribusiness, students finished up their economic system posters. I then taught an intro lesson on supply and demand. To finish up class, students completed a worksheet on supply and demand that complimented their notes.

 

            On Wednesday, I had another great day teaching! I had a busy prep period as I prepared for the day. In ag mechanics, I taught another lesson on electricity and how it relates to welding. Students completed a corresponding worksheet. To finish up the class, I had students create a foldable on which they had to draw diagrams for AC current, DC-Electrode Negative current, and DC-Electrode Positive current. In aquatics, I taught a lesson on eutrophication. I showed an awesome video to introduce the lesson. After teaching, students had to create a visual depicting the process of eutrophication in at least five steps. To finish out the day, I taught a lesson on elasticity and shifts in supply and demand in ag business. Students completed a worksheet which reiterated information learned about supply and demand so far. Students then picked an agricultural product and created a supply and demand curve for that product over a recent timespan. It was interesting to watch students try to look up information on the iPads and then create the curve. I encouraged them to think rather than me give them the answers. This was a spur of the moment inquiry idea that turned out rather well!

            On Thursday, Mr. Anderson was out for curriculum writing all day on the new STEM course for next year. I taught all three classes while a substitute remained in the classroom. In ag mechanics, students watched a video on the creation of the gateway arch in Missouri. Students completed a corresponding worksheet to go along with it. In aquatics, I taught a lesson on wastewater treatment. Students then read an article about wastewater treatment plants and answered questions. In ag business, I taught a summarizing lesson on economics. Students had the remainder of the period to create a review game of their choice. I attended the Lancaster County Ag Teachers meeting Thursday evening with Mr. Anderson as well. I had a busy but fun day on Friday. I prepared sub plans for Monday and Tuesday because I will be attending SLLC. In ag mechanics, students cut metal for their c-clamp project. In aquatics, students cleaned fish tanks and completed an in class project relating to wastewater treatment. In ag business, students watered plants in the greenhouse before playing their review games.

            Overall, this was a roller coaster of a week. I was exposed to some tragic experiences in the beginning of the week, ones that I honestly never put much thought into as a student teacher. This week has taught me to expect the unexpected and realize what truly matters in life. Life is so short and precious. I realized that I cannot worry about things that aren’t in my control; there is a higher power for that. I also realized how much I care about the students I have been working with over the last 9 weeks. I am excited to continue teaching but am sad as I realize how quickly my time at Elizabethtown is going. I have had a great experience so far and can’t wait to see what the next week holds!