AEE 412 Weekly Writing #1

So... my first thoughts... wow, that was a lot of reading...

To me the most important thing that stood out to me was that it is critical to start out teaching on the right foot. In order to do that we should try to be as prepared as possible, and seek out help immediately if we are struggling! 

One of the "Top Ten Effective Teacher Characteristics" that really stood out to me was positive reinforcement, and the example given about writing/giving positive feedback on students' papers and exams. This has always been important to me, and I am often disappointed when teachers or professors don't give me any feedback. It is my goal to not be "that teacher" who doesn't give any feedback. I have just started "TA'ing" for an upper level anatomy class, and when another TA saw me meticulously going over the homework I was grading and writing the correct answers for the questions they missed they remarked that "it takes too long to do it that way". For me, it is not an issue that it takes longer, after all that is what we are getting paid to do, but more importantly I want the students to do well, learn from their mistakes, and know that I care enough that I will try to do my best to give them feedback so that they can be successful!

Although I have not had the opportunity to do so yet, I would like to find some more information on the best practices and tips for providing feedback to students on their assignments and exams, and what things may have the greatest positive impact.

Reflection on 1st teaching experience...

First and foremost I must say that I felt educationally unprepared for this experience; however, I also know and understand that we have to start getting teaching experience somewhere. With that being said, I taught the lesson and my "students" mastered the topic, but I thought of several things that I could have done differently. First, I needed a better introduction and attention grabber. Second, it would have been better if I had had more students participate prior to explaining the trick. This would have either temporarily stumped them and got them more intrigued, or it would have given them additional time to try to strategize and figure out the trick prior to actually showing them how to do the trick for themselves. Lastly, I had absolutely no background with the "topic" because, in my family "playing cards" are taboo, so it wasn't just because it was an unfamiliar "topic" - I had to decide is this something I can do without going against my religious convictions of not participating in or promoting those things which would be displeasing to God?
 
Another factor for consideration is that I would like to think that what I teach is useful, practical, and beneficial to learner - not just a time filler (i.e. I wouldn't ever teach this lesson because it does not teach any "life skills" that I would want to promote). 

  Based on the results of the learner satisfaction forms, my "students" where either satisfied or very satisfied with the lesson, and reported that the hands-on component and demonstration helped them learn the trick. Several suggestions included: practicing with other students, doing more than one trick, and showing a video of a professional magician for an interest approach.

SAE Visits

 My 1st two SAE visits!

 Vinny is raising poinsettia's to sell around Christmas time for his SAE project. He is a senior and the Vice President of the Penns Manor FFA officer team. He had just potted them the day before, so Mr. Hughes spent much of the time going over watering, fertilizing, precautions/plant sensitivities, and answering any of his questions.

Alex is also a senior and is the President of the Penns Manor FFA chapter. For her SAE she works at a local family-owned grocery store that has been in business for over 100 years. She does everything from running the cash register to working in the bakery, and she also helps to train new employees. Alex worked there several days per week this summer, and continues to work throughout the school year. The store was pretty busy when we through, so it was a short visit, but it was obvious that she knows her responsibilities and how to do a good job and keep things flowing smoothly.

School Visit - Penns Manor Petting Zoo - May 2015

The students of the Penns Manor Ag Program along with help from their Ag Teacher, Mr. Hughes set up an awesome petting zoo in their shop area and outside.

  
Most, if not all, of the elementary students and their teachers, along with several administrators visited the petting zoo, and got to experience a little taste of Agriculture. 


  The Ag students were kept busy answering students and teachers questions about the animals as well as taking care of the animals throughout the event. They were also responsible for helping set-up, tear down, and clean up after the event. In addition, the Ag students had built the animal holding pens for this event, although the pig pen had to be modified to curb the escape efforts... :)

 
If I remember correctly... the petting zoo included: a horse, a pony, a donkey, a guinea, a chicken, 2 rabbits, a pet hamster, 4 or 5 ducks (one of which was content to splash and play in the shop sink and drink water out of a red plastic cup), 3 geese, 2 guinea pigs, a peacock, 3 young pigs, 3 (awesome) goat kids (my contribution to the chaos... and yes, I am biased, but the kids had a blast with them!).

Introduction

Farm girl tough!

 Just a little about myself... I am currently working on my teacher's certification in Ag Education while finishing up my bachelor's degree in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences at Penn State. 

Gotta love those ears!

I was raised on a small farm in western PA where we have been raising, breeding, and milking dairy goats since I was 12yrs. of age. In addition to our milking herd, bucks, and replacement doelings, we have 2 horses, chickens, 3 dogs, and way too many barn cats! 

Some of our milking does... fighting to see who can eat the most the fastest!

 Although I have never shown any of our goats, I got to attend and observe my first 2 dairy goat shows this summer! I am also super excited that one of my bred does that I sold last year to a local 4-H and FFA student won Reserve Grand Champion and Best Udder, and her daughter won Grand Champion at their first show!

...what are you doing laying on the ground?

 This summer I have been working on training my 2yr. old palomino paint/quarter horse filly with the hope of someday having a reliable, well-trained trail horse, but some days she makes me wonder... :) I would like to think I could train her to do some tricks someday, but right now I am just mainly focusing on other groundwork such as lunging, backing, giving to pressure, etc.

My grandparents 100+ yr. old barn silhouetted in the sunset.

I also enjoy taking pictures, exercising my somewhat "green thumb", arranging flowers, playing the piano and flute, spending time with my family and friends, and horseback riding.