Outside Insights

Utilizing our resources is important! This week I was able to utilize the baby goats for 2 classes. On Monday, the students in my Introduction to Agriculture class got to learn about disbudding and dehorning, why we do it, and then a live demonstration of disbudding. How did I use my resources? I disbudded our 4 baby goat kids that were born over our Easter vacation. Each student's response and reaction to the process was different - some it did not bother, some couldn't stand the smell, and a few I thought were going to cry; however, once it was over they realized that what I said was true - it is a relatively short procedure, and the goats don't hold it against you - they're ready to be petted and played with shortly afterward. Later in the week when we were discussing wounds, and I was reminded of a vet call I had shadowed....  a bull had gouged a cow with his horns which ultimately resulted in her death. The bull had severed so many of her muscles in her hip region that she could not walk. I shared this story with the students, which gave me the opportunity to re-emphasize why we de-horn animals, and definitely sparked the students' interests and several questions. It allowed me the opportunity to review previous material and make a connection to the current lesson!

Previously, I had taught several forms of animal ID in my Animal/Vet science class all in one time period. Now that it was time to teach animal ID to my Intro. to Ag students, my previous experience with this lesson - along with my experience with this class, helped me to gauge that swine ear notching was plenty for one class period. The students seemed to really enjoy the activity I had planned - ear notching paper plate pig ears, and I was very impressed with how well the students seemed to grasp the material. Since I had previously taught this material in my Animal/Vet Science class, my one student, who is in both classes, was able to be my assistant. It was a great learning opportunity for her as she tends to be more shy; however, she was confident with the project and was a real help in the class. I was told by the district supervisor (later in the week) that that is the only class he has ever seen her engaged and paying attention in... she always is that way in my classes... I would have never known that had he not said something! The other unique thing about this lesson... I "tricked" them into doing math! :) Figuring the correct notches for the 13th piglet born in the 128th litter takes a few calculations!

Wednesday I was observed by the district supervisor, and we continued on animal ID - ear tagging and tattooing. For my lesson, we reviewed swine ear notching, and discussed the purpose of animal ID along with many common methods of ID. The students each had the opportunity to try out the ear tattoo tool and "tattoo" a paper plate goat ear. Towards the end of the lesson we went out to the barn, and the students got to watch as I tattooed one of the goat kids, and then we looked at one of the does' tattoos so that they could see the final result. Since we were out in the barn, I took another opportunity to review, and had the students figure out the pigs' litter and pig number by looking at her notches.
What else did I do on Wednesday? #latenightbowling with some of my upperclassmen... :)

Thursday I decided to teach my Intro. to Ag students about bandaging and basic animal restraint since the weather was not too conducive to the other lab I had planned. I was very impressed with the fact that nearly all of my students were very engaged, and seemed to really enjoy the lab... there are always those few, but today they were excited to participate! As always, whenever I have a good story to tell about my experiences with the topic, I shared some of my experiences from working in a veterinary clinic. Students really seem to pay attention and make the important connections to the topic. I love it when it sparks questions or discussions about "one time my dog... ", or "have you ever seen...?" #makingitreal

Friday, our district supervisor took approximately 1 1/2 hrs. of his time to talk with me one-on-one to go over my entire lesson that he observed. He told me that with that particular class he would probably only have 1 or maybe 2 objectives for each lesson, spend approx. 10 min. reviewing, spend 20 min. on the new material, and then spend 10 min. reviewing. Many of his suggestions centered around ways to take the pressure and stress off of me, and put it on the students - especially those who are a struggle to keep focused and are easily distracted. One suggestion was to select the student who isn't doing his bell work exercise and have that student write my objectives on the board. Use the students who aren't always on task and make them answer the review questions - if they don't know what the previous days' lesson was about, then tell them that they must not have learned the material like I thought they had... "therefore, we will repeat the previous days' lesson and we aren't going to move on to new material", and then do just that... He said most times after utilizing students this way, and repeating the lessons as needed, students will start to pay more attention for various reasons - one being that their peers will get after them because they want to move on to new topics. The embarrassment of being called on to answer and not knowing the answers because of not paying attention will also motive some. This is one of the first times that some of these concepts have really "made sense" to me. He gave me numerous scenarios of how it might play out in the classroom - not a bunch of theories or ideals, but he worked through my entire lesson plan, section by section with common sense approaches for real situations within my class and suggestions for particular students... it was awesome! I am excited to try some of the suggestions in my last 2 weeks of teaching, and hopefully I will have the opportunity to see at least a few of them work!

 Snowy ending to the week... this is April, correct? :)

SAE Visit #2

Dairy Goat Growth Curves - Research-Based SAE project

Since one of my 10th grade students showed particular interest in the goats, but did not have an SAE project, I suggested that he try a research project at the school on the growth of the dairy goat kids that would soon be born. While we waited their arrival, I instructed him to research information on this topic as well as look at the research I have done on dairy goat growth. During this time he also started his record keeping in the AET, and outlined his project plans and methods. Once the baby goats (kids) arrived, I showed him how to properly measure and weigh the kids. He plans to record this information on all 4 of the kids until the end of the school year at which time he should be able to create a simple growth curve to analyze their growth. Through this project he helps to care for the goats throughout the week, so he is gaining hands-on experience outside to the classroom working with animals. These kids were also used for a disbudding and tattooing lab, which provided an additional connection between his project and the classroom instruction. Additionally, he is gaining record keeping skills which will be transferable to nearly any vocation. Through this SAE project he is gaining hours of experience which can be also applied towards degrees and awards through the FFA.

To evaluate his SAE project, I would look at his AET records (which I have done) to make sure that he is recording the height and weight of each kid on a weekly basis.

I have done a few follow-ups since the kids have been born, and I have been working with him to make sure that he is taking the measurements as accurately as possible with the measuring devices available so that he will get relatively accurate results. Should he ever decide to raise goats in the future, he now knows how to measure their rate of growth which is important when managing animals and managing their nutrition.

Regional PAAE Meeting

Approximately 20-25 PAAE members met at Hoss's for the Western Regional PAAE Meeting. A guest speaker from Altoona area, who is working with PDE and the "trial runs" of the new NOCTI's presented on how they are collecting and using the data, why changes were made, as well as the need for more participants so that they can get the required number of "samples" before the new NOCTI tests can become official.

Mr. Campbell led the meeting, officers gave their various reports, etc.

Throughout the meeting a very interesting discussion ensued as to what students could qualify as "Completers" of the Ag program. Most present stated that completers had to have X number of hours/classes; however, another visiting individual insisted that completers have to be enrolled in at least 1 Ag class every year from 9th grade to 12th grade. The discussion that followed revolved around the fact that scheduling conflicts sometimes don't allow students to take an Ag class for one of the years, or a student may not take an Ag class until 10th grade, etc., so this other individual was stating that none of these students could ever be considered completers even if they met the hour/class requirements... Interesting discussion...

... Food was great! :)

Egg-citing things are happening!

The weeks are zooming by...
Since we had off Monday and Tuesday, it was another rather short week...

Wednesday, Dr. Rice visited for my second evaluation, and egg-citing things were happening in my

Introduction to Agriculture course. We had started incubating eggs the previous week, so the students learned about the parts of the egg and also got to candle eggs. The students were very excited with my interest approach... first I broke a bantam egg into a dissecting tray, followed by a chicken egg, and then the climatic GOOSE EGG! The students were very awed and intrigued with the size of the goose egg. In reflecting on the class, I think the lesson would have been better if I would have had students work in groups of 2 for ID'ing the parts of an egg activity - that way more students would have been able to be more directly involved, and learning the parts of the eggs might have been easier if I would have allowed them to break their egg into the tray earlier in the lesson.

 This little piggy... was being a good sport... with just a little coaching... :) Students had the opportunity to practice their bandaging skills on the pig, goats, a pony, and heifers! If I had a favorite part of the FFA motto, it would definitely be "learning by doing"! All of my students got involved and seemed to really enjoy the learning opportunity... even the students who sometimes drag their feet...
I have noticed that some of my students in my animal/vet science labs are sometimes "afraid" of doing an activity with the animals (Ex. injections and hoof trimming)... Sometimes I get the question..."What if I mess up or hurt the animal?" to which I usually reply... It's okay... Go ahead and try... I'm right here watching you... I'll walk you through it the first time... If you have any questions you can always ask, etc.
Why do I think this time went better? The students are getting more confident and comfortable working with the animals, and I think that they all felt that it was a goal/challenge set within their reach, but without as much pressure of "messing up"... I think I'm getting closer to reaching my goal of teaching these students how to provide basic care for various animals, so that they have the knowledge to be educated and responsible animal owners if they choose that path! So exciting! I hope to continue with these labs so that my students feel confident, accomplished, and knowledgeable enough to know how to research or seek out help if needed.

Thought I'd share just one more photo... the students were busily working in the

greenhouse, and Mr. Hughes had to meet with the supervisor to finalize a grant, so I helped keep tabs on his class and keep them busy... I would not have volunteered to do this earlier in the year... they were my most challenging and stressful class...
Funny note though... they were "de-flowering" the geraniums this week and one of the boys collected all of the flowers, brought them to me, and asked for an "A" in the class... I told him that was bribery, and that he couldn't pick me a big enough bouquet... :) ... This student was also the the one that told the substitute teacher that he was taking me to the prom... you should have seen her face :D... the crazy things students say...

New beginnings, new experiences, and new connections...

This short week has certainly been packed with excitement!

Tuesday brought 2 new baby goats to the school... When several of my students (and some of their friends that aren't even in my Ag classes) found out that baby goats were being born, I got to teach those students about gestation, parturition, colostrum, etc. The students were so excited! It was an excellent learning opportunity for those students because not only did they get to see 2 successful births, but also an unsuccessful one as well. The unsuccessful birth gave opportunity to discuss why labor was so long for the second kid, which was born in the breach position and dead. After all of the excitement of the births, we discussed the importance of colostrum, antibodies, and kid immunity while we worked with the kids to get them to nurse.

Wednesday we started chicken eggs in our incubators in my Intro. to Ag class, and then the students got to see the new goat kids... they were so excited! Wednesday after all of the grades were entered, and I was setting at the desk looking up teaching resources, I got a knock on my door. There stood the principal and assistant principal, another teacher, and a young student... I thought... this is interesting... Their request... we heard about the baby goats that were born today, but the barn/greenhouse door is locked... could you let us in? Oh yeah!

New connections... Friday evening I stopped at the school to check on the animals and got to meet 2 of my students' parents, and got to see 2 more new goat kids... The mom informed me that her daughter told her that she finally had found a favorite teacher, but I guess that will be ending shortly...

What have I learned through these experiences? Utilize hands-on learning opportunities whenever possible! Those students that were able to see those kids born will have an awesome memory that will go with them throughout the rest of their lives, and maybe someday a few of them will be able to utilize what they observed and learned from this unique experience.

In thinking of new beginnings and new experiences I think it is most important to reflect on the reason for the short week - Easter - a time to remember and reflect on the new birth that can take place in our lives if we repent of our sins and allow God to transform us into new creatures after His likeness.

Because I want students to be successful citizens...

Want to know what stood out clearly to me this week? American culture has so degraded our families and morals to the point where we are now faced with innumerable "problem" children that we don't know what to do with except feed them through our school systems, and hope they turn out okay (if they don't drop out before they graduate.)

As teachers we are expected to perform miracles and turn these undisciplined, often unloved, and many times unwanted children into useful, productive citizens who will enter our workforce and have the skills necessary to be successful. We are sent into combat with a pillow, ear plugs, and sunglasses... soften the blows, plug your ears to the things that you hear, and cover your eyes when things aren't happening like they should... oh and by the way... if those three tools don't work... try reasoning with them, and somehow through your smooth words, tireless efforts, a few detentions, and threats they will magically transform into the desired product when they cross the stage at graduation having cheated and lied their way through school.

Over this semester, I have seen, heard, and combated these things; however, this week there was a climax. I don't intend to, nor did I, plan to look the other way or stop my ears from hearing. This week my plant and soil science classes learned to identify various common flowers and tools used with floriculture. All went reasonably well. The arrangements turned out well, the identification reviews went well, but Friday things changed. Friday was exam day. The students were given explicit directions as to how the exam was to work. Since there are 22 students in the class and 45 items to identify, there should be 1 student at every other item for the duration of the exam. Once the timer goes off, you move to the next questions and so on until the exam is complete. Each of the 45 items were given in a word bank on their exam, so that if they could not remember one, they could find it in the word bank. They were also told that if they could not remember one, leave it blank, and at the end of the exam they would be given a second opportunity to look at the items. Furthermore, they only needed to know 40 of the 45 items, which equates to 5 free ones or bonus.

Within less than 5 minutes, students started grouping together rather than staying spread apart. Turning their clipboards to their buddy and copying answers. No problem... they just lost 5 points right then and there... I walked over and made the deduction on their test. Others decided to print pictures off of the internet which they labeled and kept under their test... that didn't work well either as I confiscated papers and took off more points. Did they need to cheat? Absolutely not. They knew the answers in the review quite well.

Some might say... just go through the items 1 at a time while they are sitting in class, and have them write them down... guess what... the room is packed at 22 - no room to spread them out - thus the reason I utilized the shop class to spread them out. Take home test.... even more disaster... about 5 students would do the work, and the rest would copy. These kids, if they pass their classes, will walk across the graduation stage, not by their own merit or honesty, but because they worked the system and cheated their way through. Unfortunately, many will, and some already are, facing consequences with the law because too many adults have looked away, stopped their ears, muffled the blows with a pillow, and "passed" them out of exasperation. That does not meet the expectations that we will turn out productive, honest, hard-working students.

So, for all of you teachers, future teachers, and others who work with impressionable, young, love-deprived students, stop hurting the students by looking the other way. If you care about them at all, use everything within you to show those students you care by giving them the consequences their dishonest and unlawful actions deserve - because if you don't, the state penitentiary will house them at your expense once they graduate!

You can write me off as extreme, but children need to know that someone cares about them.  Ignoring their behaviors, that will someday put them in the hands of the law, isn't caring, nor is it doing your part in teaching children and young adults the character traits and morals needed to become successful in this life or prepared for the next one. The next time you hear of a mass shooting, medical malpractices, or someone short changes you and pockets the difference, remember that each time you look the other way when students are cheating, accept a known lie, or turn the other way when you see them involved in unlawful activities without any attempt of correction, you are helping to create more of these problems.

Hands-on learning is exciting!

I love real-life experiences and hands-on learning opportunities, and most of my students seem to as well!

The beginning of the week, I spent in Harrisburg with 4 juniors and my cooperating teacher. The students had the opportunity to learn about the legislative process and how bills are made and amended. Several of the students said they learned a lot and enjoyed the trip. Tuesday after the SLLC events were over, we took a "self-guided" tour of the capital building, and the opportunity to see awesome paintings depicting significant events in out history as well as representation of PA industries. Furthermore, the architecture is awesome! We met with staff person from Senator Don White's office as well as the Lieutenant Governor's office. These visits provided us with the opportunity to see their office, enjoy the balconies, learn some interesting history and background information, as well as ask some questions.

 Some other exciting things that happened this week... I was excited that overall my students knew the 4th paragraph of the Creed much better than they knew the 3rd paragraph last week... A very good type of surprise!

Wednesday the weather was so nice out that I took my Animal/Vet Science class outside to review the anatomical directional terms that they were to work on learning while I was away at SLLC; however, 3 of those students were at SLLC and a few of the other students had been absent, so I just decided to completely go over the information, and then we moved on to my lesson on dairy goat diseases. With several changes to my schedule, I ended up spending additional time on dairy goat diseases and had to switch several things around - hopefully we get this section finished by Monday or Tuesday!
Friday we did a fecal analysis lab looking for parasites which made things a little stressful as I was originally planning to have the lab this coming week; however, it did work out okay. I did learn though that it takes students a lot longer to clean up from this type of lab than I had planned for, so I ended up finishing the clean-up over the beginning part of my lunch break. :(

I also started teaching Floriculture to my 2 sections of Plant and Soil Science students. Incorporating as much hands-on as possible throughout this unit is certainly helping it to go smoother and keep my "busy" students engaged and on task! So far we have spent 3 days learning to make a boutonniere, corsage, tie bows, and ID common floral design tools and flowers! Love it! ... AND I found a 4th participant so that I can have a floriculture team to compete in CDE's! So excited!

Another exciting thing for me this week is that I was able to "turn-over" the care of the pony to 2 of my 9th grade students who are crazy about horses. Friday I spent time with them showing them how to care for and work with her, and then had them demonstrate to me what I showed them... Now they have something to put in their AET records! Woohoo! I'm hoping to get some other students started with some projects very soon - it is one of my favorite parts of Ag Education... unfortunately there just isn't enough time in the day and too many other pressing things that keep me from being able to fully implement it like I would prefer... If there were to be an unequally sized portion of the 3-circle model in my mind, it would be that the SAE circle would be slightly enlarged as I feel that this aspect can teach students so much - especially those students who detest school!

In reflecting on this week, I need to allow a few more minutes of clean-up time for labs, continue the hands-on approach when applicable, and work to get my students more involved in SAE's and CDE's!
... Oh... and find more time in my day... haha!

On an even more exciting note... my 2 required PRAXIS exams are done, and spring is just around the corner! ... I found an exciting little reminder in our woods when I got home and was gathering wood... Myrtle!