The first day of student teaching was fun...to say the least! We got an easy start to the semester because we got to take students to the PA Farm Show in Harrisburg. It was under an hour drive so Cedar Crest got to go for 2 different days.
Day 1- The Mid-Winter FFA Convention (3 students)
3 years ago, I received my Keystone Degree on the same stage as many others did this week. But, that's not the only thing that motivates me anymore. The first year jacket scholarship program actually brought tears to my eyes. It's great to see the accomplishments at the end of someone's high school FFA career but to see it just beginning was a whole other story.
We had a student go to an Ag Ed workshop on Monday and then went to take care of her animals that were exhibited at Farm Show. Plus we had 2 First Year Jacket Recipients! Even though I haven't gotten to teach these students yet, I am so incredibly proud of them! To see the smiles on their faces after we walked out of that arena was pretty amazing! I am so excited to see where they go this semester and what they learn!
We had a student go to an Ag Ed workshop on Monday and then went to take care of her animals that were exhibited at Farm Show. Plus we had 2 First Year Jacket Recipients! Even though I haven't gotten to teach these students yet, I am so incredibly proud of them! To see the smiles on their faces after we walked out of that arena was pretty amazing! I am so excited to see where they go this semester and what they learn!
Day 2- The Take Everyone to Explore Day (30 students)
What do you do with 30 students in such a big place? How do you keep them out of trouble? Our solution to this was a mini scavenger hunt. It consisted of 8 easy questions that the students must go around the Farm Show Complex to find the answers to. Most of the students had them completed by 10:30 which was okay. It at least kept them out of trouble for a couple of hours! They are all pretty well behaved students but at least they had something to get them started at Farm Show if they have never been there before. As far as I know, the students learned some new things and had fun!
The FFA window displays were judged before we got there but look what we have here!! The 2nd place window exhibit designed by Cedar Crest FFA!! Great job! I was super excited to see this (it was the 1st one I looked at when I walked into that area). To be honest, I didn't even know they were going to have an exhibit but I think it is pretty amazing either way!
The FFA window displays were judged before we got there but look what we have here!! The 2nd place window exhibit designed by Cedar Crest FFA!! Great job! I was super excited to see this (it was the 1st one I looked at when I walked into that area). To be honest, I didn't even know they were going to have an exhibit but I think it is pretty amazing either way!
After attending Farm Show with the students I will be teaching this spring, I am getting really excited to see what we can learn together!!
What a great way to kick off student teaching.
ReplyDeleteSara, attending the Farm Show with your students and being part of memorable experiences they had such as receiving jackets and placing for their display, is a great way to build lasting memories and rapport! The scavenger hunt served as a way to make Farm Show purposeful and educational, but also played into students' natural sense of curiosity when they explored to find the answers. What was your biggest takeaway/thing you plan to do/use with your own students when you take them next year?
ReplyDeleteGreat way to get to know your students... travel with them. Be sure to share your relevant experiences with your students throughout your teaching.
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