Happy National FFA Week!!
Monday-"normal"
Tuesday-"normal"
Wednesday-snow/ice day
Thursday-2 hour delay
Friday- activity period schedule
Things I Learned:
- I need to breathe! Having activities for National FFA Week was kind of stressful and I found myself giving into the stress
- I need to focus on being strong for the students (County FFA Ice-skating was Friday night and Mr. Haussener broke his ankle)
- the students love to have fun! They love doing competitive activities
- pictured below is the "Pin The Glasses on Mr. Haussener" activity, there were several students who got it pretty close and one who got it exactly. You may have to look closely to see the pinned glasses that were right on the money!
BECOV Progress:
- variability was better this week! It was easier when I had FFA week activities at the end too
- clarity was one of my first things I worked on and now I need to revisit clarity. I can write good directions but it's all in how I deliver them
Advice Wanted:
- How do I deliver directions the way I want them to be? I have them written out but I don't want to read off of my lesson plan so I don't but then that gets me into "trouble"
- How do I get some teaching in during National FFA Week? I had a little bit of teaching time but the students weren't all "there" because they were focused on the days activity before we even got to it.
FFA week has the potential to be both an exciting and stressful time as you discovered. (Wow to your cooperating teacher breaking his ankle) Imagine not having the FFA Week experience though. I have several teaching colleagues in NY who were on mid-winter break last week so weren't even in school.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to directions, is is possible you could have a slide on display so that as you present the directions you have a student read a line of them? Then when they get to work, the directions are project there for them to see. This would also get students involved by reading them.
As much as there is curriculum to be covered, some days it pays to just go with the energy in the room. FFA week just tends to be a series of those days all at once.
Sara, have your directions visible as many places as possible. Delivered to students electronically on iPads/Chromebooks, etc. Have them on the board, have them on a screen, as well as provide verbal clarification to them to try to fill in any gaps/spot of uncertainty in your written directions.
ReplyDeleteSara,
ReplyDeleteAll class sessions are to teach something to our students. Even during these weeks that seem "crazy" because of special activities, etc. there is learning to be had. Just be sure to frame that learning in the context of your learning objectives for your course. Sure you may need to "shift" away from learning about nutrition of dairy cattle for a day or two, but think about the other learning objectives for your overall course, and how they can be addressed through these learning activities.
Why do you not want to "read" off your lesson plan?
ReplyDeleteThis is why we create a lesson plan. to USE as we we teach. This does not mean holding it in front of our face and reading, but we can surely utilize to remember clarity in instructions.
remember the formula:
Signal Word (when you hear____)
Task (you will ___)
Check for Comprehension (What questions are there?
Signal word ___
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