Since daylight savings time, I've been driving to school at a very unique time of day. The sky is still dark and the moon and a few stars still present. Despite the silver still hanging in the air, the new days light leaks from the soil and for a moment the moon and the sun share the same sky. It's a very eerie, very promising time of day. Driving through the half dark-half light of the morning listening to "what you doing at the courthouse" on the radio (a classy segment of talk radio when a DJ shows up at the courthouse and asks people what they're in for) I smile knowing this will easily be the most boring part of my day and wonder what lessons are waiting for me at MacArthur high school.
1. The 17-year old male problem-solving mind is TV worthy. This week in welding we have been working on a trailer, and Friday we were preparing to put the wooden floor in. There were students marking the metal that ran the width of the trailer, others cutting holes where the metal had been marked to attach the boards to the trailer, and others using drills to clean up the holes that had been cut, so the bolts fit better. At one point, the bit of the drill broke and had gotten stuck in the metal of the trailer. The metal here was actually heavy metal tubing, or something, because the bit had broke off and was not visible on the bottom. The bit was also flush to the top surface of the metal. All of the sudden, the shop turned into a surgery room one might see on ER or Grey's Anatomy. Students gathered around the scene, handing small tools and large tools back and forth in a mixture of English and Spanish dialog. When just a hammer didn't work, they tried a chisel. Someone talked of burning it out and someone else suggested needle nose pliers. Someone was on their back working from the underside of the trailer, and five or six others gathered around the top of trailer looking down at the wedged bit. Finally, once the entire tool room had been emptied and a combination of hitting the bit from the bottom and grabbing from the top was employed, the endeavor was a success and the broken bit was discarded.
2. Competition encourages practice...and trash talking. In honor of the Final Four coming to Houston I held a March madness welding tournament in my three welding classes. This gave students the opportunity to test their welding skills against the other students in their class. Trying to explain the concept of the tournament was more challenging than I thought it would be, but eventually the students caught on and were actually having fun with it. Not only did this little competition encourage some students to actually practice their skills but also brought out a very entertaining, very competitive side of my students.
3. It's always nice to see a familiar face. Since I blogged last Mac was blessed with a very special visitor. Dr. Miller from ISU visited both Tiff and I at our respective schools and spent a day in our classes. Dr. Miller and our conversations made me miss Iowa in some ways, but also helped me realize that I'm getting a very different experience than many of many of my classmates.
4. If laughter is the best medicine, I won’t be sick a day. High school students are absolutely the most fun, most entertaining, hilarious individuals. Between the sight of one only girls in my welding class attempting to stand as far away from a piece as metal as possible as not to get sparks on her clothes, or the thousands of creative excuses I’ve heard as to why someone wasn’t at school (including getting lost at sea), and the random chit-chat that occurs before the bell rings my students keep me laughing the entire day. Sometimes the laughter comes at an expense to the school, like yesterday when I walked outside of the shop to find students trying to scoop paint back into the can (paint shaking assignment gone wrong). Sometimes the laughter comes at an expense to the student, like the time one student was in charge in making a “no parking” sign, but after running out of room only had a “no parkin” sign to show for his efforts. After Arkadie explained that the sign was going to sit outside the building and most people in the community think the school is ghetto enough the student just shook his head and said “I could have fit the G on there.” I’ve realized that if I don’t laugh I just might cry, and if I don’t find the humor in the little things I’ll never last in this profession.
5. Students change from day to day. In welding class a week or two ago I spotted one of the students with his cell phone. Tired of cell phones and all the hassle I rolled my eyes and used my classic line-- "if that's a smart phone you should be smart enough not to use it in school". The student smiled and said, "ok, Miss, but first let me show you a picture of my son." Surprised I looked at the photo not entirely sure what to expect, but there it was... a newborn baby. That was just born the night before. In a day, a few hours, my welding student went from a typical teenage boy to a father. Just like that.
6. I can't always be about the test. On Friday I decided to assess knowledge the old fashioned way and administered a test. Within three minutes of handing it out I had students hyperventilating and insisting we "NEVER TALKED ABOUT ANY OF THIS STUFF". Obvious that their scores would not be as high as their blood pressure and that the anxiety would eventually shut their brain down entirely, I decided to get creative. I also knew that even if I went over the test after grading them many students would zone out believing that since the test was over and graded whatever content was covered is no longer important. I get increasingly frustrated when we have quality discussions in class and then when it comes time to summarize what we talked about on a test they turn frantic. After I explained why I don’t offer multiple choice or true/false tests I tried something new. I explained that we would be going through this test as class. For the entire hour of Livestock Production we talked through, in depth, the answers to the 20 short answer questions of the test. I asked follow-up questions, made sure every student contributed, made sketches on the board, and probed with questions until I was exhausted. They had to complete the test as we went, and I’m impressed with their lengthy, thorough, in-depth answers. I’m considering re-writing the questions and giving the test again, but understand that their high school experience is not my educational experiment.
7. Geography should be emphasized in the Texas public school system. Having lived in Texas for almost four months I am well aware that there is little recognition of, and certainly no appreciation for, the remaining 49 states of America. As I was preparing to make my trip back to Iowa there were several occasions Arkadie suggested I take some of the students back with me. Once during welding he turned to a student and told him I was going to the Midwest and he should go too. Arkadie said it would be cold, and not much diversity, but probably exactly what this student needed. Not the liking the idea, the student shook his head and said "I don't want to go to Idawa sir." I speculated on what Idawa must be like-- a state that grows corn and potatoes in the same field and STILL gets confused for being the Buckeyes.
8. Diversity doesn't necessarily mean different. After I got back from Iowa and was telling my students about my trip one of them asked if I told anyone back home about them, the students at MacArthur and in my classes. I told him that everyone I talked to was very interested about the school I was teaching in and my students. They of course then asked what I had told the Midwest about MacArthur and I reminded students that in Iowa there is not much diversity, so people are often very interested in the cultural demographics of Mac. One student piped up and said “why? We aren’t diverse. We are 99% Hispanic and have a handful of white teachers.” The class laughed, and I got to thinking that perhaps that student was on to something. MacArthur really isn't that different than Iowa high schools. We emphasize soccer more than football, and send letters home with students in both English and Spanish. But we also both work hard to prepare students for careers and life, and both states believe their standardized tests are the best. MacArthur is not another world; it's southern Texas, and it's really not scary or different at all.
9. Bald eagles don’t impress high school students. The last two weeks of my teaching are focused on FFA and SAE within agricultural education. In explaining agricultural careers I displayed a huge list of potential jobs within agriculture to exemplify the breadth of the industry. One student asked what a Wildlife Manger was, and I briefly explained what some potential jobs responsibilities might be. I then thought about Eagle Cam in Decorah, Iowa, that is documenting the every move at an eagles nest and decided to get it on the big screen. While watching the eagle sit next to the newly hatched birds I explained the purpose of the camera and what wildlife professionals were doing with the information and how around the US wildlife are documented to study breeding, eating patterns, migration, etc. We then sat in silence for almost a minute just watching the eagle look from side to side and blink occasionally until finally one student said “so this is what they do in Iowa, Miss?” I laughed for a long time and then said, “well, that and feed most of the world.”
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
The End
I'm back in Iowa, and Houston and MacArthur already seem like so long ago. When people ask me how my student teaching experience was I smile and tell them it was amazing, leaving it at that. It's hard to tell a story sometimes-- it's hard to covey the feelings I have for my students, the respect I have for Mr. Arkadie and Miss Fish, and the emotions that forever be tied to the MacArthur ag room to people looking for a short answer on how the last four months of my life played out.
My last day of teaching was a very special one. I walked into the room after running an errand to find a pizza party, cake, and letters and cards waiting for me. Students filtered in and out of the party during their lunch hour and I slowly began to say goodbye to the students that had become my entire life. One student even made me a quilt that is covered in Farmall tractors and all the other students signed it in fabric paint. I am so touched that these students put so much work into it. While I was packing it to make the trip home I finally took the time to lay it out and read what all the students had wrote, and started to get choked up.
I know that in three years I won't remember the lessons I taught, but I'll remember the comments that were made and the questions that were asked. I won't remember the names of all my students, but I will remember their smiles and how happy they made me. I know I won't remember all of Arkadie's one-liners, but I will never forget the days he kept me laughing when I felt like giving up. I am most thankful for he and Miss Fish. They taught me the most about being a teacher and a friend to students, and providing students with opportunities they might not otherwise have. They made Texas feel like home, despite being 1000 miles from Iowa.
I'm not sure I changed any lives in my 14-week stint as a student teacher, but thankfully the students at this school changed mine. My perspective on teaching has changed, my idea of a teacher is completely different, and my passion for life, and agriculture, and teaching is reborn.
While I may never dance or teach in Texas again, I'll be doing both in boots I bought in Houston and lessons I learned at MacArthur.
My last day of teaching was a very special one. I walked into the room after running an errand to find a pizza party, cake, and letters and cards waiting for me. Students filtered in and out of the party during their lunch hour and I slowly began to say goodbye to the students that had become my entire life. One student even made me a quilt that is covered in Farmall tractors and all the other students signed it in fabric paint. I am so touched that these students put so much work into it. While I was packing it to make the trip home I finally took the time to lay it out and read what all the students had wrote, and started to get choked up.
I know that in three years I won't remember the lessons I taught, but I'll remember the comments that were made and the questions that were asked. I won't remember the names of all my students, but I will remember their smiles and how happy they made me. I know I won't remember all of Arkadie's one-liners, but I will never forget the days he kept me laughing when I felt like giving up. I am most thankful for he and Miss Fish. They taught me the most about being a teacher and a friend to students, and providing students with opportunities they might not otherwise have. They made Texas feel like home, despite being 1000 miles from Iowa.
I'm not sure I changed any lives in my 14-week stint as a student teacher, but thankfully the students at this school changed mine. My perspective on teaching has changed, my idea of a teacher is completely different, and my passion for life, and agriculture, and teaching is reborn.
While I may never dance or teach in Texas again, I'll be doing both in boots I bought in Houston and lessons I learned at MacArthur.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Week 10; March Madness
Spring break has an entirely different meaning this year. I remember two years ago I spent spring break chasing kangaroos around Australia for college credit. This year I sit frantically finishing my thesis, applying for jobs, and lesson planning for my final weeks at MacArthur. There's no time for rest or relaxation and surprisingly I feel energized without it. Ok, honestly, I spent nearly all of Saturday in my bed, but don’t think I wasn’t dreaming about all the work I had to do.
Week 10 was over as fast as it started and thankfully the week provided plenty of learning opportunities, for me and my students.
#1. Every day there's something to cry about. This week I signed a paper that permanently excused a student from my class and from MacArthur for good. This student is impossible to describe. The first few weeks in class he hardly talked, sat quiet and small in his desk each day until the bell rang. I would watch him in between classes scurrying down the halls sort of like a raccoon, dodging people like trash cans and clinging to the walls out of the light. This student, however, started to come alive in equine science, getting involved and doing decently on tests. Then on Wednesday he approached me with form from the front office asking for my signature of approval that he and his records be released from Mac High School. Puzzled I turned to the student as asked what all this was about. "I have to go Miss", was all he said. I could feel tears in my eyes and I think I saw some in his too. He explained that there had been trouble at home and his dad kicked him out and he was going to go live with his mom. I asked if he was going to enroll in high school where his mom lives and he said he would try. I wanted to tell him trying was not going to be good enough, but for this tiny, confused, and obviously upset high school student I decided we'd make the last day of equine science a good one. Every day I look at his desk and wonder if my student is sitting in a different equine science class in a different high school. I really hope he is, though life has taught me not to be so optimistic.
#2. Every day there's something to celebrate. This week it was Texas Independence Day; March 2, the day Texas became a sovereign state of the United States. I wanted to celebrate by grilling up some grass-fed Texas steak and watching re-runs of George Bush's State of the Union addresses, but instead we discussed lap welds, horse dental issues, and the battle of San Jacinto.
#3. Every day there's something to laugh about. I decided to paint my fingernails a very bright pink to celebrate the upcoming arrival of spring break. While washing hands after welding class I asked some of the gentlemen gathered around the sink what they thought of my choice in color. I asked if they thought it was as fabulous as I did and explained that I had to go bright pink in honor of spring. One student, who reminds me of a slightly edgier Jonas brother said he really liked the color, then held out his own hand to reveal two of his nails painted nearly the same color of pink. Look at that, I thought, we really aren't so different.
#4. Every day there is something to be thankful for. I am convinced I am spending 14 weeks with most interesting, most entertaining group of agriculture teachers I have ever met. I look forward to taking joint field trips to the Rodeo with some of them and the bi-monthly meetings we have as a group. I know that Mr. Johnson and Mr. Arkadie will make me laugh, even if it is just because they showed up in their matching denim jackets. I cherish every conversation I have with Arkadie. I can ask him about Texas and roping calves, we talk about diversity in agriculture, I tell him about the Iowa State Fair, and he taught me how to say San Antonio like a cowboy. I told him he MUST visit Iowa someday and he said he'd come up for my wedding, whenever that might be. I’ve never met anyone quite like him. If this experience has taught me anything it’s that good people are everywhere.
#5. Honesty is the best policy. At the beginning of the week we had open house at MacArthur, which is an opportunity for guardians to visit teachers and inquire about how their student is doing in their classes. While similar to a parent-teacher conference, this is a parent-teacher-student conference. Whatever is said the student is present for, which can be both good and bad. Because these are my students now Arkadie let me talk to the parents, or at least talk to the translator. At first I was really nervous to say something too harsh, after all, I still want these kids to like me. But being nice is not going to help anyone graduate high school and thankfully most high school students carry a grudge that lasts about 3 class periods, at most. It was neat to finally meet some of parents of my students and understand the family structure they were coming from. Many parents left phone numbers or email address for me to contact them if their student in still tardy or being disrespectful in class. I haven't had to use any yet and don't foresee that happening. Just asking "is this a cell phone or a home phone? Should I call after dinner?" is enough to get a grin from a student and calm them down for the rest of the day.
#6. Reality is harsh. Students in my livestock production class have been begging for a swine or cattle slaughter video. Tiffany found one that she thought was appropriate and I decided to show it to my students. My welding class asked why there was a TV in the classroom and I explained I was showing a slaughter video in my livestock class. They convinced me to let them watch it too, which I was fine with since Arakadie was gone and I was not completely comfortable giving students reign of the shop with just the deputy on duty. This video was very, very educational, and VERY disturbing for the vegetarian substitute that had been assigned to our classroom. My students, who would sleep standing up in the welding booth if I couldn't see them, watched the 43 minute video without sleeping, speaking, or blinking. Many decided they either 1) wanted to work at a slaughter house or 2) be a vegetarian. I told them not eating meat would not keep any of this from happening (we all know beef by-products go into toothpaste, medicines, clothes, shampoos, and soap). I also looked at the vegetarian substitute teacher's leather shoes with a look that reminded him he wasn't saving anything either.
#7. Reality has always been harsh for these students. Most of these students don't have dreams of being doctors and lawyers. No one has ever told these students that they can do and be whatever they want when they grow up. These kids were never really kids. At one of our student teacher meetings we discussed Dr. Payne and the work she has done in preparing teachers to work with students from poverty, including generational poverty. All these students have known is the reality of their circumstances. Within social structures Dr. Payne has identified hidden rules of society. Students who are products of generational poverty believe (generally) that the future is up to fate, and that the circumstance you are born into will likely be the same you die in. Many of my students have accepted their situation, and believe an education will not necessarily change things. I ask students if they could do anything, absolutely anything, what would it be and few can answer the question. Opportunity, adventure, and possibility are as foreign to them as Chunturo boots are to me.
#8. Cowboy boots are my crutch. I can't explain my infatuation with cowboy boots. I crave a great pair of cowboy boots the way some long for career success or marital bliss. I see cowboy boots as usable art, as a thing of beauty, and as my wearable security blanket. I stand a little taller in my cowboy boots (literally) and both times I have been observed I've worn my cowboy boots certain they would give me the extra bit of oomph I needed for the day. Wherever I end up teaching in a few months, my cowboy boots and I are going together.
#9. You don't have to travel far to take a student somewhere they've never been. Since the first of March, Space Town has been blessed by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. While it's a far cry from the Iowa State Fair, the Rodeo is neat and a great place for students to experience Texas agriculture. This week we took students to AG 4 U Day, a day of workshops, games, and forums for young people to learn more about the importance of the agricultural industry. After AG 4 U Day we sold souvenir programs for the Rodeo and Concert in Reliant Stadium. When the day was FINALLY over I had one student approach me and say "miss, I have lived in Houston for 14 years and have never been to the rodeo before." Excited for my student I said "well, we got a little closer today, didn't we" as I wasn't sure if he was talking about the livestock show in general or the ACTUAL rodeo. He looked at me said, "no, miss, we got a lot closer today."
#10. The end is near. I just finished my tenth week at MacArthur and the end is very near - about a month away. I have been thinking a lot about where and if I want to teach when this 14-week high school experiment is over. I'm constantly torn between wanting to stay in a somewhat urban setting and finding the least populated, most desolate school with a rural route address. I used to think that perhaps I wouldn't be challenged agriculturally if I have to start every semester reminding students the difference between a heifer and a cow in an urban high school. These last few weeks I've started to feel differently, however. For me, agriculture was more than a science and a study. Agriculture was a word synonymous for home, and comfort, and family. When I think of agriculture I don't think of biotechnology labs or a meat locker. When I think of agriculture I think of my parents' farm on a warm summer evening and how green the corn looks when the sunset has cast a hazy yellow film across the field. It's not an idea in your head; agriculture is a feeling in your heart. Keeping that in mind, if I create an environment for my students that is first one of comfort and stability, a safe place where they can be themselves and forget about the worries of the day, higher-order thinking and in-depth agricultural conversations are sure to follow, no matter where I am.
Week 10 was over as fast as it started and thankfully the week provided plenty of learning opportunities, for me and my students.
#1. Every day there's something to cry about. This week I signed a paper that permanently excused a student from my class and from MacArthur for good. This student is impossible to describe. The first few weeks in class he hardly talked, sat quiet and small in his desk each day until the bell rang. I would watch him in between classes scurrying down the halls sort of like a raccoon, dodging people like trash cans and clinging to the walls out of the light. This student, however, started to come alive in equine science, getting involved and doing decently on tests. Then on Wednesday he approached me with form from the front office asking for my signature of approval that he and his records be released from Mac High School. Puzzled I turned to the student as asked what all this was about. "I have to go Miss", was all he said. I could feel tears in my eyes and I think I saw some in his too. He explained that there had been trouble at home and his dad kicked him out and he was going to go live with his mom. I asked if he was going to enroll in high school where his mom lives and he said he would try. I wanted to tell him trying was not going to be good enough, but for this tiny, confused, and obviously upset high school student I decided we'd make the last day of equine science a good one. Every day I look at his desk and wonder if my student is sitting in a different equine science class in a different high school. I really hope he is, though life has taught me not to be so optimistic.
#2. Every day there's something to celebrate. This week it was Texas Independence Day; March 2, the day Texas became a sovereign state of the United States. I wanted to celebrate by grilling up some grass-fed Texas steak and watching re-runs of George Bush's State of the Union addresses, but instead we discussed lap welds, horse dental issues, and the battle of San Jacinto.
#3. Every day there's something to laugh about. I decided to paint my fingernails a very bright pink to celebrate the upcoming arrival of spring break. While washing hands after welding class I asked some of the gentlemen gathered around the sink what they thought of my choice in color. I asked if they thought it was as fabulous as I did and explained that I had to go bright pink in honor of spring. One student, who reminds me of a slightly edgier Jonas brother said he really liked the color, then held out his own hand to reveal two of his nails painted nearly the same color of pink. Look at that, I thought, we really aren't so different.
#4. Every day there is something to be thankful for. I am convinced I am spending 14 weeks with most interesting, most entertaining group of agriculture teachers I have ever met. I look forward to taking joint field trips to the Rodeo with some of them and the bi-monthly meetings we have as a group. I know that Mr. Johnson and Mr. Arkadie will make me laugh, even if it is just because they showed up in their matching denim jackets. I cherish every conversation I have with Arkadie. I can ask him about Texas and roping calves, we talk about diversity in agriculture, I tell him about the Iowa State Fair, and he taught me how to say San Antonio like a cowboy. I told him he MUST visit Iowa someday and he said he'd come up for my wedding, whenever that might be. I’ve never met anyone quite like him. If this experience has taught me anything it’s that good people are everywhere.
#5. Honesty is the best policy. At the beginning of the week we had open house at MacArthur, which is an opportunity for guardians to visit teachers and inquire about how their student is doing in their classes. While similar to a parent-teacher conference, this is a parent-teacher-student conference. Whatever is said the student is present for, which can be both good and bad. Because these are my students now Arkadie let me talk to the parents, or at least talk to the translator. At first I was really nervous to say something too harsh, after all, I still want these kids to like me. But being nice is not going to help anyone graduate high school and thankfully most high school students carry a grudge that lasts about 3 class periods, at most. It was neat to finally meet some of parents of my students and understand the family structure they were coming from. Many parents left phone numbers or email address for me to contact them if their student in still tardy or being disrespectful in class. I haven't had to use any yet and don't foresee that happening. Just asking "is this a cell phone or a home phone? Should I call after dinner?" is enough to get a grin from a student and calm them down for the rest of the day.
#6. Reality is harsh. Students in my livestock production class have been begging for a swine or cattle slaughter video. Tiffany found one that she thought was appropriate and I decided to show it to my students. My welding class asked why there was a TV in the classroom and I explained I was showing a slaughter video in my livestock class. They convinced me to let them watch it too, which I was fine with since Arakadie was gone and I was not completely comfortable giving students reign of the shop with just the deputy on duty. This video was very, very educational, and VERY disturbing for the vegetarian substitute that had been assigned to our classroom. My students, who would sleep standing up in the welding booth if I couldn't see them, watched the 43 minute video without sleeping, speaking, or blinking. Many decided they either 1) wanted to work at a slaughter house or 2) be a vegetarian. I told them not eating meat would not keep any of this from happening (we all know beef by-products go into toothpaste, medicines, clothes, shampoos, and soap). I also looked at the vegetarian substitute teacher's leather shoes with a look that reminded him he wasn't saving anything either.
#7. Reality has always been harsh for these students. Most of these students don't have dreams of being doctors and lawyers. No one has ever told these students that they can do and be whatever they want when they grow up. These kids were never really kids. At one of our student teacher meetings we discussed Dr. Payne and the work she has done in preparing teachers to work with students from poverty, including generational poverty. All these students have known is the reality of their circumstances. Within social structures Dr. Payne has identified hidden rules of society. Students who are products of generational poverty believe (generally) that the future is up to fate, and that the circumstance you are born into will likely be the same you die in. Many of my students have accepted their situation, and believe an education will not necessarily change things. I ask students if they could do anything, absolutely anything, what would it be and few can answer the question. Opportunity, adventure, and possibility are as foreign to them as Chunturo boots are to me.
#8. Cowboy boots are my crutch. I can't explain my infatuation with cowboy boots. I crave a great pair of cowboy boots the way some long for career success or marital bliss. I see cowboy boots as usable art, as a thing of beauty, and as my wearable security blanket. I stand a little taller in my cowboy boots (literally) and both times I have been observed I've worn my cowboy boots certain they would give me the extra bit of oomph I needed for the day. Wherever I end up teaching in a few months, my cowboy boots and I are going together.
#9. You don't have to travel far to take a student somewhere they've never been. Since the first of March, Space Town has been blessed by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. While it's a far cry from the Iowa State Fair, the Rodeo is neat and a great place for students to experience Texas agriculture. This week we took students to AG 4 U Day, a day of workshops, games, and forums for young people to learn more about the importance of the agricultural industry. After AG 4 U Day we sold souvenir programs for the Rodeo and Concert in Reliant Stadium. When the day was FINALLY over I had one student approach me and say "miss, I have lived in Houston for 14 years and have never been to the rodeo before." Excited for my student I said "well, we got a little closer today, didn't we" as I wasn't sure if he was talking about the livestock show in general or the ACTUAL rodeo. He looked at me said, "no, miss, we got a lot closer today."
#10. The end is near. I just finished my tenth week at MacArthur and the end is very near - about a month away. I have been thinking a lot about where and if I want to teach when this 14-week high school experiment is over. I'm constantly torn between wanting to stay in a somewhat urban setting and finding the least populated, most desolate school with a rural route address. I used to think that perhaps I wouldn't be challenged agriculturally if I have to start every semester reminding students the difference between a heifer and a cow in an urban high school. These last few weeks I've started to feel differently, however. For me, agriculture was more than a science and a study. Agriculture was a word synonymous for home, and comfort, and family. When I think of agriculture I don't think of biotechnology labs or a meat locker. When I think of agriculture I think of my parents' farm on a warm summer evening and how green the corn looks when the sunset has cast a hazy yellow film across the field. It's not an idea in your head; agriculture is a feeling in your heart. Keeping that in mind, if I create an environment for my students that is first one of comfort and stability, a safe place where they can be themselves and forget about the worries of the day, higher-order thinking and in-depth agricultural conversations are sure to follow, no matter where I am.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Week 8; Still Learning, Still Teaching, Still Loving it.
The days are getting longer, the sun is getting stronger, my hair is getting curlier. Spring is here and I'm in my ninth week at Mac high school. The learning curve is still nearly as intense as the humidity.
#1. I can eat my lunch in less than 4 minutes. On Tuesday I moved through content faster then I expected in my equine science class. Thankfully, this class breaks in the middle for lunch, so I could plan and find more information while the students were in the cafeteria. After the first day of eating my lunch in a few short minutes, I realized how productive these 30 minutes could be. By the end of the week I was entering grades and writing a test while simultaneously eating my apple. It's official, nearly every part of my day is devoted to student teaching. I reflect on my day and lesson plan in my car on the way home, I think about the day while I'm getting ready in the morning, and I decide what to wear based on what we will be doing in the shop.
#2. Practice makes perfect...AND a lot of smoke. These last few weeks we have had everyone in the welding classes working. Every day we have two or three grinders working, two O-A torches, a MIG welder, and four or five Arc welders going at the same time. That might not seem like much, but without an exhaust system it gets a little hazy in the shop. And when you add the humidity in the Houston air these days the haze turns into a thick fog. The students are all on task these days and its exciting to see welds increase with practice. These three hours are quickly becoming my favorite my class periods. AND a brand new exhaust system is being installed this week.
#4. There's no big picture when you're 17. Every day I try to get students out of their desk and involved in the lesson in some way. This is ridiculously challenging in my equine science class. When I ask students to write something on the board, work in small groups, or present their poster to the class you'd think I was asking them for a kidney. The eye rolls are are so dramatic I worry they might get dizzy and fall out of their chairs. I usually respond with something like "I know, I know, you don't want to, but think about me-- I don't even like horses and I have to teach this stuff. We're all suffering." I try to casually coax them to the front of the room with subliminal messages about how handy public speaking skills, presentation skills, working in small groups, etc, will be in college or a workplace. They're not as concerned with these life skills as I am BUT we are seeing improvement. I once told them if there was a reality show on our class NO ONE would watch it, and it's not just because we talk about horses all day everyday. That got some laughs and for the first time a little expression in their voice. I'm already preparing for the postcard I'll get in my golden years thanking me for developing the skills they need in their current job.
#5. Students are hardworking, just not in the obvious ways. There were times when students would walk into class late and I had to work at not letting myself look annoyed. I would tell myself that students are different today then they were when I was in high school, that they aren't responsible, and have no respect for the clock. Recently, I got out of my rocking chair and stopped talking like I was senile 85 year old (no offense to the geri-s who might be reading) and looked at things a little differently. I realized that some students deserve a round of applause for showing up to school at all, and that it's not at easy as it was when I was in high school. I applaud the student who returned to class a short week after her brother was shot and killed, I'm exhausted for the teenage girl who's an obvious 17 months pregnant but still walks the halls everyday, and I sympathize with the student who works two jobs after school and on the weekends. (I thought lesson planning in the evenings was tough). Students are different in Aldine than they are in Iowa and it's not my job is not to harp on them for not getting their homework done or being late to school. My job is to make sure every moment of class is educationally significant because when the bell rings they're not my students anymore. They're not students at all.
#6. Do, Reflect, Apply. These last few weeks I've started channeling my inner Kolb, especially in welding class. When a student approaches me with a welded piece of metal I try to facilitate a discussion about what they did, how they might improve their skills, etc. The most obvious way for students to improve their welds, in their minds, is to grind it as opposed to practice. We are working on practicing.
#7. The Houston Rodeo = the Iowa State Fair of Texas. The last two months Arkadie and others have been preparing me for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. They go into how big it is and how much food there is and how many people attend and I always say, "I get it, I'm from Iowa. We have the best state fair in the entire land, please save your propaganda for someone who hasn't tasted a fried oreo." Well Rodeo Season is officially upon us and I'm excited to report the Iowa State Fair is still better. The only thing keeping the Rodeo in the running for second-best festival of all time are ALL the cowboy boots, and the cowboys in them.
#8. Relationships are like rollercoasters. My feelings for my students falter between adoration and disgust nearly daily. If they didn't act so mature sometimes I wouldn't be disappointed when they act like children, and if I didn't know how sweet they can be I wouldn't care that their attitude can be so sour sometimes.
#9. Agriculture is everywhere in Houston, even on the street. Today I got to school and Arkadie told me had gotten an email from one of the assistant principals. Apparently, earlier in the morning there was Shetland pony and goat walking down the street in Houston so a couple of police officers in the area coaxed them to Mac's ag barn. I looked at Arkadie, who was not nearly as amused as I was. He had just gotten all the students to get their livestock out of those barns and now we running a boarding house, or barn, for neighborhood strays. Each class today was prefaced with "before we get started does anyone know anyone with a Shetland pony and a goat?" Tomorrow I'm going to try to convince Arakdie that the pony probably needs new shoes. (In equine we are discussing horse hoof care and nothing is better than a live demonstration).
#10. It's never going to slow down. I thought once I had a few lessons under my belt with my name in the back of it (really embracing the Texas thing these days), or once the livestock show was over, or once the days started getting longer, or once I got more adjusted to the school, schedule, traffic, etc, things might slow down. But they really aren't. Spring is coming in at full force, TAKS test are pressuring both students and teachers, and spring break seems like a million miles away. My roommates and I are convinced all the lesson planning, reflecting, and writing won't be so bad when we can do it by our pool (which will hopefully be next week!).
#11. It can't get much better than this. Texas has been, so far, one of the best experiences of my life. Even on the worst day, it's easy to laugh with my roommates about something funny a student said, what we saw on our way home from school in this crazy town, or how different this experience will be from anything we would have experienced in Iowa. Half price sushi, a walk on the boardwalk, and two-stepping are just some of the perks of this 14-week adventure. As early as 5:00am is, the day flies by. As long as it takes to think through a thought-provoking, interesting lesson, having student act interested and engaged during class makes it worth it. I secretly hope someday my students think back on their high school experience and say "remember when that white lady came from Ohio and had us write children book about beef breeds?" (To most students Iowa, Ohio, and Idaho are the same state).
There's so much to look forward to this week and I'm excited for my parents to be visiting this weekend. Pack your short-pants, dad, and your cowboy boots. You won't even look that ridiculous wearing them at the same time.
#1. I can eat my lunch in less than 4 minutes. On Tuesday I moved through content faster then I expected in my equine science class. Thankfully, this class breaks in the middle for lunch, so I could plan and find more information while the students were in the cafeteria. After the first day of eating my lunch in a few short minutes, I realized how productive these 30 minutes could be. By the end of the week I was entering grades and writing a test while simultaneously eating my apple. It's official, nearly every part of my day is devoted to student teaching. I reflect on my day and lesson plan in my car on the way home, I think about the day while I'm getting ready in the morning, and I decide what to wear based on what we will be doing in the shop.
#2. Practice makes perfect...AND a lot of smoke. These last few weeks we have had everyone in the welding classes working. Every day we have two or three grinders working, two O-A torches, a MIG welder, and four or five Arc welders going at the same time. That might not seem like much, but without an exhaust system it gets a little hazy in the shop. And when you add the humidity in the Houston air these days the haze turns into a thick fog. The students are all on task these days and its exciting to see welds increase with practice. These three hours are quickly becoming my favorite my class periods. AND a brand new exhaust system is being installed this week.
#4. There's no big picture when you're 17. Every day I try to get students out of their desk and involved in the lesson in some way. This is ridiculously challenging in my equine science class. When I ask students to write something on the board, work in small groups, or present their poster to the class you'd think I was asking them for a kidney. The eye rolls are are so dramatic I worry they might get dizzy and fall out of their chairs. I usually respond with something like "I know, I know, you don't want to, but think about me-- I don't even like horses and I have to teach this stuff. We're all suffering." I try to casually coax them to the front of the room with subliminal messages about how handy public speaking skills, presentation skills, working in small groups, etc, will be in college or a workplace. They're not as concerned with these life skills as I am BUT we are seeing improvement. I once told them if there was a reality show on our class NO ONE would watch it, and it's not just because we talk about horses all day everyday. That got some laughs and for the first time a little expression in their voice. I'm already preparing for the postcard I'll get in my golden years thanking me for developing the skills they need in their current job.
#5. Students are hardworking, just not in the obvious ways. There were times when students would walk into class late and I had to work at not letting myself look annoyed. I would tell myself that students are different today then they were when I was in high school, that they aren't responsible, and have no respect for the clock. Recently, I got out of my rocking chair and stopped talking like I was senile 85 year old (no offense to the geri-s who might be reading) and looked at things a little differently. I realized that some students deserve a round of applause for showing up to school at all, and that it's not at easy as it was when I was in high school. I applaud the student who returned to class a short week after her brother was shot and killed, I'm exhausted for the teenage girl who's an obvious 17 months pregnant but still walks the halls everyday, and I sympathize with the student who works two jobs after school and on the weekends. (I thought lesson planning in the evenings was tough). Students are different in Aldine than they are in Iowa and it's not my job is not to harp on them for not getting their homework done or being late to school. My job is to make sure every moment of class is educationally significant because when the bell rings they're not my students anymore. They're not students at all.
#6. Do, Reflect, Apply. These last few weeks I've started channeling my inner Kolb, especially in welding class. When a student approaches me with a welded piece of metal I try to facilitate a discussion about what they did, how they might improve their skills, etc. The most obvious way for students to improve their welds, in their minds, is to grind it as opposed to practice. We are working on practicing.
#7. The Houston Rodeo = the Iowa State Fair of Texas. The last two months Arkadie and others have been preparing me for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. They go into how big it is and how much food there is and how many people attend and I always say, "I get it, I'm from Iowa. We have the best state fair in the entire land, please save your propaganda for someone who hasn't tasted a fried oreo." Well Rodeo Season is officially upon us and I'm excited to report the Iowa State Fair is still better. The only thing keeping the Rodeo in the running for second-best festival of all time are ALL the cowboy boots, and the cowboys in them.
#8. Relationships are like rollercoasters. My feelings for my students falter between adoration and disgust nearly daily. If they didn't act so mature sometimes I wouldn't be disappointed when they act like children, and if I didn't know how sweet they can be I wouldn't care that their attitude can be so sour sometimes.
#9. Agriculture is everywhere in Houston, even on the street. Today I got to school and Arkadie told me had gotten an email from one of the assistant principals. Apparently, earlier in the morning there was Shetland pony and goat walking down the street in Houston so a couple of police officers in the area coaxed them to Mac's ag barn. I looked at Arkadie, who was not nearly as amused as I was. He had just gotten all the students to get their livestock out of those barns and now we running a boarding house, or barn, for neighborhood strays. Each class today was prefaced with "before we get started does anyone know anyone with a Shetland pony and a goat?" Tomorrow I'm going to try to convince Arakdie that the pony probably needs new shoes. (In equine we are discussing horse hoof care and nothing is better than a live demonstration).
#10. It's never going to slow down. I thought once I had a few lessons under my belt with my name in the back of it (really embracing the Texas thing these days), or once the livestock show was over, or once the days started getting longer, or once I got more adjusted to the school, schedule, traffic, etc, things might slow down. But they really aren't. Spring is coming in at full force, TAKS test are pressuring both students and teachers, and spring break seems like a million miles away. My roommates and I are convinced all the lesson planning, reflecting, and writing won't be so bad when we can do it by our pool (which will hopefully be next week!).
#11. It can't get much better than this. Texas has been, so far, one of the best experiences of my life. Even on the worst day, it's easy to laugh with my roommates about something funny a student said, what we saw on our way home from school in this crazy town, or how different this experience will be from anything we would have experienced in Iowa. Half price sushi, a walk on the boardwalk, and two-stepping are just some of the perks of this 14-week adventure. As early as 5:00am is, the day flies by. As long as it takes to think through a thought-provoking, interesting lesson, having student act interested and engaged during class makes it worth it. I secretly hope someday my students think back on their high school experience and say "remember when that white lady came from Ohio and had us write children book about beef breeds?" (To most students Iowa, Ohio, and Idaho are the same state).
There's so much to look forward to this week and I'm excited for my parents to be visiting this weekend. Pack your short-pants, dad, and your cowboy boots. You won't even look that ridiculous wearing them at the same time.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Seven in Seven.
The seven things I learned in my seventh week.
1. Teaching is like two-steppin'. I love going to school every morning, I enjoy seeing the students and I love talking about agriculture all day and I soak in every moment I get to spend with Arkadie. There are time, however, I feel teaching is like two-stepping in a huge circle at the Rifle Club on an old wooden floor; having a great time, but never going anywhere. I feel like in teaching sometimes I'm just going in circles repeating myself again, and again, and again. Two steps forward, one step back. Thankfully, if math serves me right we are still one step ahead--I HAVE to live in that step.
2. You have to celebrate the small victories. I administered my first real test last week. I'm usually completely opposed to old-fashioned, paper and pencil tests, but I decided after weeks of making books and posters it was time to gauge learning in a more concrete way. Knowing that how my students perform is also a reflection of my teaching I was nervous to grade the tests. I had helped both the ag teachers at Mac grade final exams and was mentally preparing myself for answers like "when they're cold" to the question, "when is it ok for girls to wear black pants as official dress as opposed a black skirt", and "Mr Arkadie" as the answer to "who is considered the founding father of The National FFA Organization". I was ready to feel completely depressed and spend the weekend trying to figure out why I ever thought I could teach. However, to my surprise my students knew the answers. They knew horse colors and markings, they understood colic and the digestive system, and some could even define 'monograstic'. Friday night I felt like Cam Newton accepting the Heisman—I didn’t deserve the attention or the prize but it felt right accepting anyway.
3. PowerPoint is not the answer. Planning for multiple classes each day and attempting to get through enough information and present it in an organized fashion often times PowerPoint seems like the most effective and efficient mode to teaching. However, when your bored just putting together a PowerPoint presentation you can be assured that the students will be bored listening to it. While I agree PowerPoint presentations are excellent for showing pictures and can supplement a lesson, they should never be used independently. I do use PowerPoint, but to supplement my lessons. There are times getting creative is difficult; thankfully I live with two other teachers, and when I needed help figuring what my students would use to “Brand” their piece of cake with frosting Tiff had the answer—ALUMINUM FOIL.
Which leads me to….
5. Teachers are friends. And resources. And lifesavers.
6. You have to put your money where your mouth is. After spending WEEKS in the shop explaining how to use the torch effectively it finally took me putting on my safety shades, taking the torch, and cutting a clean line before students realized pointing the torch at a 45 degree angle and pushing the melted metal with oxygen works much better than ANYTHING there were trying. There were, of course, some in the class who still refused to listen to me. That is, until, the smallest kid in the class who goes by the rapper name “lil Barbie” and sports a rat tail cut a perfectly straight line and then thanked me for teaching him with a fist pound. Job well done, Lil Barbie.
7. Priorities get completely re-prioritized. When I first got down to Texas I went nearly a month without talking to my dad, lost nearly all communication with my friends, and could not even begin to tell you what has happened on my favorite, and only, TV show I watch—the Office. In the past three weeks I have hardly touched my graduate thesis and lately gotten a little concerned by the amount of dirt compiling in our apartment. I know they said that student teaching would require every ounce of energy I had and that the students come first. What I didn’t know was that I would put AWAY, not aside, everything that I hold important and dear to me, and completely neglect all of the things I wanted for myself. I know I’m doing to this to get experience, but they way I see it, I’m preparing myself for a job I do not have the time to apply for—an honestly, a job I’m not even sure I want. After three consecutive weeks and weekends of working I finally took a trip to San Antonio. While the weekend was enjoyable I was so stressed out the next week and felt so far behind I nearly regretted going. Then I realized if I’m not careful I’ll spend 4 months in this state and see nothing but my apartment, the school, and the 4 roads in between.
1. Teaching is like two-steppin'. I love going to school every morning, I enjoy seeing the students and I love talking about agriculture all day and I soak in every moment I get to spend with Arkadie. There are time, however, I feel teaching is like two-stepping in a huge circle at the Rifle Club on an old wooden floor; having a great time, but never going anywhere. I feel like in teaching sometimes I'm just going in circles repeating myself again, and again, and again. Two steps forward, one step back. Thankfully, if math serves me right we are still one step ahead--I HAVE to live in that step.
2. You have to celebrate the small victories. I administered my first real test last week. I'm usually completely opposed to old-fashioned, paper and pencil tests, but I decided after weeks of making books and posters it was time to gauge learning in a more concrete way. Knowing that how my students perform is also a reflection of my teaching I was nervous to grade the tests. I had helped both the ag teachers at Mac grade final exams and was mentally preparing myself for answers like "when they're cold" to the question, "when is it ok for girls to wear black pants as official dress as opposed a black skirt", and "Mr Arkadie" as the answer to "who is considered the founding father of The National FFA Organization". I was ready to feel completely depressed and spend the weekend trying to figure out why I ever thought I could teach. However, to my surprise my students knew the answers. They knew horse colors and markings, they understood colic and the digestive system, and some could even define 'monograstic'. Friday night I felt like Cam Newton accepting the Heisman—I didn’t deserve the attention or the prize but it felt right accepting anyway.
3. PowerPoint is not the answer. Planning for multiple classes each day and attempting to get through enough information and present it in an organized fashion often times PowerPoint seems like the most effective and efficient mode to teaching. However, when your bored just putting together a PowerPoint presentation you can be assured that the students will be bored listening to it. While I agree PowerPoint presentations are excellent for showing pictures and can supplement a lesson, they should never be used independently. I do use PowerPoint, but to supplement my lessons. There are times getting creative is difficult; thankfully I live with two other teachers, and when I needed help figuring what my students would use to “Brand” their piece of cake with frosting Tiff had the answer—ALUMINUM FOIL.
Which leads me to….
5. Teachers are friends. And resources. And lifesavers.
6. You have to put your money where your mouth is. After spending WEEKS in the shop explaining how to use the torch effectively it finally took me putting on my safety shades, taking the torch, and cutting a clean line before students realized pointing the torch at a 45 degree angle and pushing the melted metal with oxygen works much better than ANYTHING there were trying. There were, of course, some in the class who still refused to listen to me. That is, until, the smallest kid in the class who goes by the rapper name “lil Barbie” and sports a rat tail cut a perfectly straight line and then thanked me for teaching him with a fist pound. Job well done, Lil Barbie.
7. Priorities get completely re-prioritized. When I first got down to Texas I went nearly a month without talking to my dad, lost nearly all communication with my friends, and could not even begin to tell you what has happened on my favorite, and only, TV show I watch—the Office. In the past three weeks I have hardly touched my graduate thesis and lately gotten a little concerned by the amount of dirt compiling in our apartment. I know they said that student teaching would require every ounce of energy I had and that the students come first. What I didn’t know was that I would put AWAY, not aside, everything that I hold important and dear to me, and completely neglect all of the things I wanted for myself. I know I’m doing to this to get experience, but they way I see it, I’m preparing myself for a job I do not have the time to apply for—an honestly, a job I’m not even sure I want. After three consecutive weeks and weekends of working I finally took a trip to San Antonio. While the weekend was enjoyable I was so stressed out the next week and felt so far behind I nearly regretted going. Then I realized if I’m not careful I’ll spend 4 months in this state and see nothing but my apartment, the school, and the 4 roads in between.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Teaching While Learning
1. Weekends are never over rated. After what seemed like a month of committing weekends to the livestock show, a weekend in San Antonio with one of the most fun cowgirls I know was complete bliss. Until we nearly got ourselves run out of Texas. It's true what they say, everything is bigger in Texas, especially the egos.
2. Whoever said there's no money in agriculture was wrong. At the Aldine ISD Livestock show last week the champion steer sold for $16,000 and ALL of that goes to the pocket of the student. One student walked away with a cool 30g's this weekend. The show in general was a great experience, not only for the students but also for me. It was great to see students in official dress showing the animals they had been tending to for months and to see several succeed and make the sale. This is experiential learning at its best--I wish Kolb and Dewey were here.
3. Good people make all the difference. Ag teachers are some of the greatest people I know, especially the ones I get to work with. Working with the 9 agriculture teachers in the Aldine District the week before the show would hardly constitute as work to me. Between the laughs we managed to the entire show set-up and Tiff and I impressed some so much that several agreed their next wives would have to be from Iowa. Apparently, on the long list of things Texas is superior at, kicking livestock shavings and setting up pens is not one of them. Chalk it up as a win, Iowa.
4. Diversity is fun.
5. Goats are ridiculous. Picture for a moment a HUGE, stadium like space covered with carpet with a show ring in the center, well organized corals to one side leading to pig pens and on the other side tied steers and pens for lambs and goats. Imagine buckets and show boxes sitting neatly next pens and the smell of wood shavings filling the air. It's a nice image-- and one very common to anyone who has been to an indoor livestock show. NOW, imagine walking into this space and seeing goats, dozens of goats running around, standing on show boxes, and eating EVERYTHING. That's what the ag teachers walked into on Friday late-morning when we arrived at the Aldine livestock show. GOATS everywhere. And while there were not dozens of goats (I've always been a tad dramatic) there were close to 10 that would not stay in a pen to save their life. Suddenly I hated myself for thinking the species was cute my first day at MacArthur. Finally, after nearly an hour of chasing goats and re-chasing goats, we put all the goats in a different pen and decided students could get and separate theirs in the morning. It seriously reminded me of one of those carnival games where you pick out plastic duckie from a kidee pool. So many dang goats.
6. You can't always shoot from the hip. Being a native cowboy, Arkadie is a bit of a maverick when he teaches, with very little planning or lesson plans. He's constantly asking me what I'm doing during our prep period when I'm writing lessons then says something like "why Rudolphi? Just shoot from the hip." I suppose after 31 years of teaching you can shoot from wherever you like, but I know if I walked into class without at least a general idea of what I was going to do for class I'd be a mess. Like, for instance, my first week. Arkadie was teaching equine science and the lesson started off talking about measuring a horse, then somehow moved to treating a colicing horse, and then transitioned to the first horses ever domesticated. Somewhere amidst the feverish note taking a student made a completely off-the-wall comment and Arkadie threw up his hands and said "I can't do it Rudolphi, take over." I was not prepared, at all, to start teaching. There was no plan, no outline, no general flow of conversation. I was taken completely off guard-- thankfully there was only about 10 minutes left of class and I facilitated a make-shift class discussion about horses.
7. Sometimes you can shoot from the hip. Today instead of welding Arkadie and I talked to the students about coming adults, not becoming fathers, and finding a career instead of just a job. I've labeled these fireside chats; "Arkadie's Advice" and nearly once a week he sits down and attempts to make men out of the mis-fits in welding class.
8. Don't let teaching get in the way of learning. As a student teacher the emphasis should be on being a student first and then a teacher. However, with all the planning that's necessary and the general concern of how lessons will go, if I will run short on time or material, if students will understand anything, if the lessons are fun and exciting, if my objectives match my content, etc it's often easy to emphasize the teaching and forget that I'm a student first. I find that often times I get so bogged down with details that I stress myself out and take all the fun out of life. If I'm too focused on my content and my lessons I completely neglect the students. I forget to ask how their day is, forget to laugh with them, and show genuine concern for each of them. There are times my interest approach is going to flop (heard that!) but that's not my concern anymore. I've found out that if I first sign Kenny Chesney songs in the hall way with a student who has the name "Black Jesus" embroidered in his letter mans jacket, or discuss cowboy boots or Rodeo concerts with the girls, or bond with the only other red-head I've met in Houston thus far over the animals she's taking to the show--IF I LISTEN and LEARN before I try to teach-- the students will be much more receptive to me during class.
Now, I have taken it upon myself to be not only a student of MacArthur High School, but also a student of Houston, TX. This means with every opportunity that arises to go somewhere or do something I jump on it. I KNOW I should be writing lesson plans and reflecting on my day instead of going for sushi happy hour, but teacher burn-out is real, and if I'm going to sign a contract in a few months committing my weekends and summers to students, CDEs, FFA camps, and SAEs you better believe I'm going to have the California roll with extra wasabi (and at half price!). I am absolutely going to sit three wide with the windows down in a beat-up pick-up headed to south Texas to see Santa Gertrudis and Longhorn cattle, eat a brisket sandwich, talk cotton, spend a Saturday evening at the Rifle Club, and remember the Alamo. I am a student of this perpetually red, ridiculously proud state.
9. The south will rise again. Apparently most Yankees have the details of the Civil War completely wrong. Thankfully, Katie and I ran into a couple of gals of who were not only genuinely surprised we didn't take Texas History in the sixth grade but also willing to set us straight. I think I'll focus on agricultural education.
10. Not every day can be a good day. My mood today is less than enthusiastic about teaching and high school students in general. I feel as though I put so much effort into entertaining lesson plans and it's completely wasted sometimes on students who will not keep their mouth shut long enough to listen. I have a new tactic planned for tomorrow-- I'll let you know how it goes.
11. Not every day can be a bad day....at least let's hope not.
I'd like to again, thank my family, friends, and Canadians who keeps reading. If you need a warm place visit, Space Town is always an option and the Rodeo is coming up.
2. Whoever said there's no money in agriculture was wrong. At the Aldine ISD Livestock show last week the champion steer sold for $16,000 and ALL of that goes to the pocket of the student. One student walked away with a cool 30g's this weekend. The show in general was a great experience, not only for the students but also for me. It was great to see students in official dress showing the animals they had been tending to for months and to see several succeed and make the sale. This is experiential learning at its best--I wish Kolb and Dewey were here.
3. Good people make all the difference. Ag teachers are some of the greatest people I know, especially the ones I get to work with. Working with the 9 agriculture teachers in the Aldine District the week before the show would hardly constitute as work to me. Between the laughs we managed to the entire show set-up and Tiff and I impressed some so much that several agreed their next wives would have to be from Iowa. Apparently, on the long list of things Texas is superior at, kicking livestock shavings and setting up pens is not one of them. Chalk it up as a win, Iowa.
4. Diversity is fun.
5. Goats are ridiculous. Picture for a moment a HUGE, stadium like space covered with carpet with a show ring in the center, well organized corals to one side leading to pig pens and on the other side tied steers and pens for lambs and goats. Imagine buckets and show boxes sitting neatly next pens and the smell of wood shavings filling the air. It's a nice image-- and one very common to anyone who has been to an indoor livestock show. NOW, imagine walking into this space and seeing goats, dozens of goats running around, standing on show boxes, and eating EVERYTHING. That's what the ag teachers walked into on Friday late-morning when we arrived at the Aldine livestock show. GOATS everywhere. And while there were not dozens of goats (I've always been a tad dramatic) there were close to 10 that would not stay in a pen to save their life. Suddenly I hated myself for thinking the species was cute my first day at MacArthur. Finally, after nearly an hour of chasing goats and re-chasing goats, we put all the goats in a different pen and decided students could get and separate theirs in the morning. It seriously reminded me of one of those carnival games where you pick out plastic duckie from a kidee pool. So many dang goats.
6. You can't always shoot from the hip. Being a native cowboy, Arkadie is a bit of a maverick when he teaches, with very little planning or lesson plans. He's constantly asking me what I'm doing during our prep period when I'm writing lessons then says something like "why Rudolphi? Just shoot from the hip." I suppose after 31 years of teaching you can shoot from wherever you like, but I know if I walked into class without at least a general idea of what I was going to do for class I'd be a mess. Like, for instance, my first week. Arkadie was teaching equine science and the lesson started off talking about measuring a horse, then somehow moved to treating a colicing horse, and then transitioned to the first horses ever domesticated. Somewhere amidst the feverish note taking a student made a completely off-the-wall comment and Arkadie threw up his hands and said "I can't do it Rudolphi, take over." I was not prepared, at all, to start teaching. There was no plan, no outline, no general flow of conversation. I was taken completely off guard-- thankfully there was only about 10 minutes left of class and I facilitated a make-shift class discussion about horses.
7. Sometimes you can shoot from the hip. Today instead of welding Arkadie and I talked to the students about coming adults, not becoming fathers, and finding a career instead of just a job. I've labeled these fireside chats; "Arkadie's Advice" and nearly once a week he sits down and attempts to make men out of the mis-fits in welding class.
8. Don't let teaching get in the way of learning. As a student teacher the emphasis should be on being a student first and then a teacher. However, with all the planning that's necessary and the general concern of how lessons will go, if I will run short on time or material, if students will understand anything, if the lessons are fun and exciting, if my objectives match my content, etc it's often easy to emphasize the teaching and forget that I'm a student first. I find that often times I get so bogged down with details that I stress myself out and take all the fun out of life. If I'm too focused on my content and my lessons I completely neglect the students. I forget to ask how their day is, forget to laugh with them, and show genuine concern for each of them. There are times my interest approach is going to flop (heard that!) but that's not my concern anymore. I've found out that if I first sign Kenny Chesney songs in the hall way with a student who has the name "Black Jesus" embroidered in his letter mans jacket, or discuss cowboy boots or Rodeo concerts with the girls, or bond with the only other red-head I've met in Houston thus far over the animals she's taking to the show--IF I LISTEN and LEARN before I try to teach-- the students will be much more receptive to me during class.
Now, I have taken it upon myself to be not only a student of MacArthur High School, but also a student of Houston, TX. This means with every opportunity that arises to go somewhere or do something I jump on it. I KNOW I should be writing lesson plans and reflecting on my day instead of going for sushi happy hour, but teacher burn-out is real, and if I'm going to sign a contract in a few months committing my weekends and summers to students, CDEs, FFA camps, and SAEs you better believe I'm going to have the California roll with extra wasabi (and at half price!). I am absolutely going to sit three wide with the windows down in a beat-up pick-up headed to south Texas to see Santa Gertrudis and Longhorn cattle, eat a brisket sandwich, talk cotton, spend a Saturday evening at the Rifle Club, and remember the Alamo. I am a student of this perpetually red, ridiculously proud state.
9. The south will rise again. Apparently most Yankees have the details of the Civil War completely wrong. Thankfully, Katie and I ran into a couple of gals of who were not only genuinely surprised we didn't take Texas History in the sixth grade but also willing to set us straight. I think I'll focus on agricultural education.
10. Not every day can be a good day. My mood today is less than enthusiastic about teaching and high school students in general. I feel as though I put so much effort into entertaining lesson plans and it's completely wasted sometimes on students who will not keep their mouth shut long enough to listen. I have a new tactic planned for tomorrow-- I'll let you know how it goes.
11. Not every day can be a bad day....at least let's hope not.
I'd like to again, thank my family, friends, and Canadians who keeps reading. If you need a warm place visit, Space Town is always an option and the Rodeo is coming up.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Another day, another lesson learned.
Here's what I learned the last few days. It's been busy at big Mac, and there's no telling when things might slow down.
1) Sometimes things die. A week before the Aldine Livestock Show MacArthur experienced tragedy when one of goats at the school barn died. Thankfully, the student still had a lamb she got to show. The response from students was of genuine concern for the student who suffered the loss. There is a camaraderie among the livestock exhibitors that is truly touching. After school students gather at the barn for hours to help with each others projects, clean each others pens, and catch up. For anyone who says the agriculture education department is just a dumping ground for misspent students, I say come to the ag barn.
2) It's impossible not to get attached. I came into the situation promising myself that I would remain as unattached as possible, knowing in 14 weeks I'd pick up an move somewhere else to a different school with all new kids and teachers. However, that was easier said then done. These students stop in the hall to tell me about their animal, their classes, or life in general. I have kids that I'm secretly rooting for, hoping they'll be able to pull their grades up and graduate in the spring. I was especially touched when one young man asked how long I was going to be at the school and disappointed when I told him I was going back to the Iowa the end of April. He said "aw man, you won't be here for graduation? I'm graduating Miss Rudolphi." I wondered how many times graduation had been in jeopardy for this student and suddenly realized that graduation day would be very, very important.
3) Learning HAS to be fun. I walked into Mr. Arkadie's classroom on the first day and was not greeted by 30 computers, fancy electronics, or a smart board. Suddenly I realized all of the individual and group activities my classmates and I planned in ag eds 402 were worthless, as EVERYONE started their activity with "have students get out their computer...". I realized that this was just another challenge. Much like adjusting to the fact that I won't have to scrape my windshield every morning, I also had to learn how to teach without using much technology and still make it entertaining. In two weeks we have played every sort of game as an interest approach possible. We have played true-false games, variations of four corners (including three corners and two corners) board races, etc. Years of experience being a camp counselor have really come in handy.
4)Time flies when you're having fun. Not only can I not believe how fast the last month has gone, but I also cannot believe how fast every day goes. With school starting at 7am I initially thought the days might drag, but that is definitely not the case. Arkadie and I have three classes of welding in the morning followed by a livestock production class fourth period and Equine science fifth period. The last two periods of the day are conference/visitation for Arkadie so by 1:00pm all the teaching for the day is done and it's on to FFA stuff or planning for the next day. School is over at 2:45pm and then I usually go out to the barn.
5) Home is a feeling, not a place. The gravel roads of Iowa county will always be my home, but this week I realized just how comfortable I am at MacArthur. I got observed this week by Sue a supervising teacher that got appointed to me when I got down here. She is with the Aldine district and will serve in place of my adviser at ISU. Ideally, my ISU adviser would come supervise me 5-8 times throughout this experience but considering the time and resources required, Sue will supervise me instead. After spending about an hour and a half with me and watching a lesson Sue said "you seem very at home here, Josie. And your passion for agriculture is evident when you teach." Hearing someone else, from the outside, tell me that was very relieving. I learned that perhaps I do fit in here, and perhaps I could fit in anywhere. There's no telling where I might be teaching in less than a year, but I know I'm not afraid to travel to unknown places or explore different types of schools. So long as I'm teaching young people about agriculture, I'll be right at home no matter where I am.
This week is the livestock show. Today we spent the day with the other ag teachers in the district setting up the show ring. It's going to be a long but exciting week. Before I go, I want to thank everyone who has read this and/or commented. I appreciate all your support. I'd like to thank the 4 Canadians who have read this blog, or at least the 4 Canadian computers that accidentally routed their user to this site. The fact that I can tell my other ag ed friends that I'm an international blogger makes up for the fact that I have to do this blog in the first place.
1) Sometimes things die. A week before the Aldine Livestock Show MacArthur experienced tragedy when one of goats at the school barn died. Thankfully, the student still had a lamb she got to show. The response from students was of genuine concern for the student who suffered the loss. There is a camaraderie among the livestock exhibitors that is truly touching. After school students gather at the barn for hours to help with each others projects, clean each others pens, and catch up. For anyone who says the agriculture education department is just a dumping ground for misspent students, I say come to the ag barn.
2) It's impossible not to get attached. I came into the situation promising myself that I would remain as unattached as possible, knowing in 14 weeks I'd pick up an move somewhere else to a different school with all new kids and teachers. However, that was easier said then done. These students stop in the hall to tell me about their animal, their classes, or life in general. I have kids that I'm secretly rooting for, hoping they'll be able to pull their grades up and graduate in the spring. I was especially touched when one young man asked how long I was going to be at the school and disappointed when I told him I was going back to the Iowa the end of April. He said "aw man, you won't be here for graduation? I'm graduating Miss Rudolphi." I wondered how many times graduation had been in jeopardy for this student and suddenly realized that graduation day would be very, very important.
3) Learning HAS to be fun. I walked into Mr. Arkadie's classroom on the first day and was not greeted by 30 computers, fancy electronics, or a smart board. Suddenly I realized all of the individual and group activities my classmates and I planned in ag eds 402 were worthless, as EVERYONE started their activity with "have students get out their computer...". I realized that this was just another challenge. Much like adjusting to the fact that I won't have to scrape my windshield every morning, I also had to learn how to teach without using much technology and still make it entertaining. In two weeks we have played every sort of game as an interest approach possible. We have played true-false games, variations of four corners (including three corners and two corners) board races, etc. Years of experience being a camp counselor have really come in handy.
4)Time flies when you're having fun. Not only can I not believe how fast the last month has gone, but I also cannot believe how fast every day goes. With school starting at 7am I initially thought the days might drag, but that is definitely not the case. Arkadie and I have three classes of welding in the morning followed by a livestock production class fourth period and Equine science fifth period. The last two periods of the day are conference/visitation for Arkadie so by 1:00pm all the teaching for the day is done and it's on to FFA stuff or planning for the next day. School is over at 2:45pm and then I usually go out to the barn.
5) Home is a feeling, not a place. The gravel roads of Iowa county will always be my home, but this week I realized just how comfortable I am at MacArthur. I got observed this week by Sue a supervising teacher that got appointed to me when I got down here. She is with the Aldine district and will serve in place of my adviser at ISU. Ideally, my ISU adviser would come supervise me 5-8 times throughout this experience but considering the time and resources required, Sue will supervise me instead. After spending about an hour and a half with me and watching a lesson Sue said "you seem very at home here, Josie. And your passion for agriculture is evident when you teach." Hearing someone else, from the outside, tell me that was very relieving. I learned that perhaps I do fit in here, and perhaps I could fit in anywhere. There's no telling where I might be teaching in less than a year, but I know I'm not afraid to travel to unknown places or explore different types of schools. So long as I'm teaching young people about agriculture, I'll be right at home no matter where I am.
This week is the livestock show. Today we spent the day with the other ag teachers in the district setting up the show ring. It's going to be a long but exciting week. Before I go, I want to thank everyone who has read this and/or commented. I appreciate all your support. I'd like to thank the 4 Canadians who have read this blog, or at least the 4 Canadian computers that accidentally routed their user to this site. The fact that I can tell my other ag ed friends that I'm an international blogger makes up for the fact that I have to do this blog in the first place.
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