Show Halters to Chalk Boards: Dylan's Ag Ed Journey

 Time flies. 15 weeks have come and gone. It is interesting to think back about all that was accomplished during my time there. What I want to do for this blog post is really simple. I'm going to do a 3-2-1. 3 things that I am proud of from student teaching, 2 things that I would like to improve on and 1 piece of advice that I want to leave to future student teachers. 3 things that I am proud of 1. Had a small gas engines team place 2nd out of 6 teams at our area CDEs 2. Was able to have my students in the Building Trades class complete an awesome tile table project 3. Created a fun culture with my students where I was able to allow my personality to show in the classroom and allowed a place for students to be comfortable, energetic and learners 2 things that I would like to improve on 1. Delivering instruction sets 2. Keeping students active in lab settings 1 piece of advice for future student teachers Do not get upset when things do not go exactly to plan. Keep working and find o...

 For my second SAE visit, I went to Audrey's family farm where many of my students had their animal projects housed. While I was there, I got to talk with Paige and Aubrey about their Lamb and Hog projects and some of their thoughts on those projects. They were really excited that they all got to pick out their own hogs without adult help at a board sale this year. Audrey, Dakota and Vinnie all have steer projects. With the experience I had with showing steers, We discussed some methods with breaking our steers to lead and some tips and tricks to keep the animals calm while working with them. Audrey was really happy to have a new lean to constructed to house their steers this year. All of these projects will be exhibited at the Lawrence County Fair this summer.

 For the first SAE visit that I did while student teaching, I went and visited Jenna at her family's butcher shop. She has a placement SAE for working at her family's butcher shop. At her job, Jenna waits on customers, cuts meat to order, helps package products, keeps inventory and stocks shelves and freezers. The thing that she enjoys most about her job is working with the customers that come into the store. She is most proud of her growth of knowledge in meat cuts since she has been working there. In the future, Jenna hopes to attend Penn State and then take over the family business.

For my science classroom visit, I went and visited Mr. Paul McMahon's environmental science class. During the class I observed day 1 of students completing a lab exercise based on acid rain. The students were testing the effects that different acids had on effecting the pH of distilled, lake and ocean salt water. The students were using a lab quest tool that digitally recorded the pH as they added acids to their solutions. I enjoyed how Mr. McMahon was more of a facilitator in this sense and was just their to answer questions as the students worked. He had on oddity in the results that the students were getting but just brushed it off and said sometimes it may not work as well as you want it to and you have to be okay with that. 

Wrapping up student teaching this upcoming week, has made me start to think of everyone that has helped me out along the way. Without those people that help us along, support us and encourage us to be the best version of ourselves, we would never achieve what we are fully capable of.  Starting off with my cooperating teacher Mrs. McKelvey, I could not have asked for a better mentor to spend these last 15 weeks with. She showed me how to be the best teacher version of myself. She allowed me to make those mistakes in the classroom and then worked with me on how to get better. All while we were having a blast. I am happy to have been with someone that understands where I come from, where I am and where I want to be. West Side Forever.  To the Penn State Faculty and Staff, I could not have chosen a better major and have asked for a more well rounded group of professionals to guide me and work with me through this process. It is because of people like you that make the difference i...

 At the end of a very hectic week, I think it is important to look back and realize that there was a lot of good that happened this week.  Group that read to 2nd graders Tuesday we spent the day at the elementary school doing some Ag Literacy activities. Our students read a book given to us by the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. They also did some activities and talked about how the students could get involved in 4-H and FFA when they were old enough. I also got to talk with some of the teachers and was asked, "What do you think second grade students should be learning about agriculture?"  I was grateful to have had that opportunity to do some agvocacy of my own with the teachers and talk about activities that teachers could do with their students to give them a foundational understanding of agriculture. Wednesday was a new adventure for myself. I had my first job interview and was really able to reflect on how I felt about that process. I realized where I could be better and w...

 With week 12 of my student teaching internship coming to a close, I can literally see my last day at student teaching at Wilmington on this months calendar. I began to reflect on the past 12 weeks, how I am going to maximize the last three weeks and how I am going to plan for the future from here.  Looking back on the first 12 weeks of student teaching, I see a huge growth in the bond between my students and myself. Realizing that soon I will be leaving, I have already had students say that they were going to cry on my last day. I am not sure that I believed I would have such a strong bond with these students, but I am glad that I do. It makes me even more excited for the opportunity to have a classroom of my own with students that I will be able to work with for a longer period of time.  With that in mind, how am I using my time that I am not teaching to prepare for my future? I think the job search for me is going very well right now and I am excited to talk with and l...