A four day week that felt like 10

A four day week that felt like 10

Monday started out a little rough as I headed to school I realized that I needed to stop and get gas or I would never make it there. In the process of continuing my drive to school after getting gas I managed to turn the wrong way and end up almost back at my apartment instead of being a few minutes from the school… it would be one of those weeks.

Grouping candy 

I eventually arrived to school and began getting ready for the day. My Ag Science 3 course spent the week finishing up our pesticide unit, including a fantastic review with Penn State Pest Ed. Throughout the week it was evident that several students were tired of learning about pesticides and ready to move onto something new, wheres other students were requesting more information. We found a balance and spent the week learning about the applicators exam and going through mock exam questions so students felt comfortable using the pesticide manual.

The week ended with me going to Penn State for our final seminar and my students taking their exam which would be their final grade for this marking period. I am anxious to see how my students did on this exam, I told them everything that would be on the exam and urged them to study… but did they… tomorrow will tell the story.

In Ag Mechanics we spent the week finishing up our engine measurements and then began putting our engines back together. As the students began putting their engines together I urged them to look back at the photos they had taken to ensure they used the correct bolts and part sequence. The students quickly realized that all of the advice that was constantly being given to them about taking hots and notes during disassembly were for a reason, not just so I could hear myself talk. Either way it has been another great time to utilize the manual and one group finished their engine assembly on Thursday… a proud moment of celebration was due.

DNA from Strawberries 

In Intro to Ag Sciences we spent the week learning about DNA and ended the week with examining how items are grouped. This class is also the target group for my action research project and it was exciting so see the data start coming in from this, looking at the effects of co-teaching.

In addition, to teaching this week I experienced my first new and beginning teacher meeting. It was exciting to see the student teachers form my region as well as the new teachers from the region. I left the meeting with several resources to add to my tool box.

By the end of the day on Thursday I was exhausted, it was just one of those weeks, however I packed up my truck and headed to State College, ready to engage in a series of mock interviews the following day.

The week held one more prospective before I left Happy Valley, a preliminary job interview. I had the opportunity, along with 4 other students to compete a screening interview for the agricultural educator position that will soon be created at Derry Area High School.

Taking their unit exam, are those smiles fake...

As I look back at the week, I am sad that it is over. This marks the conclusion of week 11, only 4 weeks left to make my mark at Penn Manor and for it to make its mark on me. Looking back it was a great week of student learning and some great lesson and unit plan refinement on my end. The idea that you never teach a subject the same way twice is becoming a reality as I continue to make notes for the future.

Well I can't wait to see what this week holds, hopefully some SAE visits and the possibility of me learning how to strip tobacco.

Till next time...