Another week has gone by and I feel like I am a week older, not wiser, just older. This week was an exciting week. I taught my first class, took a field trip, and learned that although I was in high school just a short 4 years ago kids sure have changed!
This week started out easy enough. I was all jazzed to finally get those 8th graders in my room Tuesday morning. I had prepared a kick-@$$ lesson for them, got all the supplies ready and i was all set to jet. Then once third hour came around no 8th graders showed up. Ya see, in Pleasantville the 8th graders have a 5 day week, which means in the four days were are here, their cycle continues like a 5 day week. For example, Tuesday through Friday are days 1-4, but come next Tuesday it is day 5 and by Wednesday it is day 1 again. And we get them on days 1,4, and ever other 5. Turns out Tuesday was day 3 and not day 1 as i suspected, pretty confusing huh? Well Mr. Collins got a good chuckle out of this and so did, minus the red face i sported for an hour. It just goes show that even with all the preparation in the world, if u arrive early you still look like a fool. But then the next day i was able to rock out the lesson. Importance of Animals in Agriculture. We went over domestication and different products and by-products and then we made Ice Cream, they loved it. Mr. Collins says this is the most active group of 8th graders he has ever seen, and I believe him. They have a lot of questions and are seemingly in awe of all a chicken can do and demand a unit over chickens, which I will oblige.
On Thursday I was able to take two livestock judging teams to the Pork Congress in Des Moines at the Iowa Event Center. It was a great experience, since I was riding solo. I found out how much a group of high school kids can wear someone out! The biggest thing I got out of the experience was talking to other Ag Teachers. One first year teacher I know said something that agreed with instantly and a thought that I have had. "There was NO WAY I was like this when I was in high school." Even though I am sure I was, actually I was probably one of the biggest pains in the ass when I was a freshman-senior ;), It really helps me be able to see things from their perspective. Another comment I made to another Ag Teacher was "Do I look new here." he looked at me and said yes without hesitation. It felt so different to be on the other side of the fence, but it a good way. After we got home I was tired, but I was so much more happy with my choice to go in to AgEd and in the fact that I will be an Ag Teacher.
As the week winded down on Friday I assumed full control of the 7th hour Agronomy/Biotech class and we have some good ideas and big plans for them. Ranging from CDEs to the Crop Plot to BioTech and DNA we have alot to cover in a short amount of time, but I am more then willing to take it over. Well that is all for the week, I feel like I have more to say, but nothing comes to mind. I will probably be writing part two to this blog tomorrow, but as of now I have some lesson plans to finish up.... Have I ever mentioned how much i love 8th hour preps? Well anywho, in the words of the immortal Red Green Remember, "I'm pulling for ya. We're all in this together"
Peace Easy Lemon Squeezies!
Bret you think you were just a pain in the ass during high school? :P I just had to go there!!
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