Week 3: Own It!

20% of my student teaching internship is completed. Pinch me, I feel like I started this yesterday! Unfortunately, I have completed week 3 already. Before I know it this experience will be 100% completed.

In all reality, I am amazed on how much I am learning and growing! Looking back on week three, I am excited to share a high (some of the best # UndeniablyDerry and other dynamite moments), a low (something I wish was better, but can’t change so I moved on), and a tip (something that I learned or heard that encouraged me to continue to grow my roots in agriculture education).

High: I had a lot of unique and influential experiences this week. However, one of my favorites was the opportunity to join my students at the school board meeting. I loved the opportunity to get to watch my students in action. I get to interact with my students on so many different levels. Not only do I get to watch them succeed in the classroom, I get to watch them work together to promote a positive message about the importance of agriculture education. The presentation was focused around how the program impacts the local community and the students. It was then that reinforced my thoughts on how much of a positive impact a teacher can create in an agriculture program to lead to many opportunities for student success in the agricultural industry. 

Chapter Officers s presenting to the school board 

Low: Of course this week proved to me again about the importance of adapting. It was my second day of teaching my Small Animal Production course, I was finishing up my interest approach and had the students pumped to start learning about Reptiles, then the power goes out! To top it off, I had a PowerPoint with guided notes as the next activity. So, there I was floating up a creek without a paddle. I had to think fast to guide this lesson in the correct direction without the resources I was relying on. Truly, you just need to adapt and overcome is all I have to say.

Tip: Own it. Although it is week three, I realized that I am going to bomb a lesson from time to time. As Mr. Campbell told me, it is okay! You just got to own it, and tomorrow you can re-do it.  I’ll admit I failed teaching a shop procedure this week. However, I came in the next day and owned up to it, then taught the correct procedure because I owed it to my students and their safety.

Other Unique Moments

Learning some welding techniques

from Mr. Campbell

Middle School Presentations – Student scheduling is quickly approaching. Recruitment and retention
is essential to an agricultural program. It was inspiring to watch Mr. Campbell and Mrs. Rippole promote the program at many events the past two weeks. However, the events are coming to an end, and we finished off our recruitment process with Middle School Presentations.

National FFA Week Planning – I think it awesome to listen and see the creativity my students have outside of the classroom that they utilize in the FFA program. Additionally, I get to watch my students develop exciting ideas to serve their community and peers. More on that soon!

Being the student – As I stated before (many times) I am not the expert of many things; however, there are so many people who are that can teach me. I was thankful for some afternoon practices with Mr. Campbell in the AG Mechanics shop. I was able to reinforce techniques I was taught before, and learn a whole bunch more!

FFA Friday – This is something Mr. Campbell did that I chose to continue. I was actually excited to instruct my FIRST FFA Friday and help students prepare to apply for Proficiency awards.