This semester I had the opportunity to help plan and attend a Pest Ed workshop hosted by the Penn Manor Ag Ed Department. John Bray and Leon Ressler, Penn State Extension Agents, facilitated the workshop for community members who wanted to gain core and category credits for their pesticide applicator license.
The workshop contained several components. First we reviewed pesticide safety and the 2017 top disease issues in corn, beans, and small grains. Then we learned about using Xtenimax in Xtend Soybean Systems. Leon held a discussion concerning the importance of water quality management and how to safely store pesticides. Finally, we learned about the importance of following quarantine protocol for the spotted lanternfly issue that is currently occurring in southeast PA. I was really interested in the spotted lanternfly component and how people across the state are working to stop this bad insect. The spotted lanternfly has the potential to hurt timber, grape, and hop industries in Pennsylvania. Here is an informational video if you would like to learn more about this invasive insect:
While I was not able to earn credits myself by attending this workshop, I learned a lot about pesticides, pesticide safety, and the spotted lanternfly. I hope to earn my pesticide applicator license so that I will be able to help my students become licensed during their time in the agriculture program. This experience also showed me the importance of planning and helping to facilitate adult education workshops for local community members. It is a great way to engage with the community and meet the community's needs.
Student Teaching Week 11
While I only had one day in the classroom, this week was very busy! On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday we were at SLLC, Wednesday was a snow day, Thursday was the Manor FFA banquet (on a two hour delay schedule mind you!), and on Friday I had a student teaching seminar with my fellow #psuaged18 cohort members. Here are some highlights from the week:
I had an awesome time at my first State Legislative Leadership Conference! FFA members spent much of their time at SLLC using those parli pro skills to experience how bills move through our legislative system. They debated and amended real bills, which brought a real-life context to the experience. We also served the local community for an afternoon. We helped residents at a retirement community prepare their garden plots for spring, and we had a ton of fun doing it! It was a beautiful day, so it was perfect for working in a garden. The residents were so excited to have us, and I know I really enjoyed having conversations with the residents while we worked. There were 7 junior and senior Manor FFA members on the trip, and they are my students in the last class I started teaching this semester. It was a great opportunity to connect with them and get to know them better!
1. SLLC - fun, community service, and leadership growth!
I had an awesome time at my first State Legislative Leadership Conference! FFA members spent much of their time at SLLC using those parli pro skills to experience how bills move through our legislative system. They debated and amended real bills, which brought a real-life context to the experience. We also served the local community for an afternoon. We helped residents at a retirement community prepare their garden plots for spring, and we had a ton of fun doing it! It was a beautiful day, so it was perfect for working in a garden. The residents were so excited to have us, and I know I really enjoyed having conversations with the residents while we worked. There were 7 junior and senior Manor FFA members on the trip, and they are my students in the last class I started teaching this semester. It was a great opportunity to connect with them and get to know them better!
2. Teamwork makes the dream work!
Especially when you have a snow day the day before your banquet and a two hour delay the day of the banquet. What a busy day! Everyone was in full FFA banquet mode, and it was awesome to see it all come together throughout the day. I truly enjoyed my evening at the banquet. The students did a wonderful job hosting the banquet and I loved seeing the community come together to celebrate the accomplishments of the Manor FFA members. I was honored to receive an Honorary Chapter Degree at the banquet. I'm truly thankful to be spending the semester at Penn Manor.
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| The FFA motto painted by a very talented FFA Member! |
Goals for next week:
- Give students more ownership of their learning by giving them the chance to decide how they will "show what they know" from a lesson!
- Utilize e-moments more in my lessons, especially when structuring discussions and review!
- Continue to grow in my content knowledge of small gas engines and be confident while teaching it!
Student Teaching Week 10!
Well, #psuaged18 cohort is officially two-thirds of the way through our student teaching internships! This week was busy and full of learning - for both me and my students!
Here are some highlights from this week:
1. The WHY is essential.
This week in Biotech we continued our Applications of Biotechnology unit by discussing the Green Revolution and how biotechnology can be used to fight food insecurity right now in Africa. I began the lesson with a news clip about the current famine occurring in Africa. Then the students researched the green revolution to learn how Norman Borlaug saved over 1 million lives. I wanted to have a discussion about the positives as well as some of the downsides that resulted because I believe we should always be striving to improve. I could tell I hadn't caught the interest of some of my students because no one wanted to participate in the discussion. A few students even questioned why we were learning about agriculture in another country. After class was over, I reflected and talked with Mr. Fellenbaum and we agreed that I should begin class the next day by reviewing the Green Revolution and then taking some time to explain the why. The next day went much better and I feel that I effectively conveyed the why to my students. That biotechnology is all about using living things to benefit human life,and the Green Revolution is a perfect example of that. Students spent the next part of class researching a plant commonly grown in Africa and selecting characteristics to selectively breed for to help fight the famine. I was so impressed with their critical thinking and problem solving skills!
2. Soil buffering capacity, soil buffering capacity, soil buffering capacity.
This week in Intro to AFNR we focused on, you guessed it, soil buffering capacity. Students followed a procedure to test the buffering capacity of water, and then they designed their own experiment to test how soil particle size affects buffering capacity. It was interesting to watch students go through that problem solving process and even experience some frustration. I think many students were so focused on being "right" that it took them longer to develop a hypothesis/procedure. When students asked questions, I tried to redirect them with a question. I really enjoy the inquiry process and I'm looking forward to further developing my skills in delivering IBI.
Goals for this coming week:
- Continue to grow in my content knowledge of small gas engines.
- Build better rapport with two of my students that I have a hard time connecting with.
- Be more confident in my decisions!
Thanks for following my journey, thus far - I'd love to hear your thoughts/advice!!
Student Teaching Week 9!
From our snow-less snow day to the Manor FFA Officer Selection night, this week was full of excitement! Teaching a full load of classes is keeping me busy, and I'm learning so much along the way! Here are some of the highlights from this week:
1. Officer Interview Nights!
This week I had the honor of serving on the interview committee for both the Lampeter-Strasburg and Penn Manor Ag Ed Program. I was blown away by the students' interviewing skills and enjoyed learning about how they're using FFA to grow themselves as leaders. It was also neat to see how the two schools differed in their officer selection process, and think about how I might do it when I'm an ag teacher at my own school. How do you conduct FFA Officer selection at your program?
2. Adult Pest Ed Program
On Tuesday evening Penn Manor Ag Ed Department hosted a Pest Ed workshop for community members who already had their pest ed certification. It was a great way to meet some more community members as well as learn about pesticides, water quality management, and the Spotted Lantern Fly problem from Penn State Extension agents.
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| Getting ready to debate the ethics of cloning! |
3. Soil, Welding, and Cloning - Oh My!
I really enjoyed teaching all three blocks this week, and I think part of that had to do with the fact that I'm really interested all of the topics my students are learning about! I enjoyed discussing with my students in AFNR that soil was, in fact, not dirt; why cloning is controversial in the Biotech class; and how to continue to improve in welding.
Goals for Improvement:
- Try a new learning activity this week.
- Continue to improve on making my directions clear and concise.
- Include more student self-evaluation in my lessons.
- Give students more autonomy in some of their classwork.
Student Teaching: Week 8!
Week 8 has come and gone, and week 9 is about to begin. This past week has been busy and full of learning - for both my students and myself. With each passing week I'm feeling more comfortable in the classroom, and I can tell my students are feeling more comfortable with me, too. Here are some highlights from this past week:
1. You never know until you try!
There is one student in my Intro to Ag Mech class that was absolutely terrified to try welding. He had been avoiding welding for some time, and then this week I was finally able to convince him to try for 15 -20 min. He was in a booth next to one of his friends who helped him set up. I had him practice a couple of weld puddles just to get the feel of welding. He was still unsure about his whole welding thing, but he did well, so I showed him how to run a bead. I left for a little to check on other students and when I came back he showed me his weld - it was awesome! Like better than most people's first beads. I was so excited about it and he was smiling from ear to ear, so I'm pretty sure he has conquered his fear of welding (hopefully - we'll see this week!).
2. Connections, connections, connections.
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| Soil suspensions! |
This week we began our Soils unit in Intro to AFNR. We began by learning about components of soil and soil porosity. After arguing (all in good fun) that soil was not the same as dirt, I facilitated an interest approach that connected why we are learning about soil to Lancaster County. We discussed what factors enabled Lan Co to be the most productive non-irrigated county in the nation and then looked at Lan Co on Web Soil Survey. I really enjoyed helping students make those connections and understanding the WHY.
3. Star Red Rose Interviews
This week I got to serve on an interview committee for Star Red Rose interviews at a county level competition. This is similar to proficiency interviews, so I got to talk with students from all over Lancaster County about their awesome SAE projects! I was impressed by the students' interview skills and enjoyed learning something from each student. This was a great experience for me as a future teacher because now I have a better idea about what judges look for during interviews and in AET applications.
I truly enjoy my weeks at Penn Manor, and I can't wait to see what the next 7 weeks have in store!
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