My First Mid Winter Convention

I'm back everyone! I had a very successful Christmas break where I spent some much needed time relaxing with my loved ones.

Snapped a photo with
Secretary Redding.

My very first day of student teaching I learned a lesson of flexibility and adaptability. Weather certainly played a role in our challenges as an early dismissal was called before our day could get started. For this reason we could not legally bring any students on the trip. My cooperating teacher and I left before the ice storm hit and made it to the complex!

Once at the Farm Show we networked with many sponsors and advisors at the FFA Recognition Reception where students who competed in an LDE or a CDE at the 2017 National FFA Convention. It was a short warm up for the rest of the day.

Having no responsibilities of watching students at Mid Winter Convention meant that I was privileged enough to work back stage! I lined up kids and parents for their awards and made sure that all of the degrees were in order. I also got to walk on the floor to retrieve the different awardees. It was great! I had a lot of fun with all of the ag teachers that I got to interact with.

My view while walking to retrieve award winners.

After the conclusion of the ceremony I spent the rest of the night working in the FFA Foundation Food Stand selling hot slices of pizza to hungry people!

Come and get your pizza from some
friendly faces!!

At the late hour of 10pm I arrived home and felt accomplished in the fact that I did many things, met many great people, and had an awesome first day.

De-Icing my car from the storm when
we made it back to the school
at the end of the day!

I *faux* Taught the First Day of School!

This Wednesday in our AEE 412 "methods" lab, I taught my first day of school lesson! I think it went well as it was my second time teaching in lab and this go-round was much better and less nerve racking than the first. I found some "Gems" and "Opps" that I'd like to share. Gems are positive things that I did well and opps are opportunities where I could have done better. Here it goes!

Gems

• I feel that I was upbeat and enthusiastic through the lesson. 
• I transitioned well from greeting students at the door into bell-work and onto my expectations.
• I did well at keeping student's on task when taking an introductory quiz. Some students were trying to talk instead of staying on task, others were sleeping. I tried using engaging questions and proximity control to keep them on task.

Opps

• A few of the students probing questions could have been answered with more finesse. Some of these situations were downright hilarious and it was rather hard to keep a straight face and answer them correctly. Side note, the students were actually my fellow #PSUAgEd18 cohort members. 
• I wanted the students to introduce themselves using an activity with a large plastic ball which I would have written questions on. I could not find a ball at the local Walmart so I had to settle on a snowball game. It worked really well but it wasn't exactly what I was hoping for. 

Please comment and let me know how your first day of class usually goes. How do you respond when student's ask you awkward personal questions? What activity do you use to introduce yourself to the students? I look forward to reading your comments!