I just realized I haven't written blog post since June. I mean that's quite a while, right? It's not for lack of trying. I started many posts this summer, would get about halfway done and realize: who cares? Or It doesn't matter! Or I'm just ranting! So I deleted them.
This summer has been a crazy one. I worked the majority of the summer-- you're shocked I'm sure... Not! It was mostly fun stuff like conferences, retreats, curriculum work and working with students. Add 21 days of fair, school construction keeping me out of a new temporary classroom until 2 days before our start date. I like to think I am mentally tough, but this summer nearly broke me. But the school year has begun so we are headed onward and upward!
This year, like every year of my short career, I am teaching a new class. An agriculture chemistry class. This class is part of the new agriscience pathway, and is the second class in the pathway. The first class is called Sustainable Ag Biology, it was one of my new classes last year. This year I have 2 sections of mostly freshman in biology and they are the cutest, most eager little beings. I wish I could bottle their energy and enthusiasm.
As for Ag & Soil Chemistry, I have been nervous all summer. I feel like I prepped a lot over summer, did some awesome professional development, and made some great contacts to use as resources. But still nervous... Fortunately, I have many kiddos in the class who have already taken chemistry, which to some makes it more nerve racking, but actually eases my anxiety.
This is not a possibility in the new classes
(or any of my classes previously)
The class itself is hard yet fun. There are a ton of labs and projects that help teach the content and for me that's a real win. I'd rather be doing stuff and making a mess, like we did today. Even though I haven't been a teacher long, the direction of the classes I teach, have dramatically headed towards more science. I like science fortunately, but I know others in our profession who have struggled with that movement. I see it as job security really, if it's the avenue to get more students in my class to be able to have a little understanding of agriculture and FFA, then I am A-O-K with it.
These classes of the Agriscience Pathway, give us the time to teach science concepts with real life applications that students can use. Whether traditional Ag students or not, the classes expose kids to science, agriculture, real life and hands-on skills.
The prep work I do for each class is more than I've done for classes previously. But in our short 3 weeks of school, I've seen a change in students that has evoked a positive response that encourages me to keep prepping. Stay tuned for the rest of the year! Cool projects, Neat labs, Awesome kids... #WhyITeachAg
There's a lot more of this happening when I
get my plans done for the month.
These classes of the Agriscience Pathway, give us the time to teach science concepts with real life applications that students can use. Whether traditional Ag students or not, the classes expose kids to science, agriculture, real life and hands-on skills.
The prep work I do for each class is more than I've done for classes previously. But in our short 3 weeks of school, I've seen a change in students that has evoked a positive response that encourages me to keep prepping. Stay tuned for the rest of the year! Cool projects, Neat labs, Awesome kids... #WhyITeachAg
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