The First Day & Field Trips
On January 7th #PSUAgEd19 was FINALLY able to get in the classrooms, and for most of us we were hitting the road to Mid-Winter Convention. Dover FFA Had participated in the landscape contest, tractor restoration project, had one keystone degree recipient, and three jacket scholarship recipients.
Being flexible was key because the day started with Keystone Testing and two of our members who were traveling with us had to finish the tests prior to our departure. Fortunately enough we were able to hit the road at a decent time and get to Farm Show in time to get lunch and a milkshake before Mid-Winter.
The rest of the week was a whirl wind of keystone testing, half-hour classes, mis-matched schedules, and meeting my great students. Friday was our only "normal day" and Mrs. Barzydlo began the Small Animal Science Final which will continue into next week.
Looking Forward to next week, I unfortunately will not be teaching.... yet... Monday and Tuesday will have an adapted schedule for final testing, Wednesday is the career and college advising day, and then our students will be out of school until 1/22 while we complete professional development.
Because of this modified schedule I look forward to visiting Ms. Winklosky at West Perry on Friday to check out what she is up to!
Sounds like a nice way to ease into your internship. Testing is a wonderfully disruptive practice, this is where flexibility and being able to adapt come into play. Looking forward to hearing about your week #2 next week.
ReplyDeleteGetting used to the crazy lull at the mid-year point was my biggest adjustment when I started at Dover with block scheduling. You'll get to see plenty of "normal" finally going on when we get to your first day later in January.
ReplyDeleteIt may be worthwhile to examine how other buildings run their testing schedules. There aren't necessarily any great ways do go about it, but you can learn a lot from others about the process they experience. For example, we are one of the few schools I hear about where we delay the entire schedule until Keystone Testing is completed and have shortened classes. A lot of schools will run a testing area and have normal classes going on as scheduled, but then you have to accommodate students missing your class. Pros and cons to every option.
I look forward to seeing how you describe a "normal day" in April!
ReplyDeleteProud of you Boltz!
Sounds like a pretty "normal" week during Farm Show! You are off to a great start and I look forward to checking in with you in the next few weeks.
ReplyDeleteSo excited to see what you learn through this experience! Use your "down time" wisely, which it looks like you are doing.
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job braving the Keystone testing storm. I agree with Alex; ask your cohort about their Keystone and final testing schedule.
ReplyDeleteYou will soon discover how critical it is to be flexible, especially in the Ag Ed world!
Awesome job this week!
Also, I think it is wonderful that you took the initiative to handle the logistics of SLLC! It will be a great learning experience.