9/4/2013

I really think this is a cool illustration of  what first year teachers feel like.  The first day can be extremely overwhelming and Wong does a great job of discussing those fears and more importantly explains how to change this mentality to the one in the next illustration.






Through good preparation and planning, we can be positive agents of change!  It is vital to do your homework and come to school the first day fully prepared.  The first day is shown to make or break a year.  If you can capture students attention a build a strong foundation of leadership and expectation; you will be able to properly manage your classroom.  Classroom management is the best strategy for dealing behavior issues.  If you lay the ground work and make rules clear you can avoid discipline issues.

I found a really cool site that gives a whole list of first day ideas.  These ideas are all listed for the lower grades however I think they can be adapted to work! I really liked the first idea, which is to give them ownership.  It reminded me of Dr. Foster's idea of greeting everyone at the door and handing out note cards of things that needed done. I also love the first day advice in a nutshell; establish routines, be firm and consistent, and over-prepared.

 http://www.ilovethatteachingidea.com/ideas/subj_first_day.htm

As an agriculture education major it is important to review and put to knowledge the objectives of instruction in agriculture.

1. Provide instruction about Agriculture (Ag Literacy)
2. Provide exploration of and orientation to occupations requiring knowledge and skill in agriculture
3. Develop knowledge and skill for occupational competence
4. Prepare for advanced study of agriculture

Those are critical to effective agriculture education, but for me they can be stated clearer.  Here is my revision of how I understand these objectives.

1. Teach about cows, plows and sows.  Ag literacy is all about increasing the general public's knowledge of where their food comes from and how agriculture effects their everyday lives.

2. Agriculture is part of the CTE curriculum, which means we are a career prep program.  I need to be able to open my students eyes to the extensive job opportunities available to them in agriculture.  In addition to showing them the opportunities, actually working with the community and getting my students out into the workplace.  This can be done through individual student SAE's, field trips and guest speakers.

3. I am charged with not only showing my students the opportunities available to them but also preparing them for those opportunities.  I need to use instructional time, lab time and student SAE's to help them develop workplace skills.

4. Finally, I am also prepping students for college.  I need to provide my students with the skills necessary to pursue higher education.  I also need to show them the opportunities that higher education can offer.

In conclusion these objectives set the bar high!  I am expected to teach to students at all levels, who all have different career paths in their future.