September 1st - A Harry Potter Reference

Insert "Ag Teacher" & Emphasize "I'm a what?!"

This week in AEE 412 we were tasked with creating a "First Day of School" lesson plan and presenting a portion of it for lab on Wednesday. After writing and editing and re-writing this lesson, I was really excited to try out what I came up with. My presentation came and went however, and I realized there was a lot that I wished I would have done differently.

You're A Wizard, Ms. H!

Harry Potter Speaks Straight Wisdom

I decided to teach the portion of my lesson where I introduced myself using something near and dear to my heart, so obviously I chose a few classic pictures from the Harry Potter movies to get the job done. Following a few giggles at my introduction, I had my students move into their introductions. Using a gallery walk with pictures from a bunch of famous movies and shows, each student explained their name, why they were taking my class, and how their chosen picture resonated with them. Looking back on my video, I realized that I say "um" a lot, look real uncomfortable, and do not give clear directions in the midst of my nerves. So after being excited to teach this lesson, I was disappointed yet again by not being able to get out of my head and believe in myself. I was especially upset by my lack of clarity during this teaching experience. In the past few weeks, Dr. Foster has stressed the importance of the Five Characteristics of an Effective Teacher, "BECOV". The "C" in this acronym stands for clarity. In order for students to understand new information and commit it to memory, a teacher needs to be clear in their delivery of instructions and material. Furthermore, the first day of school is essential for setting the stage for the rest of the year. If I were to lack clarity and enthusiasm because of nerves in an actual classroom, I would give my students the impression of not being organized or solid in my classroom management. As I envision myself being a confident, knowledgeable, collected educator, I do not want the first impression I give to my students cause for future classroom shenanigans. The question this lab has had me thinking is, "How do I get from here to the educator I hope to be in the future?"

Utilizing the "Art of Divination"

Me Deciphering My Future as an Educator 

Looking to the future, this lab has really helped me to see how much I need to grow as an educator in order to utilize clarity and enthusiasm. I learned where my weaknesses lie, but also learned that there are many things that practice prepares you for more than preparation. I hope that the more I teach, the more confident I will feel as an educator. As an Agriscience teacher in the future, I need to believe in my abilities to teach. By believing in myself, I feel that I will be less inclined to rush through ideas and more inclined to check for student comprehension, interest, and learning. While the picture of me as an educator in the future has not come into full focus yet, I hope that with some more "crystal ball gazing", everything will clear up.

"Taylor"ed with love,