Non-Formal Education at its Finest

This week I was ready to jump into all of the school programs and help further my actual teaching skills. We had programs all throughout the week, and it was going to be another hectic schedule for me. I have learned so much since I started at Shaver's Creek, and I feel each week I get asked to handle more items and show more responsibility. I do numerous items throughout a week, and some aren't always directly related to teaching, but they do have an impact on my experience and ideas about non-formal education.

I started off Monday with another staff meeting. The facilitator for the week usually asks a fun or interesting question to the group to help create an fun atmosphere. This helps to break up the meeting so it is not just regular, boring work/logistical talk. Going around the room, you get to hear each person answer, and in a sense get to know them. This weeks question was "If you could do any other profession in the world, what would it be?"

I sat there, pondering. I had no clue. 

There are millions of different jobs out there, but what struck me, about this question, was actually another question.

Why did I choose my career path? What was the reason? 

Was it money, friends, family, values, or any of the millions of other reasons? I feel like that would have been a little too deep for a group discussion, especially on a Monday morning, but if you stop and think how and why you are in your position today, you might just be surprised at what you find. So I thought about being an educator, and why I was doing this. I thought about the students, the subjects, the ideas of creating a well rounded program in all aspects of student learning. I guess teaching and being busy during my student teaching internship made me forget sometimes why we choose a career and pursue it for life. I was the last one to share my thoughts, so I thought about this a lot. Probably for a good 30 minutes, but if you find something you love to do, then you won't even have to think about another profession for the rest of your life. This question was good for my morning contemplation, and let me recapture my values about being an educator and why I wanted to do it.

And, since I know you all are dying to know, the other profession that I chose to answer the question was to be an Extreme Sports Enthusiast, doing rock climbing, big wave surfing, cliff diving, and other really cool stuff.

Tuesday was back to the real world and it was program time. I had 12, 2nd grade students who wanted to learn all about the environment. I was prepared for the walk, but not prepared for the students. It just happen to be my day to get a horrible group. These little students were ridiculous and would not listen to anything that was being said. They weren't listening to me, and even at times not listening to their own teacher. I did my best to change the day, with different techniques, but none seemed to work. It was an uphill fight the whole day, and by the end I wanted to pull my hair out in frustration. I guess we all have tough days like this, I was just happy it was over.

This baby turtle was found by the students
and their teacher at the Shaver's Creek frog pond. 

The next day, I was skeptical, to say the least. I was prepared for another crazy group. But, to my delight, I only taught 8 students throughout the whole day, and they were awesome! This group was very well behaved and they were engaged all day, enjoying everything I was teaching them. We were at the frog pond in the morning, and one of my students found a baby turtle! This was a great teachable moment and I could see the excitement everyone had. It was surreal in some senses, going from completely horrible to amazing students, but they were in a different mindset. I realized that students have their own agenda even before the teachers begin, so sometimes
just going along with that makes the most out of the day. I was relieved that today was better than yesterday, and hoped to keep the momentum going into Thursday.

Thursday, I was doing another guided nature center visit and taking my students out on a walk on the trails. I taught kindergarten students today, and was really glad to have such a diversity in the age range I teach. Going from the high school students to kindergarten and first grade is tough, but I feel like I have so much more to offer the students I teach. The teaching I do also creates good comparison to see what will work and what will not. Obviously, some items will work with high school students, but have no effect on the younger ones. I am learning how to judge and read student's knowledge through questioning techniques. 

This week was another good week, and I felt like I facilitated effective lessons that left the students with a lot of information. I didn't think these weeks would go so fast, but they are coming down to the wire and I will be done soon. I enjoy teaching to these students, and getting them engaged in the outdoors. I wish all students had the opportunity to get outdoors and have programs done for them. Hopefully, one day I can incorporate all of these non-formal items and a high school classroom into one to have an amazing education platform.

It was a pleasure to write for you.

Every Week is a New Adventure

Coming down the final stretch of my student teaching experience, I couldn't believe what has happened and all that I have been through. Everything I have experienced so far has been amazing, and has shaped me in many ways to obtain my own identity as a future educator in any setting. This week was no different and I was able to plan and implement my own educational program, do some outreach for Shaver's Creek, and get into action teaching school children for our Guided Nature Center Visits. The weeks keep going faster and faster, but I feel like I am hitting my stride as an educator in many ways.

Monday, I was able to start my week off with another great faculty meeting, growing professionally as an educator. This week was especially fun for me because I actually had something good to say. On Sunday evening, I found out that   I passed both my Agriculture and General Sciences Praxis Exams! I was ecstatic about this accomplishment, especially because I took both on the same day and was completely drained after the whole ordeal. I was so proud I could share this with everyone at the faculty meeting, and it truly felt like a  burden was lifted off my shoulders. After the meeting, I had another mission. On Tuesday, I would be running my own program to a school of students from John Browne High School. I was given the opportunity to create my own program for them, and I had to create all of the logistics and oversee two other staff members at Shaver's Creek to accomplish this. It was a bit hectic trying to get everything ready, but I had a good team and we got items figured out and ready for the next day.

Tuesday, boy was it a crazy day. All morning I had to help the other Shaver's Creek staff with their Guided Nature Center Visits as a logistics coordinator and observer. Once that part of my day was over, I jumped right into my other role, as program coordinator, to prepare my staff and our stations for the high school students coming from Flushing, New York. We met the students and provided a great program for about 60, 10th and 11th grade students rotating around wildlife conservation, reptiles and amphibians, and Birds of Prey. We worked this program around their needs, because it was the first time ever visiting Shaver's Creek. After the program, their teacher, an Ag teacher actually, told me how much  she enjoyed the program and would want to come back in the coming years. I was so nervous throughout the whole day, but once I started the program it went very smoothly and in a blink of an eye it was over. The day was an awesome mixture of teaching and coordinating, and I grew so much from combining both roles. I had a long day, but I had so many other things to look forward too the rest of the week.

After Tuesday, I was really excited to do another program, but this one would be completely different than I was used to. I was working today on my first Traveling Bird Show. I was going with two other interns to the Ag Day in the HUB at Penn State, and I was going to be educating about Shaver's Creek and the opportunities it encompasses with agriculture education and the natural world. I experienced first hand the cooperation, planning, and skills necessary to make a good program to a large public crowd. I had a blast during the day and taught many people, of all ages, about the animals and opportunities at Shaver's Creek. I was even featured on one of the Penn State News websites holding a Black Rat Snake as one of the interesting photos of the day. I had so much fun, and it was a good way to understand audiences, vary teaching techniques, and reach multiple knowledge levels. I used numerous animals as education tools and was very passionate about the information I conveyed to the public.

The last part of the week was going to be spent working back at Shaver's Creek on educating through nature center visits. On Thursday, I did my final observation for the field walks because there are a few different types, so I finally had all of the knowledge necessary to provide a quality program for our audiences. On Friday, I was teaching kindergarten and first grade students about many different wildlife species. I had to know about eight different wildlife stations for the day, but once I started it was like riding a bike again. I had a blast with the small children in my group, and used many techniques throughout the day to manage and teach the group about everything. I definitely see growth in my tone and voice used when teaching, and also the connections, objectives, and themes that I try to create for my students as take home messages. All things considered, it was another hectic week, but very fun and interesting.

Through all of my teaching experiences so far, I am still unsure about where and what I want to do when I graduate. I see the merit in both formal and non-formall educational settings, but I can't limit myself to one choice right now. I have had many numerous "aha!" moments throughout student teaching at both sites so far, so I feel both are in play for me as a future educator. Most importantly, though, I feel like I'm building my professional portfolio to greater heights to be the best educator I can be.

It was a pleasure to write for you.

Preparation is Key for Success

This week I had some good experiences to prepare me for the hectic schedules and crazy days that would be coming my way in the month of April. This week I was able to cover numerous different tasks, broadening my knowledge of what a teacher has to accomplish in a non-formal setting.

This week, I was able to involve myself with some great observations, and being able to observe some of the interns who teach the different programs at Shaver's Creek. This Monday, as usual, we had our weekly staff meeting. I was a little more ready for this one, and knew what was going to happen. I didn't realize this during the first staff meeting, but this was the reflection time from the past week and how everyone is growing professionally in our respective fields. As we went around the table, I could see the intensity, but also the fun everyone was having with their words. I realized that Mondays are truly about reflection, and preparation for the upcoming week.

On Tuesday, I received some guidance on the different stages of programs and the other parts of Shaver's Creek Educational programs. I was able to look through the supplies and do a mini inventory of the items and specific teaching tools they use throughout the programs. It was interesting to compare how a regular classroom is set up, with supplies, and the nature center in general. It was a good learning experience and I realized these educators here at Shaver's Creek are VERY SIMILAR to agriculture educators with their resourcefulness and combination of  
multiple disciplines/skills.

Wednesday was a fun day, and I was even able to help out and throw in some of my teaching pedagogy. I was observing a Sensory Walk, which deals with a group of students going into the woods with an instructor and experiencing environmental education in the field. There ended up being a larger group than anticipated, so the groups had to be broken up on the spot during the morning. One of the group facilitators got stuck with the bulk of the students, and I was not sure why this was the case. As I walked around completing observations, I saw she was having the most trouble. So I made the decision to stay with her and help out wherever I could. I helped with group management, and even chimed in from time to time with some information. It was a good time throughout the day, and I showed great flexibility through the day.

Thursday was another day I would be working along side the teaching staff, but I was also logistically keeping everyone on track and coordinating the flow of the whole program. Sometimes, I think it is actually harder to complete the logistics of a lesson then actually teaching it. This was definitely one of those days. The morning was brisk and cold, and none of us wanted to be outside. There was an urgency to change the program so it could be indoors, and the brainstorming session occurred. Every one of us showed great poise and creativity to figure this situation out, and we made a great plan. I made sure everyone was on time and where they were supposed to be, while also keeping the learning environment warm and comfortable for learning. The coordination side of programs is very interesting to me, but it is very stressful compared to just teaching one single station the whole day.

The next couple days went by without any hiccups or trepidations. But, come Sunday, I was back at it bright and early. Part of my student teaching is completed by doing a week as a Learning Group Leader for the Shaver's Creek Program Outdoor School. We take students to a camp for a week, and teach them about experiential education and the environment. We were able to see the wonderful facilitation techniques that are used so effectively as LGLs, even with the horrible weather. Yet again, our plans had to change and we were inside most of the day keeping away from the cold. This teaching environment issue is something I didn't notice as much in the classroom, but outside in a non formal setting, it really can make a difference in how you approach a lesson. We had a full day of learning and activities, and by the end I was exhausted from the intake of information.

This week, I made some very interesting connections to teaching and the environment around us. I understood better how to be flexible with a program and how to, even when you have doubts, to trust the people who work with you. The team I worked with was amazing, and that cooperation reminded me of the   Pennsylvania Ag Ed Family..

It was a pleasure to write for you.

The Sweet Taste of Maple Syrup

This week at Shaver's Creek was a hectic and busy time for everyone at the center. The Maple Harvest Festival was upon us, and this was one of the largest festivals Shaver's Creek puts on for the public throughout the year. Just dropping into Shaver's Creek two weeks ago, I was able to participate in the tail end of the preparation, and its many aspects, to help produce a successful weekend.

My role throughout the week was varied, from handling orders to preparing many different items for the festival, and then helping out with the RPTM Maple Harvest Class. On Monday, I was able to attend my first staff meeting at the center. It was different from a school faculty meeting, but I did see some similarities. I could tell about all who were in charge, and the tasks that each one had to complete. I was formally introduced to all of the staff, and I recognized numerous faces from previous time spent at the center. I was ready to get the week going, and setting up the week's plan from our faculty meeting was a good starting point for me.

On Tuesday, I was able to put my teaching skills to use. This day was a practice day for the many students who were participating in the RPTM Maple Harvest Class. These students would be facilitating different stations along the trail and providing information to the public about the Maple Sugaring process. Their audience was interesting as well, being the local elementary school from Juniata Valley. Each station was going to have 20 minutes, and they had to produce an appropriate lesson with the proper components. I was going to be a supervisor of the facilitators, and provide feedback through my observations. I really liked this opportunity because I was able to see the other side of teacher, in the evaluation aspect. I incorporated iPads into my critique by taping the facilitators during one of their 6 times teaching throughout the day. I gave out feedback I learned in the classroom about student management to the college students. I was busy all day with those students, and the training went very well.

On Wednesday, I received another perspective of teaching that I usually do not complete. I was given the opportunity to grade the lesson plans of the college students who were facilitating the maple harvesting stations. As I graded, I could not help but chuckle when I thought about the difference between formal and non-formal lesson plans. The ones for my classroom were very detailed, to specific words and questions I was going to answer. But, the non formal ones I was grading had nothing when compared to the other ones. They did have similar essential components, but I could have definitely written a novel in the feedback section on each lesson if they were in a real classroom. It was nice to grade the lessons, and not have to worry myself on how someone else was grading them. I really liked doing this, and added some creative ideas to the lessons.

On Thursday, I did a great deal of preparation for the festival. I was all around the center helping to clean, prepare, and just help whatever needed to be done. I was able to sit down with the coordinator, Laurie McLaughlin, for a bit and pick her brain about the festival. I thought it would a good idea to understand the different aspects that could relate to me compiling a future FFA fundraiser or event. She gave me so much good information and provided me the behind the scenes look at truly what needs to happen to make the Maple Harvest Festival a success.

Friday was another amazing day along this experience. I participated in our cohort professional development. We were able to work through some lesson tuning, and then focus on the DELTA experience. I had no idea what this was, and let me tell you, it was a handful to complete. We ran around to different stations throughout the afternoon, completing mock discussions, interviews, and scenarios that a classroom teacher would have to deal with on an everyday basis. I was flustered throughout the whole thing, but managed to keep myself calm enough to bring up valid points and produce good answers to what was being asked of me. When I was finished, I was so much more confident about the knowledge I obtained in my classes and other experiences. But, after Friday's workshop I wasn't done, I had the whole weekend of Maple Sugaring ahead of me.

Over the weekend, I was able to complete many items during the Maple Harvest Festival. I was there helping out wherever I was needed, and I was even able to teach and interact with children of all ages. Throughout the festival, I managed the trail and the students who were teaching the stations, provided support to the presenters throughout the day and even helped them to teach. I branched out by teaching very young children about some really old, yet fun, games from different cultures that the one presenter brought. It was a really fun to do, and it was  nice to not worry so much on content and focus on the experience/activity itself. I would be lying if I said I didn't have any pancakes with maple syrup on them, but hey that's the best part of the festival! The festival was overall a great experience that allowed me to use my teaching skills and pedagogy in different ways this week, and I really enjoyed it.

Educators do all sorts of teaching, and it can be on any subject. I was excited to see that what I had learned in my agriculture teaching classes could also connect very easily to a non formal setting and akso an evaluator setting. This week was hectic, but fun, and totally worth it all in the end.

It was a pleasure to write for you.

Change can be a Good Thing

This week was going to be something that had been in the making for almost a year now. Before I even thought about lesson plans, I decided to complete a split semester of student teaching. I was changing teaching sites, and I was not sure how I was going to handle the switch. But, there were other items on my agenda before I could think about that.

I was traveling to the State Legislative Leadership Conference (SLLC) with four of my students. I had very little idea of what the conference was about, and how it related to FFA, but I was excited and very happy to have this opportunity. So we traveled down to Harrisburg, and I had a nice change of pace dealing with students who were juniors, very different from my regular freshman and sophomores. This group was very interesting because the guys were outgoing to say the least, and active members of the FFA holding leadership positions. I was ready to see them grow throughout the conference, and maybe even surprise me in some ways.

We finally made it to Harrisburg, and everyone was all ready for the new and exciting experiences ahead. The students had discussions and group meetings all day Sunday on house and senate bills, and I knew they were exhausted by bedtime. They had a long day ahead of them, and I had a productive day myself working with my teacher on the AET system. On Monday, we were in for some interesting projects to help out the community. Each group of students went out into the community to perform service in various locations. The students and I went to a church in Mechanicsburg, PA, where we fixed up the church, cleaning it up and down for important, upcoming events. I was so proud of my students from Cowanesque because they jumped right in, took the tasks presented to them without hesitation, and had a great experience. I could tell how proud my students were after it was all over, and they gained more than just a few community service hours.

On Tuesday morning, coming up at the end of the conference, I experienced something I had never done before. The students and I were going to have breakfast with our Legislative Representative. I was pumped for the students especially because Rep. Matt Baker was a former graduate of the Cowanesque Valley High School. We did the whole photo op and even got to meet the Secretary of Ag! My students look good, standing tall, with unmistakable pride. I was amazed to see the passion, poise, and growth that happened in the past few days. SLLC was a great experience for me and my students, and a fitting way to end my teaching at Cowanesque Valley.

On Wednesday, I entered a whole new teaching atmosphere. I entered my second half of the internship at Shaver's Creek. I got there and got my bearings to my expectations, routine, and future tasks that I was going to complete. It felt weird to be outside of the classroom, and I was not sure how I was going to handle this. The first day was good, and I was ready for this weekend and the PAEE conference.

Heather Pray, former AEE graduate, conducts her workshop.

   The weekend conference held many new experiences that any educator would benefit from attending. I was there for the full conference, and by the end of it all I was mentally exhausted. I had so much information at the end that I could not believe it. I tried to step out of the box with some of the workshops, and tried to find items that could relate to an Ag Ed classroom. Some of the best workshops focused on building community gardens and utilizing the food produced, and the other ones that were important had Envirothon curriculum and also talked about the Next Generation Science Standards. The Envirothon workshop was taught by former AEE graduate Heather Pray, and it was nice to have someone else there to relate agriculture to the many environmental educators.    

New Generation Science Standards….Good or Bad?

The other workshop that really got me fired up was the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). As I sat and listened, this was just an amazing system of standards. I was able to view all of them with ease and the website had all of the connections to English, Math, and even Social Studies. I just shook my head because this would have my life so much easier when I was writing all the lesson plans. I was so happy I got to see the standards because they will be surfacing in the future. Pennsylvania's education system will change at some point, but I want to have as much information so I can obtain a teaching job. 

This conference was a great learning experience and I was able to get to know many of the Shaver's Creek staff much more. I was excited for this weekend, and I wish more educators would go outside of their comfort zones and attend more conferences. We strive to be lifelong learners, but that doesn't mean we only have to learn about one specific area, like agriculture or science in general. We need to see other perspectives and connect with all teachers to create a well-rounded experience for students in every subject. 

I Wish I had More Time

This week was my final week at Cowanesque Valley High School. I knew this week was going to be tough, but I had no idea it was going to be this tough. This week was full of ups and downs, but it was all worth it in  the end. I started off the week with my second supervisor visitation. I was able to complete some demonstrations, and I was very excited to see the students participating in hands-on activities, completing something tangible that would be displayed to over 150 people during the FFA banquet. My students worked very hard Monday and Tuesday, producing the centerpieces and setting up the cafeteria for dinner beforehand. We were Learning to Do, and Doing to Learn, part of the FFA motto.

So Tuesday finally came around, and I was so excited to attend the banquet. I was expecting a very hectic time and my teachers running around like crazy, but it was very laid back and well planned. Everything ran smoothly and dinner was excellent. We were able to have the auditorium for awards, and the FFA officer team did an awesome job with the ceremonies and awards presented. Excitingly enough, I received one myself!!! I was shocked when I received an Honorary Chapter Degree from the Cowanesque FFA.


I was so taken back and blessed to have this opportunity to work with the students that the award made me speechless. I was so overwhelmed at the hard work that was done throughout the whole year by these students. It was incredible to see the student success all through the FFA. Honestly, even as a student teacher, I WAS SO PROUD OF MY STUDENTS! I could not imagine how Mr. Heyler and Mr. Boyer were feeling. The couple hours spent at the banquet revealed how much FFA really means to the communities and families involved. I saw the impact that we, as Ag educators and advisers, have on our program, and especially, the students in the FFA. I left the banquet glowing with pride and excitement, and best of all was that I was going back to teach those students tomorrow!

On Wednesday, I was very excited to teach, continuing to build the FFA chapter through recognition awards/degrees by teaching the students about the Agriculture Experience Tracker (AET). It was so simple to do this because I have enough iPads for every student, so convenience was not a problem. I felt very good teaching this lesson, because I want this class of freshman to be the first to apply the AET system every year until graduation, and hopefully by then the whole FFA chapter is completing AET records. I was so excited because I was able to begin something and maybe, just maybe, leave my mark on this Agriculture/FFA program.

Heading to the back side of the week, it was all starting to get sad. Everything I had worked towards was coming to an end, and all I wanted to do was buy more time with my students. On Thursday, the students were realizing that I was leaving and moving on to another teaching site. A few of them asked  me if I could stay longer, and that gave me a good feeling inside. It seemed I had made an impact to some students in my short time here, and I was very glad to hear that. I taught my normal classes, but there was a part of me that was not ready for the day to be over.

"My last day........ is this really it?"

I guess I never thought I would have to deal with the end. I had not only found a new place, but a home away from home, a career, mentors, and many other things in my 7 weeks at Cowanesque. I felt like I was abandoning all of my students and the school. I had the hardest time looking at all of their faces because I had become a part of their lives just as much as they were a part of mine. As teachers, we have an undeniable passion, for learning, with the compassion and understanding of students. The rapport I built with those students was unlike anything else I could ever explain. I laughed, got mad, bonded, guided, and became a role model for over 70 students. My last day was relaxed, and that was mainly because of the half day. I sat and spoke with my teachers after the students left, and I just couldn't believe the experience I had. I know not everyone will remember me or what I did at Cowanesque Valley High School,  but I will never forget them. I will keep them close to my heart, and do my best to come back and stay in touch. I can only look to the horizon, the next chapter, and the exciting opportunity to teach at Shaver's Creek in the coming weeks.

It was a pleasure to write for you.


"Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting." - J.M. Barrie

Learning Occurs Everyday, Especially as a Teacher

This week was another happy and great week. First of all, this past weekend I participated in THON. When it was all said and done, Penn State had raised over 13.3 million dollars to fight pediatric cancer! I was overwhelmed by the whole experience, and at the end of the 46 hours I was still going strong, just about ready to stand another 46! Thank goodness I didn't have to do that, but I can honestly say it was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I will never forget.

Coming back on Tuesday, I was all ready to get back into my routine, and it was nice to see my students again. I was really happy to tell them all about my weekend adventure, and they couldn't believe what I had accomplished and the amount of money raised. It felt weird to have to wake up early, and put in a full day of work. It was nice to come back to a review day on Tuesday, so I was able to ease back into teaching with each class. I decided to mix up my testing as well, allowing the students to make up the questions on the exam in one of the sections. They wrote down questions on paper to take practice tests, and I took the questions straight from those sheets. Just to compare, I did the other section of my Ag Sci class the regular way and created the test on my own. I was not sure how this would turn out, but I was willing to try.

On Wednesday, I was ready to see if my different tests would make a difference to the students. After all was said and done, the regular test had an average of  27.7/40, while the test that the students made up averaged 30.8/40. These statistics, in my opinion, could have been much more different. My one section has numerous identified students, and they receive modified tests. This factor alone could have changed the outcome and average of the class. If those tests were not modified, the scores might have been different. But, looking at the numbers, there was not much difference, so it was just something interesting to look at from a teacher's perspective. I realized maybe I am making my tests a little too tough, but that is something I have to judge based on the class and academic level present.

For Thursday, we began a short unit on Floriculture. Knowing absolutely nothing about Floriculture, I was willing to learn to say the least. We would be working on the principles of design and then creating the center pieces and boutonnieres for the FFA banquet. On Thursday, I received a surprise. Our shop teacher who is right next door,  Mr. Boyer (no relation to one of my cooperating teachers Mr. Boyer) produced me with my own wooden name plate. I was ecstatic! I honestly couldn't believe how cool it was, and it was all mine too! Mr. Boyer, who made it, told me how he makes them for the teachers at CV, so he said now I was official. The name plate was amazing, and I show it off with pride everyday up in front on my board.

This little gift was one that made me feel so good. It was weird to see my name like that, but I have an amazing feeling of pride now when I look at it. I was so excited I received this, and tomorrow was Friday!

On Friday, I was able to do a couple demonstrations with the students and we started some Floriculture necessities that we would continue next week before the banquet. I am really excited about next week and the banquet, especially because we are putting in all this time and hard work to make it great. I now see how much advisers, officers, and members have to do to keep everything running smoothly and efficiently. Next week look for lots and lots of pictures!

It was a pleasure to write for you.