So, this week was actually a lab that I was really excited about. The task, I thought, was simple: present the students with a problem. They do not necessarily need to find the answer or a correct one, but we at least needed to get our problem out there.
I was really excited to continue in working on my Quality Assurance unit, so I decided to write my lesson plan with Immunizations. The task: give the students a scenario and have them solve for the correct amount of medication. Then they were able to actually administer the vaccine to their animal (and by animal, I mean fruit).
How Did it Go?
Very very poorly. My stress levels got to me, and I completely jumped around my plan. I started rushing through my directions and my scenarios. The worst part of it all, I questioned my ability to teach during my lesson.
Turns out that my lesson plan was not one to be taught in the Ag classroom. My approach was wrong, and I did not present the lesson well anyway. It felt as though I was kicked down and out for the count.
How Can I Improve?
Obviously, scratching out this lesson completely from my unit. It looks as though I will be rewriting this unit plan and figure out a new approach on everything I teach.
It was one of those labs that made me wonder if I am actually cut out to teach. I guess we shall see at the conclusion of these next two semesters.
Sam, I am so sorry to hear that the lab did not go well. Honestly, I just want you to know that IT'S OKAY!!! Failure is scary and it hurts and it sucks, and I am sorry. BUT, we can learn from these moments. In fact, I don't think your lab was a failure, because you learned something from it right? Also, this is good because you were practicing in a safe place with your peers. Now we know that this approach might not be the best for a classroom, but that's okay because we learned from it.
ReplyDeleteSAM, PLEASE don't let ONE LAB make you question your ability!!! You are strong, you are smart, and you are talented... you can rally from this!
Sam, your honesty and thought processes were well articulated. It was great to hear you had great confidence going into and were excited about it. I am sorry it did not turn out the way you thought it would, but the best part is you probably learned a lot! It was better for the lesson to flop now then in a classroom of high school students. You will be the educator you want to be by the way you bounce back from this experience and I encourage you to take this and let it fuel you up to teach the best lesson yet next lab period. Keep working girl!
ReplyDeleteSam, don't be so hard on yourself! Remember this is why we do labs! Let this "safe environment" (to steal what Sarabeth said :) ) be the place you make mistakes so that you'll have some great experiences to work from when you're in the classroom. Use the constructive crisism and feedback from your peers and instructors to make you better! "Fall down seven times, stand up eight." Keep fighting for it, Sam!
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