The Final Day

Well, this is it - the last hike of the MAEE program: Amphibians and Reptiles. I haven't had too great of experiences with sixth graders in the past, so today was quite the pleasant surprise. Perhaps it was because they were a smaller group, and the parents only got in the way if it was absolutely necessary. Overall they were inquisitive, bright, responsible, and interested in the things I was showing them. Starting with an overview of herps and a chance to hold the baby water snake, I was able to take the group around the wetland looking for reptiles and amphibians. Considering that there weren't too many around, I also mentioned a few random facts about wild edibles and other plants and animals that we saw. The group seemed to really enjoy our time together.

I was pretty relaxed throughout the hike (perhaps from my lack of sleep?) but I think it worked well with this group. My teaching style is definitely more relaxed, and so I appreciate when my students can go along with it. I was kind of surprised that they could sit and discuss herps without jumping up to see the snake I was holding (I'm used to first graders!). And while there were a couple times I lost their attention, most of the time when I began talking I felt I was being listened to.

The finale around the fire pit in the council house was splendid. We each had a little entertainment for the students. They were such great sports and seemed to really enjoy their time here. It's hard to believe that only a few years ago I had such difficulty talking in front of groups. Slowly, this nervousness and fright has faded away. My words no longer completely vanish in front of large groups. It was nice to play a little game for the kids and be comfortable doing it.

I've learned a lot over the course of the practicum, and I am overjoyed at this final group. While I was quite stressed from lack of sleep, it seemed like today incorporated so much of what I've learned about teaching (inquiry, empowerment, multiple intelligences) and so much of who I've developed as a teacher (setting rules in the beginning, being relaxed with dry humor).

Exploring Nature

Exploring Nature with second graders was probably my favorite program. What a joy to have such a nice way to begin the final week. I find the complete openness of this program really valuable - to simply explore nature. One of the girls asked me why every school day wasn't outside. What a perfect question! She explained that she was still learning about stuff, but it was so much more fun. It summarized so much of what we have been learning about the importance of environmental education, and its value in the education system.

I think the biggest challenge for me is still learning names in such a short period of time. I feel that I haven't really improved in this skill since beginning the MAEE program, and I'm sure it will be a long long time until I can. It's just really difficult for me to memorize names to faces in a couple hours. I've tried the tricks and mnemonics and repeating the names, but it still ends up the same - just as it has my entire life.

I have seen improvement in many other areas, however. I am no longer nervous to teach, and I feel that I can confidently go into a program without the fear of forgetting something important. I feel like I have a style and ongoing theme - a great thing to have developed in the last eleven months.

It was a great day teaching, and encouraging that a little girl liked it enough to say she wished every day at school was like it!

I'm not rocking this cycle

One more day. I am tired. My feet hurt. Rock cycle went well today. We operate like a well oiled machine most of the time. We had everything we needed. Busses were close to on-time. We had plenty of pit and bog time. It was a great field trip, I think, for a group that hadn't been to ML before. It went really well. I thought as we waved goodbye to the busses that we had made them feel at home, excited, smart and welcome. What more could you ask. I'm beat, though. Standing in the sun in the pit was tough for me. It was the first time I'd done it with really concentrating on the keys, though. I thought the students and parents were very happy to be learning in such an exciting place. I thought today about which of these programs I like the best. I may volunteer once in a while here, and would want it to be really great for me, as well as students. Sugarbush would be the first choice. With first graders. Then maybe any really nice hike day. And farm craft with kindergarden was pretty awesome. Oh, and farm craft mill with dementia patients was very enriching, and fun. It's been a year. Thats the long and short of it.

Rock Cycle - one more time and done. I have taught this program several times it is very comfortable now. Yesterday I did the intro ppt and today sara did the intro ppt today. She did a good job, keeping the kids engaged. They were getting restless near the end. It was due to a very long bus ride to Merry Lea from Plymouth. They were an excited and excitable group. The were very interested and participated with me very well.
Over the last two Rock Cycle's I did pit, beach and bog. Pit is fun and kids loved finding rocks, many kept asking what type of rock is this. I would point them to the sheet and go through the dicotomomus key to figure out the type of rock. Then we would use the laminated sheet to try an narrow down from type to more specific individual rock names. After a few times, several students started to help classmates use the keys to decide on rock names. Sharing is a great way for the students to show their rock and tell some of its features or info about it.
Beach and bog are a blast. I wish I could do this program all the time. Students seem to develop a good understanding of where the water went and how the bog was formed. They really like to dig into the muck soil and feel the temps and smell the stinky. I like taking a different route back, so students can see the esker from a different view.

Explore (and teach)

Yesterday teaching exploring nature was lots of fun.  The group was very excited to be here, and had lots of energy and curiosity.  The weather cooperated and held off on the rain.  I wish that they could have stayed for a full 4 hours, because the hike easily could have lasted at least a half hour longer.  One of the students in my group was hearing impaired.  Thankfully his interpreter was along, and she did a wonderful job of interpreting his questions and comments.  It was interesting to notice that of all the students, he was generally the first one to notice something and point it out.
Since we were headed to the dipping pond first, I didn't want to spend a large quantity of time getting there.  I asked the students what they were hearing (bird songs), immediately realizing that for one student this would have no meaning, or be something he could participate in.  Realizing my error, I then quickly moved on to something else that focused on something we all could see (the hole in the dead tree that has a nest in it).  As a teacher, I desire to adapt and meet my students at their level and facilitate their learning.  Maybe that sometimes means I can't control, or plan for every contingency.  Hopefully, it means that I continue to learn and adapt to new situations.
Later, I was leading one of the bird hikes with the 5th graders.  They were all excited about the prospect of using binoculars. The first 20 minutes went well, most of the students saw a Baltimore Oriole & a Yellow Warbler.  I used my new ibird app to play an example of the call, and that was a huge hit.  It was a very full and packed day, and towards the end the group seemed rather done with seeing anymore red-wing black birds.  I had packed the bird migration game, and I should have used it for the last 5 minutes on the trail.  I was a little concerned about the time, and didn't want to start a game and then not be able to finish it, and so tried to occupy them with looking at birds for just a little bit longer. 

Exploring Nature is the best program ever

I love exploring nature.  It is just such an awesome program where the hike time really feels like an opportunity for inquiry.  I wish that more schools would request this program.  It is so valuable to have unstructured hike time.  Yesterdays group was so unbelievably engaged.  I don't think I have ever heard called my name so many times in an hour, as that group of students all dying to show me what they had discovered.   If we had been out there to look for something in particular, I might not have been able to give each of their discoveries all of the attention that it deserved.  It just felt so good really let them lead the hike.

In the afternoon yesterday I led a flower hike.  Though the time did not have quite the inquiry, student led feeling it was still really fun.  I second Tom's comment that those were really awesome 5th graders.  There was almost nothing blooming which was kind a bummer.  Still the students worked had to collect some flower specimens (from our decorative rose bush) for dissection.  It was cool to split them open and identify the male and female reproductive parts.  I was a little bit surprised that none of them knew what function a flower serves.  They could tell me that roots take up water and nutrients from the soil, and even that the leaves make sugar through photosynthesis, but not that flowers are reproductive parts.  That feels like a really basic piece of information so I really liked being able to focus on them understanding that.  Those basic things are the things that feel like epiphanys or "AHOHhhhhh..." moments for me, and it was  great to hear that coming from the students.

Nature's recyclers

Thursday, May 17, was Nature's Recyclers. This was a small group, only 18 students, and Tom and I were teaching. I was nervous about being unprepared, having a new topic, and not having much in the way of support materials. Carol advised us to use material from exploring nature, and we were forwarded a few additional pieces the day before the program. Here's what I got - again. The value of this experience, the Merry Lea field trip, is not about the content as much as the nature experience. And, that, very often is the hike. No matter what materials and agenda I put in my hike bag at the LC, a good hike is going to be one that engages us in what nature is providing that moment. Maybe the "being here now" part of the best hikes is as impactful as the wonderful things we see and hear and smell. As always, it was a pleasure to work with Tom. His calm, intentional demeanor is so helpful in any situation. Another good day.