When I first started teaching at a small rural school almost 18 years ago, I was surprised by the amount of extracurricular activites which occured during the school day. As teachers, our mantra became "be flexible" during those times of the year when events became numerous. These included collecting food for the hungry, music programs, FFA events such as Ag Olympigs (yes I spelled that correctly), Dr. Suess Week, a 2 week swimming program for primary students, and on and on.
As a teacher, it is sometimes frustrating how many interruptions can happen as a result. Lesson plans are put aside, students are more focused on what is coming later in the day than what I am teaching. We've all experienced this at some level.
I am thinking about this because next week I will be losing about 4 hours of class time for an FFA tradition that goes back at least 3 decades at our school. My students will spend time listening to high schoolers talk about their animals, competing in events like milk chugging, hay stacking, and tractor ( toy pedal powered tractor) racing, and kissing a pig.
But then I hear about other schools who have maybe gone too far the other direction in eliminating anything that might interfere with instruction time, like recess, or PE, and I realize that maybe I don't have it so bad. We all need breaks now and then. I've taken a few just while writing this post. I hear about schools who are searching for a way to improve school climate, and I think about how many of these "interruptions" help make our school what it is today: a place where many out of district parents strive to send their children.
How does technology fit into this? Not very well, but I use it to make a record of these events, which I then can share with parents. Like this one.
As a teacher, it is sometimes frustrating how many interruptions can happen as a result. Lesson plans are put aside, students are more focused on what is coming later in the day than what I am teaching. We've all experienced this at some level.
I am thinking about this because next week I will be losing about 4 hours of class time for an FFA tradition that goes back at least 3 decades at our school. My students will spend time listening to high schoolers talk about their animals, competing in events like milk chugging, hay stacking, and tractor ( toy pedal powered tractor) racing, and kissing a pig.
But then I hear about other schools who have maybe gone too far the other direction in eliminating anything that might interfere with instruction time, like recess, or PE, and I realize that maybe I don't have it so bad. We all need breaks now and then. I've taken a few just while writing this post. I hear about schools who are searching for a way to improve school climate, and I think about how many of these "interruptions" help make our school what it is today: a place where many out of district parents strive to send their children.
How does technology fit into this? Not very well, but I use it to make a record of these events, which I then can share with parents. Like this one.
I also use it to show my students examples of what we are going to do to prepare for one of these events. For example, we make silly hats for the annual Dr. Seuss Silly Hat Parade. So I can show my new students ideas from past students, and also give them an idea of how we will be making them. Like this example.
With any luck, you now have a better idea of what the culture of our school is, and why many parents want their children to attend here. This is one reason I love technology. And this is also why my children have attended school here.