To say that I learned a lot while in the Adirondacks is an understatement. As a lifelong learner I enjoyed my time with a wide variety of people from all different backgrounds. As a teacher (we are all teachers even if we don't have a classroom) I found myself learning all I could so that I could one day pass that information on to others. As a student, colleague and friend I found myself inside more than I would have liked but I also found myself enveloped in an awesome environment where I truly felt I could fail at things and it would be okay. That was the very first time I've ever felt that and I'm doing my best to remember that feeling so I can keep on taking chances and learning as much as I can from them; whether I fail or not.
I'm not exactly sure who's going to be reading this, but I want to say thank you from my whole heart to Karl, Beth, Tim and all my friends (new ones included) who made this trip 100 times better than I thought it would be! I was actually sad to leave and two days after we had returned home, I wanted to go back =)
Thanks to everyone! Tim, Beth and Karl, you all did a great job and I appreciate everything you did!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Reflecting on the Adirondack Classroom
This past week I have been thinking a lot about the time we spent at Raquette Lake. I had a really good time overall. What I learned about myself is that I'm afraid of many things but I need to trust in myself and others in order to overcome those fears. The team building we did (along with the ropes course and zip line) was very challenging but I proved to myself that I could do it! I knew if I hadn't done it, I would have regretted it. Tim, Karl and many others were there to give me words of encouragement, talk me through things as well as give me some sass (which always helps!).
I'm actually looking forward to being a teacher now which surprises me. I used to feel there were so many challenges and red tape that I already failed my students even before I met them. Now I realize it's the little things I can do that will make a difference. Big achievements are great but slowing down and spending more time outside and letting my kids see my own joy of learning will make a world of difference to them and me.
All the ideas we shared were interesting and I hope to implement some of them into my own classroom in the future. Outdoor education is important for tons of reasons and I will be making sure my kids have the time they need outside.
I'm actually looking forward to being a teacher now which surprises me. I used to feel there were so many challenges and red tape that I already failed my students even before I met them. Now I realize it's the little things I can do that will make a difference. Big achievements are great but slowing down and spending more time outside and letting my kids see my own joy of learning will make a world of difference to them and me.
All the ideas we shared were interesting and I hope to implement some of them into my own classroom in the future. Outdoor education is important for tons of reasons and I will be making sure my kids have the time they need outside.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
7/30 Day 6
Our final day was filled with presentations, cleaning and packing. I liked most of the projects our class came up with and the additional input from the PD group. Even though some of us aren't teaching at the moment the projects could be easily applied and implemented within classrooms and with a variety of grades. It seemed like the majority of the people who shared put a decent amount of time and energy into their ideas. Some, like me, had a difficult time coming up with an idea then trying to tie it to our strand and making a presentation out of it.
I felt inspired and well on the way to getting my passion back by the time we left. I also realized that trips like these (even if it's not to the adirondacks) are important for teachers and teachers-to-be. As adults, we need to connect on a deeper level than just in the classroom setting. I still feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the problems the world is facing but I have a glimmer of hope for the future. I want to make a difference and through teaching, I will.
I felt inspired and well on the way to getting my passion back by the time we left. I also realized that trips like these (even if it's not to the adirondacks) are important for teachers and teachers-to-be. As adults, we need to connect on a deeper level than just in the classroom setting. I still feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the problems the world is facing but I have a glimmer of hope for the future. I want to make a difference and through teaching, I will.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
7/29 Day 5
Stretching myself is not something I like to do or do very often. I know it helps overall and it needs to be done but going outside my comfort zone is not enjoyable. Saying that, my experience on the ropes course was hard. I enjoyed it a lot but I was terrified most of the time I was on the high ropes course. Even the low ropes course was hard because I have trouble trusting people. I'm SO proud of myself for doing both the course and the zip line.
Bringing students out to a ropes course or something like it for the younger students would be fantastic! I cannot wait to do this with my future students!
Bringing students out to a ropes course or something like it for the younger students would be fantastic! I cannot wait to do this with my future students!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
7/28 Day 4
The Wild Center and the Adirondack Museum were fun and very interesting but I didn't think we had enough time for both in one day. I do think that both would be fun and educational to bring students to... maybe if I didn't live so far away!
The Wild Center was unique and full of life! It was small but neat to try to absorb all the information we were seeing, hearing and feeling. The VTS presentation was neat but I have a hard time believing that we couldn't do most of it outside or in some other place that we could enjoy more of the Adirondacks and not the inside walls of a building.
The point of this course is to show us the things we can do to help get our students outside and doing things to make them more aware of our environment and the problems we are facing.
The Adirondack Museum was really cool to see and experience. There was so much to see that I didn't get to it all which made me sad but what I did see made me want to spend a lot more time there. I love to learn the history of places and the people and I hope to instill this love to my future students as well. Learning where we came from and what happened long ago can help us today on so many levels. Students need exposure to this kind of history to get them involved and interested so our history is not forgotten.
On a brighter note, I think I've decided what to do for my project... I don't know whether Cornell does student scientist data collection for information about Cayuga Lake but I will be finding out if they do. Then I would like to do a lesson/field trip having students find the GPS location of where we will be taking data, etc.... (more to come)
The Wild Center was unique and full of life! It was small but neat to try to absorb all the information we were seeing, hearing and feeling. The VTS presentation was neat but I have a hard time believing that we couldn't do most of it outside or in some other place that we could enjoy more of the Adirondacks and not the inside walls of a building.
The point of this course is to show us the things we can do to help get our students outside and doing things to make them more aware of our environment and the problems we are facing.
The Adirondack Museum was really cool to see and experience. There was so much to see that I didn't get to it all which made me sad but what I did see made me want to spend a lot more time there. I love to learn the history of places and the people and I hope to instill this love to my future students as well. Learning where we came from and what happened long ago can help us today on so many levels. Students need exposure to this kind of history to get them involved and interested so our history is not forgotten.
On a brighter note, I think I've decided what to do for my project... I don't know whether Cornell does student scientist data collection for information about Cayuga Lake but I will be finding out if they do. Then I would like to do a lesson/field trip having students find the GPS location of where we will be taking data, etc.... (more to come)
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
7/27 Day 3
The hike up Bear Mountain was great. I enjoyed all of it, especially the last part. Climbing up the steep rocks was challenging but fun. I didn't like how the main group ended up splitting up into multiple groups but I understand that everybody walks at different speeds. This might be an aspect to bring up with my future classroom. The differences between all students are great and this is one more to add to the list and to accept.
I still have no idea what to do for my project and it's getting annoying...
Figuring out what kids enjoy, what will rekindle my confidence, passion for teaching as well as being educational and innovative is the hard part. Oh and I need to incorporate my technology strand as well... I'll just keep thinking I guess.
I still have no idea what to do for my project and it's getting annoying...
Figuring out what kids enjoy, what will rekindle my confidence, passion for teaching as well as being educational and innovative is the hard part. Oh and I need to incorporate my technology strand as well... I'll just keep thinking I guess.
Monday, July 26, 2010
7/26 Day 2
Today we were faced with choosing, or at least thinking about, our projects for this class. This was ans still is very overwhelming for me.
Even talking about ourselves, why we're taking this class and what we want to get out of it I got a little upset because I was once very passionate about teaching and I want to be again.
I get so "juiced," as Tim calls it, but then lose all of that when I get into the classroom because I can feel all the restrictions and rules weighing me down. I want my future students to see the passion I feel way deep down inside on occasion. I want them to in turn become passionate about something (anything!). I want to do so many things and do so much good that I'm confused and unsure as to where I need to start.
As for this project, I have NO IDEA of what to do... I want to do something (technology related because that's my strand) that will help me to enjoy teaching again and I want to impact my students lives (in a good way) so they will inspire others and be able to create a future they will be proud of.
Even talking about ourselves, why we're taking this class and what we want to get out of it I got a little upset because I was once very passionate about teaching and I want to be again.
I get so "juiced," as Tim calls it, but then lose all of that when I get into the classroom because I can feel all the restrictions and rules weighing me down. I want my future students to see the passion I feel way deep down inside on occasion. I want them to in turn become passionate about something (anything!). I want to do so many things and do so much good that I'm confused and unsure as to where I need to start.
As for this project, I have NO IDEA of what to do... I want to do something (technology related because that's my strand) that will help me to enjoy teaching again and I want to impact my students lives (in a good way) so they will inspire others and be able to create a future they will be proud of.
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