For our third week on the Outreach Team, we traveled about 6 hours to Laramie. This is where I was able to teach 4th grade and Kindergarten (for the third week in a row). 4th grade was a pretty challenging class: they had a difficult time retaining some concepts and had a hard time keeping their respect level in check. Not to mention the teacher was a little controlling and pressured to make sure they were fully grasping what we were teaching and what they were learning. But it was definitely an experience to have under our belts, because it teaches you about the bigger picture of working with individuals that are not exactly on your wavelength and to have a class that is not the best behaved or controlled. Definitely a learning experience.
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| Evidence of Beaver at Vedauwoo State Park. The one on the Left Looks like a Widow Maker! |
Took our 4th graders to Vedauwoo Park outside Laramie for an outdoor field trip that focused on Meteorological Tools and Concepts. The students learned how to use their hand-made barometers, anemometers, wind vanes, thermometers, and cloud charts. It was really cool seeing their hand-made creations work outdoors!
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| An Awesome Nature Find - The Tree Sees You! |
On Wednesday, some of the grads were able to finish early and able to explore Laramie and the University of Wyoming Campus. This was a great opportunity for Christy the Pika to come out and strut her stuff! I definitely brought some entertainment to the campus! Able to go around and do some Pika twerking and dancing around campus. EmJ, a fellow graduate, was able to get these moments on film. A video is sure to come soon! So stay tuned!
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| Christy The Pika Meets Laramie |
That night, we got to eat at the Alpine Pub and we were able to draw on the tables! So, I made EmJ a Thank You Drawing!
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| Drew EmJ a Picture at Dinner! |
On Wednesday and Thursday of this week, I worked with Joe in the Kindergarten classes. They were phenomenal: we adopted a tree, named Barky, explored their senses at school and at La Bonte Park, played seasonal Bingo, and read some awesome books! I really do enjoy working with Kinders. However, I do feel this may be a way too comfortable comfort zone, it is always a challenge!
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| Joe and My Kindergartener's Adopted Tree, Barky! |
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| So Proud of Joe: His Wonderful Well-Drawn Path Map |
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| He May Not Like The Little Ones, But they Sure Love Him! |
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| Exploration of Their Senses - Fun With Kindergarteners |
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| Seeing & Touch What is Under the Conifer Tree! |
Watching children explore and get outside is such a valuable memory and thing. Seeing them make connections, realizing things, and the excitement explode from within them is truly inspiring and makes every moment of being a teacher/educator worth it.
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| Cat-Tail Fluff Party! |
The Kinders Joe and I had were awesome. So excited! We even got them pumped with throwing some or should I say a lot of Cat-Tail Fluff into the air for a Party! Probably not the best thing when it got caught in our mouths and everywhere!
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| Exploration of Senses - Continued |
It seems like every week so far, there is a high and low that I have experienced through teaching. Whether it is how to manage a crazy class, how to handle a crazy teacher, or having some wonderful memories with an awesome group of children. It really helps me realize and understand, that this is life. You will not always be given the perfect class and that there will be times of struggle, deep-breathing, patience, and pushing forward.
Onto a Week Off From Teaching & a Week of Community Ecology!
Best,
TheChristyBel
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