Tuesday Slice of Life is thanks to Stacey and Ruth at Two Writing Teachers! Come visit everyone's posts!
I am back from
the camping trip with this ‘new’ class of nineteen students (one student sadly could not go), the assistant teacher who will be
the core teacher next year, the experiential education trip teacher, and one
other chaperone. We
camped, did chores, learned how farms become sustainable, heard coyotes in the
night, admired the moon and beautiful Mt. Sopris as we went to bed and rose
each morning, ate food that was prepared from the farm’s bounty, and used an
outhouse. Thursday night we had the pleasure of swimming in a nearby hot
springs pool, and Friday, on our way back to Denver, stopped to go ziplining
across the Colorado river. The only way
it could have been better was to have been longer.
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a favorite chore-feeding the chickens, turkeys and ducks |
What are the things we value when we travel with our
students? Among those particular to the
setting described above, there is also
· Learning
one can manage without adult help to unpack and pack one’s clothes, set up a
tent with tent mates, arrange the tent so that each has comfortable and personal
space, awaken without waking others and without being crabby.
· Learning
about reflective listening to all group members when working in small groups
for common goals. Conversely, learning
about speaking up with a group so that personal ideas and opinions are heard.
· Meeting
time commitments without reminders.
· Arriving at
destinations prepared with proper equipment and dressed appropriately; i.e.,
journal and drawing bag, plenty of layers for putting on or taking off.
· Assessing
the food wished on the plate, serving oneself, and eating what’s chosen.
· Learning to
SEE:
what details surround us where we find beauty and what people around us
need help, and then taking action to capture the details or offer the help.
· Attending to the goals set at the beginning and finding ways to nurture them
throughout the journey.
· At our
ending, applying the knowledge learned in some important final project. Whether three-dimensional, reflective
writing, entertaining response, etc., the new information gained should be
shown in some way.
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another favorite-feeding the goats |
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learning about the bees |
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indoor classroom-the parts and their connections |
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more discussion of the critical parts |
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Adding some of our labor for the pleasure of future visitors! |
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a bigger view of the planting time
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making plans for later discussion |
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one of our 'wake-up' callers |
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"fowl" duty also means washing the eggs |
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My favorite breakfast-granola & cream right from the cows! |
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preparing the mud/adobe to repair one of the chicken house walls |
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applying the mixture-all washed later in the water canal, or the hose |
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a special evening, campfire, the moon, and music |
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view from most of our tents-one of the farm dogs sleeping in the sun-a Great Pyrenees |
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one of my favorite scenes |
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Creating their vision of a future community! |
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I imagine you
too could add to this list. We do not
have set experiences that guide us, but choose according to the class needs
assessed through the year, academically, socially and emotionally. I’ve shared some photos that reflect some of
our good time. It may be my final school
trip and I will treasure it.
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the 'boss' dog-Mojo! |
Sounds like a fantastic trip! So many worthwhile things to learn! Did you zipline?
ReplyDeleteIt was terrific! Yes, I did the zipline-very fun and over all too fast!
Delete"Learning to SEE what details surround us" is the line from your reflection about this trip that I will put in my own writing journal. That's what it's all about really! In both our personal and our professional lives, it's about noticing the little things and people that keep us grounded and allow us the grow. Your pictures and words depict an exhausting but wonderful opportunity to learn and grow - for all of you!
ReplyDeleteYes, you're so right, Anita. It's just so important to slow us all down to look and notice! Thank you for 'noticing'!
DeleteOh my gosh, I would have loved that trip. I love the pictures (especially of the ones with kids covered in mud and the girl writing in her journal as she sits in the rocking chair). What an amazing experience for all of you. Your reflection on lessons learned made me smile. So many of those lessons lay important groundwork for being a human being (be on time, wake up without being crabby, listening to others, speaking up so you can be heard). I'm so glad you shared your trip.
ReplyDeleteThanks Julie. The trip experiences are special for sure!
DeleteWhat a wonderful experience and I love the lessons embedded into it. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Katherine-I imagine your class would have loved it too!
DeleteWhat an awesome experience. No wonder you will miss it.
ReplyDeleteThe trips are always a pleasure Deb. I will miss them, & am so glad I got to do it one more time!
DeleteThanks for sharing about this wonderful experience. So much to treasure and remember for all who were there. Your breakfast looks delicious and those eggs are so pretty :).
ReplyDeleteI imagine you would have loved the food, Jama, another post of delight! That cream was something I haven't had for years and years.
DeleteReminds me of childhood even though I did not grow up on a farm. We camped. All across the country. Also the people who lived next to my grandparents' summer spot had chickens and ducks and roosters. There was an outhouse on that property, though the house had regular bathrooms, thankfully. They also had an outhouse at Girl Scout camp. Not a favorite! Do your kids read the Laura Ingalls Wilder books still, probably a little young, but the ideas are meaningful for this experience? Just think this was real life at one point in time. I think it is fabulous that the kids get this opportunity. Another set of books that are true stories of a similar time period which I love are Caddie Woodlawn and its sequel Magical Melons. Have you read them? I wish they were more popular.
ReplyDeleteJanet F.
For our kids, the Wilder and Brink books are a little young, but many have read them in earlier years. You're right, perfect for this farm time. My favorite is Farmer Boy! Thanks, Janet!
DeleteWhat a glorious gift of a trip! And how lucky these students are to have had you, such a thoughtful and appreciative person, there to guide them. Thank you for these beautiful pictures and words, Linda. I am drooling over that cream! xo, a.
ReplyDeleteThanks Amy-I certainly thought of The Poem Farm when I at on this beautiful place.
DeleteWhat a wondrous experience, Linda. I'd been thinking of you all week, assuming that you and your class were making the most of this fantastic learning experience. But, I see, the reality far exceeds my expectations - bravo to you all!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tara-it was a fabulous time & along with the students, the animals were wonderful too!
DeleteI love the "lessons" learned through this experience. This is such an amazing experience for youths and adults. When we are able to step out of our usual surroundings and comfort zone, we can discover so much about ourselves. Great photos!
ReplyDeleteSo, so true, Elsie. It's so healthy for us to step outside to do different things, learn about new ways of doing/living.
DeleteSuch a valuable experience for these students! They will not forget the lessons they learned. These lessons will become part of the fiber of who they are. Thanks for sharing the pictures and reflection. Sure makes me want to go to a farm.
ReplyDeleteWe all wanted to stay longer, Margaret. It was truly a magical place. Thank you!
Deleteahhh...this is absolutely the best way to learn...I'm green with envy. I had a professor in college that said, if we could take everyone away to a working farm-camp they would learn more than we could possibly teach in the classroom. I agree. It has always been my dream, my husband's as well. xo
ReplyDeleteWhether day or overnight, we try to get our kids out as much as possible, you are so right! Much fun for the teachers, too! Thank you!
DeleteThat looks like a great trip, Linda! I love all of your pictures--especially those with the beautiful mountains! I'm actually moving to Denver this summer from NJ!
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel-I hope you'll let me know when you're here! We'll have to meet & I'm happy to help any way I can!
DeleteWow! I love the way you documented with photos and words and more photos! Thanks for letting us peek into your trip.
ReplyDeleteRuth
It was such a special time, Ruth-had to write about it! Thank you!
DeleteWhat an extraordinary adventure for these students! Wow!! So much incredible learning. I suspect the students will never forget this trip.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was a terrific experience, learning and growing! I know the class had a wonderful time. Thank you Maureen!
DeleteWhat an excellent experience! Thanks for giving us an idea about what went on through both pictures and words.
ReplyDeleteBTW: Have you ever heard of my "Green Eggs" piece of writing? Your photo reminded me of it.
Thanks Stacey. It was a pleasure capturing the trip in my slice today! No, I don't know your 'green eggs' piece, I don't think. Please send a link!
DeleteSounds delightful! Those students will be able to apply those lessons for their whole lives! I loved seeing the joy in learning in your pictures and in your words.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jennifer. All the experiences we give students are for life aren't they? You are so right!
DeleteHow wonderful to be in the moment with these group of kids and as a teacher making the experience deeper than it might be without the thoughtful reflections of a teacher.
ReplyDeleteIt was a wonderful time for sure, and thanks for the compliment too, Bonnie!
DeleteWow, what an amazing trip! Thanks for sharing a little slice of it with us!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Robin. Good to put some of it down right now!
DeleteWhat a wonderful trip! So much learning and fun! The pix were wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Beverley. It really was terrific!
DeletePretty area, wonderful opportunity, forever memories...and brave-hearted woman! Zip-lining! I don't think I could have done it!
ReplyDeleteLuckily for me I'm not afraid of heights at all, so it wasn't hard. Actually it was over so fast, I was sorry it wasn't longer. We did do it twice--over & back. The trip was very, very good!
DeleteYour photos took me right back to my childhood outdoor education camping trips. What a great learning experience and environment for your students!
ReplyDelete