MotherVine Clippings

It’s funny, I almost didn’t apply to become a Kenan Fellow.  Sure, it was a great opportunity and an honor, but I wasn’t sure that I wanted to commit myself to something that would take me away from my kids during OUR time.  I always consider Summer Break a special time to spend with my children because at my husband’s work Summer is far from his time off;  instead it is a time when he works a minimum of 6 days a week with many hours spent making sure green season runs as smoothly as possible.  This means summer has become a time of snuggles, beach trips, and museum adventures just my kids and me.  I wasn’t sure I was willing to give that up.  Not only did I not want to give up my time at home with my kids, the fellowship options were very limited for Social Studies teachers and the one I wanted most wasn’t available to me. I really considered waiting until another year and iIt was only because of peer pressure that I decided to go ahead and apply.  Since I had waited until almost the last minute to decide I had to hurry to complete my essays, chase down recommendations, and struggle to get my application submitted.   During all of this, I still found myself worrying and wondering if I was doing the right thing.

Then came an email from Craig…The “What a Grape Opportunity” fellowship was open to me after all!  I have always felt that the best things in life happen unexpectedly and this is just more proof.  This fellowship excited me because there are so many aspects that fall into my curriculum area.

1.  The MotherVine.  Probably the thing that excites me the most about the connection between my fellowship and my classroom is a grapevine.  This is not just any grapevine though…this is the oldest cultivated grapevine in America and it dates back to earliest American History.  It has been written about in historical records and it probably provided nourishment to the settlers at Roanoke before they disappeared.  It also provides a heck of a story during tastings when customers see a poster of the original vine as they drink a Duplin wine made from its cuttings grown right here in Duplin County.  This vine shows a valuable link between the Old World and the New and I think it will excite students the same way it excites customers.  The Vine also can be used in modern history as an example of environmental impact.  In 2010 it was almost destroyed by the carelessness of a power company worker when he sprayed it with weed killer.  The LA Times article on this will make an excellent reading for my class and maybe even spawn discussion on environment vs. business.
2. Prohibition and Government Regulation.  Since day one of my fellowship I have known that I was going to be linking wine and laws into my lessons.  It is an obvious connection to US History since Temperance/Prohibition comes up often in the curriculum.  What I didn’t realize was that I would also take the laws into another lesson as well—one on interstate trade.  One thing that students in US History often struggle with is understanding why many groups in history have asked the Federal government to step in and regulate trade between states.  In my time at the Winery I have seen firsthand why that is.  It amazes me how much each state varies in sales tax, amounts allowed, and registration requirements.  I honestly don’t know how anyone can keep up with all the details.  No wonder small businesses have always demanded help.
3. Agricultural technology.  Duplin Winery is very proud of its heritage and one of the things you will immediately notice when you arrive for a visit is the historical atmosphere.  Located around the Retail area are old bottles, pictures that show the winery’s beginnings, and agricultural equipment that shows how the process began.  Tour guides describe the process and even as you stare at shiny stainless steel vats and automatic bottling equipment you hear how the Fussells started out bottling and labeling by hand after actually stomping the grapes.  The Winery even celebrates this heritage every September by holding what they call the “Grape Stomp.”  People from all over come to compete and see who can crush the most juice out of the grapes.  This will make a great addition to my lessons as I discuss how technology affects farmers over time and use examples they can relate to here in our community.

The great thing about my fellowship is the curriculum connections don’t end there.  I can’t wait to see what else I learn in my last few weeks here at Duplin Winery.  I don’t know about everyone else, but I am going to be sad to leave!

My biggest challenge when it comes to technology…that is simple: 

The lack of technology!

I love using different creative programs in my classroom but right from the start the issues begin.  First off, I never have enough computers.  The laptop carts hold 25-30 laptops but they never all work and rarely is my class size that limited.  On average I am short 3 or 4 working computers for each assignment.

  After assigning computers I face the next hurdle.  They take 10 minutes or so to turn on.  I have learned to deal with that by having the computers turned on before I even give the assignment but then (as I have learned the hard way,) I run the risk of having students knock them off the tiny desks as they try to learn what is expected.

When we finally get all of the computers going the next trial occurs.  Rarely do all of the computers keep working for the entire time period.  Several drop the internet connection, some restart with no warning, some just do crazy things.  It is a nightmare and often the students and I stress more than it is worth to get an assignment done.

Even when it’s not the laptop carts technology is a struggle for my class.  My Smartboard was damaged years ago by a company installing a drop ceiling and so when I try to make it write the line jumps around the screen, my attached laptop is so slow I have to have it on and all programs pulled up 20 minutes before I want to use it, and it isn’t able to maintain an internet connection.  It deletes data from my clickers, tells me I have the wrong power cable (even though it came with it,) and it won’t pull up many of the cool technologies.  For example, I tried a glogster project with my AP students and finally had to give up.  It gets even more fun for me because none of my computers have the same software versions.  Students create presentations and when they go to show them on my laptop half of the writing doesn’t pull up and we have to pause while they change their font.

Overall I would say technology, or the lack there of, is probably one of my biggest challenges each day.  I can’t complain though.  I remember my first class had an overhead projector with bare wires showing and an old Apple IIe computer that would play “Where in the US is Carmen Sandiego?” and would do nothing else.  Compared to those days I am the Bill Gates of technology even with all these set backs.

How many of you remember this computer?

Going into my week at NCCAT I hate to admit I was dreading the trip.  I had a 6 hour drive in a 10 year old car that was taking me away from my family for 1 week.  That alone had me struggling to entertain myself with books on tape, trying out a learn German CD someone had given to me, and singing along to songs in ways that had other drivers staring.  When I finally arrived at what I thought was my destination it was only to be informed that I was not going to be staying with everyone else…I would be an “outcast” in a dorm way across WCU’s campus.  OUCH. As I got back in my car to make the trek to Madison Hall the only positive I could see was the rafting trip and that was still 2 days away.  Needless to say I was not in the best frame of mind as I unpacked my car and let myself into room 414.

That’s when the pleasant surprises began.  It wasn’t at all what I expected.  Surprisingly my dorm wasn’t a typical jail cell dorm room.  It had a TV, (TAKE THAT NCCAT DORMS!) a comfortable bed, and as we later discovered there was even an ice machine in the basement that could help make up for the lack of access to a fridge.  After I settled in I headed to the NCCAT campus dreading the daily drive back and forth.  This is when things continued to get better.  As I started meeting up with all of the fellows I learned that I wasn’t the only one nervous about what we would be doing and unsure of what to expect.  Finding out that others felt the same way was comforting.  During this first day I also found buddies for the drive, picked a chair in the conference room that didn’t squeak, and joined the Dirty Dozen for our introductory games.  GO TEAM!

By Day 2 I was able to start my day in a much better frame of mind.  I loved learning about new technologies (even if the internet was against us) and saved many of the links so that I could try them when I had a better connection.  My tablet is now full of sites that I am looking forward to exploring and I have more passwords than I can ever hope to remember.  Between learning from Jason, Vance, and all of the Kenan talk presenters I realized that I have let myself fall behind in modern technology and I welcomed the sense of renewal these talks brought on.  Even after the official conference I was able to spend time with others and learn as our group of “Madison outcasts” pulled our chairs into the hallway and continued working and talking.

Day 3 was of course a great day.  White Water Rafting is always wonderful and watching how much our group was willing to help others could make anyone smile.   And of course there was learning.  Claire’s Island was fascinating with all its species and who knew a 16 passenger van could legally only hold 10.   That may be one we need to submit to dumblaws.com.

Day 4 I realized how much I was intrigued by the idea of “flipping” my classroom and my mind was racing with video ideas.  I am still not sure if flipping is for me, but I do know that I will be making videos for my class and researching the topic some more.  I love the idea of the students using them for review and that it could help make sure absent students do not miss the lesson.  Day 4 also presented a challenge.  As we went over the lesson plans submitted from past Fellows, I realized what a daunting task writing a lesson could be.  I have grown used to thinking only of what do I need in a plan and not thinking of how much guidance a teacher new to the subject might need.  I welcome the challenge this presents.

Day 5 was bittersweet as I realized that as happy as I was to be returning home to my family, my high speed internet, and my king sized bed I would miss the sense of camaraderie and support that came from our day sessions and our evening gatherings.  Many of the presenters touched upon it when they mentioned how much they had gained just from talking to their compatriots and I know the that I feel the same way.  More than anything learned during my time at NCCAT, I know it is the sense of being part of a group that will remain with me even as time passes.  I am already looking forward to Raleigh in July.  Bring on the Salsa music and let’s spin!