I am struggling to answer this deceptively simple question. What does this partnership mean to me?
Here is my attempt to put this life changing experience into words.
As I sit here mulling over this post, I am looking at the award letter for the grant I was just awarded. A grant that I would never have had the courage or the ability to pursue without the knowledge and encouragement of this fellowship. My students will have a Robotic Lab! Yahoo!! fellowship/partnership has meant more than I could ever explain. I currently teach in the most depressed county in NC, actually one of the most depressed counties in the nation. My students are amazing, however they underestimate their abilities. My experience in this externship is helping me gain and keep my students interest. My students are having fun, while covering the required standards, and a few that are not even on the list (please do not tell them my secret, they do not realize that they are actually enjoying learning).
Spending the summer working at Ply Gem had an amazing effect on me. I worked with engineers, accountants, managers, and robots! I learned so many things, really cool things that continue to have an amazing impact on my classroom.
Over the last seven moths I have had the opportunity to learn with and from many truly amazing folks. The impact of this experience continues to amaze me. I will never be the same. My teaching style will never be the same. I am eternally grateful!
Here’s a pic of what class looks like now… far better than sitting in a desk listening to a lecture!
Here are a few of my students learning about the EDP (look at the smiles!! :):):) )
Here we are using our all of our senses to learn!
LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!
I can not wait for the Ply Gem folks to come into my class any play, I mean learn with us!