OK, so honestly I am having such an amazing time teaching and learning at John Oliver High School. This third week has been the best one so far, and I think it will only get better as I get used to teaching. As my SA would say “you have to get into teacher shape”. This week was full of new experiences. I taught in a ‘Trades Sampler’ for Aboriginal students. We taught them how to braze and spot weld. The students really loved it I think. I also got a hold of the senior wood class that I am teaching, meaning that I feel comfortable facilitating that class to its full extent. I am focused now on how to bring exciting and new projects in for the kids to work on. It is tough because you want to give them the best, but in order to do that it takes a lot of prep time and long hours. During my practicum I am happy to spend my time working on projects for the kids but it is quite tiring. Teaching has been a blast though!

This is the chain maille hacky-sacks that I made for an example (thanks Steve for the idea!)

this is the stand that  I made for the carving tools in the wood shop

This is the brazing and spot welding frame that I made for the Ab Ed trade sampler

More pieces I cut for the sampler

One of the students made this diamond frame, very cool!

Finally got the plans for the candy pooping dino for my 2 new international wood work students.

Today was a proD day at John Oliver. There was a math conference held there and my SA was doing a session on STEM.  After lunch some fellow STEM enthusiasts (and practitioners) met up in our lovely electronics room to discuss all things STEM: the pros, the cons(if any), and general quality information. I pick up the STEM block from my SA next week starting on Monday. The students are currently planning for building multiple instruments out of various materials laying around. I am very excited to begin this next week. I will also be picking up the senior wood class. This class will be an interesting experience, one that I am excited to learn about.

So far I have used the knowledge gained form UBC more than I had expected to. When theory is actually put into practice and we can see the benefits of having that pre-knowledge, it is a wonderful experience. I am sitting here in the electronics classroom on a sunny afternoon, planning out my next lesson, sourcing leather-working tools for the leather-working club that I am starting, and generally enjoying my situation here at wonderful, eclectic John Oliver.

Here are some leather-work tools that I have for a JO leather-working club (has yet to begin,**very excited)

This is a bamboo bike that one of the STEM teachers is making. He makes it right in the shop where the STEM kids are so that they can see how they can use their skills to pursue their own projects and passions.

This is a giant “Slap-sa-phone” that my SA made (giant PVC pan flute)

Here are some examples of our first class PCB (printed circuit board) creation and my works space as I plan for lessons and leather-work:)

First week of my long practicum at John Oliver Secondary School

I taught two blocks of electronics in the morning and just observed my wood work class. I had a great day! Very tiring.

I got to trouble shoot the water piano circuit that hadn’t been working that I need for the beginning of the Wednesday class,

luckily it was just a blown capacitor and it now functions perfectly. I was very glad to get that done. At the beginning of class I told

the students that we would start off each class with the game “two truths and a lie”. As I did attendence for the first time,  asked the students

to tell me one thing I don’t know about them, they seemed to enjoy that. I got the etchant tank working today with the help of my SA and hope

for a productive day tomorrow of making more prototypes of the water piano.