Sharing Student’s Time

TIPS ON COLLABORATING WITH PEERS TO SUCCESSFULLY INVOLVE BUSY STUDENTS IN CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

BY: MELISSA ROSENBUSCH FLORENCE HIGH SCHOOL AGRICULTURE SCIENCE TEACHER

Many times, especially in small schools, students are actively involved in numerous clubs and activities. It’s no surprise some of our more eager students want to participate in all of our FFA events as well as every other athletic and UIL activity offered.

This presents an issue, more times than not, on what we can do to ensure our students can participate with both groups. While it is difficult, rearranging practice schedules, shuttling students to and from events, and making sure you always have a well-communicated plan, it is worth it. Our students, yes, OUR students, are band members, athletes, and theater students too. Participation in all of these programs helps shape them into adults who will learn how to juggle work, their childrens’ activities, and run a home in the future.

As ag teachers, we have the unique opportunity to establish lasting relationships with students. We spend hours upon hours with students outside of the classroom, traveling to and from livestock shows and contests. Many of them see us more than they do their own parents. They lean on us to be a huge support system, a voice for them. We serve as their advocate to other teachers regarding their grades, the counselor on their schedules, and we become their life coach for pretty much anything they are going through. This is what we do. It’s only natural we go the extra mile to ensure they are able to do everything they want to.

It is difficult and does take extra work, but that’s how ag teachers are wired. We put kids first all of the time! So, it's no surprise we are the ones who reach out to coaches, band directors and theater teachers to explore options of how we can help the students do both events.

In some schools, this is the norm. I am very happy to say we are blessed at Florence and collaboration with coaches and ag teachers are fluid. But I would be remiss to not admit this is not always the case. What are some strategies that can help?

ESTABLISH A SCHEDULE OR CALENDAR

Devise a schedule for practice and contests early in the season. Get in writing contest dates, departure times, and returns, as well as practice schedules. Make a flyer or a handout and share this with students, coaches, parents, and teachers. We send them out on Remind, post on our Facebook page, hang on bulletin boards, and pass them out to every student. Be as transparent as you can as to the expectations for your team members.

OPEN COMMUNICATION

Do not assume the students are sharing your practice/contest schedule with the other coaches. Many times, if it is shared, the message is ill-represented or miscommunicated completely. You need to be their liaison. Yes, the student should do their part, but it's best if you follow up too. This helps open the line of communication and establish positive relationships with all parties involved.

FLEXIBILITY

Be willing to change your schedule. Yes, I know this is a hard one to swallow at times, but we must be flexible to benefit the most students. Each year you get a new set of students who are doing different activities. Try and work around these schedules as often as you can. For instance, if you traditionally train your meats team in the afternoon, but this year the team consists of two basketball players, one softball player, and a student who works afternoons, consider making things easier on them and switch to morning practice. This is not always possible, but if you can make it work those students will appreciate it so much.

GIVE AND TAKE

It's a two-way street for sure, but work out compromises so if coaches bring students to you from a game or competition one time you offer to do the same the next. Ag teachers are competitive by nature, but remember this isn’t a competition of who gets the kids more. At the end of the day the real win is when we make our students feel valued and important. Go the extra mile so they can be an excellent team member and successful in ALL their activities.