Week 2: Cert4TAE

Now at week 2 of my Cert4TAE I am throwing myself into my studies.  Week 1 was an introduction to what TAE involves and a few group exercises as well as an Icebreaker.  All intended to teach us various methods of teaching students and how to hold their attention. The end of class saw us with homework that at first I felt to be a great challenge.  We had to organise an icebreaker, select a demonstration, write up an assessment analysis and a session plan.  Although the week was rather busy, with a trip to Melbourne for medical reasons and then a lady running into my car,  I did manage to get all the work done.  So it was on the day of Week 2.  I arrived at class with all my work prepared and a good mindset to present my Icebreaker and do my demonstration.  I have chosen to teach how to correctly use a ph soil test kit and how to analyse the results.  Imagine my surprise when the trainer said our demonstrations will be done Week3, not that it is an issue, it simply means I am prepared ahead of time. After our classes came to an end yesterday, I came home to a lovely hot coffee and reflected on the days lessons.  I find that although I have past experience in teaching such things as craft and reading,  I am still learning a great deal from this course and am sure it will set me in good stead for the future.

Room to Move. Extending the ChookMahal

Mark and Snake watching the chickens as they forage in the new enclosure

The use of a recycled gate saved us a lot of money.

Clipping Little Dotty's wing.

Today I woke up determined to extend the area that the chooks had to forage in during the daylight hours.  So I scrounged around, gathering tomato stakes, some rolls of chicken wire and an old gate that was laying in the paddock.  My son and I then got to work driving in the stakes and stringing up the wire and gate.  After about an hour or so, we had set up an area about 10' x 20' with an external gate to allow ease of entry to feed and water the girls.  Once all the work had been done, we opened the gate to the chook shed and allowed Elvis and the girls out into their new yard.  At the same time I picked up Little Dotty and clipped her wing so she wouldn't fly the coop (pardon the pun).  They are all very content and have been head down, parson's nose up for a couple of hours. I so love the sight of my girls scratching and pecking happily in a big area.  Although this yard will allow the girls more forage space the netting is only a temporary solution until the electronet arrives to replace it..I plan to run that by solar power and a car battery.