Final JA session

Today was an exciting day of JA. This was the fifthe session and the studetns were great as usual. They have always been great becasue of three main reasons: they are very smart so they are easy to teach concepts to; they enjoyed being a part of class discussions so they listen attentivelyl; and they enjoy JA visits because they can get a break from the work that they usually do for AVID during the week. From this last reason, I infer this becasue they have this extra happy look on their faces when I arrive, and also when I reminded them that it was the last session they made an expression of disappointment. JA is a great program and their teacher Ms. Anessa Herron said she would like to continue it and recommend it to other teachers. To be frank, I think they were excited to have someone new and different teach new concepts and also apply a new activity every single time. Because it is once a week they get to look forward to doing something fresher from their other classes. The session today was about identifying different types of insurance and describing how they work to protect individuals. Like most lessons I think students become more intrigued when the introductions include ways of getting them to have "Ah ha!" moments. Today it occured when were discussing factors that cause higher or lowerrisks for obtaining insurance. From the online guide provided by JA I looked for factors that would be interesting for studetns and would help me see more head-nodding; factors such as gender, age, driving violations, credit and education. The last two factors I emphasized a little more because we talked about credit in the sessions three and four, and education we talked about in session one. I also used myself as in example becasue of how education, experience and training is leading to better benefits for me; including graduating from college and working for JA which brings me more experience and training. The class today was also very special because the night before I handed out a "certificate of accomplishment" to each student. In addition, this being the fifth session, the students were much more open and receptive. This could have been because they were already used to me, or they called me by name, or I was just doing a better job and was more relaxed. Overall, the JA program taught me an enormous amount abut myself, about teaching, and about economics. What it taught me about myself is how to be a better presentor. I prepared well for the first session and the session went through well. However, I think that I was not consistent in how I presented each session. I think I understand content well by how I present something is my weakest spot. I did not seem totally comftorble and confident until the third or fifth session and I think the studetns were smart enough to figure this out but were still perfectly good students. Simply being in the clasroom and leading it was incredible pratice. The Program taught me alot about teaching as well. It taught me about time management. ON the first day I did not manage the class time properly so then when I needed five more minutes for the summary the class bell was about to ring. It also opened my eyes to how things do not always go as timely as they are supposed to. Today was a great example because I presented well and I taught the material well but the activity that was supposed to last about ten minutes actually end up lasting longer because the studetns were enjoying them so much. This happened in other sessions as well. Here I learned that I had to be on gaurd, stricter, and see how activities take time to do; even in JA where all the supplies are already provided for and repared perfectly. I learned about economic because I get I better view on how what I learn from economics can be or is applied to what the JA program teaches; examples like opportunity cost, need for choices, scarcity, resources, etc.
JA was also asking for volunteers for teaching a program at an elementary school. I responded and said I would like to volunteer. I want to because doing this teaches me so much and I think that the more I put myself in these situations then the more experience/training i accumulate. Plus, its something else to put on a resume. The program that I volunteered for is for fifth graders, its called "Our Nation" and its basically about how studetns could see what kinds of jobs they could do in todays global economy. THis is great for me but it is also very tough because it is a different program from what I did, it is for younger students, and its a one day session. I understand that I am not required to do this for the ECON 349 class but im doing this for me. SO wish me luck, maybe our teacher will give me extra credit?