Mrs. Buss started teaching at Potosi High School in the 2023-2024 school year. Through the time she has taught here in Potosi, she has brought new activities and culture to the classroom. The school offers a homeroom-type period called Power Hour, where we are assigned to a teacher's room and they choose what is done during that hour. Most teachers use it for the students to catch up on work, study for judging teams, or prep for AP exams.
Mrs. Buss has always used this hour to bring creativity to her classroom; since she is the Spanish teacher, she likes to include culture. “Through being a language teacher, I have the opportunity to teach respect for different cultures.” This is important for Mrs. Buss because she wants her students to feel valued, to value others, and to be curious about the world that surrounds them.
The different types of activities Mrs.Buss has hosted during power hour include dioramas for Dia de los Muertos, alebrijes tin art, ojos de dios yarn art, piñatas, and lastly, the most recent craft, crocheting.
“Crocheting in power hour was just random… I didn't realize the students would actually get into it… They've crocheted potholders, flowers, and River Sahr is making a blanket.” I asked Mrs.Buss where she learned to do all these crafts. She told me she is self-taught. Mrs. Buss enjoys relaxing at home watching some TV, but feels she needs to do something more. This is when she spends time learning new crafts, which she then enjoys sharing with her students.
I asked Mrs. Buss her opinion since the usefulness of is a discussion topic between students. Her response was, “I think it's good; kids get the opportunity to learn something new they might have never gotten the chance to be exposed to.”