Why Woodworking in a Carpentry Class?
“Going Above and Beyond or am I Unfocused?”
When I was hired as the carpentry instructor at our career and technical center, it was known that I have experience with woodworking and furniture. It was suggested that even though it’s not listed on the VDOE curriculum competencies, I should feel free to teach it to my students if I felt that it fit into the program.
As I explain to shop guests, including the superintendent, woodworking is a great entry level trade and it works for my program for a few different reasons.
Many of my level 1 students don’t have any prior shop/tool experience. Woodworking allows them to build knowledge and experience with smaller projects as they learn shop safety and the machines. Students work individually on these projects, building their confidence, knowledge, and experience.
Some students are timid around the tools. Starting with hand tools and working their way to the bandsaw and then compound miter saw helps them to overcome their fears and start to trust themselves around the inherently dangerous tools. They learn where to stand, where to place their hands, and the safety procedures associated with each tool. The circular saw is a great carpentry tool but it takes a certain level of safety awareness and skill to become proficient. I tend to wait until the end of the year for Carpentry 1 students to introduce this tool or even wait until Carpentry 2 for some students.
Problem solving is a learned skill and it can be challenging to cultivate. Understanding and visualizing procedures isn't easy for these young adults with their developing brains. We discuss visualizing and understanding the process, deciding what to do first and then laying out sequential steps. The small woodworking projects help them to do so without huge consequences of material waste.
Woodworking is something that’s easy for these students to set up at home. With a work surface and some basic hand tools, students can not only be trusted to not injure themselves severely while working but it’s extremely affordable. And as their power tool skills are developed in class, they can start to pick up those tools as space and money become available if desired.
The ability to take home projects has been such a boost for student morale. They love showing off their skills, especially the spatula and cutting board projects that can be used in the home. Students have also made gifts for school board members, community partners, and other people, showcasing their abilities and instilling a sense of pride and recognition for our program.
It has also provided income for our students. I don’t mind students making things to sell and in fact, I encourage it. Some students have created side businesses and some have even developed their own projects to sell. It’s been great, especially for those who come from meager means.
Home building is great. It’s the backbone of the course and I enjoy helping future carpenters prepare to get out into the career field. But honestly, not all of my students want to become carpenters. They appreciate the knowledge, anticipating that they can use it to work on their own homes but some want to learn other things too. This allows me to keep those types of students in my program and creates a diverse classroom of some going into the carpentry field while others are going off to college (I have two young ladies who are looking at being civil/structural engineers), military service, or perhaps a different trade. Their diversity keeps the class interesting as they talk and discuss their career goals.
Our program goes something like this:
Carpentry 1:
1st semester - Woodworking
Hand tools (hand saw and rasps)
Bandsaw
Compound miter saw
Planer
Jointer
2nd semester - Home building
Table saw
Models of home building techniques
Floors
Walls
½ scale out of 1” x 2” material
Roofs and rafters
Carpentry 2:
1st semester - Home building
Play house
2nd semester - Home building
Sheetrock
Doors and windows
Siding
Roofing
OR (depending on the students and/or class)
2nd semester
3rd quarter - Furniture making
4th quarter - Cabinet making
What does this mean for your program? Diversity in your program can be good for you and your students. You don’t have to be a professional cabinet maker or carpenter to teach the basics. There are endless resources of textbooks, youtube videos, and people out there to help. My students enjoy the diversity and state that “as long as they’re making sawdust, they’re happy”. Shop class is about awareness of the many different career fields that are out there.
On a separate note, I’m trying to include a wooden boat building segment into the program but I haven’t been entirely successful. I have some leads but haven’t come up with the funding and details quite yet. I think it would be a great project for the us to undertake.