Skip to main content

GLAG 21 - Building a global perspective in small town Pennsylvania

 Throughout this semester, I have had the opportunity to engage in International Agriculture through many platforms. First, was the 2021 GLAG conference where I engaged with on demand sessions and the GLAG Reads kick off event! It was awesome to gain content knowledge, a variety of perspectives as I started off my student teaching experience. 

   As I progressed in to my teaching experience I found some pretty awesome takeaways as I read further into the 2021 GLAG Reads book, Teach Boldly by Jennifer Williams. First, was to be the architect of your own learning. This truly resonated with me as I know I learn differently from how many of my peers and students learn. Making sure that not only am I finding ways to build my learning as I continue to grow my teacher tool belt but also finding practices in which my students can build their own learning. I put this concept into practice with my 9th period Introduction to Agriculture Sciences course, we discussed what the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) were and how they impacted each one of them, in the tiny town of Athens. Each student was given the opportunity to further investigate a SDG of interest to them and explain the connection between the SDGS, animal agriculture, and the goal for 2050. The results, will give you goosebumps! 

    Watching each student have the ah ha moment, getting excited about SGS, and realizing the impact they can have on the world and the change they can affect was awesome to facilitate and be apart of. The goosebump moments as well as paying close attention to the learning space were also tips taken from Teach Boldly that intend on using in my future classroom as well. Taking an active role in reflecting on the wins and woes of each day as well as being mindful of each learning space I create in the classroom I believe will help me grow in the next phases of my Ag Ed career. I am excited to open the eyes of my future students about agriculture but also the world as International Agriculture has opened mine. 


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Athens is Humble and Kind

  As I began my student teaching internship, I was welcomed with open arms by my cooperating teachers, the other educators, administrators, and of course my students! My first full week included observing, In-Service days, a State Officer Visit, FFA Lock In, and a meeting with the middle school Ag Teacher. It has been an incredibly busy week as I have slowly gotten the swing of things. I worked to master the schedule for the day and finding my way around the building. My students have been so kind and helpful, showing me around, explaining to me the bell schedule a couple times now, as well as sharing with me what they are most excited about learning in the upcoming months. A highlight of my week was when 3 students asked Mrs. Alderfer when she was done teaching Intro to Agriculture because they wanted Miss. Royer to teach! :)  As I enter the weekend I am focusing on finding an organizational system that will work best for me as I begin teaching my first two classes next week, Hor

My First Day of School... Lab Edition!

  This week I had my first day of school, though it wasn't with my students at Athens Area High School, I did have the opportunity to share it with my cohort members. The excitement of a new year with new adventures awaiting still filled the room, the difference you ask? Well this year all eight of us girls were the teachers this time, making our first day experience a little different.  Every student remembers the excitement of reuniting with your friends after a long summer away, seeing who you have lunch or study hall with, and finally seeing your favorite teacher you have missed all summer. For teachers, your first day of school sets the tone for the rest of the school year. Not only are you sharing what content students will be learning throughout the year, but what expectations you have for them while in your classroom. For my student's I used the framework "The 3 R's in Miss. Royer's Room", this idea came from my elementary school principal Mrs. Zmyslo.

Problems in Our Barnyard!

  This week my lab challenged my cohort members to properly diagnose our barnyard! We had a duroc named Daisy, a Holstein named Holly and were lucky enough to have Stitch visiting our barnyard for this activity! Using Koch's Postulates, they worked in groups to determine if the illness each animal possessed was an infectious disease or not. This activity was a part of our problem based lab and we each had 20 minutes to teach an activity that challenged our students to solve a problem. Thankfully for me, I had some pretty great students who were quick to find their diagnosis.        This week I think I did a better job of moving throughout the classroom as well as keeping track of time. Last lab, I didn't pay as close attention to how quickly time went by but this week I felt as though I managed time throughout the portions of the activity much better. I also feel that I did a better job of assessing when students were ready to move on and when they might need more time to com