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.

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Dear Athens,

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