Eastern Region PAAE Meeting

On Tuesday I went to the Eastern Region PAAE Meeting held at Oley Valley High School with the Manor Ag Ed Department. The room was full of Ag Ed family members when we got there, and we all had dinner together before the meeting. The meeting was productive and there was meaningful discussion throughout. We discussed FFA and PAAE events, the new Ag Ed commission, and professional development opportunities offered through the Center for Professional Personnel Development at PSU. In this blog post, I'm not going to focus on the content of the meeting, but rather my reflection on the importance of being involved in PAAE.

First, the fact that all of these teachers willingly give up their evenings to go to meetings such as this just shows how invested agricultural educators are in being the best teachers they can be. When you sit back and really think about it, it is also amazing to think about the network that ag ed teachers have with each other. Think about all of the knowledge and experience that was in that one high school room at Oley Valley where we had the meeting, as well as the other regional meetings across the state. That is why being involved in PAAE is important as an agricultural educator. It is our duty to not only be lifelong learners, but to mentor other ag teachers, too. Being involved in PAAE helps ensure you are up to date with what is going on ag ed and the agriculture industry, it promotes communication between ag teachers and vital partners, and opens up doors for professional development opportunities. Being involved in PAAE is also a chance for ag teachers to give back and serve a profession that has given them so much. I'm looking forward to continuing my #TeachAg journey and becoming more involved in PAAE.

Angie, Ally, and I catching up at the PAAE meeting

An Afternoon SAE Visit!

On Thursday afternoon after school, Mr. Fellenbaum and I headed off through the rolling hills of Lancaster County for an SAE visit. 

We went to visit one of my students in the Intro to AFNR class, Berklee. She is a freshman and is already an active FFA member. She has two SAE projects: a entrepreneurship sheep project at her home, and a placement project at her Grandfather's poultry farm. Prior to our visit, I reviewed Berklee's AET records to see how she is working to grow her projects.

Berklee's sheep

First we went to her home and she showed us her sheep project. Berklee has been showing sheep since she was in 4th grade and will be showing 4 sheep this year at the local fairs. I asked her to explain how she cares for her sheep as well as how she prepares them for the shows. Berklee was very knowledgeable and discussed how she monitors their health, rate of gain, and gets them used to being walked/handled. I was impressed. I also asked her what her favorite part of raising sheep was, to which she replied learning about showmanship and competing with her siblings.

Next we walked over to her grandfather's poultry farm, where Berklee works part time. She helps sort the eggs that are collected and prepares them for shipment. Berklee is currently preparing to compete in the Poultry Evaluation CDE - so she has the perfect place to practice egg grading! 

Berklee is in the class I've taught all semester, so it was neat to conduct an SAE visit with a student I've been teaching for a while because you already have that rapport built. It was a great afternoon and I learned a lot - thanks Berklee!

Berklee and her grandfather's Dorper sheep

A Day with Macy and the Selinsgrove Ag Ed Program!

Today I was in a classroom, but I wasn't the one teaching. Today I got to go spend the day with my fellow cohort member and friend, Macy, at Selinsgrove High School where she is rocking it as a student teacher! When I arrived, there was maple sap being boiled down into syrup, designs being prepared for the CNC machine, baby trout growing in the back of the classroom, and a large greenhouse full of plants. Selinsgrove Ag Ed is a busy place! I had a great time and really enjoyed getting a tour of the program and seeing Macy teach.

Getting ready to strike their first arcs!!

Ms. Fisher's 9th grade classes just started their welding unit and today was their first day to burn rod! Macy did a great job demonstrating how to set up the arc welding machines and strike their first arc. It made me reflect back on my own experience teaching welding just a few weeks ago and how awesome it was to see students overcome their fears and improve through practice. I can definitely say that welding is my favorite Ag Mechanics topic to teach.

Macy also teaches Building Construction and Horticulture. In Horticulture, the students are working on designing their own greenhouse! All of the students were engaged and asking questions, and it was neat to see them apply what they have learned.

Here are some key takeaways from the day:

1. One of the great things about Ag Ed is that every program is different, so there is always something new to learn when visiting a program! I don't care if you drive to Wisconsin like we did last year for our Domestic Study Away or just down the road to the neighboring Ag Ed program, I guarantee it's unique in its own way and there's something new for you to learn.

2. I've said it once, and I'll say it again. Rapport with students is vital. I loved seeing Macy interact with her students. She interacted with each student during class, made jokes, laughed, and asked them about things going on in their lives.

3. Be adaptable and go with the flow. When I arrived, Macy informed me that her lesson for her first class wasn't going work out the way she had planned. Instead of stressing about what she was going to do, she just adapted and went with it! 

Thank you Ms. Fisher, Mrs. Fry, and Mr. Swineford for a wonderful day!

Student Teaching Week 13!

This past week I finished up my 13th week of student teaching. It was a busy week! The prior week was the end of the marking period, so I spent a good portion of this week making sure all of the grades were up to date and working with students who needed to complete make-up work. Thursday was the county FFA volleyball tournament, and a good time was had by all! Here are some more highlights from this week:

1. Grades matter, but student learning is most important.

The end of the marking period caused me to take some time and reflect on my philosophy of grading and how to ensure students are continually improving. I have a few students who are absent from school the majority of the time, and their grades show it. I try to get them to come down for homeroom so I can help them catch up, but if they're not in school they also aren't available to come down for homeroom. These next two weeks I'm hopeful that I can work with these students on the current material we're learning to make sure they don't get behind in the 4th marking period. I think it would be good to have a talk with these students about growth mindsets and how grades don't define you as a person, but instead just show that there's always room for improvement. Another resource I plan to utilize better are the students' IEP resource persons by having them help me modify assessments and help students complete make-up work.

2. Try new learning activities with your students because even if they don't go absolutely perfect, they will still learn. 

This week in Biotech our regular soybean and GMO soybean plants were ready for our experiment. Students followed a procedure to extract DNA from both plants, use PCR to amplify the DNA segment, and run a gel electrophoresis to compare the DNA. It was a learning experience for all of us! It didn't go perfectly, but students gained valuable lab skills (for example, I didn't learn how to use a micropipette until college, so I think it's awesome these students already know how!!) and the importance of reading the procedure when completing a project/task. Students also learned about DNA, and how biotechnology is used in agriculture. I'm looking forward to next week when students will be using procedures they created to make biofuels (methane, biodiesel, and ethanol to name a few)!!

Preparing their soybean DNA for the PCR machine!

Thanks for following me along on my #TeachAg journey! I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Professional Development: Pest Ed

This semester I had the opportunity to help plan and attend a Pest Ed workshop hosted by the Penn Manor Ag Ed Department. John Bray and Leon Ressler, Penn State Extension Agents, facilitated the workshop for community members who wanted to gain core and category credits for their pesticide applicator license.

The workshop contained several components. First we reviewed pesticide safety and the 2017 top disease issues in corn, beans, and small grains. Then we learned about using Xtenimax in Xtend Soybean Systems. Leon held a discussion concerning the importance of water quality management and how to safely store pesticides. Finally, we learned about the importance of following quarantine protocol for the spotted lanternfly issue that is currently occurring in southeast PA. I was really interested in the spotted lanternfly component and how people across the state are working to stop this bad insect. The spotted lanternfly has the potential to hurt timber, grape, and hop industries in Pennsylvania. Here is an informational video if you would like to learn more about this invasive insect:



While I was not able to earn credits myself by attending this workshop, I learned a lot about pesticides, pesticide safety, and the spotted lanternfly. I hope to earn my pesticide applicator license so that I will be able to help my students become licensed during their time in the agriculture program. This experience also showed me the importance of planning and helping to facilitate adult education workshops for local community members. It is a great way to engage with the community and meet the community's needs.

Student Teaching Week 11

While I only had one day in the classroom, this week was very busy! On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday we were at SLLC, Wednesday was a snow day, Thursday was the Manor FFA banquet (on a two hour delay schedule mind you!), and on Friday I had a student teaching seminar with my fellow #psuaged18 cohort members. Here are some highlights from the week:

1. SLLC - fun, community service, and leadership growth!

I had an awesome time at my first State Legislative Leadership Conference! FFA members spent much of their time at SLLC using those parli pro skills to experience how bills move through our legislative system. They debated and amended real bills, which brought a real-life context to the experience. We also served the local community for an afternoon. We helped residents at a retirement community prepare their garden plots for spring, and we had a ton of fun doing it! It was a beautiful day, so it was perfect for working in a garden. The residents were so excited to have us, and I know I really enjoyed having conversations with the residents while we worked. There were 7 junior and senior Manor FFA members on the trip, and they are my students in the last class I started teaching this semester. It was a great opportunity to connect with them and get to know them better! 

2. Teamwork makes the dream work!

Especially when you have a snow day the day before your banquet and a two hour delay the day of the banquet. What a busy day! Everyone was in full FFA banquet mode, and it was awesome to see it all come together throughout the day. I truly enjoyed my evening at the banquet. The students did a wonderful job hosting the banquet and I loved seeing the community come together to celebrate the accomplishments of the Manor FFA members. I was honored to receive an Honorary Chapter Degree at the banquet. I'm truly thankful to be spending the semester at Penn Manor.

The FFA motto painted by a very talented FFA Member!

Goals for next week:

1. Give students more ownership of their learning by giving them the chance to decide how they will "show what they know" from a lesson!
2. Utilize e-moments more in my lessons, especially when structuring discussions and review!
3. Continue to grow in my content knowledge of small gas engines and be confident while teaching it!

Student Teaching Week 10!

Well, #psuaged18 cohort is officially two-thirds of the way through our student teaching internships! This week was busy and full of learning - for both me and my students!

Here are some highlights from this week:

1. The WHY is essential.

This week in Biotech we continued our Applications of Biotechnology unit by discussing the Green Revolution and how biotechnology can be used to fight food insecurity right now in Africa. I began the lesson with a news clip about the current famine occurring in Africa. Then the students researched the green revolution to learn how Norman Borlaug saved over 1 million lives. I wanted to have a discussion about the positives as well as some of the downsides that resulted because I believe we should always be striving to improve. I could tell I hadn't caught the interest of some of my students because no one wanted to participate in the discussion. A few students even questioned why we were learning about agriculture in another country. After class was over, I reflected and talked with Mr. Fellenbaum and we agreed that I should begin class the next day by reviewing the Green Revolution and then taking some time to explain the why. The next day went much better and I feel that I effectively conveyed the why to my students. That biotechnology is all about using living things to benefit human life,and the Green Revolution is a perfect example of that. Students spent the next part of class researching a plant commonly grown in Africa and selecting characteristics to selectively breed for to help fight the famine. I was so impressed with their critical thinking and problem solving skills! 

2. Soil buffering capacity, soil buffering capacity, soil buffering capacity.

This week in Intro to AFNR we focused on, you guessed it, soil buffering capacity. Students followed a procedure to test the buffering capacity of water, and then they designed their own experiment to test how soil particle size affects buffering capacity. It was interesting to watch students go through that problem solving process and even experience some frustration. I think many students were so focused on being "right" that it took them longer to develop a hypothesis/procedure. When students asked questions, I tried to redirect them with a question. I really enjoy the inquiry process and I'm looking forward to further developing my skills in delivering IBI.

Goals for this coming week:

• Continue to grow in my content knowledge of small gas engines.
• Build better rapport with two of my students that I have a hard time connecting with.
• Be more confident in my decisions!

Thanks for following my journey, thus far - I'd love to hear your thoughts/advice!!

Student Teaching Week 9!

From our snow-less snow day to the Manor FFA Officer Selection night, this week was full of excitement! Teaching a full load of classes is keeping me busy, and I'm learning so much along the way! Here are some of the highlights from this week:

1. Officer Interview Nights!

This week I had the honor of serving on the interview committee for both the Lampeter-Strasburg and Penn Manor Ag Ed Program. I was blown away by the students' interviewing skills and enjoyed learning about how they're using FFA to grow themselves as leaders. It was also neat to see how the two schools differed in their officer selection process, and think about how I might do it when I'm an ag teacher at my own school. How do you conduct FFA Officer selection at your program?

2. Adult Pest Ed Program

On Tuesday evening Penn Manor Ag Ed Department hosted a Pest Ed workshop for community members who already had their pest ed certification. It was a great way to meet some more community members as well as learn about pesticides, water quality management, and the Spotted Lantern Fly problem from Penn State Extension agents.

Getting ready to debate the ethics of cloning!

3. Soil, Welding, and Cloning - Oh My!

I really enjoyed teaching all three blocks this week, and I think part of that had to do with the fact that I'm really interested all of the topics my students are learning about! I enjoyed discussing with my students in AFNR that soil was, in fact, not dirt; why cloning is controversial in the Biotech class; and how to continue to improve in welding.

Goals for Improvement:

• Try a new learning activity this week.
• Continue to improve on making my directions clear and concise.
• Include more student self-evaluation in my lessons.
• Give students more autonomy in some of their classwork.

Student Teaching: Week 8!

Week 8 has come and gone, and week 9 is about to begin. This past week has been busy and full of learning - for both my students and myself. With each passing week I'm feeling more comfortable in the classroom, and I can tell my students are feeling more comfortable with me, too. Here are some highlights from this past week:

1. You never know until you try!

There is one student in my Intro to Ag Mech class that was absolutely terrified to try welding. He had been avoiding welding for some time, and then this week I was finally able to convince him to try for 15 -20 min. He was in a booth next to one of his friends who helped him set up. I had him practice a couple of weld puddles just to get the feel of welding. He was still unsure about his whole welding thing, but he did well, so I showed him how to run a bead. I left for a little to check on other students and when I came back he showed me his weld - it was awesome! Like better than most people's first beads. I was so excited about it and he was smiling from ear to ear, so I'm pretty sure he has conquered his fear of welding (hopefully - we'll see this week!). 

2. Connections, connections, connections.

Soil suspensions!

This week we began our Soils unit in Intro to AFNR. We began by learning about components of soil and soil porosity. After arguing (all in good fun) that soil was not the same as dirt, I facilitated an interest approach that connected why we are learning about soil to Lancaster County. We discussed what factors enabled Lan Co to be the most productive non-irrigated county in the nation and then looked at Lan Co on Web Soil Survey. I really enjoyed helping students make those connections and understanding the WHY. 

3. Star Red Rose Interviews

This week I got to serve on an interview committee for Star Red Rose interviews at a county level competition. This is similar to proficiency interviews, so I got to talk with students from all over Lancaster County about their awesome SAE projects! I was impressed by the students' interview skills and enjoyed learning something from each student. This was a great experience for me as a future teacher because now I have a better idea about what judges look for during interviews and in AET applications.

I truly enjoy my weeks at Penn Manor, and I can't wait to see what the next 7 weeks have in store!

Week 7 - Halfway Mark!

And just like that my cohort members and I are halfway through our student teaching experience! It's crazy to believe that in just a few months we'll be walking at graduation. But before that - there is so much more to experience and learn! Here are some highlights from National FFA Week at Penn Manor:

Hoss's Night!

Meet Your State Officer event at Hoss's: On Tuesday a group of us (#girlsnightout) went to Hoss's to enjoy an evening of FFA friendship! Our evening was full of all-you-can-eat soup/salad/ice cream and many laughs. It was my first time going to Hoss's for Meet Your State Officer night and I really enjoyed it.

Teacher Appreciation Luncheon: Every year the Manor FFA chapter hosts a luncheon for teachers and students to thank them for their support of the program. FFA members were a part of every aspect of hosting the luncheon - students roasted a pig, made pulled pork, made homemade ice cream, set up the room, served food, and more. It was awesome to see so many teachers come to the luncheon, and there were many teachers who said that this is a day they look forward to all year. It just goes to show the importance of giving and expressing thanks and that it doesn't go unnoticed.

Teacher Appreciation Luncheon

Awards Night: Manor FFA members have the opportunity to apply for various chapter awards each year, and interviews are one component of the award application process. On Thursday evening, community members volunteered their time to serve as interviewers for the various award categories, and students rotated through and interviewed for each award they applied for. I got to sit in on the proficiency award interviews and I was amazed at what these students are accomplishing through their SAE projects. It was a great opportunity for students to start developing their interviewing skills, and I enjoyed seeing the community come together to make this event happen.