Can we PLEASE make some connections?

I have a difficult time getting my students to make connections between past units and the unit we are currently working on. I have been working on my students' ability to think critically and solve problems through connecting content. We are six months into the school year and finally I do not have to give my kids the death stare for ten minutes for them to make some connections. It was a long and tedious six months, but it brightens my day when I can see the light bulb and they make this profound discovery that what they learned two weeks ago about soil relates to what they are learning right now about plants!!!! : )

In my animal science class we have been progressing through the systems of the animal for a few months. As we reached the third system (nervous) I began to realize that my kids really had no idea as to why and how all of these systems work together. I decided we were going to spend a whole class period making connections. I made the activity worth 20 points and everyone in the class had to participate at least once or EVERYONE in the class will fail the assignment.

Each student had to draw a picture on the board and explain how their picture connected with another picture already on the board. They had to use the information they learned from the different systems we discussed. Not only was this activity great for getting their minds geared for making connections it was also a great review for the test.

Here is a picture of the board. It looks a little convoluted, but it did the trick : ) Plus, they had a blast. The kids talked about it for weeks and wondered when we were going to do it again. 

Plant Science Upgraded

I teach plant science and my second unit of instruction is plant anatomy and physiology. I did not have a projector at the beginning of this unit so I had to improvise. I drew a plant cell on the board and labelled each organelle and then discussed its function.

After this discussion I split the class into two teams (there are only ten students in this class). I gave them a project rubric, which asked them to create a 3D model of either the plant cell or the animal cell (one group did the plant and the other did the animal cell). I gave them two days in class to construct this model. It had to be labeled and all of the organelles we discussed must be on the model. The second part of the project asked them to create a PowerPoint that included each organelle, its function and a picture. They had to give me the history of the cell and what makes an animal cell different from a plant cell and why. Each group presented both their model and their PowerPoint to the class.

 After we discussed organelles we moved on to the external parts of a plant. I created a Zeega highlighting the basics of the plant. Check it out: Parts of a Plant. We discussed how function correlates to anatomy. To test their understanding on this concept I had them create an edible plant. They had to utilize different candies (which I provided) as parts of a plant. Once they where done they presented to the class and had to explain why they choose that candy for that plant part.

~Let's Get Organized~

I moved 2,600 miles to Arizona for a great agricultural educator position, which means I am finally a real ag teacher : ) I just can't believe I get to teach students everyday. The four years of college was definitely worth it! Since I have my own classroom now I went crazy coming up with ideas to get it organized.

Below are some pictures and descriptions of what I did to increase productivity (for the students and myself), set a routine, meet state standards and keep the students informed.

• For every unit I post the objectives so the students have a clear picture of where we will be going that unit. Also, I post the English and Math Common Core standards that correlate with that unit as well as the CTE and Science standards. That way if anyone walks into my classroom they can clearly see which standards my lessons are hitting. 

• This is my FFA calendar board. I used construction paper and covered each piece with letter size laminating sheets (much cheaper than having each one professionally laminated and you can buy 50 of the sheets for about $15.) Dry erase markers work awesome on the sheets so each month I can erase and move to the next month. This eliminates the excuse students use, "I didn't know." 

• I teach three sections of Introduction to Agriculture and one section of Plant Science. Each class is assigned a color. I have two of these bin rows in my classroom, one right by the door and one on my desk. The one by the door has the daily papers the students need. For instance, I have my course syllabus and classroom contracts in them now. Each day the students will check their class bin for papers before taking their seat. The second bin is for my use. I will collect homework, projects and tests put them in the class bin and place graded paperwork there too. It is just a great way to keep all the classes organized. 

• This is the Student Inventory I have every student fill out on the first day of class. Standard teaching evaluation forms want to know how you are creating a felt need in your classroom and if you are connecting the content directly to the student. This student inventory is my way of getting to know my students quickly and tailoring my lessons to their specific interests and needs. I print them on index cards and keep them in a index card box. Of course, the cards and color coordinated for each class.

• I created a "Why in the World" sheet. This is very similar to Bellwork, which most of you have heard and/or utilize. This sheet has three columns: Date, Do Now and Wrap It Up. As soon as the students enter the room they answer the Do Now question on the board. The question relates yesterday's lesson to today's lesson and normally it is a critical thinking question. In the Wrap It Up column I ask the students a comprehension question from the lesson at the very end of the period. I found that this helps keep the students from putting away their things and lining up at the door before the bell even rings. 

Grow House-Connecting the Youth and Community to Agriculture

Grow House

One of my colleagues shared the Grow House with me at a PAAE (Pennsylvania Association for Agriculture Educators) meeting. As soon as he showed this to me my wheels started spinning in my mind. How can I make this permanent? Can I connect this to the community? What about agriculture literacy? 

This project grew into a Community-Based Service Learning project that I carried out at my coorperating center. I taught my plant science students a fifteen day unit based on plants and gardening. I had a guest speaker from PSU Pesticide Education come in to inform the students about IPM (Integrated Pest Management) and I brought in two Master Gardeners to tell the students how to test the soil, when to plant and how to prep the soil for gardening. 

The students then created four workshops that they taught to 64 third graders. There workshop topics where: How to Grow a Plant, Parts of a Plant, Farm Safety and Farm to Food. These agriulture literacy workshops was all student driven. They did everything! I just gathered the supplies and arranged the time with the 3rd grade teachers. 

After the workshops students stayed after school with the Master Gardeners to assemble the Grow House on the elementary school playground and prepare the soil for planting. 

Shortly, we will plant the vegetables in the Grow House garden. The agriculture education students volunteered to pull weeds, water and harvest the vegetables over the summer. All the vegetables grown in the garden will be donated to the local food bank. 

This was a really great project to do. After the assembly of the Grow House, the next day the students came in and wanted to expand it! The response I received from this learning project was overwhelming in a good way. 

Engaging Our Community

Think about the agriculture department you were a part of in high school. Think about the agriculture department your child is involved in now? Are there differences? Odds are you are shaking your head yes right now. Why you ask? Because each agricultural education department is based on the needs of the community. Every district is different with a completely different set of wants. Why is this important? Oh, great question! This is important because as an agricultural educator I think it is my job to fuse the students with the community. I like to involve my community in what my students are learning.

Recently, I gathered with my colleagues to share some Community-Based Service Learning Project ideas.  I thought these ideas where just a terrific way to expand students' knowledge and get involved and give back to the community, so I wanted to share them with you.

1.) Build Bluebird boxes to set up at a local park or game land. Have your students create tags that can be fixed to the front of the boxes giving passerbys important information on Bluebirds and their habitats. Involve your local conservation district to help the students plan the right habitat for the Bluebirds. (Mackenzie McCollum)

2.) If you want a great project to go with your floriculture/flower arranging class here it is: Take your class to a local community center (example: Grange &/or Young Famers) and have your students work with the community members to teach special needs students or elementary school students how to create floral arrangements. These arrangements can be sold for Valentine's Day and the proceeds can be donated to your charity of choice. (Adam Peachey)

3.) Do you have a courtyard that isn't being used by your school district? Here is an idea: create an outside classroom. You can utilize your plant science class, landscaping class and metals class. The whole school will be able to enjoy and utilize this outdoor classroom. This is a great way to show the students that what they learn in the classroom is applicable in the real world. (PJ Adam)

4.) Create a Community Garden!! Allow local stakeholders to apply for a garden plot. AG. Ed. students can take a part in advertising, kick-off banquet, building the plots and holding educational workshops for the stakeholders who will be gardening the plot. Image all the SAE Proficiency areas your students could apply for through this project!!!!!!! (Darla Romberger)

Top Ten Reasons Why My Student Teaching Cooperating Center Rocks!!!!

I am finishing up my student teaching experience at Greenwood High School in Millerstown, PA. Before I dive right into the meat of this post I wanted to share with you how the student teachers are placed at their cooperating centers. First, we are given a list of about 50 schools that qualify and want to have a student teacher. It is our tasks to visit, send e-mails, research and make phone calls to these schools to narrow it down to the top three centers for us, individually. Finally, you have chosen the top three and you know which one you really, really want to go to at this point. We are done yet, though. Next we have an interview with two professor in the college of Ag, where we must plead our case as to why we should go to our #1 school. Well I begged and I pleaded and I succeeded : ) After spending the last 14 weeks at Greenwood, I am so glad that I practically got down on my hands and knees to get the opportunity to come here. My cooperating teacher has been so helpful and provided me with priceless feedback.

I wanted to share with the NAAE community just why on Earth Greenwood is so AMAZING.

Here are the top 10 reasons why Greenwood's Ag. Ed. department rocks!!!!!

1.) Greenwood's Ag. Ed. department is greatly supported by the administration.

2.) Greenwood S.D. is pretty small, so the community is close and very active in the Ag. Ed. department.

3.) The Ag. Ed. teachers are extraordinary. Just to prove my point ---> Mrs. Krista Pontius, my cooperating teacher : ), just received the Teacher Impact Award. Mr. Mike Clark, the second Ag. Ed. teacher, won the National Agriscience Award.

4.) The students are extremely motivated. I have one student who attends HACC classes all morning and then drives to the H.S. to finish up the last of her high school credits. About 75% of the Ag. Ed. students are involved in an extracurricular sport.

5.) Greenwood lives out the "Living to Serve" line of the FFA motto. The students were so inspired by the community service at National Convention that they organized and held the first Perry County Hunger Banquet.

6.) The teacher's outside of Ag. Ed. are inspiring. I observed one of the biology teachers and to my surprise I was actually understanding what she was talking about! The chemistry teacher allowed me to borrow his equipment for some of my labs and the shop teacher helped me construct a grow house. Everyone is just very supportive of one another.

7.) The FFA chapter attends... well EVERYTHING! The students sign up for every event and Mrs. Pontius and Mr. Clark make it happen!

8.) The Advisory Council is made up of extremely active and wonderful community members, whose sole purpose is to make the educational experience for the students the best.

9.) Greenwood's Ag. Ed. department has

two teachers, 312 students, 12 classes taught a day and 103 FFA members. The classes include: Ag. Exploration, Veterinary Science, Animal Bioscience, Science of Food Processing, Senior Agriculture (credited class), Biotechnology and the list goes on.

10.) Mrs. Pontius and Mr. Clark are always striving to be better, whether it is personally or as a department. Example: Technology is the new wave and they are trying to incorporate it as much as they can into their lessons. Greenwood launched a "Bring Your Own Technology" initiative. This year it was only dispersed to ten teachers as a test run. Of course, the Ag. Ed. department volunteered to be a part of the pilot! Mrs. Pontius and Mr. Clark try to stay ahead of the game for their students' success.

iPad Mania

I know that technology can be a little scary and you are never sure where to start. I have an iPad and every day I find new and more effective ways to incorporate it into my curriculum. To make it a little easier for those who feel timid when approaching the iPad I have composed a list of educational FREE applications that can be downloaded to your iPad and utilized in your classroom. The list below is categorized by subject.

Ag. Mechanics:
Virtual Engine-Gives you step-by-step directions on how to tear down an engine
Engine-Shows you how a multi-cylinder engine works
CI-HD-Provides you with how-to and video tutorials of anything dealing with construction

Energy & Climate Change:
Inside Energy-Discusses new energy topics and you can calculate energy efficiency
Verde-Calculate your carbon footprint
IEA Stats-Compares varies energy resources (graphs, articles and statistics)
NASA Viz-Amazing narrated slideshows discussing environmental issues (great for showing the Ozone Layer depletion)
Earth Viewer-Shows you how the land masses on Earth has changed over time and it shows you the carbon dioxide and oxygen amount

Envirothon Training:
IGFA Lite-Fish Identification
LeafsnapHD-Snap a picture of an unknown plant or tree and this app will tell you what you're looking at
Plant Pictures-Plant and Tree Identification
PocketRanger-A complete guide to state parks and forests

Science (Biology):
iCell-Provides a detailed picture and description of cell parts
BioIQ-Interactive game to test your knowledge of cells
Science VL-Awesome dictionary for all science terms
Bone Model-Gives a great representation of the skeletal system and how it moves
CardioTeach-Interactive heart; shows how it pumps and identifies the different parts

Video Media:
TED
PBS
Smithsonian

Presentation Tools:
Idea Sketch-Great Mind Mapping app
ShowMe-Create and share whiteboard-style tutorials
Skitch-Allows you to upload a photo and add shapes and words to it
ScratchWork-Allows you to have a webpage and the app open at the same time so you can create a worksheet using internet resources
PearlTrees-Is a visual and collaborative curation tool that allows you to collect, organize and share any URL
Doceri-Top-notch presentation tool, create a powerpoint and share it from your iPad
SimpleMind+-Mind Mapping app

Landscape:
iScapeFree-Create a landscape with blueprints

Food Science:
USDAFoodSafety

Plant Science:
ID Weeds
PestBook-Identifies pests

Look up the common core standards through the CommonCore app!!



I hope this list of education apps helps you utilize iPads to their fullest extent. You can purchase a cord that allows you to hook up your iPad to your projector for easy viewing.

: )