August 2010
August is a great month to criss-cross the state of North Carolina. The rainy summer has yielded a lush landscape filled with colorful wildflowers and the promise of a beautiful fall season.
August is also a great month to spend time with teachers. They may tell you that they are not looking forward to the end of summer vacation, but the excitement always shows through on their faces. It's a perfect time to introduce educators to the resources both new, and tried-and-true, that Ag in the Classroom has for their students.
We enjoyed a visit to Haywood County on August 9. There we shared "The Farmer Grows a Rainbow" with representatives from elementary schools in the county. The workshop was full of fun and the teachers on hand were most appreciative for the resources provided them by their local Farm Bureau volunteers.
We conducted a brand new workshop at Snow Hill Primary School on August 16. This K-2 school has a very energetic school nurse who has acquired grants and donations sufficient to build a greenhouse for use by all students and teachers at the school. Our six-hour workshop was packed with learning strategies to help bring greenhouse experiences back into the classroom to facilitate learning concepts of the core curricula. Two guest speakers enhanced the experience for the Snow Hill Primary educators. Dr. Dianne Farrer, Regional Agronomist for USDA provided information helpful for starting the greenhouse and filling it with the kinds of plants that will, most effectively support student learning. Leela Baggett, teacher at James W. Smith Elementary School in Craven County came over to talk about her own experience starting a greenhouse with her class of first graders.
On the 18th, we took "The Farmer" to Forsyth County. This visit was a follow-up to an earlier workshop and we were thrilled to have over one hundred teachers in attendance! It was a great day indeed and we can say with confidence that the "Farmer is Famous in Forsyth!"
The next week found us in Wilson County sharing "The Farmer Grows a Rainbow" with Physical Education teachers and representatives from three Christian schools. Our time in Wilson allowed us to work with some outstanding administrators and support professionals as well as some great teachers. Some times it's hard to call this "work."
July 2010
June 2010
We found ourselves "in the house" for much of the month of May. Schools across the state were involved in testing and end-of-year events that precluded the presence of Ag in the Classroom. If that sounds like a bad thing, it isn't really on a number of levels. Although we look forward to being with teachers as much as possible, time is needed to take care of the office work that goes along with all those visits. This May we have completed work on the "Hi, Cotton!" lesson set and "The Hen Dance."
We have made preparations to attend and present at the upcoming National Ag in the Classroom Conference and have been organizing materials for the "Big" workshops in July. Louise has been communicating with those teachers who will be attending the workshops and making sure that all is in order for two outstanding events. Ellen has been gathering materials for all of the activities that will make up the workshops.
It is at this time of year that we re-connect with a number of wonderful folks who help to make our summer workshops the special events that they are. Each spring we appeal to commodity groups across the state for expertise, promotional items, and their very presence to strengthen our efforts as we share the importance of agriculture with teachers across the state. Representatives from growers groups, livestock associations, and producers of goods share lesson plans, facts, and encouragement in many forms to Ag in the Classroom and we are, indeed, grateful.
As the workshop dates draw near, we are also in touch with farmers and production professionals hoping that they will host our "Traveling Workshops." These are the days when we take teachers to agricultural sites enabling them to gain insights and information about agriculture which they can share with their students upon returning to their classrooms. Ag in the Classroom is blessed to have so many members of the "ag" community who are willing to give their time to help educators see just how important the work of the farmer is to all members of society. Traveling workshops are a strong component of the work of Ag in the Classroom and they would not be possible without the generosity of farmers who give time during the season when time is most precious to them. Check out the workshop pictures at www.ncagintheclassroom.com in late July to see just what we mean.
We did not spend the entire month of May at the office. We met with our colleagues from the NC State Fair to begin planning for the 2010 Field of Dreams experience. The commodity Christmas tree is likely to return after it makes an appearance at the national Ag in the Classroom conference this month. It seems so early to be thinking of the October occasion, but putting things together takes some time.
Another special occasion in May took place in Lee County on May 13. We enjoyed conducting a gardening workshop for pre-school teachers from across the county. We hope that Ag in the Classroom activities will help teachers connect their prescribed curriculum with the joys of planting, tending, and harvesting a garden with young learners.
On the fourteenth, we were invited to the "Grand Planting" at Youngsville Elementary School. Ag in the Classroom Ambassador, Lynn Hamner is a second grade teacher there and has worked very hard for quite some time to realize her dream of a school garden. With the help of the members of the Franklin County Farm Bureau the garden became a reality that afternoon and many young learners enjoyed working with their Farm Bureau friends to plant seeds and set plants. The cafeteria staff has promised to cook and serve the fruits of their labors.
Being in touch with educators the way we are, we are aware that the idea of having a school garden is a very popular one these days. We applaud teachers, students, administrators, and volunteers who take on the task of planting, tending and harvesting school gardens. There is no limit to the learning opportunities that arise from gardening. Research proves that children who help to grow their own fresh food are more likely to make healthier dining choices. There's a quote you hear from adult fishermen about spending quality time with young ones. They say, "Take a kid fishing." We say, "Take a kid gardening." It's a win for everyone!
May 2010
A quarter of 2010 is behind us… who can believe that? If it is true that time flies when you are having fun, we should see it moving even faster than it does. NC Ag in the Classroom has so many activities to have fun with such wonderful educators and the fun is all for a purpose… helping young learners understand and appreciate agriculture.
Our office time in April was spent developing an activity about a hen's life cycle and pressing on with "Hi, Cotton!" The hen activity is a paper plate with photos arranged in sequence to show the egg, the chick, the pullet, and the hen. Listen out for the accompanying song parody of "The Chicken Dance." It is designed to reinforce what is covered in the paper plate activity.
Both the "Life Cycle" activity and the final version of "Hi, Cotton!" will be unveiled at this year's National Ag in the Classroom Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. We will share these activities and be on hand as our 2010 NC Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year; Frances Anderson presents an update on her project "Carolina Sweet Potato Investigation." (CSPI) Last year Frances and her students at Bailey Elementary School piloted CSPI and Frances presented its content to rave reviews. This year, she has expanded the model for using agriculture to teach research skills with great success. We are happy that Frances is representing Ag in the Classroom as our Teacher of the Year and we a grateful for the work she does to advance the program and the education of so many young learners.
We are thrilled to have received so many applications for this summer's "Big" workshops. We will host an event for Kindergarten through fifth grade teachers July 12-14. The workshop focus will be on literacy and science instruction and how these subject areas can include valuable information about agriculture. The next week, July 19-21, AITC will host a workshop for Pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grade teachers with a focus on nutrition, fitness, and healthful living. As always, we have more applicants than we can accept as participants. The good news is the popularity that AITC has gained over the years. The sad news is that every applicant can not be accepted. We encourage any educator to check our calendar and inquire about attending events that suit your calendar and geographic location.
Our travels during the month of April took us nicely across the state. It is such a privilege to see spring "spring" across the Old North State and be on the job at the same time!
On April 9, we took the farmer and his rainbow to Surry County. We had a great time with elementary curriculum coaches at the Board of Education office in Dobson. These educators participated heartily in all the activities and we all had a great afternoon.
On April 12, Ellen was honored to have been invited back to UNC Pembroke to visit pre-service educators and share Ag in the Classroom teaching strategies with them. If you want to feel encouraged about our future, find time to spend with college students!
The farmer and his rainbow went with us to Cleveland County on April 14. We really enjoyed sharing the nutrition and fitness lessons with educators in Shelby and even caught up with a few friends. We continue to be grateful to all the NC County Farm Bureaus who donate "The Farmer Grows a Rainbow" kits to the schools in their local school systems.
We took bold new steps in Snow Hill on April 23. Louise had worked hard to develop a new gardening workshop for Pre-Kindergarten teachers and the Pre-K educators in Greene County were the first to host us. Teachers brought ingredients to make their own "Plant Part Soup" for lunch and we shared many teaching strategies as a part of the six-hour event. We are grateful to the Greene county Farm Bureau for sponsorship and the delicious sandwiches and desserts to compliment the tasty soup.
Do you ever feel sorry for week-day folks who have to work on Saturdays too? Ellen left the Snow Hill event to work on Saturday, but don't pull out the tissues. The event was at Atlantic Beach! She was invited to present at a conference of the Northeast Collaborative. This is a consortium of thirteen school systems in Northeast North Carolina. Their purpose is to support beginning teachers and to give them ideas to make their early years as educators fulfilling and successful. Ellen shared Ag in the Classroom as a resource with these enthusiastic new teachers. Here's another place to go if you need to be encouraged about our future.
The final event in April was an opportunity to share Ag in the Classroom as a resource for educators. The thing is, we weren't sharing with educators! This time we were fortunate to present at a statewide conference of Farm Bureau Customer Service Representatives. Our presentation served as an orientation for some and a review for others, but all attendees were given the opportunity to update information they can share in their home counties about Ag in the Classroom.
We look forward to checking out the May flowers in our travels this month. As you attend those graduations and end-of-school events, you may wish to consider all agriculture means to the successes enjoyed by North Carolinians, even educational successes.
March 2010
One of the great things about being a southerner is that you have the right to get really excited about snow! The first week of February found us working from our homes for a few days on account of the first sizeable snowfall in quite some time. The days were filled with comfort food and flake watching!
Our first outing of the month was to J.W. Smith Elementary School in Craven County. At the invitation of Craven County Ag in the Classroom Ambassador, Leela Baggett, we presented a workshop to the school staff as part of an early- release staff development day. The event showcased cooperative learning strategies developed by Spencer Kagan. The afternoon was action-packed to say the least.
The very next Friday, we returned to Smith Elementary to meet with Craven County elementary principals. The purpose of this gathering was to share Ag in the Classroom as a resource with these administrators. We look forward to more training opportunities in Craven now that school leaders know more about Ag in the Classroom.
Between our two visits to Craven County, we were fortunate to have been in Edgecombe County for a workshop to deliver "The Farmer Grows a Rainbow" kits. We met with Physical Education teachers from elementary school across the county and had a great session helping them to become familiar with the lessons and training them to be trainers for their colleagues.
The last week of the month found us in Wilson and Greensboro. A Tuesday night session with Pre-School educators allowed us to share some favorite strategies for the youngest learners. The group of about forty pre-school teachers and daycare providers received us enthusiastically and we know that our precious little ones are in capable hands!
We left Raleigh while snow was falling heavily on the twenty-fifth and, yes, we were excited! As we made our way to Greensboro for the annual Social Studies Conference, the snow tapered off to nothing, but we had a great day with the Social Studies teachers gathered there. We presented a session we called "Things They Ought to Know" sharing strategies that address the prescribed curriculum while providing information about the importance of agriculture in our society. The presentation was followed by lively conversation, warm introductions, a delicious lunch, and a most interesting speaker. All in all, it was a great day for NC AITC!
Louise worked diligently on a new grant this month. The application was sent on the twenty-fourth for an ACE Grant offered by The National Ag in the Classroom Consortium and supports a very exciting project that will allow young learners across the state to plant and care for their own strawberry beds as they learn a great deal of plant science. The grant request is a cooperative project including Ag in the Classroom; NC State Professor, Dr. Gina Fernandez; 4 H Horticultural Specialist, Liz Driscoll; and, Debby Wechsler, Executive Secretary of the NC Strawberry Association. Hopefully, funds will be available for this ambitious educational endeavor.
We have a number of events scheduled for the month of March. Before heading out, we'll be sure to check the almanac to see if we can be excited about any more snow!
February 2010
The holidays were great for Ag in the Classroom. Family time was precious, and for Louise there was a travel opportunity in the form of a Caribbean cruise. Once schools had a chance to reopen and get underway, we were back in business.
On the seventh of January, Ellen traveled to UNC Charlotte for the annual Southwestern Science Conference. She was delighted to attend a presentation by Mecklenburg County Ag in the Classroom Ambassador, Darlene Petranick. Later in the day, Darlene assisted Ellen with an Ag in the Classroom (AITC) session.
On January ninth, Ellen was invited to Halifax County Schools to take part in a new-teacher orientation session. It was inspiring to be in the presence of so many enthusiastic educators and it was enjoyable to share the essence of the program with them.
Ag in the Classroom was allowed to invite a special guest to the Halifax new teacher event. Ms. Lauren Vann is a junior at NC State and has taken a unique interest in AITC. Among her other accomplishments, Lauren holds the title of Miss Southeastern North Carolina International. She has adopted Ag in the Classroom as her platform and seeks to help young learners understand the vital role of agriculture in our daily lives. Lauren was on hand at the Halifax event to observe and assist with the activities shared there.
We are never sad about a trip to the coast and our visit to Carteret County on January 20 was no exception. We enjoyed spending the morning at Beaufort Elementary School sharing "The Farmer Grows a Rainbow" with teachers from six elementary schools.
It seems that we took the beautiful beach weather away when we left, because our next stop in Union County was a rainy one indeed. We had a great afternoon sharing the reading and literacy components of "The Farmer Grows a Rainbow" with members of the Union Monroe Reading Association. Members that were on hand were, as always, most interested in how Ag in the Classroom can enrich and enhance instruction in any classroom. Like many reading councils and associations across the state, Union-Monroe strives to increase membership and provide top quality programs for its members. You don't have to be an educator to join your local reading association or council. We encourage everyone to check out these possibilities!
On the 27th, we had a special invitation to meet with the collegiate chapter of Yong Farmers and Ranchers at NC State University. We shared the program "Addressing Misconceptions About Agriculture" with the group.
Want to know what's in store for NC Ag in the Classroom. You can now check the website for our calendar to see where we are scheduled to be and what we'll be doing.
December 2009
Miles and miles and miles have been covered for AITC business and pleasure during recent weeks. Yes, we have taken the farmer and his rainbow to many places, but the most exciting news is that Louise has returned from her vacation in Greece! It was an exciting, unforgettable, educational trek to be sure and the pictures are beautiful and abundant. We are blessed that Louise is so focused on chronicling her activities. That way, we can enjoy her travels vicariously.
On the first day of November a "Rainbow" training was held for educators in Anson County Schools. Teachers representing the system's elementary schools took part in the three-hour event to become familiar with "MyPyramid" and the NC Ag in the Classroom that connects it to the farmer. Thanks to Anson County Farm Bureau and its President, Eloise Harrington for the gift of the lesson kits and for the refreshments at the training event.
Later that week, Louise flew off to Greece and Ellen hit the road! November 5 was a great day to visit Chowan University and share Ag in the Classroom with students who will begin their student teaching experience in January. It is clear that the future is bright for young learners in Northeastern North Carolina.
The very next day, Ellen was a guest at the monthly meeting of the Northeast Collaborative. This is a group of administrators representing fourteen school systems in the northeastern part of the state. Their mission is to help new teachers enter the profession successfully. Ellen was invited to share Ag in the Classroom as a resource for beginning and veteran teachers but found herself in the role of a learner when it came to professional standards and policies for newly certified educators.
November 7th found Ellen and Vance County Ag in the Classroom Ambassador, Jennifer Johnson, in Lee County. The Partnership for Children sponsored a day of professional development for pre-school teachers and childcare providers. Ag in the Classroom hosted two one-hour sessions and we really enjoyed making new friends who care so deeply for Lee County's little ones.
A most enjoyable activity for NC Ag in the Classroom is that of visiting college and university campuses to share the program with pre-service educators. In addition to the day at Chowan, Ellen was able to visit with students at UNC Charlotte and UNC Pembroke during the month of November. A total of six presentations brought her face-to face with approximately 150 future teachers. We are grateful to these folks for choosing to become educators and shape so many lives in order that our world will be a better place.
Another Ag in the Classroom signature activity is presenting at Professional Conferences and Educator Annual Meetings. It was Ellen's privilege to co-present with Daniese Smith, AITC Ambassador from Guilford County, at the annual meeting of the North Carolina Science Teachers Association on November 19.
Our "in office" activities include continued work on the "Hi Cotton" project and efforts to be a positive factor in raising the graduation rates in schools across the state. We have received acceptances to present at the 2010 National AITC Conference in Baltimore and have begun gathering materials and making plans.
This is the last blog entry for 2009. As the saying goes, "That just seems impossible." As 2009 approaches the holiday season, Ag in the Classroom wishes one and all a Merry Christmas and a new year filled with many blessings.
