June 2008
June began with the closing of school for many students in our state. Ellen was able to visit five fourth grade classes at Benson Elementary School to share activities about North Carolina's top agricultural commodities. It was great fun to share in the excitement of learning about our state and the fact that summer vacation was so close at hand!
On the sixteenth and seventeenth of the month, Louise and Ellen went in separate directions to share activities developed by NC Ag in the Classroom. Louise attended a statewide conference held for Ohio educators in Columbus. She shared "The Photosynthesis Promenade" and "The Farmer Grows a Rainbow" as a part of the conference. These same dates found Ellen in Anderson South Carolina taking part in a week long institute for teachers. Ellen shared a number of NC Ag in the Classroom activities connecting agriculture to reading, science, and other academic subjects.
We were up in the air for a long time getting to California and we're still walking on air. What a great time we had, mixing a weekend vacation with a week of learning and fun at the National Ag in the Classroom Conference held in Costa Mesa June 24-28th. The conference took us to many locations in southern California including Disneyland's California Adventures park and the Orange County Fairgrounds Centennial Gardens.
North Carolina was represented by a display showcasing "The Farmer Grows a Rainbow" and a workshop providing details about this set of nutrition lesson plans for elementary students. We also shared a seed matching activity at a make-and-take session and hosted a table at the "Good Morning America" breakfast. We were able to share many positive aspects of NC Ag in the Classroom with educators from around the nation as well as those who attended from Canada and Australia.
The delegation from the Old North State included Sandy Hatley from Stanley County who is North Carolina's first ever recipient of the White-Rhinehart Scholarship. Sandy reports that she gathered a wealth of information and made connections with many colleagues who can work with her as she continues to stress the value of agriculture to her seventh grade students. Along with Sandy, Pat Riethmeier attended the conference as North Carolina's nominee for the Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture Award. As is her custom, Pat gleaned a rich harvest of new teaching strategies which she hopes to share with students and fellow educators as soon as possible. Rounding out the Tar Heel delegation was Pat's husband, Herb Riethmeier. Herb took in many sessions and shared his insights thus helping to make our experience more fruitful.
Speaking of fruitful experiences, we enjoyed so many fresh fruits and vegetables in the Golden State, it's hard to describe! We were also treated to performances by Dr. Carl Winters, of the University of California at Davis and by Chuck Leavell, author of the award winning book, The Tree Farmer. Did you know that Chuck has performed as the keyboardist for the Rolling Stones? No kidding!
The end of the month found Louise back at the office reflecting on the national conference at which she presided with great skill and flare while she continued to prepare for the two BIG workshops coming up in July. Ellen spent the week with her family at the beach and felt a little guilty about having so much fun while Louise worked…. a little bit guilty!
We can't wait to tell you about the workshops. See you in August.
May 2008
Dorothy said it three times and it really is true, "There's no place like home!" It has been very nice to spend a few weeks in the Raleigh office between our travels. After spending a good portion of the spring in the air and on the road, it was good to reflect on the events that had taken place and prepare for a very full summer ahead.
We are thrilled that educators are hoping to purchase "The Farmer Grows a Rainbow" teaching kits. It looks as if the brightly colored boxes will be found in classrooms all over the good old USA. We are also looking forward to presenting the lessons in Ohio, South Carolina, California, and Iowa during the summer months. It goes without saying that we'll say a bit about the lessons at our K-5 summer workshop as well!
A new initiative for North Carolina Ag in the Classroom is a calendar of learning activities prepared jointly with the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission. The calendar will take on the format of a lab journal in which students will record their findings about sweet potatoes each month. Every turn of the calendar page will challenge students to learn more about propagation, planting, harvesting, grading, marketing, cooking, and eating North Carolina's official state vegetable! The first students to use the calendar as a learning tool will be fifth grade students at Bailey Elementary School in Bailey, NC. These young scientists will work their way through a year of sweet potatoes and help to develop the calendar that will be made available to fifth grade students all over the country.
On the afternoon of May 13, we enjoyed a visit from Janet Bailey, Science Consultant from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI). We were excited to be introduced to a set of new lesson designs that has been developed by DPI to help Middle School teachers address learning standards using best teaching practices. Similar lesson designs are being developed for all grade levels and will help educators ensure that course content is covered in a most learner friendly fashion. We're looking for some good match-ups with Ag in the Classroom curricula and they are not at all hard to find!
We didn't go through the entire month of May without a little time on the road. Louise presided at a meeting of the National Ag in the Classroom Executive Committee in Washington, DC during the first week of the month. The group took on some planning for future success and reviewed a number of legislative and program issues.
On May 15 and 16 we traveled to Buncombe County to take advantage of a couple of great opportunities. The first was to meet with the principal of the Swannanoa Valley Youth Development Center. Plans were discussed for providing professional development for teachers at this training school as well as others across the state.
The second Buncombe event was an opportunity to present at the Western Regional Childcare Conference held at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College on May 16. We worked with a large group of pre-school educators and a great time sharing the AITC pre-school curriculum with them.
After a full Memorial Day weekend, Louise presented to the Young Farmers and ranchers of Cumberland County on May 27. She shared a read-aloud program with the group to prepare them for visits to elementary classrooms. These visits will include opportunities for YF&R volunteers to read to young learners and share accompanying classroom activities with students.
To end the month of May, Ellen traveled to Cove City, North Carolina for a ribbon cutting at the grand re-opening of the greenhouse at James W. Smith Elementary School. The first grade students of Leela Baggett had spent most of the spring enlisting donations of products, funds, and labor to rebuild a greenhouse on the school property. The ribbon cutting was an opportunity to show off the hard work done by students and volunteers and to share a bit of the vast learning these children acquired through their efforts.
By the time July rolls around we will have been to the "left coast" for the 2008 National Ag in the Classroom Conference. We'll keep you posted, of course!
April 2008
The four original "Rainbow" journeys are complete! We have met with Ag in the Classroom state contacts in four regions of the United States to provide training related to "The Farmer Grows a Rainbow" nutrition education kits. The feedback we received has been most helpful and we have gathered a number of activities that support the lessons in the kit. There were a total of sixteen plane flights and who knows how many delicious calories were consumed? The hospitality offered us was truly incredible!
On April 3 we presented "The Farmer Grows a Rainbow" at the North Carolina Farm Bureau Women's Conference. We gave an overview of the lessons and swapped ideas about how members of county Farm Bureaus can share information about the kit with teachers in their own communities.
One of our new projects is taking shape in the sweet potato field. We are working with Sue Johnson-Langdon and the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission to develop an instructional calendar centered on planting, tending, harvesting, and marketing sweet potatoes. We will be working with the fifth grade students of Frances Anderson at Bailey Elementary School in Nash County. We will also be relying on expertise of Jim and Barbara Jones, Billy Little (Wilson County Extension Horticulture Specialist), and John Kimber (North Carolina Sweet Potato Foundation) as we develop the calendar. Plans are for the calendar to be available online for students across the nation to use as a learning tool for science, math, social studies, and language arts.
We "hit the road" in the Tar Heel state the week of April fifteenth. Early in the week, Louise presented to the Robeson County Reading Council and enjoyed meeting the group of dedicated educators gathered in Lumberton. Ellen spent the fourteenth and fifteenth at UNC Charlotte with the students of Dr. Sarah Ramsey and Dr. Kate Popejoy. It is so exciting to be in the presence of these enthusiastic future educators.
On April 17, we were fortunate to have met with the Middle School principals in Craven County. We had time to "listen in" on their discussion of instructional plans and were encouraged by their dedication. We were then able to share the good news of Ag in the Classroom with them and look forward to working with many Craven County educators in the future.
In the fall of 2007 and the winter of 2008, we conducted classroom learning sessions with primary grade educators in Onslow County. We "owed" them a day of traveling workshops and gladly paid that debt on April 26. Ellen enjoyed a beautiful Saturday morning on the farms of Gary Hardison and Julian Wooten. We learned a great deal about row crops, the economics and mechanics of farming, honey bees, and strawberries. It goes without saying that more than a few strawberries went home with workshop participants that day! Our last stop was the Onslow County Farmers Market. The teachers enjoyed shopping for produce and decorative plants,. Many thanks to the Onslow County Farm Bureau and Onslow County Schools for the support they offered making this event so successful.
We enjoyed a rare treat in April 29th as we took part in a school-wide farm day at Princeton School in Johnston. Our schedule rarely allows us to visit schools and work with students. However, we found our way clear to be a part of the event at a school that serves students from grades Pre-Kindergarten through grade 12. The weather was a bit brisk, but spirits were warm and we had a great day in Princeton!
We look forward to a little travel in May and time spent planning for a summer for of Ag in the Classroom fun!
March 2008
If you have looked up recently and seen a jet flying North, Louise and Ellen were probably on it! The month of March was one big, exciting road trip meant to share The Farmer Grows a Rainbow nutrition lessons with Ag in the Classroom State Contacts around the country.
The first week in March found us in Madison, Wisconsin for the meeting of the Central Region state contacts. As a part of the meeting, Louise and Ellen presented the kit during a four-hour training session. Participants read the content, viewed video clips, and took part in some of the activities that are a part of the lesson set. After their presentation, the two were treated to a "field trip" to the University of Wisconsin and a session on teaching science using highly effective instructional strategies. Of course, we'll be passing those along in future workshops!
The next week offered an opportunity for us to present at the Eastern Regional meeting in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The educational tours were to one of Pennsylvania's Ag in the Classroom mobile science labs and the Milton Hershey School. Both locations held powerful lessons for us and again, we will be sharing at a workshop near you!
As soon as the Harrisburg venture ended, Louise presented at a Pre-Kindergarten conference in Wilson. Two presentations were scheduled at the Saturday event for teachers who need renewal credit and are unable to take part in weekday events.
On March 18, Ellen was fortunate to have been invited to present for a meeting of the Harnett County Reading Council. It turned out to be a very pleasant afternoon with opportunities to meet with excellent teachers and share a few Ag in the Classroom strategies.
On the twentieth of March, we made our return to New Hanover County for the traveling portion of a ten-hour workshop for Wilmington area Pre-Kindergarten teachers. Thanks to the New Hanover County Farm Bureau for sponsoring this event and thanks to New Hanover Ag in the Classroom Ambassador, Janice Williams for coming along to help out with the tours to a local crop research station and greenhouse/nursery site.
March may have gone out like a lamb, but Louise and Ellen were still on the road at the close of the month. This time, we were sharing the nutrition lessons with state contacts from the western region of the United States in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It is impossible to describe what a great time we had there. The presentation went well and the materials were received with excitement. The farm tour was a visit to Jonah Field where energy companies drill for natural gas. The scenery was striking, to say the least. We also visited a cattle ranch and were treated to a sleigh ride on a federal elk preserve.
We begin the month of April preparing for one last road trip to share "The Farmer Grows a Rainbow." This time we'll visit Jackson, Mississippi. We have quite a number of events planned right here in the Tar Heel State as well. We'll tell you all about them next month.
February 2008
We certainly hope that the month of February was a "sweet" one for each of you. We enjoyed several ventures that allowed us to meet some excellent educators who have turned out to be great new friends of NC Ag in the Classroom.
Louise opened the month in California helping to plan the 2008 National Ag in the Classroom Conference which is scheduled for June 24-27 in Costa Mesa. We think Mickey Mouse is one of Louise's new friends!
Speaking of the conference, one of our Ag in the Classroom Ambassadors is the recipient of the White Rhinehardt Scholarhip, which will fund her attendance at the event. This honor is only bestowed on 10 teachers in the entire country. Sandy Hatley, from Stanly County is the first recipient of the White Rhinehardt Scholarship from North Carolina. Congratulations to Sandy and best wishes for a great learning experience in California.
One "not so new" friend, Dr. Emily Long hosted an Ag in the Classroom session for her students at UNC Pembroke on February 4. Ellen really enjoyed the group and felt greatly encouraged and hopeful for the future of young learners in our state because of the teachers they will have. The enthusiasm of these pre-service educators is truly contagious!
We made plenty of new friends in New Hanover County on February 6. It was our good fortune to conduct a six-hour workshop with a group of 30 Pre-K and primary grade teachers at the New Hanover Pre-K Center. Our invitation resulted from one of the teachers in the group attending our presentation at the Pre-K conference in Greensboro last fall. We are looking forward to returning in March for a follow-up traveling workshop. Thanks to the New Hanover Farm Bureau for providing lunch and snacks for the workshop!
It's hard to believe it, but we are already making plans for Ag in the Classroom's contribution to the 2008 North Carolina State Fair. We've developed an activity centered around NC's top twelve agricultural commodities. There's a neat craft activity and a new song has been composed. Funny… even though our state is not a leading producer of partridges, the song sounds a lot like "The Twelve Days of Christmas."
We had a truly "lovely" experience in Polk County on Valentines Day. Beginning with a fine lunch provided by the Polk County Farm Bureau, we enjoyed conducting an afternoon workshop for the entire faculty and staff of Polk Central Elementary School.
We made two presentations at the NC Social Studies conference on February 21. One of the sessions showcased a U.S. History resource called "Growing a Nation." This is an online program that focuses on the history of our country in light of the role played by agriculture. It is very thorough and most appealing. The program can be accessed at the national Ag in the Classroom website: www.agclassroom.org.
Tentative plans are in the works for our first ever NC Ag in the Classroom Conference. We hope to host 100 educators in a retreat setting with general sessions, keynote speakers, and break out sessions to supply lots of top quality teaching strategies. We'll keep you posted as plans evolve.
Can you believe you've made it all the way to the last paragraph without reading anything about "The Farmer Grows a Rainbow?" The month of February was the time for professional production and the Month of March will be our time to take the show on the road. The training kits are "beautiful" and the entire lesson set along with masters, patterns, and video demonstration lessons will soon be on line at www.agclassroom.org. Check it out!
January 2008
As always, December brought more time than usual in the office for your NC Ag in the Classroom staff. We're not sure of the reason, but we never seem to have too many workshops scheduled during the holiday season! We enjoyed our time at the NC Farm Bureau State Convention early in the month. It was wonderful to have some of our Ag in the Classroom Ambassadors on hand to be introduced and we were very happy to have been a part of Pat Riethmeier's recognition as the NC AITC Teacher of the Year.
After the convention, we spent two days as participants in a Social Studies Workshop hosted by NC Department of Public Instruction. The theme was concept-based unit planning. It is always helpful to be a part of a teacher group to stay connected to the latest trends being employed by educators in our state. Our workshop experience resulted in a fully developed unit focused on the interdependence of farmers and other community leaders. As the saying goes…"coming to a workshop near you…!"
Once we were settled back into the office we were able to don the caps of video producers! Yes, the footage for "The Farmer Grows a Rainbow" has been edited and produced into the document that will accompany the teaching kit as a DVD and will be available on line. Want to see some top quality teaching? Check out these lessons taped at Stovall-Shaw Elementary School in Granville County, NC.
We have been provided with a copy of a novel entitled, Crossover Dribble, by P. J. Farris. The book is appropriate for upper elementary or middle school readers and chronicles the life of a high school boy who wants to play basketball more than anything else. Situations on the family farm necessitate his need to forego summer sports camp to plant, tend and harvest the crop with his granddad and best friend. The book hold s a high level of interest for young adult readers, and emphasizes the concept that the work on the farm requires daily attention and must be done correctly. Any readers who use this text with students and have lesson ideas to share are asked to submit them as aprt of our lesson plan set.
Here's wishing you a joyous New Year that holds many successes and blessings
November 2007
Do you think we will ever stop talking about our work on "The Farmer Grows a Rainbow" nutrition lesson set? Sometimes we feel that we will never stop working on it! We are completing final revisions at this time and have asked a number of colleagues to review and proofread. We are looking forward to taking all of our prototypes to the publisher very soon. Then we'll be able to share a polished finished product with trainers and teachers across the country.
We opened the month of November in Onslow County conducting the second session of a three-part training with Pre-K through second grade teachers. It was great fun and we look forward to our return for the traveling portion of this workshop. After the workshop, we made a bee-line back to Farm Bureau to take part in the annual Fall Festival – a large country store and auction to raise money for the Farm Bureau Scholarship Fund.
On November 7, Ellen visited the class of Dr. Emily Long at UNC Pembroke for a class session full of AITC activities. Traditional age college students as well as those training for a second career embraced the activities and promised to take them to their elementary classes.
November 15th was a very special day as we were able to meet with the director of the "A Plus Schools" program. This program is based at UNC Greensboro and is a network of schools across the state committed to teaching core curriculum through the fine arts. We are hopeful that Ag in the Classroom can add to "A Plus" in a meaningful way. We'll keep you posted!
The next day we were fortunate to make two presentations at the state Science Conference. The theme of the conference being "Preserving the Planet", we delivered elementary and upper-level sessions related to agriculture, science, and the environment. The upper-level session was a presentation of Betty Wolanyk's research entitled "Addressing Misconceptions About Agriculture." We were encouraged by the lively and thoughtful discussion that was a part of this session. We hope that each of you had a Thanksgiving full of blessings as did we. Likewise, we wish you a most blessed Christmas and the Happiest of New Years!
October 2007
We hope that your October has been all treats and no tricks! This is the time when you can really get a feel for how your school will go. We hope that all your feelings are positive and that great learning experiences are taking place in your classroom.
Speaking of learning experiences… we really have put our feet to the fire as we work on “The Farmer Grows a Rainbow” nutrition lessons. Early spring of 2008 is our scheduled time to reveal the finished product at regional Ag in the Classroom Consortium meetings. Louise has written, rewritten, and written the lessons again to get them in “just right” condition. Ellen has been “out in the field” working with teachers and students at Stovall-Shaw Elementary School in Granville County to video every academic lesson and every physical activity component.
We were honored to be among the presenters at the third annual Elementary Conference held in Durham on October 8th and 9th. We enjoyed sharing the program with teachers from around the state and were truly inspired by the keynote speaker, Dr. Marcia Tate.
Our travels took us to Greensboro for the state math conference on October 11th. Believe it or not, we began our session with a “silent” math activity. It was difficult for us to remain quiet, but we were able to do so and had a great time sharing AITC with the math conferees.
Ellen shared the AITC pre-school curriculum with members of the Wilson County Partnership for Children on the evening of October 18. Greenhouses were made and learning games were played by a group of teachers who really love our little ones!
Ellen was long gone the week of October 22. She spent three days at UNC Charlotte working with pre-service educators. Hopefully, the students got some valuable information and resources. Ellen was truly encouraged about the future of education in our state!
Louise enjoyed spending time with the East Carolina University Science Educators Club on October 24. She was able to share some good science learning activities with eager teachers-to-be.
After much planning, we were able to present Ag in the Classroom to educators of young children in Onslow County on October 24. These enthusiastic educators did their part to make the occasion such a great success, we will be back early in November for round two!
As the month came to a close, Ellen joined AITC Ambassador, Leigh Humphries at the first annual Lord Granville Agriculture Days on the 26th. Brief presentations were made to about 20 groups of eighth graders about the importance of soybeans as an agricultural commodity.
We are already giving thanks for the many blessings we experience in Ag in the Classroom. Here’s hoping that your Thanksgiving is a safe and blessed one.
September 2007
Now that teachers and their students are back in school, we are back on the road taking NC Ag in the Classroom to every corner of the state! It is always enjoyable and encouraging to spend time with teachers who are so capable and so caring!
The eleventh of the month was a full day for us as we met with educators in Warren and Granville Counties. The event in Warren was an orientation provided for the Warren County Schools Management Team. Ellen met with principals and central office staff to provide an orientation to Ag in the Classroom. It was great to have been introduced to the group by the 2007 NC AITC Teacher of the Year, Pat Riethmeier who is a Warren County teacher at Mariam Boyd Elementary School. Warren County Women's Chairperson, Ann Killian was also on hand to share the local support component of the program with these educators.
On the afternoon of September eleventh, Louise and Ellen conducted a literacy workshop at Northern Granville Middle School in Oxford. We shared a number of "engagement strategies" designed to assist middle and high school students with their writing. These strategies are the main components of a new Upper Grades Literacy Workshop we are developing. Stay tuned for updates in the progress and availability of this training opportunity.
The thirteenth of September always seems to find us in Greensboro at the NCAEYC Conference. Ellen enjoyed the keynote speaker for the annual NC Educators of Young Children event, Dr. Harry Wong. Jennifer Johnson, AITC Ambassador from Vance County co-presented with Ellen on the morning of the fourteenth. The workshop topic was "How Does Your Garden Unit Grow"? The room was full of enthusiastic pre-school educators.
Louise, Ellen, and Jennifer presented by invitation to Community College faculty members early in the afternoon. We shared a sampler of AITC pre-school teaching strategies and training opportunities with the group.
Ellen traveled to Kenansville on September 18th to present for the Duplin County Reading Association. The teachers were wonderful and seemed to appreciate the activities and materials presented. Thanks to Glenda Beavers, Wendy parker, and the Duplin County Farm Bureau for providing delicious refreshments for the event.
The third annual meeting of Ag in the Classroom Ambassadors took place on September 26 and 27. We welcomed 17 veteran ambassadors and 9 rookies to the event held at the state Farm Bureau Offices in Raleigh. Veterans shared their successes from the past school year and "Rookies" shared their enthusiasm for the work they are planning for the upcoming year. AITC Ambassadors represent their own counties and use available opportunities to share the good news of Ag in the Classroom with other educators and their students. Currently, 24 North Carolina counties have AITC Ambassadors.
Neither Louise nor Ellen came to the office on the last day of the month. Louise joined her college friend for a bust tour of Amish Country, Niagara Falls, Montreal, Vermont, and New York State. Ellen traveled homeward to Granville County to conduct demonstration lessons in preparing for videotaping "The Farmer Grows a Rainbow". It seems that every time we talk about the farmer growing that rainbow, the project grows exponentially! We are very close to sending our efforts to press and hope that by the spring, the real thing will be available to teachers.
August 2007
As do so many other months, August has flown by for NC Ag in the Classroom. We have spent some time on the road and some time in the office preparing materials. We were able to send out 137 additional Photosynthesis Promenade kits to school systems across the state. We are grateful to the Field Staff for helping with deliveries to county Farm Bureau offices and to Farm Bureau members for making delivers to educators in their counties.
In an effort to "beef up" credibility in the area of writing instruction, Ellen attended the A-Plus Schools Writing Best Practices Conference in Greensboro, August 2nd and 3rd. What a wonderful opportunity it turned out to be. Be on the lookout for some great new strategies at an AITC Workshop soon!
While Ellen was in Greensboro, Louise was enjoying some family time in California. She enjoyed traveling with her mom to visit her brother and his family for nearly a week. Of course, Ag in the Classroom crept in to the itinerary as Louise visited with her California counterpart, Judy Culbertson. The visit included time at the offices of the California Farm Bureau and a vineyard tour.
On August 8, Ellen presented at the NC Department of Public Instruction Summer Science Institute at Pine Knoll Shores. The session was great and so were the teachers who gathered to make plans to deliver the most effective science instruction possible. In case you were wondering, it was just as hot at the beach as it was everywhere else in North Carolina that week!
One hot week later, Ellen presented for the Lenoir-Greene County Partnership for Children. The workshop was well received by area preschool teachers and the supper provided by the Lenoir County Farm Bureau was enjoyed by all!
The next hot week found Louise and Ellen in Nash County working with a group of ninth grade teachers to plan instruction for a new course that combines academics with valuable life skills. It was very exciting to think of the possibilities for this type of class.
On August 21, Ellen was privileged to meet with all the second grade teachers in Chatham County as a part of their opening day professional development event. The teachers seemed to be very excited about the possibilities offered by Ag in the Classroom. Thanks to Chatham County Farm Bureau for providing a nice meeting space and refreshments for these fine educators.
Our "in office" time has largely been devoted to our nutrition project, "The Farmer Grows a Rainbow." We are working with consultants to assure that each lesson addresses national standards for nutrition education. We are working with creative and production consultants to make sure that all lesson components are appealing and user-friendly.
As we zoom into September, work will continue on the Rainbow lessons. Many friends have inquired about the availability of these lessons. We hope that they will be complete and ready for distribution by spring 2008. We will keep you posted regarding our progress.
See you in September!
July 2007
As always, July has proven to be our most eventful month of the year, thus far! The Kindergarten –Fifth Grade reading and science workshop was held at the Sheraton Imperial , July 9-11. Approximately 55 elementary educators joined in the excitement as they were showered with terrific teaching strategies, fantastic classroom activities, a night at the movies (AITC style), lunch at the Farm Bureau state headquarters, a day at the NCSU research facility, and many, many freebies that can help them deliver quality educational experiences to their students next year.
The next week, approximately 40 middle and high school educators gathered at the Sheraton Imperial to take part in the annual AITC Environmental Issues workshop. Exposure to a few excellent teaching strategies set the scene for three days of tours to research facilities, farms, NC State University, and the State Farmers Market in Raleigh. Participants enjoyed competing in the "Stations" learning activity that kept everyone alert for interesting facts shared at each tour stop. It was concluded that so much valuable information was gleaned that everyone was a winner! The workshop concluded with a presentation of the "Misconceptions About Agriculture" program.
Ellen was fortunate to attend the writing institute sponsored by the NC Department of Public Instruction for middle and high school teachers July 19 and 20. Many useful strategies were shared and will be developed as AITC program components in the near future…stay tuned!
The second of 3 Summer Science Institutes was held July 22-27 at Lake Junaluska in Haywood County. Ellen presented a 90 minute session about Ag in the Classroom to elementary teachers assembled for the institute. Thanks to AITC Ambassador, Melonie Worley for taking part in the presentation. It was a great experience!
On July 26, Louise met with Middle School Careers teachers in Greensboro at the State Vocational Conference. She was able to share lesson plans, instructional strategies and numerous materials with the group.
For the year 2007, we have as a goal to gather data about the effectiveness of our work as presenters and deliverers of the AITC good news! We have enlisted the assistance of Dr. John Rayfield, Assistant Professor at the NC State University College of Agriculture and Life Science. Dr Rayfield has helped to develop and administer a "pre" and "post" survey to workshop participants. The surveys will help us see if information levels and attitudes about agriculture are changing as teachers are introduced to NC Ag in the Classroom. We invite all teachers to share feedback with us. Anyone who has tried a lesson, conducted an agricultural class trip, hosted or attended a farm day is asked to contact us via email and share insights and opinions.
We all can look forward to the August Blog. We can hear all about Louise's trip to California to visit her great-nephew, Andrew! ‘Til then…
June 2007
The summer season opened with a great deal of excitement and fun. We left town on June 5 for the National Ag in the Classroom Conference in New Orleans. We knew that we would have a great experience, but our Louisiana hosts really pulled out all the stops. The conference opened with a mini Mardi Gras parade that set the tone for the next 4 days. We attended wonderful sessions and gained many new strategies and ideas that we will be sharing in workshops and lesson plans. We toured a sugar processing plant, a state-of-the-art oyster facility, a crawfish farm, a sugar cane research facility, and the John Deere manufacturing site in Thibadaux. We were treated to a real Cajun Feast and a dinner cruise down the Mississippi. It was a great pleasure to have Pat Riethmeier, our 2007 NC Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year along with us. She was honored at a reception held for all of the state TOY's and gathered as much information as she possibly could to share with her students and her fellow NC teachers.
Louise doesn't like to "toot her own horn", but Ellen writes the blog, so here is some news from NC AITC… At the National Conference in New Orleans Louise was installed as President of the National Ag in the Classroom Consortium! This well deserved honor comes with a great deal of responsibility and many opportunities to make a positive difference in the world of education.
The very next week, we traveled to Enka, NC to conduct a workshop at the Western Regional Educational Service Agency (WRESA). spent a day in the classroom sharing reading and science teaching strategies followed by a day of farm tours to a dairy farm, a produce packing and shipping facility, and a nursery that specializes in popular and hard-to-find trees and shrubs. The experience went so well that Louise went back within the week to meet with western regional administrators to share the program. This time the event was at the Grove Park Inn… tough assignment, huh?
In another solo performance Louise presented at the first of three Summer Science Institutes hosted by the NC Department of Public Instruction. She met with elementary teachers from across the state at Camp Caraway in Randolph County for an afternoon of fun and learning about how AITC supports the standard course of study in all subject areas at all grade levels.
Of course, we are hard at work getting it all together for the two big AITC summer workshops. We are scheduled to host 50 elementary teachers July 9-11 and approximately 40 middle and high school teachers July 16-18. We expect to have two very successful events. Stay tuned.
