The Chronicles of Becoming an Ag Educator

Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE) are an important entity to agricultural education. As I mentioned in previous blogs a true agricultural education program is comprised of three very important components; Classroom/ laboratory instruction, FFA, and SAE. SAEs are programs created by students to explore their interests in a specific agricultural area. These programs allow for a hands, on real world experience, while developing life skills. Students can choose one of six different SAE areas to develop their program around. “An SAE is a catalyst for personal growth, career development, and responsible citizenship that leads to individual, group and societal benefits not possible through formal education alone” (“Jig Saw.”2005) SAE is truly a unique aspect of agricultural education, allowing students be creative and cultivate their own learning. Students at Central Columbia High School in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania are doing just that, developing programs that are pushing  them ...

It's that time of year again, where everyone in northeast Pennsylvania is going crazy for the Little League World Series. Growing up only about an hour from where the games are held each year I to am one of "those" people. As I watch the games this year I am finding that I am thinking of more than just baseball. It may be because it is the first week of classes at Penn State or I have turned over a new mindset, I find myself thinking about teaching. I know you might be what do teaching and baseball have to do with each other, just let me tell you! As I prepare to become an agricultural educator, I realize more and more that there is a lot more to it than just standing in from of the room, writing some words on a chalk board, and hoping that my students are learning something. Agricultural education is like no other form education and because of that it is not always easy. As an agricultural teacher you must be playing each base while also thinking about the next move a...

On the journey to becoming an agricultural educator each student is required to complete a 15 week student teaching internship. During those 15 weeks we will work with a cooperating agricultural educator at that school. In order for each individual student and cooperating teacher to have the best experience possible it is important that each of us create a positive connection prior to student teaching. One way Mr. Curt Turner and I are working to establish our working relationship is through reading  Juggling Elephants   by Jones Loflin and Todd Musig .  Just as there is more to the ring master than a long red coat and a top hat, there is much to be said about an agricultural educator beyond the lab coat. The last few chapter of “Juggling Elephants” really had me saying “yes!” this is the kind of teacher I want to be. I will challenge myself to be the master of three very important rings (the three-circle model that is). While I am still trying to figure out who ex...