Growing Knowledge of Agriculture in the Classroom
Teaching:
School: Hiawatha Elementary School
Grade: 1st and 2nd
Subjects: All subjects
Number of years teaching: 5
Farm Bureau/Ag Literacy connection: I have used AgriLearning Kits for the past 4 years, I teach and participate in Ag in the Classroom, and I was the Ag Literacy Ambassador for my school.
What is your favorite unit to teach? I have two favorites: Getting to the Core and Pumpkin Patch. I use the Apple Kit in September and the Pumpkin Kit in October! I love being able to use the ready-to-use kits from Farm Bureau’s Ag Literacy program.
What do you enjoy most about teaching? I enjoy building relationships with students.
What is something unique that you do in your classroom? I love to have dress-up days on Fridays (Funky Fridays) to motivate students the entire week.
How do you inspire your students? I inspire my students to learn by being relatable and making learning fun!
Why is it important for students to learn about food and farming? I think it is important for students to see the connection between farming and the food they eat. Our community is really into farming, so a lot of students already have at-home connections to farming.
Personal:
Hometown: Geneva
Family: Husband, Tyler Hofmann, pets Sophia and Winifred
College/Degree(s): Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Northern Illinois University, with English as a Second Language and Middle School English endorsements. I am currently working on my Master’s in Education in Literacy Education at Northern Illinois University.
What did you want to be when you grew up? I love animals and wanted to be a veterinarian!
Favorites:
Quote: “Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” Winnie the Pooh
Hobbies: Spending time with friends and playing Animal Crossing
Book: “The Harry Potter” Series
Food: Tacos and iced coffee
Music: I mostly listen to country music, but “Baby Shark” is my favorite song!
TV show: “The Great British Baking Show”
Travel destination: Italy