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Teacher Feature – Julie Lovett

Growing Knowledge of Agriculture in the Classroom

Teaching

School: Indian Creek Elementary School, Shabbona

Grade: 3rd Grade

Subjects: All subjects

Number of years teaching: 28

Farm Bureau/Ag Literacy connection: I have attended many Summer Ag Institutes over the years, participate in the Ag in the Classroom presentations, and my class participates in the Placemat Contest every year.

What is your favorite unit to teach? I absolutely love to teach about the Iditarod. The students pick a musher to follow and I have a large map of Alaska where they move their musher every morning. We incorporate every Idatarod book in our school’s library.

What do you enjoy most about teaching? I love connecting with students and their families.

What is something unique that you do in your classroom? Each student in my classroom gets a week to be the “Star Student.” During a student’s week, he/she shares five special items from home and reads their favorite book to the class. The other students write letters to the Star Student, and the parents write a letter to their child who then reads it to the class.

Why is it important for students to learn about food and farming? The students in our district have farm fields all around them and it is important for them to understand how they get their food and everyday supplies.

Personal

Hometown: Steward

Family: Husband, Scott, and children, Nate and Emily

College/Degree(s): Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Eureka College

What did you want to be when you grew up? An accountant

Favorites

Quote: “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind.” Robin Williams

Hobbies: Spending time with family and gardening

Book: “Summer of the Monkeys” by Wilson Rawls

Music: Country

Sports team: Chicago Cubs

Travel destination: Hawaii