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