Virtual Mentor Exploration....Part 1!!

There are three questions that we were to ask our virtual mentor team. I also included my cooperating teacher when sending this question out. There are 3 questions that we must ask our team so there will be three parts to this as well!!

This month's question was "What is your philosophy/or core values as an Agricultural Educator?"

To start off, all of my mentors said that they basically believe an Ag Ed program should be student centered and even developed by students!

• I agree! This is really important when it comes to the Three Circle Model of Agricultural Education (Classroom/lab, FFA and SAE). It is about the students and their growth.
• My worry (not only for myself but for others too) is that, as teachers, we have to make sure we are not living through our students. This is their time!

Another common theme I found throughout this endeavor was that when students are engaged in the content, there are potentially less classroom management problems.

• This makes sense to me because we always say that "if you have a farm, you don't have time to get into trouble." Of course students don't have to have a farm but the point is if they have something to do, then they won't have time to do anything else (get in trouble).

My mentors believe in inquiry based learning.

• (and so do I)!
• If students get the chance to ask questions, then they will have a greater interest in learning and discovering what the answers are to their questions than otherwise being lectured at.

Mr. Fellenbaum also told me that part of his philosophy was to have assessments be as real life as they can be!

• I have to agree with that. Some examples of this could be digging a soil pit and practical welding projects.

Ms. Rippole mentioned that enthusiasm and passion are big things to think about.

• I think this goes for most everybody; I even start my philosophy statement off with a personal story.

Dr. McLean quoted the National Association of Agricultural Educators creed by saying "I am an Agricultural Educator by choice not by chance."

• I know a number of ag teachers who live by this and a few who I don't always see it shining through but that still doesn't mean it isn't there.
• Although I did not include this is my philosophy, I firmly believe in it as well. Especially given how I even got to this point....I made the CHOICE to be here and do this....for the students and their growth!!
• This point also goes back to not living through your students. Remember you're there for them and you had your time (if you were lucky enough to go through an ag program)!

Mr. Haussener made a big point of getting to know your students, really make the connections with them. Go on home SAE visits, get to know their parents.

• Every time I go to Cedar Crest for a visit, I see him asking students what they did or what they're going to do this weekend (depending on the day I go). That's just one little thing he asks them; he knows a lot about what goes on outside of his classroom which helps the students know he cares.

I want to say so much more about my mentors philosophies but I decided to keep it short and sweet. I thought it would be best if I took a couple of common themes and one important (semi unique, maybe its true for many or all of my mentors but only one really said it, who knows) theme from each of my mentors.

I can't wait to continue to dig deeper into what my mentors think and have experienced through their years of teaching in various schools across the state (and in NJ)!!