Hundreds of Teachers Armed with Agriculture Education

When Virginia elementary school teachers return to their classrooms this year, many will have a new appreciation for agriculture education.

In the past year, 812 teachers throughout the state have completed training offered by the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. The training integrates agriculture into science, math, social studies and language arts.

"Our program is based on the state Standards of Learning," said Michele Awad, the foundation’s executive director. "Classes are designed to compliment the state requirements."

The program and related teaching materials are available statewide at no cost for kindergarten through fifth grade teachers.

"This program will give students the opportunity to learn about agriculture with hands-on activities that enhance the teachers’ lessons," Ms. Awad said. "We believe the approach really makes learning fun."

Teacher responses from the 35 training sessions held in the past year have been positive.

"I think agriculture education is really lacking in our schools," said Bob Friend, a third grade teacher from Chamberlayne Elementary School in Richmond. "Our kids go to the stores and get the food off the shelves, and they don’t have a good knowledge about all the things involved, all the different stages that we go through and the farmers go through."

Friend, who participated in an AITC workshop over the summer, is planning to take the knowledge he gained to his pupils this fall. Most school systems provide re-certification points for teachers who take the AITC class.

Interested educators can find out more about training programs by calling 804-290-1141 or by visiting www.vafb.com.

Contact Ms. Awad at 804-290-1141, Friend at 804-261-5030 or Sherri McKinney, VFBF video producer, at 804-290-1148.

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Seeds for Success A Biannual Newsletter on Agriculture in the Classroom