2024 NAAE Convention

Researchers indicate students lack persistence and motivation to complete tasks in secondary classrooms, especially in the last five years (since COVID-19). This workshop will highlight classroom expectations, procedures, and teaching strategies you can employ to help today's students gain work-ready skills and better engage with content. Spend some time developing assignments, working through disclosure documents, and thinking through how your classroom can help set students up for success.

AgriSafe's Invest in Your Health Trainer Exchange certifies educators to deliver modules tailored for ages 14-23. Training materials are provided and designed for classroom settings. Invest in Your Health (IYH) comprises seven modules for agricultural teachers to seamlessly integrate into their courses. These innovative trainings aim to empower young producers to prioritize their health through preventive behaviors, ultimately shaping the future of agriculture. Each module includes classroom curriculum, student activities, and learning assessments, aiming to educate, prevent, and safeguard young farmers. Additionally, educators will receive a digital badge to showcase their dedication to specialized training for youth working in agriculture.

Incorporating mycology into the classroom has many benefits including discussions on food safety and regulation, the role of ecology, and taxonomic identification skills. Fungi also play many different roles in the ecosystem including decomposers, mutualists, and parasites. Lesson plans in four topics areas will be presented including; mushroom identification, sustainable foraging, fungal ecology, and food safety. Examples of hands-on learning and connections to the Wild-Foraged Mushroom certification will be given. Looking at these components of the agriscience curriculum through the lens of mycology will prove to be an engaging way to motivate students while potentially helping them earn a certification.