Owl Pellets: Tips for Ag Teachers

Another end to the school year, another end to an Owl Pellets: Tips for Ag Teachers season. Come along as Brian, Becky, and Mike wrap up season 11. 

Brian, Becky, and Mike are back to diving into how learning works. However, in this episode, they are meeting a very special guest. Throughout this episode, they will dive deep into how the book came to be and some of Michele DiPietro's advice for both teachers and students. Come along as we wrap up our season 11 mini-series. 

Brian, Becky, and Mike are back to diving into how learning works. Throughout this episode, they will dive deep into the eighth and final section of the book "How Learning Works: 8 Research-Based Principles for Smart Learning." Marsha Lovett, Michael Birdges, Michele DiPietro, Susan Ambrose, and Maria Norman focused this book on making learning work for you and your students! Come along as Brian,...

Ready to boost your STEM teaching confidence? William Norris and Lacey Roberts-Hill deliver crucial insights from research exploring how agricultural educators perceive their ability to integrate STEM-based AFNR standards! We unpack findings on specific STEM concepts where teachers excel and areas where more support is needed. Learn about the vital role of preservice training and actionable recomm...

Brian, Becky, and Mike are back to diving into how learning works. Throughout this episode, they will dive deep into the seventh section of the book " How Learning Works: 8 Research-Based Principles for Smart Learning." Marsha Lovett, Michael Birdges, Michele DiPietro, Susan Ambrose, and Maria Norman focused this book on making learning work for you and your students! Come along as Brian, Becky, a...

Ever feel like your PD doesn't quite deepen your ag literacy instruction? This "pellet" uncovers vital research on a professional development program that's all about equipping ag teachers for success! Learn how relevant, discipline-specific content (think animal and plant science!) from experts was highly valued for its direct impact on teaching core agricultural knowledge. We'll explore why hand...

Brian, Becky, and Mike are back to diving into how learning works. Throughout this episode, they will dive deep into the sixth section of the book " How Learning Works: 8 Research-Based Principles for Smart Learning." Marsha Lovett, Michael Birdges, Michele DiPietro, Susan Ambrose, and Maria Norman focused this book on making learning work for you and your students! Come along as Brian, Becky, and...

Want to elevate your students' communication skills for the modern ag industry? This "pellet" delivers crucial insights from research on how agricultural communication is being integrated in SBAE classrooms nationwide! Learn about the rapid growth in ag comm offerings, the current state of content consistency, and the vital design, writing, and software skills students are mastering. This episode...

Ready to dive into the world of middle school ag ed and supercharge your SAE program? Jacob Englin digests two powerful research articles! First, we explore trends, gaps, and teacher needs in U.S. middle school agricultural education, revealing where we need more up-to-date research. Then, we dive into how top teachers create high-quality SAE experiences by focusing on student growth, leveraging c...

How can your ag classroom be a haven for students impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)? William Norris and Shannon Norris Parish share vital research exploring how SBAE teachers compassionately support these learners! Discover actionable strategies like providing hygiene items, purchasing meals on Ag trips, and offering emotional support. We'll highlight the deep personal commitment ed...

Brian, Becky, and Mike are back to diving into how learning works. Throughout this episode, they will dive deep into the fifth section of the book " How Learning Works: 8 Research-Based Principles for Smart Learning." Marsha Lovett, Michael Birdges, Michele DiPietro, Susan Ambrose, and Maria Norman focused this book on making learning work for you and your students! Come along as Brian, Becky, and...

This episode unpacks compelling research on how diverse tech tools—from flipped classrooms to digital games—are impacting agricultural education at all levels. We reveal the growing gap between a rapidly evolving ag industry and current teaching methods, highlighting how integrating modern tech can significantly enhance student achievement, engagement, and teacher efficacy. This is a must-listen f...

Ever wondered how confident you are in supporting students with learning difficulties in SAEs? This episode digests research exploring how Georgia ag teachers perceive their ability to do just that! We uncover findings that show teachers value inclusive practices like using IEPs and adapting instruction, but often feel only moderately competent. Discover the vital role of hands-on preparation and...

Brian, Becky, and Mike are back to diving into how learning works. Throughout this episode, they will dive deep into the fourth section of the book " How Learning Works: 8 Research-Based Principles for Smart Learning." Marsha Lovett, Michael Birdges, Michele DiPietro, Susan Ambrose, and Maria Norman focused this book on making learning work for you and your students! Come along as Brian, Becky, an...

How can your ag program be a game-changer for students with special needs? This episode unpacks vital research exploring ag teachers' confidence and strategies for inclusion. We reveal how hands-on agricultural experiences are uniquely effective at building occupational skills, self-identity, and confidence, directly impacting future employment. Discover the importance of targeted professional dev...

Imagine parents as your biggest allies in ag ed! Amelia Miller explains groundbreaking national research on how much value parents place on their children learning about agriculture in school. Discover the surprising finding that parents overwhelmingly see agricultural topics as "very important" for K-12 students, regardless of their own background! Get ready for practical insights on how you can...

Ready to prepare your students for the real world? Michelle Burrows helps the Owl Pellet Crew digest vital research on integrating Socioscientific Issues (SSI) like climate change, GMOs, and food security into school-based agricultural education! Discover why these complex, multi-perspective topics are essential for building critical thinking and discussion skills. We'll explore how SSI-based inst...

Brian, Becky, and Mike are back to diving into how learning works. Throughout this episode, they will dive deep into the third section of the book " How Learning Works: 8 Research-Based Principles for Smart Learning." Marsha Lovett, Michael Birdges, Michele DiPietro, Susan Ambrose, and Maria Norman focused this book on making learning work for you and your students! Come along as Brian, Becky, and...

How effective is your FFA chapter's social media strategy? Raquel Taylor, Taylor Ruth, and Nathan Conner dive into research exploring how secondary agriculture teachers use social media to promote their FFA chapters. We examine which platforms are favored, the content shared, and the significant benefits teachers experience. Despite widespread use, findings reveal untapped potential and a clear ne...

Ready to supercharge scientific thinking and real-world skills in your students? This episode digests research on how U.S. agriculture teachers implement Agriscience Fair programs! Discover the complex decisions teachers make and how these fairs uniquely strengthen scientific thinking, hands-on learning, communication, and interview skills. We'll explore the power of cross-curricular collaboration...

Brian, Becky, and Mike are back to diving into how learning works. Throughout this episode, they will dive deep into the second section of the book " How Learning Works: 8 Research-Based Principles for Smart Learning ." Marsha Lovett, Michael Birdges, Michele DiPietro, Susan Ambrose, and Maria Norman focused this book on making learning work for you and your students! Come along as Brian, Becky, a...

How can your agriscience classroom cultivate strong agricultural literacy that goes beyond hands-on skills? This episode digests research exploring how SBAE teachers are promoting ag literacy through speaking, listening, and writing activities! Discover how explicit explanations, group discussions, and project-based work help students grasp complex vocabulary and apply concepts to real life. We'll...

Ever feel like you're constantly balancing on the edge of burnout? This episode introduces the Donut Model for Ag Teacher Success! Adapted from Doughnut Economics, this new framework offers a fresh way to understand the sweet spot between minimum and maximum productivity boundaries. Learn how factors like mentoring, support systems, and workload management can help you thrive, not just survive. Ge...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to produce this podcast? Who is this mysterious fourth person of the Owl Pellets crew? For the past three seasons, Kyleigh Hilburn has been behind the scenes producing Owl Pellets: Tips for Ag Teachers Podcast. In this week's episode, Brian and Becky pull Kyleigh out from the background and into the guest's chair. Hear all about what it takes to produce a podca...

Ready to unlock deeper student involvement and real-world learning? This episode digests a powerful 7-year study on the CROPS Project, grounded in the transformative Youth-Adult Partnership (YAP) Theory! Discover how fostering genuine collaboration between youth and adults in ag education can dramatically enhance student motivation, build practical skills (like farm safety!), and strengthen classr...