2016-2017 New Mexico Agriculture in the Classroom
Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture
Award Application
Application adapted from
Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture National Award Program
National Ag in the Classroom
Submission Deadline:
November 1, 2016
Sponsored by New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau
New Mexico Ag in the Classroom
Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Award Application
(Adapted from the National Ag in the Classroom Application)
What is the NM Ag in the Classroom Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Award?
One award will be given to an educator (or team of teachers with a designated team leader) currently engaged in classroom instruction at the Pre K-12th grade levels. This award will recognize a NM teacher (or teacher team) for his or her integrated efforts to teach students about the importance of agriculture.
An educator will be presented with the award at the New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau Annual meeting November 18, 2016 in Albuquerque. The award winner will then receive the honor of representing New Mexico in the run for the National Ag in the Classroom Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Award. The award-winning educator (or team) will receive a stipend to help with travel and registration costs for the National Ag in the Classroom Conference June 20-23, 2016 in Kansas City, MO.
Who is eligible?
District certified teachers currently engaged in integrating agricultural concepts into non-vocational agriculture classroom settings at the PreK-12th grade levels are eligible. This may be an individual teacher or team of teachers (with designated team leader).
Note: Teachers of high school agricultural education or career and technical education are not eligible for this award.
What are the criteria for selection?
Teachers must integrate/utilize agricultural information within their classroom curriculum in an effort to assist students in learning the importance of agriculture. Instruction may include, but is not limited to: understanding the importance and value of agriculture in students’ daily lives; understanding the relationships among agriculture, food and fiber productions, animals, health, energy systems, technology, economics, and the environment; identifying and understanding the connections between academic subjects and agricultural careers including, but not limited to, STEM careers; understanding the overall connectedness between STEM and agriculture. Innovative, integrated, and interdisciplinary programs are encouraged.
Note: Prior winners of this award are ineligible for future awards under this program. Unsuccessful nominees from previous years may be resubmitted.
How do you apply?
1. Complete the application form (included in this document). Applications should contain all requested information and appropriate signatures.
2. Complete all of the teacher application components as listed below.
3. Include the following supporting documentation:
- Endorsement by an Administrator: A letter (signed and dated) by a school administrator should substantiate the candidate’s excellence in and dedication to the teaching role.
4. Please read the entire application thoroughly, and ask questions well before the submission deadline.
Components of the Teacher Application:
Please note that this application replicates the National Ag in the Classroom
Application since the winning application from NM will compete in the national competition. (It is designed to help you only have to do one application.)
Helpful hint: Visit lessons on the Curriculum Matrix for good examples of existing lessons at nmaitc.org.
A. Exemplary Lesson Plan:
Note: Any lessons submitted may be added to the National Curriculum Matrix regardless of the applicant’s award status. (Be sure to give credit to the appropriate sources, if applicable.)
Please submit one lesson plan (four page limit), which illustrates your agricultural literacy teaching method as described in the narrative section below. Evaluation criteria include use of standards-based, formal education practices for teaching agricultural literacy, which are integrated into standing subjects rather than used as a stand-alone lesson. Evaluation also includes critical thinking aspects, ones that encourage problem solving by learners for a deeper understanding of agriculture issues. Please include the following content, according to the order below, in your lesson plan:
1. Applicant’s name and state
2. Title of the lesson
3. Brief purpose of the lesson
4. Grade level(s) addressed
5. Time/ length of lesson
6. Objective of the lesson
7. Standards addressed (limit addressed state standards list to no more than one-half page)
8. National Ag Literacy Outcomes (NALOs) addressed: See p. 4,6,8,10 &12 at this link: http://www.agclassroom.org/get/doc/NALObooklet.pdf
9. Materials list
10. Vocabulary or keywords
11. Instructor procedure
12. Additional resources which you feel enhance the lesson
13. Assessment (list five essential questions that students should understand and be able to answer after having been taught the lesson)
Note: Please be sure to give credit to the appropriate sources, if applicable. Lesson plans should not exceed four pages.
B. Educator Narrative: (four page limit)
Share your method of integrating and instructing one or more of the following national agricultural literacy themes in your classroom. How did you use the theme (or themes) to increase agricultural literacy? Please note on the first line of your narrative which theme(s) you are addressing:
Helpful note: The one lesson plan you submit should correspond with your narrative.
1. Agriculture & the Environment
2. Plants and Animals for Food, Fiber & Energy
3. Food, Health, and Lifestyle
4. Science, Technology, Engineering & Math
5. Culture, Society, Economy & Geography
C. Documentation & Photos: Limit to 2 pages
Applicants are encouraged to share photos and other documentation of instruction on agricultural literacy. Put as many photos on one page as you wish; use high-resolution photos, and add a brief caption at the bottom of each photo to describe the activity. Please save this file as a PDF.
D. Statement of Release: One page
Complete the provided statement of release for the use of photographs, lesson plans, and other materials by NMF&LB Foundation for media publications.
How are applicants evaluated?
All applications will be evaluated by a panel of judges familiar with agriculture, education, and Agriculture in the Classroom.
Evaluation Criteria:
Evaluation Sections: / WeightEducator Narrative: The degree to which an educator exemplifies leading instruction on accurate agriculture knowledge, attitudes, and skills, and demonstrates teaching excellence in gaining student understanding of a selected agricultural literacy theme(s). Grants, community extensions, professional development relating to the narrative topic for other educators, and awards for teaching about narrative content will also be considered. (4 page limit) / 25
Lesson Plans: The degree to which accurate agricultural concepts have been integrated into a standards-based education plan, which includes a critical thinking element and demonstrates for the learner a deeper understanding of the relationships between agriculture systems, individuals, and the world. (4 page limit) / 25
Formal Education: The degree to which the educator utilizes formal education practices for an integrated, standards-based lesson plan with demonstrated understanding of accurate agricultural literacy. / 25
Documentation, Photos &/or Curriculum Map: The degree to which photos and other documentation exhibit excellence in agricultural literacy methods used by the applicant, to include but not limited to: news articles, bulletin board examples relating to agricultural literacy, community outreach, school newsletters, grant award letters, etc. (2 page limit) / 20
Formatting of application: The degree to which the applicant has completed the application in accordance to the instructions. (See below) / 5
Formatting the application for submission:
1. Please use a 12-point font, double-spaced on the narrative and single-spaced on the lesson plan (double-space may be used on the lesson plan where you feel appropriate). Use one-inch margins. Each applicant should clearly label the parts of their application and submit them with the following format for each electronic file (PDF or Word document):
Label each part: Name, state abbreviation, and document title
Example: Jane Doe, NM, Letter of Endorsement by Administrator
Jane Doe, NM, Application Form
Jane Doe, NM, Narrative
Jane Doe, NM, Lesson Plan
Jane Doe, NM, Documentation & Photos
Jane Doe, NM, Statement of Release
*Please do not submit video or CD ROM presentations.
Formatting the application for submission (continued):
2. Electronic submissions are used exclusively for submissions of applicant’s files. All files should be properly named as described in part 1 on page 4. You must submit your application as a PDF. If your application is very large (greater than 5 MB) and has large images, please consider reducing the image sizes in the file to make your overall file smaller. If this is not possible you may submit more than one PDF file, noting in your e-mail that you are sending separate e-mails and attachments. If you prefer to use Dropbox, please e-mail and I will provide you with a link. We will notify you within 24 hours (Monday-Friday) of receiving your application and will note which files we received. If you do not hear from us please call; we want to make sure that everyone is successful in submitting his or her application, and we will work with you on the electronic submission.
Note: Please do not submit video or CD-ROM presentations
How are applications evaluated?
All applications will be evaluated by a panel of judges familiar with agriculture, education, and Agriculture in the Classroom. The judges will be provided with the judging rubric you will find included in this application.
Deadline for submission:
The application must be received by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, November 1, 2016.
Where to submit:
Please submit your application to:
Questions: Contact Traci Curry, e-mail: or 505-238-2425
All applicants will be notified of results by Monday, November 7th, 2016.
Checklist:
Have you attached the following documents to your electronic submission? Make sure you named your files as directed (name, state abbreviation, document title).
______Endorsement Letter by an Administrator (1 page)
______Application Form (2 page limit)
______Narrative (4 page limit)
______Lesson Plan (4 page limit)
______Documentation/Photos (2 pages)
______Release Form: for general use of the lesson plan and/or any
photos submitted for use in NMF&LB Foundation publications (1 page)
Please Note: Applications should not exceed 14 pages, and additional pages will not be considered.
Thank you for your hard work and dedication to incorporating agricultural literacy into your curriculum.
Materials & Photo Release
I, ______, hereby grant New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau (“NMFLB”) and New Mexico Ag in the Classroom (“NMAITC”) permission to use my photographs, lesson plans and all other materials that I have included in the NM Teacher of Excellence application. I understand that this information may be used in all of its publications, including social media and website entries and that I will receive no compensation for my appearance or participation in said media. I guarantee that I have received written permission from parents for any photo(s) included in the application that show students and that I have maintained that documentation on file.
I understand and agree that these materials will become the property of NMFLB and NMAITC and will not be returned. I hereby irrevocably authorize NMFLB and NMAITC to edit, alter, copy, exhibit, publish or distribute without restriction these documents for purposes of publicizing NMFLB's programs or for any other lawful purpose.
In addition, I waive the right to inspect or approve the finished product, including written or electronic copy, wherein my likeness appears. Additionally, I waive any right to royalties or other compensation arising from or related to the use of the photograph(s).
I am of full age (eighteen and older) and have the right to contract in my own name. I have read the release before signing below and fully understand the contents of this release. This release shall be binding upon me and my heirs, legal representatives, and assigns.
______
Applicant’s Name (printed)
______
Applicant’s Signature Date
Application Form
Name ______
Home Address______Phone (____) ______
City______State ______Zip______
School Name______
School Address______Phone (____) ______
City ______State ______Zip ______
E-mail Address ______
Grade Level ______Subject(s) taught ______
Numbers of years teaching experience ______Number of years at current school______
Education
Institution Year Degree/Certification
______
Professional Experience
Position School/Organization Date Average # of students taught per year
______
Awards & Honors Related to Teaching
______
Other Recognition or Honors
______
Application Form (continued)
Membership in Professional Organizations:
______
One-paragraph Biographical Sketch:
______
Applicant’s Name (printed): ______
Signature of Applicant: ______Date: ______
Phone: ______Cell Phone: ______
4
Appendix A
Rubric: Evaluation Criteria
To accompany the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization
“Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture” Application
The degree to which an educator exemplifies leading instruction on
accurate agriculture knowledge, attitudes, and skills, and demonstrates teaching excellence in gaining student understanding of selected agricultural literacy themes(s). Grants, community extensions, professional development relating to the narrative topic for other educators, and awards for teaching about narrative content will also be considered.
(4-page limit) / Educator puts forth a compelling, well-
organized claim demonstrating how they meet all points asked for in the educator narrative criteria, including demonstration of integrating agricultural literacy into academic content areas consistently during the school year. Narrative meets one or more of the criteria in section X.A of the application. / Educator puts forth a strong claim demonstrating how they meet all points asked for in the educator narrative criteria, including demonstration of integrating agricultural literacy into academic content areas consistently during the school year. Narrative meets one or more of the criteria in section X.A of the application. / Educator meets most of the points asked for in the educator narrative criteria, including demonstration of integrating agricultural literacy into academic content areas consistently during the school year. Narrative meets one or more of the criteria in section X.A of the application. / Educator meets a few of the points asked for in the educator narrative criteria; however, the narrative is unclear as to whether agricultural literacy is consistently instructed in academic content areas during the school year. Narrative meets one or more of the criteria in section X.A of the application. / Educator narrative does not really reflect the subject to be addressed in the narrative criteria, and there is no connection to integrating agricultural literacy into academic content areas consistently during the school year. Applicant appears to have taught agricultural literacy as a "one and done" event.