Thinking about implementing CASE in your school? See what other teachers have to say about CASE courses as they start the 2010-2011 school year.

Why did you decide to implement CASE in your program?

How do you feel about implementing the CASE course in your program this fall?

How do you see the CASE curriculum changing the way you teach?

What differences have you seen in your classroom, your teaching, and/or your students since implementing CASE?

How does CASE differ from other curriculum resources you have used?

How did the professional development at the CASE Institute prepare you to teach the course?

NAAE Scholarship recipients respond to “How will the CASE curriculum help you in your first year of teaching?”

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Why did you decide to implement CASE in your program?

“With increasing graduation requirements in science and math and continued deficits in the education budget, it seemed a logical step to find a curriculum that could better serve our students in those areas while still teaching through the context of agriculture. The emphasis on science in the CASE curriculum will allow our students to receive 3^rd year science credit through the CASE ASA and ASP classes.”  – Johnie Ferro, Silverton High School, OR

How do you feel about implementing the CASE course in your program this fall?

“I'm excited!  I've been "showing off" some of the lessons from CASE all summer, and I've gotten really positive feedback from my fellow teachers - and even a little jealousy!  It's such a load off of my shoulders as a first year teacher to have lesson plans and worksheets written for me.  Of course CASE is a flexible program, but it will be easier for me to focus on instructional strategies, classroom management, and all that other first year stuff, now that I have a framework of current and relevant content ready to go.” – Ashley Holden, John Bowne High School, NY

“Implementing the CASE-AFNR course at Switzerland County High School has been a great launching point for my career. As a new teacher I want to establish myself and make a positive difference with my students. Starting off with an APP based course focused on STEM and inquiry-based learning has given me a leg up in accomplishing my first year goals. The CASE curriculum will help me as a new teacher because the curriculum focuses on the students. As a young teacher it would be easy to get caught up in all the challenges and responsibilities and forget what you were hired to do. The CASE curriculum is a great resource and a great thing for me as a new teacher because it focuses on how I as the teacher can better reach my students in the classroom.” – Aaron McKim, Switzerland County High School, IN

“I feel extremely confident that the CASE Plant Science course is a great fit for my Ag 2 class.  The program is all-inclusive from the Day-to-Day schedule to Scoring Rubrics in the Teacher Notes. Through a cooperative effort with my science teacher and my Perkins allocation, we will have a classroom set of LabQuest and sensors to prepare students to use critical thinking skills surrounding all facets of STEM instruction. Furthermore, the CASE certification process and articulation opportunities have already proven to be a great asset for student and administration buy-in.”   – Kristina Haug, Glide High School, OR

How do you see the CASE curriculum changing the way you teach?

“I believe that the biggest change in how I teach will be consistency. I now have the tools to teach the same curriculum from year to year (with enhancements and updates) and from class to class. All too often we throw things together at the last minute and rarely reflect on the effectiveness of the lesson. I now have a toolbox to pull from with links to standards and will have the opportunity to look back, determine what worked well and what didn’t and go from there. I also believe that the shift from lecture based, teacher driven instruction to student-centered, lab-based instruction will provide students with an effective, relevant and rewarding classroom experience.” – Johnie Ferro, Silverton High School, OR 

What differences have you seen in your classroom, your teaching, and/or your students since implementing CASE?

“Everything is different! My outlook in teaching is much more enthusiastic and my perspective is back to where it should be, to provide each and every student with the best learning experiences that they can have. Having and knowing how to use this curriculum has allowed me to look at Agricultural Education in a new way and how to better relate to students in today’s world.” – Casey Jones, Rockwall High School, TX

“I have found that students are very receptive to the CASE courses. When comparing my traditional methods of teaching an Ag. I class in the past to using the Intro to AFNR in the last two weeks, I can see a tremendous change in the attitudes of my students. I feel that all students are involved and actively engaged in the learning process. The students enjoy working in groups to complete their assignments and have an overall better attitude and behavior.” – Misty Thibodeaux, Lake Arthur High School, LA 

How does CASE differ from other curriculum resources you have used?

“The curriculum for the course is broader, has more rigor, has higher standards, is definitely more challenging, more activity based, and contains more material from core courses than any other that I have ever used. Yet, at the same time, it is still easy to understand and is more versatile in the ways that it can be implemented. It contains all the information need to properly implement it in the room, for the students and teachers.” – Casey Jones, Rockwall High School, TX

“CASE is different from other curriculums that I have used in the past because it is the whole package. Everything I need to teach this class is included and very well put together. The activities are written for the student to understand and complete without needing the teacher to walk them through it every step of the way. CASE is an exciting and practical curriculum that keeps students interested and engaged.” – Misty Thibodeaux, Lake Arthur High School , LA

“I can’t even count the curriculum resources that I have at my disposal. Every time I go to a conference or talk with another teacher I feel like I am handed curriculum that I am sure would be very valuable and effective but I never have time to sit down and go through it, practice labs or have a resource to ask questions. With the CASE model and institutes I feel incredibly prepared to teach the curriculum and firmly believe that had I not participated in the institutes, this resource would also find itself on the shelf collecting dust.  I feel confidant teaching the science and math standards and know that as questions arise I have a community of teachers to talk it through to find solutions.” – Johnie Ferro, Silverton High School, OR

How did the professional development at the CASE Institute prepare you to teach the course?

“The professional development part is essential to implementing CASE.  It's such a large project, you need that time in PD to explore the program, to get acquainted with the lessons, and to produce some of the projects yourself, so that you know how your students will respond.  My favorite part of the PD is that it's taught by agriculture teachers.  I got so much out of the training because experienced agricultural educators delivered the curriculum, and my fellow classmates offered suggestions or raised valid questions based on their experiences as teachers. Participating in the CASE PD is a unique and extremely valuable experience.  How often do we get the opportunity to work collaboratively with other agriculture teachers from around the country?” – Ashley Holden, John Bowne High School, NY

“The CASE Institute offered a hands-on look at each lesson presented throughout the curriculum. Even as a new teacher I feel very confident in the material and my ability to be an effective teacher utilizing the CASE curriculum because of this Professional Development.” – Aaron McKim, Switzerland County High School, IN

“The professional development that is provided with the CASE curriculum is extremely important in order to have a successful program. Teachers will bring home the experience of working through most of the activities in the course and will have examples of what student's work should look like. If the curriculum was given to teachers without any training, most would stick it on the shelf and never take the time to go through it. This would be a waste of a great teaching opportunity.” – Misty Thibodeaux, Lake Arthur High School , LA

“So often, curriculum is packaged up and offered to ag teachers as both interactive and student friendly.  Nonetheless, there always exist a huge divide between lessons on paper and the most appropriate way to maximize instruction through the professional development component. CASE provides both!  Throughout the two-week course, we were constantly given the tools to customize the curriculum to our classrooms and time frames, while utilizing numerous methods of instruction and classroom management strategies for increased engagement and student-directed learning.” – Kristina Haug, Glide High School, OR

How will the CASE curriculum help you in your first year of teaching?

“Luck favors the prepared. Having the CASE curriculum removes a huge hurdle in my daily preparation for my students. I won't be delivering boring, notes-only lessons that make students dread my class. These are truly fun – I know in my student teaching I would stare at the monitor thinking, "Wow, that's an informative lesson I've written, and also an excellent sleep aid." Boring is not an issue with CASE. Also, as a first-year teacher, there are lots of eyes watching to make sure standards are being addressed and all the important parts of the lesson plan are included. With CASE, it's done, and I can focus on how I will deliver a lesson and how I can make modifications and differentiate for my students.”  – Ashley Holden, John Bowne High School, NY

“The CASE curriculum will help me as a new teacher because the curriculum focuses on the students. As a young teacher it would be easy to get caught up in all the challenges and responsibilities and forget what you were hired to do. The CASE curriculum is a great resource and a great thing for me as a new teacher because it focuses on how I as the teacher can better reach my students in the classroom.” – Aaron McKim, Switzerland County High School, IN