Value Added- Program Visit to Wellsboro

The agricultural education community is a large, yet small community. Moving up to Tioga County for the semester I was introduced to another agricultural educators within the county. One of the agricultural educators being Mrs. Melanie Berndtson from Wellsboro Area High School.  Throughout my time up here Mrs. Berndtson has been very helpful! We have attended state events together, had dinner, and she invited me over to her school for the day.

Mrs. Berndtson is technology savvy and project oriented! Mrs. Berndtson had many projects on display. Projects that brought lessons to life. A few examples are 3-D models, posters, or living plants and animals. At Wellsboro Area High School they are one to one (1:1). Mrs. Berndtson uses this to her advantage in the classroom. Bellwork, Notebook Check, and SAE updates can all be done with technology. The students are under a routine. As the students walked into the classroom they all opened up their laptops and started on their bellwork. I saw this occur in every class that I observed.



I observed Mrs. Berndtson Plant Science, Natural Resources, and a piece of her Animal Science I class. She adds technology and hands on competent to every class. In her Plant Science class she had students update SAE reports, and they were looking at the germination journey. With the germination journey students started to go to the greenhouse and start planting seedlings. Another example was in Natural Resources the students answered there bellwork on google classroom. The students then started aging deer through dental models. Mrs. Berndtson has a unique style to give content instruction.




While visiting I was able to see additional opportunities for student learning in her agricultural education program.  At Wellsboro Area High School the agriculture program sends out subscriptions for a monthly floral arrangements to the staff.

I enjoy the time that I have gotten to spend with Mrs. Berndtson. I have learned a lot from her and her program.