Great minds can't think alike
I don’t remember the first time I heard the statement “great minds think alike”I’ve used it often. Usually when someone thinks of something I was thinking of and we are on the same wavelength about usually a menial task. But, when I step back and actually think about the innovators of the world, they don’t think alike. They don’t think like the mainstream. They don’t think average thoughts. They don’t settle with the day in and day out. They don’t think alike.Seriously, who are those people who you think of as innovators? Some synonyms for innovators are pioneer, trailblazer, spearhead, creator. Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Oprah, Rachel Hollis, Dave Ramsey, Beyonce, and so many more. These are not people who think alike. They don’t think mainstream. They are trailblazers in their industry. Guess what?I think you are too. You are an innovator, you aren’t constrained to the mainstream. You have a great mind, and it’s ok to not think alike.
Germinate 2020 Winter
It is time for round two of GERMINATEOver 200 attendees watched hours of professional develop made FOR Ag Teachers, BY Ag Teachers.After compiling all the surveys, you all wanted MORE! More virtual PD!So, it's coming atcha.JANUARY 1-5, 2020!And we need you!YES, YOU!To apply to be a speaker.Any topic. Seriously, what's your genius zone in the AgEd world. Is it classroom management, is it crushing plant sales, is it knowing every tree in North America, is it being a fantastic public speaking coach? Take your zone of genius and teach others!All speakers get FREE all-access admission to the GERMINATE conference and a chance to earn money with affiliate links!Applications CLOSE September 19, 2019. Get them in quick to reserve your topic!
How to use Canva!
Hey Teachers!I have a goodie for you today! I am a self proclaimed Instagram-a-holic! I started dabbling in Instagram at my first school and Ag Teacher How Tos has grown so much I had a share my favorite app to go along with ALL THE THINGS! I have gone through MANY apps to make lots of different things in Instagram, and right now I have a personal favorite....CANVA!
Canva is an "amazingly simple graphic design software" that "makes design simple for everyone" according to their website. And let me tell you it does mean EVERYONE!Canva can be used on the computer OR in an app on your phone. When I am making graphics for Instagram like my "what's happening this week" 
post, I tend to use the computer simply because I have a larger work space. But, I have done it in the app. The app is great for quick announcements like what you see below..
I seriously love CANVA because it makes my life a whole ton easier to share information with my students. It also has A TON of templates that you can use. No need to reinvent the wheel with Canva, you can just use a free template (you can purchase some too) and edit with you information. I have done that with the ones below...
Ok, so here is how you use it...set up an account for yourself and it will save all of your information and designs in the canva "cloud". Then decide what you would like to do...If using for Instagram, choose the Social Media post. The size is already configured to fit your picture for Instagram.
Now you have a blank canva(s), get it! If you would like to choose a template, scroll on the left sidebar and select the one you would like. If you want to let your creativity flow, start adding TEXT, IMAGES, ELEMENTS, or UPLOAD pictures/images you already have to your post.
The best way to learn Canva is to play around with it. Also, one of the best things I've done is let my students play around with it and they have come up with some creative things! I have also used some of the other templates in canva to create some awesome flyers, banners, invitations, business cards and more. Just scroll through the pre-sized canva designs to fit your needs.If you are like me, anything that makes my life a little bit simpler is welcomed with open arms. I hope Canva can be welcomed into your FFA social media life soon!Let me know if you have any questions or would like to me explain anything else in more detail. I am always open for suggestions!Happy Teaching!
Feed yourself
A few weeks ago I was in church and this message HIT ME.
While, you can associate this with spiritual thoughts I am going to focus on GROWTH.
How many times have you thought one or more of the following?
If only I was better at (fill in the blank).
I wish they had taught me that in school.
I should take more time to work on me.
I need to find some work life balance.
I wish I could be like (fill in the blank).
Guess what the common theme is...
YOU.
You are standing in your own way. You are putting the responsibility of your growth on someone else, or worse, you are putting it on you and you are failing to show up for yourself.
You have to feed yourself.
YOU have to pick up the fork and feed yourself.
I you want to be better at a certain subject, I can bet there is a YouTube video explaining exactly how to do that skill, or a professor at the local college who would walk you through it, or a person in industry who would take the time to mentor you.
But, what is the connection to those solutions...YOU!
YouTube, professors, industry professionals, fellow teachers down the road or on Instagram DON'T KNOW YOU NEED HELP, only YOU DO. And until you get out of your own way, no one will.
You gotta pick up that fork, maybe that fork is humility to raise you hand and say "Yes, I need help in this area and I'm not ashamed to say so"
Maybe that fork is acceptance that you need to start putting yourself first. Acceptance that if you care about yourself you can care even more deeply for those around you.
Maybe that fork is forgiveness that you let go of those past failures in the classroom or life. And you forgive yourself and move onto the next challenge.
You have to feed yourself the things you want.
No one else can do it for you.
So pick up the fork. And feed yourself.
Ep. 7 Hosting a Summer Camp
This was probably the most asked question of my summer."Wait, how do you run a summer camp?"So, I decided to get some of my favorite ag teachers who are rocking summer camps with their FFA programs to record with me all the things you want to know about hosting a summer camp!So, here it is my friends!Episode 7 of the Green & Growing PodcastHosting a Summer Camp with Catrina Pollard and Cecily Gunter!