Language Arts Department
The Language Arts
- Listening: understanding spoken language
- Speaking: communicating ideas through oral language
- Reading: understanding written language
- Writing: communicating through written language
- Viewing: understanding visual images and connecting them to accompanying spoken or written words
- Visually Representing: presenting information through images, either alone or along with spoken or written words
Patt Ligman
High School English
Starting my 18th year at AFSA, the blend of agriculture, education, and knowing our students like family is why I have returned year after year. I view my classroom as a smaller community within the AFSA community, and a place where mistakes are free of judgment, thoughts and opinions openly expressed, a place to laugh, and where students can be and become themselves. "Respect everyone and everything" (oft shortened to just “Respect”) is my one-and-only class rule. Students in my classes are challenged to read with a critical and open mind; to write in several different formats; to participate in small- and large-group discussions; and, to push themselves to grow. Life at home for my spouse and me is quieter since our two kids are in college and our two rescue cats sleep a lot. Our rescue dog, Milo, takes me on walks when I’m not reading, writing, or landscape gardening. UW-River Falls (Go Falcons!) saw fit to bestow me with a BS in Agriculture and a BA in Journalism—a good mix for teaching at AFSA.
Jennifer Murray
High School English
I am excited to be starting my third year at AFSA! I teach 7th and 8th grade Discovering Literature and Composition, as well as 1 high school elective each trimester. I am excited to be working at AFSA because I believe that students need to connect to nature in order to understand how our lives and livelihoods are reliant on the earth and agriculture. I have a bachelor's degree in English, with a minor in Land, Nature, and Environmental Values from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. I also have a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Lesley University. I completed my teaching license and Master of Arts in Teaching at Hamline University.
Katelynn Rude
High School English
Hello, I am Katelynn Rude. This is my fifth year teaching and my first year at AFSA. I am thrilled to be joining the AFSA family this year. I spent my undergrad at The University of Iowa where I double majored in English and Secondary English Education. After my graduation in December of 2020 I remained in Iowa where I taught for four years. I am excited to be back in Minnesota where I grew up, and to be spreading my love of Language Arts in the community that shaped me into a life long learner.