Dear Staff,
Happy Friday isn't even enough emotion to express how thankful I am to put this week to bed. I am still testing coordinator, so I am as happy as you testing teachers are to be finished with round 1.
Congrats to Brian Russell & Diana Smith who were chosen by Discovery Education to attend their conference in North Carolina in June. I can't wait for all of the fabulous information they will bring back!
Just a reminder to add June 19-23 from 8:30-4. Tuesday we will wrap up at 2:30. Check Eduphoia next week and see if June workshops are showing. I will have grade level pacing guides for the 1st nine weeks as we will be working on lesson planning as well.
I am meeting with Dr. Liggins, our new superintendent on Friday, April 7th so I should have some clear direction to share after our meeting.
Karen McGee is hosting a pool party for our staff. Please comment and let me know if June 9th, June 30, or July 14 would work. We are thinking starting at 11-3ish or as long as you would like to stay! We'll take the most popular day!
STEM-Infusing the Elementary Classroom by Miranda Talley Reagan - Chapter 1
On page 2, the author talks about students being provided background research by providing videos, articles, and discussion through Blackboard. She offered that if we don't have Blackboard to use Padlet, a free website that allows you to build a webpage of various digital resources very easily. I heard of teachers allowing students to post questions on Padlet and projecting it up on the board while working on a project. This way students could help other students. Research a little about Padlet and infuse it into your classroom in some way before the end of the year. Comment back to tell me how you used it, if you were successful, and other ways you might use this tool in the future.
Also, comment by April 7th on a quote or insight you gained from Chapter 1! I can't wait for you to share.
I am so excited to start working on everything!
ReplyDeleteJune 30 is the only day I am able to do the Pool Party this summer, I'll be out of town the other days.
I love using Padlet! We use it often in my classroom as a introduction to a new unit to see what students already know or as a reflection piece at the end of a lesson. I will project the padlet on my board while students submit responses. They love typing in their answers and then seeing them pop up on the board. I use open ended questions so that all their answers can vary and they won't copy another students answer. The students can also add their name at the top so you know who made what comment. I also want to try having students post pictures and include captions. For our Geometry unit I thought students could take pictures in our room or around the school of everyday 3-D objects on their chrome books and post them on padlet as well.
I have loved reading this book! My favorite quote from chapter one was, "In STEM-infusion, students are constantly bumping up against difficult tasks and then realizing their potential to overcome obstacles." I think it is so important to let our students have the opportunity for "productive struggle," because they will then realize they are able to push through and be successful.
Chan - I am excited for all the ways the STEM culture will stretch you! I know you are going to find this is the perfect fit for you!
DeleteGood rainy Sunday morning,
ReplyDeleteI am with Chandler and everyone else (I am sure) when I say "I AM SO EXCITED" to launch this new adventure. I also feel so privileged to be apart of such a wonderful team of educators and look forward to working with you all! I will not be at the June training :( I will be a at the Grand Canyon with my family :). I hope to be able to "check in" from time to time for updates and input.
I love friends with perks :) especially when they involve a pool! I am available any of the dates that have been posted or any other sunny day in the summer! You have my # ;).
I have really enjoyed reading "STEM-Infusing the Elementary Classroom" by Miranda Talley Reagan. It has reaffirmed by belief in great teaching and has opened my eyes as to the direction STEM should go. This will definitely be a staple reference in my professional library. I have also started following Miranda's blog http://reaganreach.weebly.com/
The quote(s) that stuck out for me in Chapter 1... "STEM is good for your brain for two main reasons: Firstly, it helps your brain muscle by making new connections between brain cells. Secondly, STEM-infusion stretches the brain's capacity."
Isn't that what learning is about?? Chapter 1 made me realize that although I pride myself on being a classroom that focuses on learning through a hands-on, mind-on, 21st century skills, successful STEM-infusing creates lessons that incorporate ALL content areas. I still teach Social Studies in isolation. I need to make the connection so that my students can!
Padlet has always been a great tech resource for me. I use it in a variety of ways, as Chandler has mentioned, for introduction to reflection. https://padlet.com/phillipss/7xi5seu8cuf9
I have also had student groups use padlet for projects, however, it would be interesting to have a padlet for "resources" on projects students are working on. I could post jumping off resources and then open it up for students to add resources that they also find. This could really help those students who need a "launch pad" to help them get started or act as a "fuel pack" for those who get stuck or run out of energy during the process. I think I will try this with next weeks unit. I have always wanted to try todaysmeet https://todaysmeet.com/ in my class. Has anyone used it in the classroom and had success?
I look forward to reading your post, have a great rainy Sunday!
Samantha - I am so excited to find the author's blog! Thanks for sharing. I'm sure she will have some fabulous ideas we can "borrow". I completely agree that students will never be critical thinkers if we do not facilitate the connections not only within the curriculum but to life! I'm going to have to look up today's meet and see what that is all about! This crew is going to keep me on my toes and I LOVE IT!
DeleteI will comment about the book and such soon...but first things first;), I am available for a pool party either June 30th or July 14th. Would this be a family friend event?
ReplyDeletePaige - I want this to be just for staff. We should have everyone in place and want to get to know each other. I do plan a family night before school starts! :)
ReplyDeleteI, too, am so excited to join this team of great educators as we blast off into uncharted territories with our new learning experiences! I am also excited to share what I learn from my Summer PD from Discovery Education and NASA!
ReplyDeleteI will be available on June 9th and June 30th. I will be attending Houston- JSC NASA's Networking Across the States Professional Development the week of July 14th.
After rereading chapter one, what struck a sweet note with me was the idea of "STEM being like a breath of fresh air." Moreover, I truly believe that STEM education is a common sense approach of educating tomorrow's leaders. It allows us to couple all our learning standards together in a common sense, real world approach. STEM allows us to inspire, enrich, empower, prepare our students to be ready to compete in our ever changing technological society. Again, a breath of fresh air, because we can instruct in a way that brings all content together which is more meaningful and more purposeful. Students all bring a varied amount of background knowledge to the classroom. We can challenge students to worked collaboratively to enrich their background knowledge by designing hands-on, minds-on, driving their brains on, activities that have real world ties or parallels.
A breath of fresh air because when students understand and realize how a challenge is directly related to real world, it becomes an emotional aspect of learning which will drive their brains to become motivated and involved in the learning process.
Allowing students to make mistakes, regroup and try again is an educational approach that is dear to my heart. Think about history, look at any common day item and look how improvements have made things better. If we get it right the first time, there's no opportunity to look and think about the item or issue critically. Besides it is my belief, that creating a learning community where mistakes are seen as part of the learning cycle is a healthy approach.
In my professional library, I have a booth written but Cathy Seely titled, "Building a Math Postive Culture." In this book, she states, "Mistakes are expected, respected and inspected." I personally have adopted this idea and have added "reflected" to the list of expectations. I made mistakes in front of my students to show them that we are in the community of learning together. Again, a breath of fresh air, it's okay to make a mistake. Great things may come from a mistake.
On that note, I have made many mistakes in trying new technology techniques in the classroom. I have tried Padlet several times, the first few times, it was a little rough. Some were my challenges and some student's limits of logging in. But, now it has become a common day practice. The students love it as it allows them to gain new ideas of thinking in a creative way of communicating and collaborating. I will most definitely refine my skills in Padlet and add it to my teaching tool bag. Currently, I use Padlet to review, introduce new units, exit tickets, and claim - evidence - reason statements.
Blogging is something new for me, as well. I am a very private person and a little in timidated by social media and blogging. This too, will pass as my comfort level increases.
I look forward to getting to know everyone and excited to blast off a new year of learning with you!
Thank you for always being a risk taker and stepping outside your box to stretch not only yourself but your students as well.
DeleteI am good with any of the June dates for out pool party!
ReplyDeleteIn chapter one, I love the quote that says " STEM is like CrossFit for the brain!"
I feel like it is a chance to use the brain and strengthen that muscle by hitting all the curriculum content areas at once! It also makes since that integrating content areas makes more connections in the brain for those kiddos. Especially our babies that are young and their ways of hardwiring information can still be molded!
I have not used Padlet in my classroom yet, but now its definitely on my list to do!!
You already do a great job at making connections for your kids. I think the STEM culture will take you to even more heights!! Can't wait until you try Padlet and go go go with it!
DeleteI am ready for any pool party date!
ReplyDeleteI am "EC(4)S(3)TREAM"-ly excited about this journey!!! Stacey, thank you sooooo much for these books...they're great!
ReplyDeleteI too like the idea of "creating a culture where mistakes are seen as an important part of growth and learning"...I know I will certainly be making a lot. It reminds me of another phrase I like..."failing forward". I too like how Miranda relates STEM to Crossfit for the brain...I know mine will be stretched and conditioned as well. I also appreciated how she shares her struggles with how to fit it all in. I guess we can think of our journey as our "design challenge" and we will use the "engineering design process" to answer our "essential question" of how to create STEM-infused classrooms!
I am not familiar with Padlet so I have nothing to share...yet. This is something new to me as well as blogging...this is my first time and I also had several failed attempts before being successful..."failing forward"!
As far as the dates for the party and the work day, anything is good with me.
WAY TO GO Brian and Diana!
Stacey, I hope your meeting with Dr. Liggins is productive! I am looking forward to hearing great and exciting things!
Vickie --- I love that you are stepping outside your box as well! I am just learning about Padlet myself and I would love to see how you would use it effectively in a Kinder class!
DeleteI am good with June 30th for our get together! I'm so e cited about started this journey with y'all! I can't wait to get started!
ReplyDeleteI love how the author says that STEM has been a "breath of fresh air" in education. I couldn't agree more! I believe students need more opportunities to applie their knowledge in creative ways. I think that that is what truly allows them to grow and become problem solvers and think outside of the box and their comfort zones.
I'm not familiar with Padlet but can't wait to use it! I will share my thoughts once I do.
#STEM
I am not sure that Padlet would be the perfect tool for Kinder, but I am wondering what would be something with the same idea, just maybe more grade appropriate! Why don't you get on that one? :)
DeleteI'm on it!;)
DeleteMy favorite part of Chapter 1 is when Miranda talks about "productive struggle because it pushes students to think beyond what they believe they are capable of."
ReplyDelete....make 'em persevere. :)
Bea - as a GT teacher you completely understand about making them persevere or like we say at Carver - have GRIT! Our students need to see that the struggle is REAL in anything worthwhile and that is so true of the gains they make academically through the struggle.
Delete'Elementary STEM is limited when simply viewed as a subject blending science, technology, engineering, and math'. Ill admit, when I first heard about the STEM concept, this is where my head was. 'Oh that's easy, just hook on a little science here and oh yeah, iPADS...there is my technology!'. Until I worked through my Master's Program where I began to see the difference. And my interest spiked! I have also heard other teachers talk about 'why do they need all that now?', 'how is this different then what we are already doing?'. I can see where they are coming from, but now I know the answers!! I am truly excited to have the STEM school. I can't wait to see the kids bloom in an environment where the world is truly at their finger tips.
ReplyDelete