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As an inspiring teacher, I have always had difficulty with science. Now that STEM is being incorporated into the standard science curriculum, are teachers with less science experience having great difficulty teaching and learning STEM?
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Hello Morgan-
I would suspect that this will be the case. Unfortunately, science has often gotten the short end of the stick in many elementary schools for many reasons. This is not really a new issue.
Here are some readings you can check out on the topic:
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Science-courses-nearly-extinct-in-elementary-3236187.php
http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2011/08/23/america-is-losing-another-generation-to-science-illiteracy/
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/nov/13/report-science-instruction-disappearing-elementary/
NSTA does have a position statement on the teaching of science at the elementary level:
http://www.nsta.org/about/positions/elementary.aspx
As far as improving your ability to teach STEM concepts goes - you have made a great start by becoming involved with NSTA!
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Morgan,
Those are all great resources. NSTA also provides great resources for teachers both online and in print. As you get out there in more and more schools during your pre-service experiences, ask about the school or that district's professional development model. Whether you are a new teacher, or you've been around the block for 10+ years, the times will always change, so it's important to change with the times. Knowing what's out there in terms of professional development, either by your source of employment or elsewhere is a great way to stay ahead of the curve. Good luck!
Staceylyn
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Hi Morgan,
You might want to check out the Siemens STEM Academy. It is an excellent resource for STEM activities and webinars for teachers.
Carolyn
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Great question Morgan. STEM is so exciting to teach because it allows you to integrate the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math into hands-on projects that students never forget.
If you do a keyword search in the NSTA Learning Center, you will come up with 1,140 hits. If you change the keyword to STEM activities, you find 132 hits. There are lots of materials available to meet the needs of every teacher at every level. It’s definitely worth the time to go through the materials and create your own collection.
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AWIM is another source you can go to. They have activities for k on up. Just went to a training on some design components that can be used for grades 4-6. They also have fun things for k-3.
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Lab school brings manufacturing technologies to middle-school classrooms
http://nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=129472&org=NSF&from=news
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Claim: A universal STEM College Prep in high school will increase the volume of STEM capable. For the rationale see "Long STEM Roads for Life" ... Amazon. ... From a consummate STEM insider. Andrew S. Miller
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Diane,
When you have a moment, please share more information on AWIM with us. What did you do in the training and how are you integrating the activities and STEM ideas into your classes? At what level?
Thanks a bunch for sharing.
`patty
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Hi Morgan,
There was an excellent webinar last night that explained how to incorporate STEM lessons using the Next Generation Science Standards. I would highly recommend viewing the archived webinar. You can access it at: STEML Lesson Essentials webinar
It is the NSTA collection for this webinar:STEM: Lesson Essentials Collection, and the archived webinar is embedded there.
Hope this helps.
Carolyn
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I wanted to post this for Adah!
My six year old had an idea to create her own Dream Lites Lamp, It was a great idea and really does work. We used a wood base, chopstick, colored spools to integrate the art, a cd as as our lamp (reflection), LEDs, copper wire, and one coin battery to create a parallel circuit? Then we used foil as our lamp shade where she created some holes with a thumbtack, and if that wasn't enough, she now wanted a switch. Did you know clothes pins make great switches. She did not understand the concept of a switch, I downloaded a great circuit app and she was able to build her understanding and make some connections. On the wood base she even drew a collage of herself and her dog looking at the night sky. What a great STEAM idea!
Science-Circuitry
Technology-iPad
Engineering-Designing her own lamp
Art-collage
Math-measurement/volume/etc.
= hands on exploration, building student inquiry, and making connections!
Just wanted to share.
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Carmen,
Thanks for sharing that! I loved the photos of the lamp. It sounds too cool!!! Now I want to see if my two grand boys would like to do the same! What a great project to engage our own kids in STEM.
Carolyn
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I think its great you have found good things out of the STEM program, i am a high school student that is interested in getting into the STEM program if you have any help please email me at [email protected], I would love to hear what you have to say, and your guidance
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Quincy,
Are you needing STEM ideas or resources?
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As a senior at Florida International University, I want to thank you all for providing me with these answers, as incorporating STEM in the curriculum could be overwhelming.
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Morgan,
You bring up a great point. I can be overwhelmed by all of the information I need to teach in Science class, as well. STEM is a totally new and innovative way of doing science. It is hands on and interactive. It also teaches students valuable and practical information. STEM is a unique opportunity for science and elementary teachers to learn more about technology, engineering, and math. The NGSS can guide your instruction; check them out:
http://www.nextgenscience.org/next-generation-science-standards
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Need some great STEM and engineering lessons or projects? We add wonderful resources daily to our Facebook page and have other references and links on our Pinterest page and website. Like or follow us to get updates on a regular basis. We do the research and you get the ideas!
http://www.getcaughtengineering.com
www.facebook.com/GetCaughtEngineering
http://www.pinterest.com/getcaughtengin/
Wendy Goldfein
Get Caught Engineering
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Hello!
This website will give you some ideas.
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/stem/
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Here is a blog I found on introduce STEM into lessons http://www.rimwe.com/the-solver-blog/58.html
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I always used STEM in my classroom be it in math or science. My problem is that my kids cannot connect math with the science. They see them as separate courses
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