Patricia Leazier
Washington County Public Schools
MD

Fri, Apr 08, 2022 5:46 PM
StEMT Your Lessons

The book “Designing Meaningful STEM Lessons” views STEM as a process not as a thing. The book explores how STEM should be used as an instructional approach that purposely integrates STEM into instruction in meaningful manner. The book refers to STEM as StEMT. The books argues that although STEM has become a common theme in education, however, it acknowledges that the teachers lack the resources and guidance necessary to implement its presence in a daily classroom routine. The book offers StEMT as a solution to this dilemma…offering a process for teachers and students to use to approach problem solving in a systematic and deliberate methodology. The book discusses an approach that clearly defines a process for designing meaningful STEM lessons. The book outlines a simple “reframing” strategy that transforms the vague concept of STEM into a more effective framework that incorporates relevant science instruction that provides real-world experiences for every child. The book identifies the importance and relevance of experiences at it applies to STEM education. The central purpose of the book is to help to help teachers effectively teach STEM concepts. The discusses mechanisms to link science, mathematics and activities that promote learning opportunities that allows students to question and problem-solve. “StEMTifying” lessons, allows teachers to make lessons both relevant and exciting for students.

Wed, Apr 06, 2022 11:35 PM
STEM...A Coummity Investment

After finishing the book “Creating a STEM Culture for Teaching and Learning” by Jeff Weld, I found it a useful resource as it applies to STEM education. The book focused on the necessity of developing relationships between the business and educational communities. Over the past decade, our school district has place great emphasizes on a STEM driven curriculum. This has brought great awareness and demand for STEM centered resources. I would highly recommend Weld’s book to science department chairs, science supervisors and teachers alike. The book proved useful to educators as it defines the STEM “approach”, reviews practical applications, and examines how STEM should be implemented in the classroom. Most importantly, Weld shares ideas of how best to develop relationships within the community to foster STEM networks that promote community businesses to embrace a STEM culture and invest in its merit to ensure both students and teachers benefit from the alliance. I found that the information shared in the book provided a clear path of how to promote and implement STEM as a community endeavor not just as an isolated classroom event.

Sat, Apr 02, 2022 5:59 PM
Must Have for Less Experienced Teachers

This book completely explains and unpacks the understandings as it applies NGSS. The book offers activities to advance a new teacher’s profession learning development and addresses each of the dimensions in full detail. The book is a resource that provides access to activities that includes techniques and teaching methods needed to create lessons centered around CCCs, DCIs, and SEPs. The essential components of the book allow the reader to fully grasp the concepts pertaining to implementing NGSS into learning plans and instruction. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is entertaining the idea of entering education.