Have you ever started planning a force and motion unit and realized how easy it is for a very hands-on science topic to become a lot of vocabulary? Push. Pull. Friction. Motion. Your students can learn what each word means, but understanding clicks when they can see it in action.
Do you remember the picture books someone read aloud to you when you were a kid? You may not remember every worksheet you completed. There’s a chance you may remember a few illustrations or stories from picture books that are tucked away somewhere in your brain. Picture books have a
Think back to when you were a student and your teacher announced it was time for centers. There was something exciting about moving to a different spot, getting your hands on materials, and working with your friends. Now that you are the teacher, you know there was a whole lot
Have you ever spotted International Dot Day on your September calendar and thought, “Okay…so are we just drawing dots?” Maybe you love the idea of celebrating creativity, but you aren’t quite sure what that should actually look like in your classroom. The good news is that Dot Day can be
Have you ever looked up from helping a student or doing a task and wondered how your classroom became so loud so quickly? One minute, your students are excitedly discussing their designs or helping a teammate debug code. Next, someone is calling across the room for tape. Another group is
There is something exciting about teaching a special area class. Whether you teach STEM, technology, library, art, music, or another enrichment subject, you have the opportunity to create memorable experiences your students look forward to each week. The challenge, though, is that most of us don’t see our classes every
Starting a new elementary STEM class or program can feel exciting and completely overwhelming at the same time. You may be staring at a pile of random supplies, a blank lesson plan, a new schedule, and a room full of students who are ready to build something immediately. You want
STEM can be one of the most exciting parts of the school day, but it can also be one of the most expensive. Robotics kits, coding tools, engineering materials, makerspace supplies, and technology equipment can quickly stretch even a generous classroom budget. Many of us have incredible ideas for engaging
I still think one of the hardest parts about teaching technology is figuring out what to teach next. One week, you are helping your students learn how to drag and drop correctly. The next week, you are trying to keep your early finishers busy without turning computer time into random
When I first became a STEM teacher, I remember looking around my STEM classroom and feeling like every teacher on social media seemed to have the perfect setup. Robots were rolling across tables. Giant makerspace carts overflowing with supplies. Bins filled with every building material imaginable. Meanwhile, I was standing
There is a very specific kind of overwhelm that comes with being told you are the STEM teacher, but not being given a STEM curriculum to actually teach. I remember sitting at my desk, excited at first. Then the questions started piling up. What do I teach first? How long
You know that moment when you’re told to “incorporate more STEM and technology,” but no one actually shows you how to do it? You sit there thinking about your schedule, your supplies, and your students, and it quickly turns into one more thing on your plate instead of something exciting
