https://padlet.com/candice_austin1/m6tyxo7u4hfc If we are a STEM school, how do we make every week look like STEM week? What are the barriers? How can we best integrate STEM learning with NC Standards? What support do you need to make it happen? en-us 2019-03-16 11:47:27 UTC 2019-03-26 11:05:43 UTC hello@padlet.com melissa_davies https://padlet.com/candice_austin1/m6tyxo7u4hfc/wish/341997931 I think the best way to integrate STEM would be to create theme units based with our standards.  These units would be cross curricular.  For example, you can take a theme such as Dr. Seuss and mesh it with the 5 senses to create a unit of fun STEM activities (Oobleck, smelling truffla trees, tasting green eggs and ham, etc.) You could also take a theme such as Playgrounds and use the force and motion standards to create a unit around the playground with a culminating project of creating a new playground for our school.  
We would need extra planning time to make solid units and come up with a material list of needs. ]]> 2019-03-16 12:02:49 UTC https://padlet.com/candice_austin1/m6tyxo7u4hfc/wish/341997931 https://padlet.com/candice_austin1/m6tyxo7u4hfc/wish/342154449 I agree we need to look at integrating STEM cross curricular. I think we sometimes get too focused on the standards that we have to teach that week. Instead of figuring out ways to connect standards to make units. Last year we had a day or half day to plan per grade level, this will help to us refocus for the rest of year. ]]> 2019-03-17 18:45:09 UTC https://padlet.com/candice_austin1/m6tyxo7u4hfc/wish/342154449 https://padlet.com/candice_austin1/m6tyxo7u4hfc/wish/344390368 I think unit plans will help us in creating cross curricular plans that include STEM.  I think also having STEM kits/boxes with lessons and materials in it that can be checked out from the STEM or Design Lab would be beneficial to teachers.

Guidance in creating STEM lessons for each grade level with our Math and ELA standards would be beneficial as well.

Also, I miss the planning days as well. ]]> 2019-03-22 21:18:22 UTC https://padlet.com/candice_austin1/m6tyxo7u4hfc/wish/344390368 https://padlet.com/candice_austin1/m6tyxo7u4hfc/wish/344460939 One way we could make every week look like STEM week might be looking at the standards you are teaching for the week in each subject area and choosing a subject each week to integrate STEM learning into. This way STEM could be integrated with all NC standards that get taught.

I agree that guidance in creating STEM lessons with the standards we have would be beneficial along with reusable STEM kits/boxes that provide materials the teacher could use and then pass the box on when they are done with it. 

]]> 2019-03-23 14:51:02 UTC https://padlet.com/candice_austin1/m6tyxo7u4hfc/wish/344460939 james_davis7 https://padlet.com/candice_austin1/m6tyxo7u4hfc/wish/345181428 Strengthening our STEM culture by implementing a direct and pragmatic approach to focusing on the 5 Cs of STEM would make large gains in my opinion. There are more savvy elements of a STEM approach such as PBL projects, but for a large majority of our students, a simple approach in line with the current standards may be more beneficial. In my opinion, improving our overall reading and math levels must be the primary focus.  We can accomplish this by dovetailing proven instructional strategies with a basic integration of the ideals of STEM, resulting in students who are increasingly motivated to be independent thinkers and lifelong learners that take ownership of their education.]]> 2019-03-26 11:05:43 UTC https://padlet.com/candice_austin1/m6tyxo7u4hfc/wish/345181428