Full STEAM Ahead: Launching Our District's New Program
I need professional development books like From STEM to STEAM, STEAM Makers, and Launch: Using Design Thinking to Boost Creativity to help prepare for the start of a new program in the coming school year.
My students come from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds. Despite language barriers or experience, they are always ready to learn and to broaden their skill set. We are a tiny school in an urban area, where it's often difficult to find funding for the things that will really take our students' learning to new heights.
We are a community in which we want to see our students learn and grow and to give them as many opportunities as possible to gain new experiences, to explore science and technology and to truly develop twenty-first-century skills.
My Project
In the fall, our district is starting its first STEAM program in elementary school. STEAM classes are now being added to select elementary schools, much like art, music, or P.E. in some of its neediest schools.
I am beyond excited to have been hired to help launch this new program and get more students engaged in and exposed to STEM practices.
As a classroom teacher, I have implemented STEM and STEAM-based lessons that coincide with our curriculum, but this is a whole new experience. I will be teaching STEAM to students in grades K-5 on a daily basis. In order to provide each student, grade level, and class with the best experience possible, I want to improve my knowledge and understanding of the STEAM process as well as ideas and advice on setting up my space, creating lesson plans that effectively integrate all the components of STEAM, and integrating the design process in the proper way.
It has been quite some time since I have taught K-2, so
"Hands-On STEAM Explorations for Young Learners: Problem-Based Investigations for Preschool to Second Grade" will help give me some ideas and strategies in working with younger students.
"STEAM Makers: Fostering Creativity and Innovation in the Elementary Classroom" has been recommended to me as a great read as I move into this new position as a launching point for projects, implementation, and the like. I chose
"From STEM to STEAM: Using Brain-Compatible Strategies to Integrate the Arts" for ideas on how to be sure to integrate music, art, etc. to provide the "A" in STEAM. All of the books selected will help me to become more knowledgeable, better prepared, and have great resources at the tip of my fingers.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Szakal and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
