Well, it has been quite a while since my last post as the start of the school year is always hectic and the summer was spent attending professional development about the Wilson Reading Program (of course!) as well as my new interests of STEM and MakeSpace. I also helped out at the library summer program for kids by running a couple of make space session in July. Then, it was off to STEM learning and make space boot camp!
Oh my gosh, so much information to take in along with the realization that I can do this. I can provide kids with exposure and opportunities to explore imagining, creating, and science and having fun. Exciting!
The idea of offering a ten-week STEM Club for any interested 4th and 5th grade students (hoping there would be some interest) morphed into a club with a large enough response to keep running all year long!!! Even more exciting!! There will be three sessions during the course of this school year and just writing this makes it seem like not enough kids will be able to participate. I have an idea to get more kids involved and I'll see how it pans out.
Our school PTA is generously funding the supplies for STEM. We are learning how to design buildings that will survive an earthquake. Kids are learning that there are many ways to solve a problem using the engineering design process (similar to the writing process). They are imagining, planning, creating, improving, and asking as they work collaboratively to reach their goal of developing an earthquake resistant building code. It is so cool to see their interest and understanding grow as they undertake each weekly adventure.
