Increased funding for STEM programs in the new ESSA has heightened interest among proponents of other curriculum areas in getting a piece of the STEM money pie. Anne Jolly warns that diverting funds away from real STEM initiatives could be bad for the nation.
Co-teaching Reflections / Two Teachers in the Room
by Elizabeth Stein · Published 05/09/2016 · Last modified 11/14/2019
The general educator’s perspective is critical as special educators strive to strike a balance and co-teach effectively. Elizabeth Stein queried two co-teaching general ed teachers and asked them to choose a color that represented their co-teaching experience.
Despite her strong commitment to 21st century collaborative learning, Amber Chandler admits she’d “always held back from allowing my students to work together on their writing.” Would everyone be engaged? Could it be graded? Then her kids showed her the way.
Kids on the Cusp / Kindling the Fire
by Mary Tarashuk · Published 05/04/2016 · Last modified 12/01/2019
PARCC testing is finally over for Mary Tarashuk’s fourth graders. Freed from weeks of test prep and days of administering them, she looks for a spark to ignite end-of-year learning and finds courage and “kindling” in the words of inspirational educator Chip Wood.
The last weeks of school are a time when a little hard work and lots of organization can pay big dividends in a learning experience that is smooth, structured, and fun for all, says middle grades educator Elyse Scott, who shares a dozen end-of-year activities.
The restorative practices advocated by authors Dominique Smith, Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey invite teachers “to switch their energies from rules to relationships, and provide meaningful instruction,” writes reviewer and instructional coach Glenda Moyer.
Pia Hansen’s Mathematics Coaching Handbook carefully explores the roles played by coaches, then goes on to describe how to approach and work with teachers. Middle grades specialist Scott Sharp also finds the appendix’s many templates helpful.
With summer on the horizon, your STEM preparation for next fall may already be ramping up. Whether you taught STEM this year or will be teaching it for the first time in 2016-17, Anne Jolly outlines some useful online STEM resources to launch your summer prep.
Thematic text sets that tap into the social worlds and narrative driven lives of adolescents can spark “unstoppable learning,” say literacy educators Katie and Chris Cunningham, who share several text-set examples and a 10-step process for building your own.
“Renewable Energy: Discover the Fuel of the Future,” packs in activities & learning for teachers and students. STEM coordinator Emily Anders says it’s “a must-have resource” for teachers who want to add project learning to their lessons on energy sources.
