STEM-Infusing the Elementary Classroom / Edition 1

by Miranda Talley Reagan

Overview

Make learning relevant with STEM essential questions

This engaging, teacher-friendly guide helps teachers quickly and confidently infuse STEM concepts into all content areas. Real-world vignettes, sample lesson templates, discussion questions and immediately applicable action steps help you seamlessly promote college and career ready skills.

Use this inspiring guide to:

• Deepen all content areas, including English/ Language Arts
• Promote the 4Cs: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity
• Require students to take risks to solve problems
• Differentiate instruction and scaffold support
• Expand students’ specific measurable capabilities
• Incorporate design skills into the curricula

Save valuable time and confidently develop standards-aligned STEM projects in all content areas!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781483392363
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	03/25/2016
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Miranda Talley Reagan began her career as a fourth grade teacher with an appreciation for hands-on learning and helping students make connections across content areas. When her school system began a K-12 STEM initiative, she was hired to develop and implement an elementary STEM curriculum for a K-3 STEM lab. During her two years in the STEM lab, Miranda logged her elementary STEM lab experiences on a blog on her school website which has become a popular resource for elementary STEM teachers nationwide and even internationally.

After the success of the STEM lab, Miranda accepted a year-long position as Instructional Coach for STEM and Technology Integration. During this time, she led an initiative in her own school while also working with other schools interested in STEM integration.

Miranda has now transitioned back into a third grade classroom in order to practice STEM-infusion full time. She continues to be a teacher leader within her school as well as providing professional development for other districts.

Miranda has a Bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Learning, a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, and an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Cary Sneider
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Chapter 1. STEM-Infusing All Content Areas
A Way of Teaching
Misconceptions About STEM-Infusion
Said No One Ever
Spiraling Down
A Breath of Fresh Air
Model Not Subject
Working Smarter
Discussion Starters
Your Next Step
Chapter 2. Why STEM in Elementary?
Then and Now
21st Century Readiness
Motivating Change
Discussion Starters
Your Next Step
Chapter 3. Rigor Meets Relevance
Explosion
Emotional Relevance
Making It Matter
The Relevance Trap
The Role of Technology
Discussion Starters
Your Next Step
Chapter 4. The Cross-Cutting Concepts Approach to STEM-Infusion
The Pattern Revelation
Cross-Cutting Concepts
Creating STEM-Infused Lesson Plans With Cross-Cutting Concepts
Concerns About Rearranging Standards
When to Use This Approach
Discussion Starters
Your Next Step
Chapter 5. The Standards Alignment Approach to STEM-Infusion
Operation Top Secret Message
Starting With the Standards
Connecting the Unconnected
When to Use This Approach
Brainstorming Project Ideas
Let the Creativity Begin
Discussion Starters
Your Next Step
Chapter 6. The Thematic Approach to STEM-Infusion
Play Ball
The Thematic Approach
Not Your Mama’s Thematic Teaching
When to Use This Approach
Discussion Starters
Your Next Step
Chapter 7. Assessing STEM
The Testing Mess
My Mistake
Assessing STEM
Rubrics
Student Goal Setting
Student Journaling
Improvement Logs
Teacher Clipboard
Assessing Social Emotional Learning
Standardize Testing and STEM
Discussion Starters
Your Next Step
Chapter 8. The Benefits of the STEM Mindset: Risk Taking and Resilience
Locked Out
A Mindset Shift
Growth Versus Fixed Mindsets
Growing From STEM
Student Empowerment
Discussion Starters
Your Next Step
Chapter 9. Student Collaboration
Lego Trench
Foundation of Communication
Richness of the Interaction
Discussion Starters
Your Next Step
Chapter 10. Leadership for Change
A Really Hard Night
Progress as an Expectation
Modeling
Parent Involvement
Goal Setting
Sharing Resources and Providing Support
Teaching Teams
Teacher Trust and Autonomy
Closing
Discussion Starters
Your Next Step
Resources
Resource A. Pipeline Lesson Plan
Resource B. Volcano Lesson Plan
Resource C. Candy Cane Lesson Plan
Resource D. Germs Lesson Plan
Resource E. Top Secret Message Lesson Plan
Resource F. Baseball Lesson Plan
Resource G. Moon Rover Lesson Plan
Resource H. Improvement Log
Resource I. Storm Shelter Lesson Plan
Resource J. Lego Lesson Plan
Resource K. Tennis Shoe Lesson Plan
Resource L. Helmet Lesson Plan
Resource M. Blank Lesson Plan Template 1
Resource N. Blank Lesson Plan Template 2
Resource O. Additional STEM-Infused Activity Ideas
Glossary
References
Index

Editorial Reviews

STEM-Infusing the Elementary Classroom blends interdisciplinary STEM lessons for K-5 grades with a guide that shows teachers how to understand basic STEM concepts and apply them across the curriculum. Case histories pair with sample lessons and templates to help teachers integrate these strategies into lesson plans in such a way that existing standards are infused with STEM concepts and results. "

Donovan’s Bookshelf

"Reagan shows the importance of STEM-infused learning with much support. The importance and relevancy of the book is very clear. She adequately explained any desired target outcomes and gave steps to achieve them. Many good examples were included . . . An excellent choice to purchase for a school or team. "

Marsha Basanda

After reading this book, infusing STEM into your elementary classroom will be as easy as 1,2,3…A, B, C!”

Susan Schipper

"Spirited Teachers Eliciting Memories

Miranda's book is an inspiration for the elementary teacher who wants to begin using STEM in the classroom. She has answered all of the "but what ifs" and the "I'm not sures” and given teachers the answers to the "hows and whys" it will work. STEM-Infusing the Elementary Classroom is full of useful and fun information to guide teachers in this new, exciting area of education. Watching the STEM classes in Miranda’s school, while working on their projects, is amazing. The students work together well, discuss their ideas freely, and take pride in “improving” their projects! Rigor, relevance, and creativity, ...what more can you ask for? I cannot wait to use Miranda's book with my Science and Social Studies Methods Class as an inspiration for our preservice teachers! "

Dr. Jill C. Mertz

"This book does an excellent job of describing a STEM classroom and the basics for beginning to design your own curriculum . . . As a teacher who helped develop the STEM program in the elementary school where I teach, I could understand and relate to the issues and concepts presented in this book. STEM has become the curriculum of the future. This book will help educators not only understand what STEM is, but its importance and how to incorporate it in their classrooms. "

Marti Hooten

“STEM-Infusing the Elementary Classroom blends interdisciplinary STEM lessons for K-5 grades with a guide that shows teachers how to understand basic STEM concepts and apply them across the curriculum. Case histories pair with sample lessons and templates to help teachers integrate these strategies into lesson plans in such a way that existing standards are infused with STEM concepts and results. "

Donovan’s Bookshelf