STEM educators collaborate as an interdisciplinary team to plan, implement, and improve integrated STEM learning experiences. (AdvancED STEM Indicator ST1.7)
During the first year of our STEM initiative, grade level teachers were trained by an educator from the S2TEM Centers SC. This professional development involved monthly meetings for each of two STEM Teams. During this training, our instructor would guide us through a STEM activity, discuss ways to implement these strategies in our classrooms, and assist us with planning on our grade levels.
tiative. Artifact: STEM Teams and Schedule
tiative. Artifact: STEM Teams and Schedule
The collaboration that took place during this year of professional development has had a great impact on the development of our STEM program at Fairforest Elementary. Not only did specific grade levels get to work together, but important discussions took place across grade levels as well. We shared ideas as a teaching community, and gained valuable insights from colleagues that we may not always encounter during a busy school day. This year-long professional development was productive for our faculty, not only because we learned some valuable strategies for bringing STEM to our students, but because we were able to discuss and agree upon our vision for ourselves as a STEM school. Artifact: Plans for Developing a STEM program at Fairforest Elementary School |
This collaboration has continued--and even strengthened--in the current school year, although it looks very different from a year ago. With the addition of a reading coach and a technology integration specialist, grade levels now have two in-house coaches to provide assistance with inquiry and student-driven learning. All grade levels have common planning times, and teachers take advantage of this time to discuss current and upcoming units of study, as well as to reflect upon the strengths and weaknesses of past learning experiences. Each teacher now meets with our coaches on a regular basis, in order to plan or receive assistance through co-teaching or model lessons. Monthly professional development is now conducted by our reading coach, who has strongly emphasized our state standards for inquiry in reading, and has assisted all teachers in building STEM curriculum with a literacy focus. Artifact: Sample Grade Level Schedule from Handbook
As Fairforest Elementary has taken the steps necessary to become a STEM school, it has become clear that collaboration among and across grade levels is a vital part of our success. While this has consistently been a strength of our faculty, collaboration and cooperation have only improved as a result of our STEM initiative.
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