STEMinELEM

A look into how one teacher integrates STEM, relationship/community-building, and high expectations for ALL

[STEMinELEM @TEACHwithMrsM]

I love to go exploring. State/national parks or volcanoes and rainforests in other countries are all places I find fascinating. This was THE perfect gift! @joshuagates I am a huge fan! The next time you are near Indy I'd love to have you visit my class or go adventuring with you!

[STEMinELEM @TEACHwithMrsM]

My students ❤️ @LEGO_Group building challenges for soft start time. They were so excited when I put @Minecraft cards in the basket! They made some creative builds to meet the challenges. I think I heard @jackblack impersonations 100X. #chickenjockey!

[STEMinELEM @TEACHwithMrsM]

This is not to say that relationships remove all apprehensions or behavior outbursts by students. But relationships create a foundation to rebuild upon and tools to help students cope with challenges. Authentic connections count!

[STEMinELEM @TEACHwithMrsM]

Standing on my soapbox:
Building relationships matters! I have a student and family who enjoy monster trucks. They bought us tickets to Monster Jam today. I learned about the student/family's connection to MJ with 2x10s and Me Boxes. I learned about myself today that I like MJ!

[STEMinELEM @TEACHwithMrsM]

Today my trading card club kids ripped open some new packs of cards courtesy of @Ballcardxchange. Thank you Andy for making their day. They had some great pulls!

[STEMinELEM @TEACHwithMrsM]

Today we "traveled" to Maine for a meeting with Ranger Lisa from @AcadiaNPS. She shared info about the park and provided students with amazing examples of rocks and the rock cycle visible all around the park. I don't know how I could do this unit without these ranger experiences!

[STEMinELEM @TEACHwithMrsM]

Today's National Park Project tour took us to a live session with a great ranger from @ShenandoahNPS. The geology of this park is amazing!

[STEMinELEM @TEACHwithMrsM]

One of the best times of the year is here-National Park Project time! We have "traveled" virtually to several parks via recorded sessions but today we had a live session w/Ranger Gillian from @KenaiFjordsNPS . She taught us so much about glaciers and you can tell she ❤️ her park!

[STEMinELEM @TEACHwithMrsM]

How far will your admin go to hype up students?

[STEMinELEM @TEACHwithMrsM]

How many different ways can you solve the same problem? I try to help students find/make connections in every subject and they were making them with division word problems this week!

[STEMinELEM @TEACHwithMrsM]

More pictures of Indiana Native American Tribes models

[STEMinELEM @TEACHwithMrsM]

We just wrapped up the "research and share" part of our Indiana Native Americans project - groups were assigned tribes to research, prepare info sharing presentations, and create models that show the info they learned about the tribe. Next step - write compare/contrast essays!

[STEMinELEM @TEACHwithMrsM]

Starting a new Science unit: animal systems/functions. We have tree frogs & turtles in the classroom & added a Chilean Rose Tarantula. We have endoskeleton, exoskeleton, & both covered. Beginning of the week they were terrified. Now they'll miss her over the weekend! #❤️Science

[STEMinELEM @TEACHwithMrsM]

I love our school's tradition of Idiom Day on Halloween. And, YES, with Halloween on Thursday and all of the building excitement throughout the week, I might have lost my marbles!

[STEMinELEM @TEACHwithMrsM]

I believe in giving students every possible tool to help them be successful. We start each Math unit with "tool making time" and practice using the tools before we ever apply them to our learning and practice. Students can choose what tools work best for them.

[STEMinELEM @TEACHwithMrsM]

It was a beautiful day to explore solar cells and energy transfer!
#STEMinELEM

[STEMinELEM @TEACHwithMrsM]

Several had worked on it at home and were ready to tell me their solutions. They were begging me all day to do math early because they thought they had it all figured out and by the end of today's lesson - THEY DID! Oreos for everyone!

[STEMinELEM @TEACHwithMrsM]

My students love a challenge and I love to give them a hook at the beginning of a lesson that keeps them thinking as I instruct and they practice. They had no "equitable" solutions at first and I left it hanging for a second day yesterday. They came in excited today!

[STEMinELEM @TEACHwithMrsM]

As part of their reflection on their Egg Drop Challenge, students were tasked with creating a new design with different materials. Their conversations (and complaints) showed how much they learned from this part of our energy unit!

[STEMinELEM @TEACHwithMrsM]

Students worked through the Engineering Design Process to create egg carrier prototypes that help Farmer Brown deliver his eggs by drones. They did an EGGcellent job and learned so much!
#STEMinELEM

[STEMinELEM @TEACHwithMrsM]

What a beautiful day to be on the roof of the school. Let's get the Annual 4th Grade Egg Drop Challenge started!
#STEMinELEM