There is a huge amount of joy and equal amounts of stress that comes with being an educator. I know my responsibility is to help gear my students to have high academic growth in all subjects. A recent trend has turned to the power of Science in the forms of Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
The idea of STEM is to help educators relate real-world concepts to help build students inquiry about science (Lantz, 2009). When I think about this, I try to incorporate items that my students can relate to. For instance, to help my students to understand a hypothesis; I used a common banana buy placed one in the fridge and the other on the counter top. I had the students begin to inquire what will happen and discuss why.
The STEM concept also stresses that educators need to help students to become more inspired and interested in the sciences (Traurig, 2009). Honestly, this is an area that I feel I struggle with. I am currently attending school to help me further my own understand with the sciences. When I become excited about a subject it is easier for me than to be passionate to teach it. I desire for my students to become more confident in learning the concepts of science.
more confident in learning the concepts of science.
References
Lantz, H. B., Jr. (2009). STEM education: What form? What function? SEEN Magazine.
Used by permission of Knight Communications, Inc.
Traurig, A., & Feller, R. (2009). Preparing students for STEM careers. National Career
Development Association.
re confident in learning the concepts of science.
Sara,
ReplyDeleteI am a first time blogger as well. I have read other people's blogs and comment occasionally, but not to the extent at which some people use them.
I am challenged by inspiring my students to become more involved and active in pursuing careers in Science. I currently teach 8th graders and really have an opportunity to steer students into fields that will interest them. In Philadelphia, the students apply to speciality high schools and these are geared and tailored to student needs. If students are college bound they are typically accepted into schools with this type of curriculum. Students also have the opportunity to study a trade or a skill in school, so that when they graduate they can obtain a job in the workforce.
How did you like the way we had to plan our lesson with the 5 E model? What did you plan your lesson on? I see that you are a teacher of 3rd and 4th graders, you could offer a complete different perspective than what I see on a day to day basis.
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI too believe that it is far easier to pass on knowledge about something you are passionate about than it is to just pick a topic in a book and teach it. I think that we all struggle with finding ways to inspire our students to think like scientists. There are so many distractions in our world that do not require them to even think so they learn early on to be complacent and require others to do the work for them. I think that only through persistence and continuously trying to better our own teaching methods that we will begin to see the changes we desire in our students.
Cassidy~
ReplyDeleteThe 5 E Model was a bit time consuming, however, I can understand its usefulness. It makes us educators have to think out the full reason for our teaching. Would I like to do this for every lesson, no. I could see its benefit for a whole unit.
Mtelemacque,
I know this course will better our teaching methods.