BTS Ice Breaker, grades 4 -8 I have a confession to make: I hate ice breakers, and I have always hated ice breakers. When I see those dreaded words at the top of a meeting agenda, it sends an icy chill down my spine — apropos to its name I guess! Always desperate to escape […]
STEM Challenge Materials: Get ’em FREE or Get ’em CHEAP!
It’s time to talk — or sing — materials! Watch the video embedded below, and that will make a whole lot more sense! However, if you prefer to read, you’ll find the video transcribed at the end of this post. (I cannot wait until I get 100 subscribers so I can set custom thumbnails.  The […]
STEM Challenges: Your Role as Facilitator, part 2
This is part 2 of your role as facilitator (for part 1, click here). Below you’ll find my “Dos and Don’ts” for what to do after the students are done building. The video offers full details, and there is a written summary below. However, if you prefer to read, you’ll find the video transcribed at the […]
STEM Challenges: Your Role as Facilitator, part 1
An important aspect of running great STEM challenges is you! Your teaching philosophy probably already leans away from “sage on the stage” if you’re drawn to using STEM challenges, but facilitating takes practice, reflection, and more practice! Ever caught yourself wondering if you’re running your STEM challenges well? Below you’ll find my “DOs and DON’Ts” for […]
5 Keys to STEM Challenge Success
I’ve been giving some thought to what the most important keys are to any successful STEM challenge. I’ve summarized my thoughts below, and the video you see here explores each key in greater detail. However, if you prefer to read, you’ll find the video transcribed at the end of this post. Key 1: Criteria & Constraints […]
Intro to STEM Challenges
I’ve been working on creating a YouTube channel for the last couple of weeks, and I’ve just posted my first video! Well, I guess it’s the second if you count my Trello tutorial, but this is the first with my face in view. 🙂 It’s definitely harder than I anticipated, but it’s getting easier with […]
Get out of Post-it Purgatory
Are you a TpT seller or just someone with a LOT on your to-do list? I know I’m not alone. Thousands, if not millions, share my post-it-note-stacks-of-notebooks-hastily-scratched-paper-scrap-notes-to-self chaos. There’s a lot going on, and there are constant lists, ideas, and inspiration striking at all times of the day. Do you ever get that dĂ©jĂ vu sensation when you’re planning […]
Summer STEM Challenge Events
Testing is over and as we inch closer to the end of the school year, summer is on the brain! It can be so difficult to keep kids engaged in ANYTHING, let alone meaningful and rigorous lessons/activities! You don’t want to waste instructional time, but you’re a little burned out from fighting the good fight […]
Scientific Method: Neglect & Regrets
Are you guilty? – of being a scientific method side-stepper? – a latter-steps neglecter? – all flash, but no bang? I’m a recovering latter-steps neglecter, and I want you to know there is hope & the grass is so much greener on the other side! Background I spent most of my ten years teaching 5th grade. […]
Easter & Spring STEM Challenges
Spring is HERE! Â I am always happy to move on to a new season, because each new season provides inspiration for STEM challenges! Â I’ve got some super-engaging & fun ways to bust through that spring fever — five collaborative, super-charged critical thinking & problem-solving STEM activities: Nice Nest, Egg-hanced, Basket Bounce, Carrot Carriage, and Bean […]