More than 100 TK/K teachers are now fully trained in our first several STEAM curriculum units. These units are based on the CA NGSS Science Framework and infused with STEAM thanks to our collaboration with Instructional Technology ,VAPA, and OLA.
One of the ways we like to kick off our STEAM training is to celebrate bright spots. Bright spots help us look for the good things that are working in our classrooms and by identifying and analyzing what’s working you can build on their successes. If you’re not familiar with the research behind brights spots, read the story by Jerry Sternin and his co-authors for their book, The Power of Positive Deviance: How Unlikely Innovators Solve the World’s Toughest Problems, inspired by Chip and Dan Heath who introduced this story in their book, Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard.: https://brightspotsculture.wordpress.com/the-original-story/
Some bright spots teachers have already shared with us highlight personal student successes, especially with students who struggle in other areas of their day, who light up at the chance to express their creativity and learning during STEAM. In response to what STEAM means to me, one teacher replied: "Providing opportunities for my students to engage and learn in the math, science, engineering contents all while building and encouraging exploration, discovery, failure/effort and curiosity. "
We look forward to sharing more from our upcoming ongoing training next week!
Thank you to our teachers who are introducing students to their first experiences with science, engineering, tech, art, math and reading using joyful, play-based, hands-on approaches to learning. We STEAM!
