I have a confession. Growing up, I didn’t enjoy science. As an adult looking back on my science classes, I can see that I didn’t like it because I couldn’t dig into science as much as I wanted. There wasn’t enough time to explore how science interacts with other subjects and the world around me. There wasn’t time to create or improve something using the scientific concepts we...
The makerspace movement in K-12 schools emerged from the early 2000s DIY culture, which celebrated hands-on exploration and innovation. As it has grown in popularity, advocates often exclaim that makerspaces naturally provide students, particularly those who might not otherwise be exposed to or consider STEM careers, the opportunity to explore and engage with these fields. While...
When working with ELA and literacy educators to increase students’ engagement and achievement in reading, I often run into a set of common complaints. “I don’t have time with all the curriculum and standards I need to cover, to give kids time to read for fun.” “Kids don’t read for pleasure anymore, and if I give them time, they will just go on their phones.” “Kids fake read.” The list...
Teaching summer school was typically my favorite time of the year. As one of the sixth-grade teachers in my building, I worked with incoming sixth graders who needed a little extra support over the summer. I loved getting the opportunity to build relationships with many of the students I knew I would be working with in the coming school year. And, because we were only provided with...