Help! I’m a Brand New STEM Teacher.
The following is a guest post from Dr. Jacie Maslyk.
Prepared for the interview. Check!
Crushed it. Check!
Got the job. Check!
Congratulations! Now you are gearing up for your new role as a STEM teacher.
Where do you start?
What do you need to know?
How will you organize everything?
What will your lessons focus on?
What resources do you need?
There are so many questions as you prepare for this new and exciting role. In order to find the answers, we reached out to the incredible STEM educators out there to ask for their advice.
If you aren’t active on social media yet, now is the time to start. There is so much knowledge and expertise available at your fingertips. I love STEM learning and feel like I have a lot of experience, but there is real power in a professional learning network (PLN) of passionate and creative educators. So, I reached out to my PLN on Twitter and asked:
What’s the best advice you would give a brand new STEM teacher?
I was overwhelmed by all of the amazing responses from librarians, tech coaches, teachers, and school leaders. Thank you to all of the incredible educators who took the time to respond! The advice hit on so many important areas, but can be categorized into the following:
Preparation and planning
Teacher collaboration
Materials and resources
Creating a culture
Preparation and Planning
You’ve been waiting for your chance and now you have it! There are a million ideas running through your mind for your learning space, organization, and projects. Developing a growth mindset or teaching the engineering design process--where do you begin?
Start by brainstorming open-ended, authentic experiences for students. When you are planning, think about the content that you want to focus on and engage students in the learning process. Look for STEM connections in all things and plan those experiences for your students. Starting out may have you feeling nervous, but it’s important to take this opportunity and jump in!
Collaboration
Whether you are a brand new teacher or someone that is brand new to STEM, the teachers on your team, in your school, or part of your PLN are the biggest gift on this new journey. Connecting with other STEM teachers, or those who teach in other content areas, will build a sense of collaboration and learning that will help you to develop your program and move it forward. You can start by joining in on the collaborative conversations happening in the Elementary STEM Teachers Club Facebook group.
Teachers shouldn’t be your only collaborators, though. Connect with parents and partner with them on STEM projects. Reach out to experts in the field and collaborate with them on the content you are teaching. Establish partnerships with local and global organizations.
Materials and Resources
Being a STEM teacher means you get to mess with a lot of great stuff. You will need to find out about cool hands-on learning materials and digital tools that will help your students to think, design, make, and remake in your classroom. Remember, most students love hands-on learning but you don’t need expensive or fancy equipment to design meaningful learning experiences for students.
Paul Schircliff (@shirky17) also suggests that STEM teachers publish their wishlist of materials--you never know who might offer a classroom donation!
As a new STEM teacher, you will also need to think about the professional resources, books, and websites that will help you to build your skills and stay current with all things STEM. Need ideas for engineering design challenges? Check out our resources!
Here are some other great tips:
Julie Olsen (@KernelSTEM) suggests joining your state science organization or the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA).
Chris Bradley (@CamodeduTrainer) points out the great info on project-based learning (PBL) that is available through the Buck Institute for Education’s PBL Works.
Create the Culture
Creating a culture that supports STEM learning will be one of your primary goals as a new STEM teacher. Establishing a culture that appreciates the messiness of learning, the collaborative, problem-solving approach, and the value of failure will help you and your students in this journey. The #STEM PLN on Twitter shared great thoughts on the mindset needed when you take on a STEM role.
Get Started!
I always encourage teachers to start small--just start! You are stepping into an exciting opportunity that will require a bit of risk, a boatload of patience, and a spark of creativity on your part. @MrBeattyMPE encourages STEM teachers to “Embrace the Chaos!” I love this advice because within the messy space and rising noise level there are learners who are creating, collaborating, and solving problems--and that is what it is all about.
Join our FREE Facebook group Elementary STEM Teachers with Carly and Adam! Learn more about how to incorporate STEM in your classroom or at home and collaborate with other STEM teachers! JOIN NOW!
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