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3 Top Tips for Your STEM Classroom Layout [Back to School Series] [ep.171]

by Naomi Meredith

3 Top Tips for Your STEM Classroom Layout [Back to School Series] [ep.171]

Check out the full episode about STEM Classroom Layout:

 

Subscribe to the podcast HERE on your favorite podcasting platform.

Have a STEM question? Leave a voice message for the podcast!

 

Watch the video version of the episode here:

Episode Summary

In this episode, I share my top three essentials for setting up a successful K-5 STEM classroom. Drawing from my extensive experience in various STEM spaces, I discuss the importance of having a group meeting place, planning storage for student projects, and labeling materials for easy accessibility and independence. I provide practical advice and personal hacks to create an organized and effective learning environment.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • The importance of a group meeting place to minimize distractions and streamline transitions.
  • Planning ahead for project storage to keep materials organized and accessible.
  • Labeling Maker space materials with words and pictures at kid-accessible heights to promote independence and easy cleanup.

Resources Mentioned:

Some items are linked to my Amazon Affiliate account. When you purchase through my link, there is no added cost to you, but I receive a small commission in return.

Episode Transcript: 

Welcome to the Elementary STEM Coach Podcast. I'm your host, Naomi Meredith, a former classroom teacher turned K-5 STEM teacher and coach. With over a decade of experience teaching and a master's degree in STEM leadership, I'm here to coach you throughout the year to help you gain back more time to create innovative experiences for your students.

Let's talk about STEM classroom setup. What are some top essentials that you should think about when you're setting up your STEM space or you're reconfiguring something that may not have worked last year? I have been in a lot of different STEM classrooms, whether it was my friend's classrooms in the district or the schools that I have taught in for my local STEM programs, or even the school that I was doing some planning with a teacher, and I'm going to be long-term STEM sub planning for her this fall. There are a lot of different setups out there, but there are some top things that I have seen that actually set up these spaces for success, and I'm going to talk about those three top common things that I have seen.

The first major thing for you to think about is to have a group meeting place. This is different from where the kids are going to be doing their work. Now, maybe I'm a little bit old school on this, but whenever I have kids enter my space, whether it is my after-school programs or it is a full-on class, I like to have the kids in one location.

There are a couple reasons for this. The biggest one is to help prevent distractions. There's often things that I have set up that we're going to be using for the project, and if the kids are sitting at the tables and there's materials out, naturally they're going to want to play with them and touch them.

And this is even true when I teach STEM at our rollerskating rink for field trips. It's very, very sweet. The program sets up all my materials, but they get into them.

So if you can have a group meeting place where all the kids are in one spot, you do your quick little mini lesson, and then you send them off on their way. I've seen the opposite where there's classrooms that don't have this group meeting space. The kids come into the room, they are sitting at their tables, and they're all chaotic, and they're getting started.

I'm like, wait, what is going on? I'm confused. It's just a lot of chaos, and it doesn't really lend well to a good transition. So knowing that expectation, no matter what you're going to be working on, no matter what grade level you're in, you are going to sit in this spot, most likely facing the screen or projector that you have, and we're going to set up those expectations and we will go on our way.

So that means to say you can't stop the class for other teaching aspects, but this is just really, really helpful, again, for those transitions and setting the stage for your classroom. Along with that, this is something that I didn't think of right off the bat because it looks very, very empty, but think about where you would like students to store their projects throughout the year. You may or may not use these open spaces, but if you can plan ahead and make room for it, if possible, I know this can be really tricky, then this will help you know where you should set out other materials, and those other materials you might need to put away in a safe spot, and then, again, you have those open spaces for kids to put their projects.

If you plan for it ahead of time, like I said, it's going to make it a lot easier, and it also looks a little weird because you might have empty shelves in your classroom when you want to fill them up with all the cool things. There are a lot of different things that I have tried, but what I really like to do when it comes to access materials, like when kids are in the middle of building projects, and you can hear more about how I do maker space specifically in episodes five and six, but I like those big fabric cubes from IKEA, the really big ones, not the small ones, the big ones, and when we're in the middle of a project, I use grocery bags. Kids will put their paper plan inside, and any materials that they shop for inside the bag, they tie them up, I show them how to do a loose tie on the bag, we put them in the bucket, and it's labeled with their teacher's name.

If there's things that they're specifically building they don't want crumpled up in the bag, that will be placed on the shelf next to that bucket, but it really helps getting out those materials in between classes. It does help with the storage because random materials aren't floating around on the shelves, but that also helps with the space as well, so those are some things to really consider. And finally, when you're setting up your space, I actually like to keep my maker space open all year long and have it all set up and organized, is having those maker space materials labeled with words and pictures and also at kid accessible height.

The whole goal when you're doing a maker space is to have kids be independent and gather supplies for their projects as you want them to. Again, listen to episodes five and six, but having them at kid height and labeled with pictures and words really helps with that independence where they know what is in the bucket, they can see it, they can gather those materials, and it also makes cleanup a lot easier because they know where things go. I actually created some editable labels that are for your maker space where they have words and pictures and easy to read kid font.

There are different color options, and my little trick too is I actually don't laminate these. I found these little business card pockets that are sticky on one side, and if you actually just print put the little label in the pocket, the pocket always stays on your bucket, but then you can change out the labels as much as you want and you don't have to do any laminating. I actually have a laminator, I just don't like to laminate unless I really, really have to.

So that is a really good hack. I'm really excited because the teacher I'm going to be subbing for, she has a really great maker space. She has it set up really nice, but I really want to upgrade her labels and so I asked her if I could do that, and she said yes.

So more to come this fall, you'll get to see that transformation. Those three things I hope you've thought about in your STEM space. They are really essential.

They seem very simple, but things that make a big impact in your space, make sure you have those three things. For more of a setup checklist for your STEM space, my STEM teacher 101 course, I have a whole lesson all about your classroom setup and things to think about. Maybe you did those as a classroom teacher and you're transferring them into your STEM space, but I also have a checklist that will walk you through those things and other ideas to think about when you're setting up your STEM space.

And there's also a whole lesson about systems and routines that will lend itself to your classroom setup. You can grab the entire course at namimerdith.com slash STEMteacher101, or you can just go through individual lessons of the course that are in my TPT shop. If you just head on over there, you will see all the lessons segmented so you can zone in on what you're looking for.

And before you go, I just wanted to read a quick note from one of you. I get the sweetest messages in my DMs and my emails and I actually save them. And when I'm a little bit like, what am I doing with all this? I like to read them.

So this is from one of you and you messaged me and you said, Hey, I just had to let you know that you are amazing. I wish you were my STEM teacher. That is so nice.

I just completed your K through two planning workshop and bought your K through two year long bundle. And now I want the three through five too. I'm so impressed with all your products and your plethora of great information, ideas, and enthusiasm.

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and passion for STEM. Thank you so much for that message. Lots of things.

I do have on demand workshops that you can jump in on. And then also those bundles of my K through five STEM year long plan. They're broken up in grade levels and also in segments.

So thank you so much for your kind message. Like I said, I have a whole folder on my phone and I keep these. So I do read them and I appreciate you all so much.

Thank you so much again, and I will see you all next week. Thank you so much for listening to today's episode of the elementary STEM coach podcast. I would love to connect with you over on Instagram at Naomi Meredith underscore or send me an email to elementary STEM coach podcast at gmail.com. Also make sure to check out my website, Naomi Meredith.com to see all the show notes from today's episode and shop my K through five STEM resources.

Any questions you have needs for resources or ideas for episodes, get in touch. I'll talk to you soon.

Related Episodes/Blog Posts:

Check out this playlist on Spotify I put together with all the episodes related to Back to school! 

 

Take a tour of my K-5 STEM Classroom

 

Grab the Makerspace labels you see in the photo here that come in a variety of color schemes. 

 

 

Instead of laminating each label, use these pouches that are sticky on the back. It makes changing out labels so much faster!

 

 

 

Connect with Naomi Meredith:

 

More About your host, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is an online K-5 STEM Coach in Colorado supporting elementary teachers world-wide navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there. With over a decade of experience teaching, 5 years teaching elementary STEM, along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM Certificate, Naomi helps teachers world-wide to navigate best practices, strategies and tools out there. 

She offers a variety of tools to help teachers feel successful teaching STEM to their elementary students through lesson plans, online courses, coaching and speaking events.

She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM, innovation and hands-on learning in their classrooms effectively. She can’t wait to connect with you and be your guide!

More About The Elementary STEM Coach Podcast

Are you tired of scrolling online for your next great STEM lesson? Do you feel like there is no time to plan, research and test meaningful STEM lessons, so you throw together a hands-on activity and hope that it works? What systems and routines should you set in place to help students be creative, critically think, and collaborate? 

The Elementary STEM Coach is a podcast for K-5 STEM teachers, classroom teachers, GT specialists, and homeschool parents looking for actionable STEM solutions. Each week, Naomi Meredith will share tools, resources and lesson ideas that are actionable in your classroom and create highly engaging experiences with your students. You’ll learn systems and routines that will create control in the chaos and that will keep you organized all year long. 

Your mindless scrolling days are over! Your new STEM-best friend is now here in your ear buds!

6 STEM Classroom Bulletin Board Ideas [Back to School Series] [ep.170]

by Naomi Meredith

6 STEM Classroom Bulletin Board Ideas  [Back to School Series] [ep.170]

stem-classroom-bulletin-board-ideas

Check out the full episode about STEM Classroom Bulletin Board Ideas:

 

Subscribe to the podcast HERE on your favorite podcasting platform.

Have a STEM question? Leave a voice message for the podcast!

Watch the video version of the episode here: 

Episode Summary

It’s officially time for back to school, which means you’re most likely preparing to start decorating your classroom. With so many ideas available for decorating your classroom, what should you set up? What are some creative ways you can set up your bulletin boards? In today’s episode, I’m sharing six STEM classroom bulletin board ideas that you can implement for the new school year.

Resources Mentioned:

Episode Transcript: 

You're ready to decorate your STEM classroom, but what should you set up? And in terms of bulletin boards, what are some creative things that you can hang up in your classroom, and also kind of some things that you can keep up all year? Maybe you didn't think about that when it comes to your bulletin board situation. I'm going to be sharing with you six bulletin board ideas that you can hang up in your classroom. There is a creative twist to these, so I'm so excited for you to hear these.

Welcome to the Elementary STEM Coach Podcast, a show that will help you with lesson ideas, systems, and actionable tips to apply to your classroom. I am your host, Naomi Meredith, a former classroom teacher turned current STEM teacher and coach. With over a decade of experience teaching and a master's degree in STEM leadership, I am here to coach you throughout the year to help you gain back more time to create innovative experiences for your students.

Grab your earbuds and let's get started. Welcome to back to school season. You may or may not want to hear those words right now.

I totally understand however you were feeling. I actually posted an Instagram reel the other day, and it said you and your teacher, Bestie, are hanging out by the pool. One of you is obsessing about setting up your classroom.

The other one of you is waiting to hear when you guys are going to go get your next iced coffee. I've definitely been both teachers depending on the year, especially when I used to have started new positions in a school or a grade level. I've always been the one to obsess about my classroom and go in and get organized and figure all that out.

But then as I've been comfortable in that position and know what to expect overall, I'm the second where when is my next iced coffee. I don't know if you know this about me, but I love iced coffee and I especially love oat milk lavender iced lattes. That is my go-to, but it has to be from a local coffee shop that makes their own syrup.

So fun fact about me. So what are some bulletin board ideas that you can have for your classroom? So before I jump in really quick, something that I really want to try to do and I love to chat is keeping these episodes this school year a lot shorter. A couple of the podcasts that I listen to that actually aren't teacher related are doing this and I absolutely love it.

And I feel like I get enough information and I'm good to go for the rest of the day and I will binge some of them. So I'm going to try to keep these 10 minutes or less or around then. So I know you are busy and you want to get on your way.

So if you're like, I want more, I have almost 200 episodes and there are many that are longer than 10 minutes. So we're going to try this out and see how it goes. But of course I never run out of ideas.

My husband's like, how, what are you going to even talk about on your podcast when you almost have 200 episodes? I'm like, there's so many things. There's a lot, a lot of things to talk about. So you like to talk, then that's where we're at.

Okay. So six different bulletin board ideas in my STEM teacher one-on-one course that, um, you can jump on it into the whole course, or you can just jump in on specific modules that I am slowly releasing on teachers by teachers. But these are some of the things in terms of decoration and bulletin boards that I recommend.

So I actually have printed off the checklist, um, that goes along with this. So definitely helpful for your classroom setup. If you see me looking down, I am looking at the checklist if you're watching the video version.

So the first one, when it comes to bulletin board setup is having your classroom rules and expectations. This is something you need for any classroom, but it doesn't have to be ugly. And so think about how do you want to teach this to students, but also how are you going to display it in your space? And this is something you want to keep up year round and also something that is easy to see all the time and can be something you can refer to.

I recommend having maybe three to seven classroom rules. Five is pretty good. Three to five is actually pretty good for a STEM space.

And so definitely figure out where to put that. Next is having growth mindset sayings. And I'm sure this is something you have thought about, whether you're a classroom teacher or going into STEM or you've been teaching STEM for a while.

How can students use growth mindset and what are some things that you are going to be constantly remind them? Not have a good growth mindset. What are some of those things? We make mistakes to help us grow. Something that I like to say is practice makes better.

Perfect doesn't exist. And I don't say that to them. So practice makes better.

I had my growth mindset sayings on, like you could still see them, like kids could read it still. They would all the time. But I have them as light bulbs and they would be on the top of one of my walls.

So they decorated my classroom, but they were also things I referred to constantly and kept up all five years that I was in the STEM space. Next is, it sounds very simple, but it actually, like hear me out on this one, is I had giant letters up on my whiteboard. So one of my walls was an entire whiteboard.

And in the top right corner, I had a block letters that I printed and cut out with my bulletin board letters. And it said STEM. And underneath each letter, I had a little circle poster that would represent what does each letter mean.

So there's some images. What is science? Images for what is technology? What do the letters actually mean? That was a huge thing too. So kids actually knew, oh, STEM isn't just a buzzword.

It's not a STEM on a plant. It actually means something. And this is something I referred to constantly, constantly with kids.

And you're not teaching in isolation. And I did mention this a lot in my STEM in action series that was just before this one. But I would explain to kids, hey, this is what science means.

Here's how we're using science. When I had new students or my younger students who had never had me before, I would refer to this constantly. So this is, again, something I would hang up.

Bulletin boards don't also, or just decorations in general, don't have to be ginormous. It doesn't have to be a board. So you probably are noticing, oh, it doesn't have to be a board.

It can just, how are you using your space? It can be decoration, but how are you referring to it? So having those STEM definition posters, what does STEM mean? Very, very helpful. Next, this is a fun one, but again, a teaching tool is having a STEM and technology alphabet. And I just recently updated my STEM and technology alphabet.

I'm so excited about this because there are three different color schemes that you can print out and have it match your classroom. And there's also black and white versions so you can print on whatever color paper you want. And having a STEM alphabet, again, is a great resource.

And I also have had a teacher who messaged me and she said, I actually have your alphabet. And when I use your lessons, because I have vocabulary in all my STEM lessons that are content specific, she would print out the vocabulary that went with that lesson in a smaller version and hung it up with the STEM alphabet. So it was more like a vocabulary wall that connected to the STEM concept.

So I thought that was a fantastic idea. I also have a whole alphabet set up in my home office right now. So I love the update.

It's just more visually appealing, needed a little bit of a refresh. So that is, again, something that you can hang up in your space. The fifth decoration that you can have in your classroom, again, this is something I hung up all year.

I hung it right outside of my classroom where students were coming in. And side note, classroom teachers loved this, is having a STEM affirmation station. And so what you do is you grab a cheap mirror.

I found mine at Walmart. It was $7 at the time. Hung it up with Gorilla Glue tape.

And then there's different affirmations that go along with STEM, like, I am a mathematician. I am an inventor. I am a creator.

And you can hang that up all along the mirror. And teachers, when they're picking up their kids, they love to check your hair. So that is a fun one.

And again, right outside my classroom, if you are allowed, that was a really great addition to my STEM space for all the kids. And the final one that actually is a bulletin board is I actually didn't have official bulletin boards. But there was a space right outside my door that I created a bulletin board with some paper, had a border, had a cute little garland on it.

And I would change it out with seasonal bulletin board kits. So I made a different theme for every month that went along with STEM. And then I printed, cut out, laminated.

And I could hang those up every year. Or if there's a student teacher nearby or a parent volunteer, I would just hand them the bag with the theme. And they could hang that up.

And it was all finished up. So all STEM related, but a fun little theme. Because you guys know I love a good theme.

After these ideas, what are you hoping to try in your classroom? You can go ahead and make all the things, not stopping you. But if you want to save some time and get into more lesson planning, every single thing that I mentioned, including this checklist for setting up your classroom, you can find in the show notes for this episode, or they're also in my TPT shop, Teachers Pay Teacher Shop, Naomi Meredith. And you can just print, go laminate, and you are all done in a day.

Thank you so much. And I will see you in the next episode. Thank you so much for listening to today's episode of the Elementary STEM Coach Podcast.

I would love to connect with you over on Instagram at Naomi Meredith underscore, or send me an email to elementary STEM Coach Podcast at gmail.com. Also, make sure to check out my website, Naomi Meredith.com to see all the show notes from today's episode and shop my K through five STEM resources. Any questions you have needs for resources or ideas for episodes, get in touch. I'll talk to you soon.

Related Episodes/Blog Posts:

 

Check out this playlist on Spotify I put together with all the episodes related to Back to school! 

 

STEM Classroom Bulletin Board Ideas #1: STEM Alphabet

Get this alphabet and 3 different color schemes for your classroom here. 

 

STEM Classroom Bulletin Board Ideas #2: Growth Mindset Sayings

Get these growth mindset lightbulbs for your classroom here

 

STEM Classroom Bulletin Board Ideas #3: Classroom Rules for STEM & Technology Classrooms

Get these rules for your classroom here. 

STEM Classroom Bulletin Board Ideas #4: STEM Definition Posters

Get these STEAM posters for your classroom here

STEM Classroom Bulletin Board Ideas #5: STEM Affirmation Station

Get this affirmation set up for your classroom here.

STEM Classroom Bulletin Board Ideas #6: Seasonal STEM Bulletin Boards

Click here to view the whole collection of print-and-cut STEM bulletin boards fro your classroom here. 

 

Connect with Naomi Meredith:

 

More About your host, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is an online K-5 STEM Coach in Colorado supporting elementary teachers world-wide navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there. With over a decade of experience teaching, 5 years teaching elementary STEM, along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM Certificate, Naomi helps teachers world-wide to navigate best practices, strategies and tools out there. 

She offers a variety of tools to help teachers feel successful teaching STEM to their elementary students through lesson plans, online courses, coaching and speaking events.

She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM, innovation and hands-on learning in their classrooms effectively. She can’t wait to connect with you and be your guide!

More About The Elementary STEM Coach Podcast

Are you tired of scrolling online for your next great STEM lesson? Do you feel like there is no time to plan, research and test meaningful STEM lessons, so you throw together a hands-on activity and hope that it works? What systems and routines should you set in place to help students be creative, critically think, and collaborate? 

The Elementary STEM Coach is a podcast for K-5 STEM teachers, classroom teachers, GT specialists, and homeschool parents looking for actionable STEM solutions. Each week, Naomi Meredith will share tools, resources and lesson ideas that are actionable in your classroom and create highly engaging experiences with your students. You’ll learn systems and routines that will create control in the chaos and that will keep you organized all year long. 

Your mindless scrolling days are over! Your new STEM-best friend is now here in your ear buds!

Ways to Integrate Math in Elementary STEM [STEM in Action Series] [ep.169]

by Naomi Meredith

Ways to Integrate Math in Elementary STEM [STEM in Action Series] [ep.169]

math-in-elementary-stem

Check out the full episode about Ways to Integrate Math in Elementary STEM:  

 

Subscribe to the podcast HERE on your favorite podcasting platform.

Have a STEM question? Leave a voice message for the podcast!

Listen to this episode on YouTube:

Episode Summary

Today, we are wrapping up our STEM in Action Series with math in elementary STEM. Whether you already purposefully plan and implement math in your STEM lessons or are looking for ways you can effectively create math STEM lessons, today’s episode is for you. In this episode, I share some of my favorite tools for incorporating math in elementary STEM, some of my most popular math lessons, and how to ensure you are planning with the standards in mind.

 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Standards to focus on for math lessons
  • Top Tools to Use
  • Lesson Ideas that use science as the main focus; project, station & 1 day lesson

Resources Mentioned:

Some items are linked to my Amazon Affiliate account. When you purchase through my link, there is no added cost to you, but I receive a small commission in return.

Episode Transcript: 

What are some ways that you can purposely plan and add math effectively into your STEM lessons? We are here in the last episode of our STEM in Action series, where we kicked off the series with guest experts in the field to help connect together different elements of STEM. And then the second half of the series, I have been sharing my insight and practical lessons that you can implement in your classroom for each element of STEM. And here in this last episode of the series, we are talking all about math.

And this one might be one of those areas that you might be implementing a lot of, or maybe you're forgetting about, and what should we be looking for? So let's jump into this episode. Welcome to the Elementary STEM Coach Podcast, a show that'll help you with lesson ideas, systems, and actionable tips to apply to your classroom. I am your host, Naomi Meredith, a former classroom teacher turned current STEM teacher and coach.

With over a decade of experience teaching and a master's degree in STEM leadership, I am here to coach you throughout the year to help you gain back more time to create innovative experiences for your students. Grab your earbuds and let's get started. We are here in the summertime as the episode is live and maybe you're thinking about back to school.

And if you're thinking about you want to dive in more ways and make sure you're not missing out on anything for setting up your STEM classroom, I invite you to check out my STEM Teacher 101 course. You get to hang out with me during your own time and go through the process of setting up your classroom that is conducive to systems and routines, some lesson planning ideas and structures, and also different ways to help students grow in their STEM skills when it comes to growth mindset, collaboration, and all sorts of things like that. I have the whole entire course available for you.

You can jump right in or if there are just specific areas you really want to target. I am starting to break up the whole entire course so you can zone in on the lessons that you really need and you can find those separated out for you on my Teachers Pay Teachers Shop, Naomi Meredith, and each of those are listed separately. At the time of this recording, all of the first module, it's called module two, but all of that first module is ready to go for you.

So I definitely encourage you to check it out. Every single module has bonuses and things that you can implement right away. So my STEM Classroom Setup module has some maps and layouts for you, DEM posters that you can hang up to help kids know what in the world STEM or STEAM actually means, and a STEM Classroom Setup Checklist.

So check that out. There are videos for every lesson and also transcripts, a written out version of each video so you can take notes and help you out in your STEM journey. All right, we are here in this last part of the series where we are talking about all things math.

And like I mentioned in the intro, math is very interesting in the STEM space where I think it sometimes is forgotten about or just how can we be creative in that math piece where we are having kids really experience the science, the technology, the engineering math. How do you put it all together? So the capital letter of STEM is the M that we are zoning in on. So like the other three episodes, the science, the technology, and the engineering episode, in this episode, I am zoning in on what standards you should look for, what are my top favorite tools, and also some lesson ideas for different types of lesson structures.

For math, what types of standards should you be looking at? So of course, check out your state math standards. They may or may not be linked to the Common Core State Standards, but check out your math standards and this will give you a good idea of what students should really be focusing in on that grade level. If you are worried and thinking about, and I kind of mentioned this too in the science one, oh, I don't want to repeat anything that the classroom teachers are doing.

You are not really repeating it. Think about what you're doing in your STEM space. You are really, you are really giving these lessons a STEM twist.

And of course, with math, the more practice, the better. And of course, if it's in a hands-on way and in a way that kids can really connect with, that's really, really important. And so all types of review, especially in math, can be very beneficial.

So don't feel like you're repeating anything. Practicing those skills in multiple ways is extremely, extremely important and to help build that number sense and how math is used in real life. Also, I want you to take a look at those mathematical practices that are also listed with a Common Core State Standards.

These mathematical practices are really talking about how do you attack math problems. And these really connect with what you are doing in your STEM space. One of them off the top of my head is attend to precision.

Why is that important? Why do we need to be precise sometimes? I can think about coding. Coding actually has a lot of math involved. And when you're thinking about coding, you really need to be precise in the way that you are writing that coding sequence, because if you're not, then your robot or whatever you're programming isn't going to do what you want it to do.

And you will have a bug in your code and you will have to fix it. Same with measurements. If you have to measure things where they fit together perfectly and they are off, it can throw off a whole design.

So those mathematical practices are really, really beneficial and really connect together in your STEM space. So if you're really thinking about a lesson that's all very focused on math, then really look at those Common Core State Standards. But if you're, of course, trying to implement math, but it's not the main, main focus, mathematical practices can really align with everything that you're doing.

All right. So for those top tools, how can you just easily integrate math in what you are doing? A manipulative that I have had in my classroom, actually, ever since I started teaching, it's the same kit that has followed me through the years, is I have a set of tangrams. So it is those shapes that you put together to create other things.

And you might be thinking, oh, that's so old school. That is so lame. Kids don't like it.

They do. It's actually a really, really good challenge. And it really is great for that spatial awareness, noticing what shapes make bigger shapes, how to break things apart.

It does go along with those progressions of learning when it comes to math and how do you see things and break them apart. And so if you need a quick STEM station or a filler, tangrams are a really great option. And you'll be surprised, a lot of kids have not done tangrams before.

Along with that, kind of similar, kind of different. There are tangrams websites. I think there was one on ABC.

Yeah, I like to use. But another one kids were obsessed about that I would use sometimes as a little reward or fast finisher are Tetris blocks, playing the game of Tetris. And I've only had like a couple of kids in each class who had ever played it and heard of it and they were obsessed.

It was really hard for them. And so I know it maybe it's like kind of going backwards, like, oh my gosh, this is an innovative. Some of those simple things we forget kids might not have done them before.

And there is a reason why these things are really, really helpful. Along with that, because tangrams kind of goes with this next one, is I love using Osmos. This is not sponsored at this time of the recording, but Osmos are such a great attachment for your tablet.

So they do have an attachment for most tablets. So just double check the type of tablet you have and the Osmo that you are purchasing. But it is using augmented reality.

So it's combining things that you're doing in the real world and then putting it back into the screen. So there's that interactive piece, but they're using hands-on manipulatives. So kids aren't just sitting and staring at a screen.

They're actually doing something hands-on to build it and solve a problem. And the genius kit actually has some math components. So two out of the three activities in the genius kit have math.

So there actually is a tangrams kit for it. So it's really cool because as the kids are building the tangrams, it actually will self-correct and then it'll kind of give kids tips like flip the shape or move it over this way. So that's really helpful.

It gives that immediate feedback. There also is a numbers game. So there is the dots.

So the subitizing where kids are trying to combine numbers and then it moves into actual symbols of numbers. And so there's different math challenges and they have to combine numbers or sometimes they're subtracting. There's different levels so you can really differentiate the numbers game.

There is a spelling game. I didn't use that one as often, but when I did have time, I actually would use the spelling side as well because hey, why not? Let's add some ELA. Another kit, it's not in the genius kit, but you can get the coding kit.

And this one I was so impressed with and impressed with, and I don't know why these ones are more expensive, but it's actually hands-on coding. So in a way it's kind of unplugged coding, but it's not. And the kids actually have to move the shapes to complete the challenge.

And this one has three different apps that, again, you can differentiate. And I did this all the way from kindergarten to second grade. And you could actually use this for third graders.

I don't know how fourth and fifth graders might like it. They might like some of it. I don't know.

Give it a try. But the coding was really cool because I can remember distinctly, I had these two second graders who needed special supports and I had them in a different game. And they were known to have their own paras who would be working with them one-on-one.

So I actually paired the two girls up together and they were completely independent. They actually were completing the coding challenges and problem solving and getting the pieces and understanding how is the character going to move through this maze. And they were doing it hands-on.

Coding was really hard. It was very abstract for them, but adding in that tactile piece with these pieces was absolutely amazing and worked very, very well for them. Another tool I really like, which you could probably steal from a grade level teacher if you don't have them.

They might not know what to do with them or just borrow them, is I have these foam, squishy, geometric shapes. So they're big versions of like a cube, of a pyramid, of a cylinder. And I use these all the time when I am teaching, especially when I am teaching 3D printing.

And you might be thinking, wait, how is the 3D printing math? It is, especially if you use Tinkercad. I talked about Tinkercad in the technology episode of this series. 3D printing is so much math and geometric observation and recognizing shapes and how shapes fit together.

And also the difference between 2D and 3D. And also if you really are thinking about building something to scale, 3D printing has so much math in it. Maybe I'll throw, well, I'll throw in a bonus lesson here.

I have a whole series of 3D printing lessons, K through five. So make sure you listen to the technology lesson. I talk more about 3D printing, but 3D printing is like a whole math thing.

So that's a whole bonus lesson for you. But I actually use those squishy geometric shapes as a way to teach 3D printing and how to model things and how to visualize what the shapes are doing on the platform. And I pull those out all the time.

And so those are very, very handy. And again, really, really helpful when you're teaching 3D printing. Okay.

So what are some lesson ideas? I gave you a bonus one, but I'm going to talk about a project, a station idea, and a one day lesson that you can do. When it comes to a project. And again, you're like, these are all integrated.

Yes. The way I plan is very, very integrated. One that I really like, and you can modify the type of shape, is that I did robot snowflakes.

And I've actually have done this with different types of robots. At the time I used Sphero, but you could actually change it up based on the type of robots that you have. And what we did, it was during the winter time, it was during my winter robotics theme.

So everybody was working on robotics, but we had a different robot to use in a different lesson. Or maybe you have similar robots, but different lessons. So just a different way to use the robotics.

And in fourth grade, one of their math standards really focuses on lines and angles. And depending on when this lesson would pop up and what they're working on in math, sometimes my groups had background knowledge of lines and angles. Sometimes they were currently working on it, or sometimes they've never done it at all.

So I have experienced all of the above, and it doesn't really matter. And so it works all the ways. Again, it's okay.

I know for sure, 1,000%, they weren't doing this in their classroom. What I'm going to explain to you, so don't feel bad. So we moved all the tables.

I actually move all the tables during robotics anyway. And student, we talked about what symmetry means and how this is represented in snowflakes in nature. And then students had to design a simple symmetrical snowflake and had to measure out the lines and angles to design the snowflake so that their robot could code the path and realistically loop their code.

So once you press play, the robot could actually trace the whole entire snowflake in one go. So that was a really good challenge. It was beautiful.

It looked like Elf from the movie. Absolute one of my favorite movies. Decorated my classroom.

And so we actually, I had tile floors. We use chalk on the floor and students drew the lines using the chalk, and then they covered it up with masking tape. And then at the end of the week, they actually had to pull up the snowflakes so I could do it for the next class.

I would leave a couple just in case, but there's a really good lesson that was heavily math focused. For a STEM station, if now, I plan STEM stations where kids can be very independent. They're quick challenges, but one that could be implementing that technology, but really focusing on how is math used in the real world.

On my other podcast for kids, the STEM Career Quest podcast, I interviewed different people who are currently working in STEM fields and doing amazing things in their real lives. And in particular, I have interviewed two people who rely heavily on math and actually support students in math and why that's important to explain what they do. And so at this station, you can actually have students listen to these podcast episodes.

I have one with Tiffany Layton and then a different one with Christopher Robles, how they use math in their actual career and help impact kids. And so students can listen to these episodes. And I actually have podcast listening guides that go with the episode where students can practice that listening comprehension and also learn about STEM careers that are being used today to solve real world problems.

So you could share these digitally. You can print them out. You can share a segment of the podcast.

So with the guides, you actually get all the whole podcast segmented for you in video format. So you could just focus in on one part, but this is a really great way to help students practicing that listening comprehension. And again, how is math used in our real world? And for our one day lesson, this one's really good for maybe even a sub plan.

If you have a sub, you're very confident in their skills. And also a back to school challenge and also a last minute one day challenge. This was a really good one.

I have done this one in a lot of different capacities, like a whole group with an after school club in my STEM explorers club that I'm hosting in my community right now, but it is a straw maze challenge. And so all you really need for this challenge is, um, hard pieces of cardboard. So I like to cut up Amazon boxes for this one, hard pieces of cardboard, straws, tape, and marbles.

You can use rolling marbles, or you can use flat marbles. And then you can even teach kids like how to create their piece, like into a box and create edges with the cardboard so that the marble doesn't fall off. And so there's a lot of different things.

So there's that engineering piece, of course, but when you're connecting it to the math side, if you're really focusing on math, you can have students time themselves, how fast it takes for their marble to get through the maze from start to finish successfully. And then from there, they can actually keep track of their results to do it 10 times or have their friend do it 10 times, and then they can create a bar graph of their results. And then this can even help them modify their design.

So based on how someone is going through the maze, are there modifications that you can make to make it be harder or maybe make it a little bit easier? And so it really is connecting in why do we have trials through things? How do you use math to actually calculate results? So very low prep, it can easily be done in one day. And there are, there's a video to show you kind of like some tips and tricks to get started. And then also those math and science connections.

As a recap for this math episode in our STEM in Action series, we talked about the standards to really focus on when it comes to the math side. What are my favorite tools that are math-focused? And also some lesson ideas in terms of a project you can try, a STEM station, and a one-day lesson. All of the things we chatted about will be in the show notes, but specifically the lessons that I talked about can be found in my TPT, my Teachers Pay Teachers Shop, Naomi Meredith, where you can get all the things you need to get set up and on your way with these math-focused activities.

Thank you so much again for being here and being a part of the series. This was a fun one to plan. And I was very surprised that I didn't have this one as lessons, or not as lessons, as episodes.

So you guys really inspire me. I appreciate you reaching out and excited for the next series, couple series that I am planning out, where we are going to be talking all about back to school. Thank you so much again for being here and I will talk to you soon.

Thank you so much for listening to today's episode of the Elementary STEM Coach Podcast. I would love to connect with you over on Instagram at Naomi Meredith underscore, or send me an email to elementarystemcoachpodcast at gmail.com. Also make sure to check out my website NaomiMeredith.com to see all the show notes from today's episode and shop my K-5 STEM resources. Any questions you have, needs for resources, or ideas for episodes, get in touch.

I'll talk to you soon.

 

math-in-elementary-stem

Related Episodes/Blog Posts:

Connect with Naomi Meredith:

 

More About your host, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is an online K-5 STEM Coach in Colorado supporting elementary teachers world-wide navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there. With over a decade of experience teaching, 5 years teaching elementary STEM, along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM Certificate, Naomi helps teachers world-wide to navigate best practices, strategies and tools out there. 

She offers a variety of tools to help teachers feel successful teaching STEM to their elementary students through lesson plans, online courses, coaching and speaking events.

She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM, innovation and hands-on learning in their classrooms effectively. She can’t wait to connect with you and be your guide!

More About The Elementary STEM Coach Podcast

Are you tired of scrolling online for your next great STEM lesson? Do you feel like there is no time to plan, research and test meaningful STEM lessons, so you throw together a hands-on activity and hope that it works? What systems and routines should you set in place to help students be creative, critically think, and collaborate? 

The Elementary STEM Coach is a podcast for K-5 STEM teachers, classroom teachers, GT specialists, and homeschool parents looking for actionable STEM solutions. Each week, Naomi Meredith will share tools, resources and lesson ideas that are actionable in your classroom and create highly engaging experiences with your students. You’ll learn systems and routines that will create control in the chaos and that will keep you organized all year long. 

Your mindless scrolling days are over! Your new STEM-best friend is now here in your ear buds!

engineering-in-the-classroom-examples

Engineering in the Classroom Examples [STEM in Action Series][ep.168]

by Naomi Meredith

Engineering in the Classroom Examples [STEM in Action Series] [ep.168]

Check out the full episode about Engineering in the Classroom Examples:

Subscribe to the podcast HERE on your favorite podcasting platform.

Have a STEM question? Leave a voice message for the podcast!

Listen to this episode on YouTube here:

Episode Summary

We are continuing our STEM in Action series with engineering in the classroom examples. In this episode, I will be sharing how to incorporate the engineering aspect of STEM into your classroom, my favorite tools for engineering lessons, and examples of different types of engineering lessons and projects you can incorporate into your classroom.

 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Standards to focus on for engineering lessons
  • Top Tools to Use
  • Lesson Ideas that use science as the main focus; project, station & 1 day lesson

Resources Mentioned:

Some items are linked to my Amazon Affiliate account. When you purchase through my link, there is no added cost to you, but I receive a small commission in return.

Episode Transcript: 

What are some ways to effectively plan and incorporate engineering into your STEM lessons? I feel like the engineering side might be one of the easiest, but there are some tips and tricks that I like to use when really focusing on the building aspect. We are continuing our STEM in Action series, which we kicked off with guest experts in the field to help connect different elements of STEM. For the second half of this series, I'm sharing my insights and some practical lessons that you can implement in your classroom.

Welcome to the Elementary STEM Coach Podcast, a show that will help you with lesson ideas, systems, and actionable tips to apply to your classroom. I am your host, Naomi Meredith, a former classroom teacher turned current STEM teacher and coach. With over a decade of experience teaching and a master's degree in STEM leadership, I am here to coach you throughout the year to help you gain back more time to create innovative experiences for your students. Grab your earbuds, and let's get started.

In the last episode, I focused on technology. The one before that, I focused on science. If you haven't listened to those episodes, go back and check them out. You don't have to listen to them before this one, no worries at all. But we are going to get into the engineering side. As the summer might be in full swing, or maybe it's winding down for you and you are thinking about back to school, you might be wondering how you can really focus on what you need to do for your classroom. I have my on-demand STEM Teacher 101 course where I walk you through the whole process of setting up your classroom, what types of lesson plans you can have in your space, and then some other things to think about like grouping students and having them collaborate effectively.

Now, based on requests from you, I am splitting up the whole STEM Teacher 101 course. You can take it as a whole, or I'm breaking apart the lessons and adding updates as I go, so you can focus on something specific. The course is more effective if you do it on your own, but if there are certain things you need to focus on, like how to set up your classroom, what type of checklist to use as a teacher before the kids even arrive, all of those segmented lessons are being uploaded to my TPT shop, Teachers Pay Teachers shop, Naomi Meredith. You can go and check that out. At the time of this recording, all of the lessons in module two are up in my TPT shop. This is a great way for you to gradually get into the course or just pay as you go, and it's a great way to focus on the lessons you're looking for.

Alright, when it comes to engineering, I feel like it might be one of the easiest aspects to think about in STEM. I want you to keep in mind, though, that we're not isolating all the letters in STEM, where you're only doing engineering or only doing technology. You’re really focusing on all of it, but maybe highlighting one more than the others. Think of each episode as the capital letter in STEM, with the rest being lowercase, so in this episode, E is capitalized.

If you're wondering why I'm not doing an art lesson, there is always an element of art in STEM. You're always thinking about creativity. In the business world, they call it STEM, which is why I use STEM, but I'm not ignoring the art piece. Trust me, I'm all about making things look nice and being creative.

In this episode, like the others on science and technology, I'm going to talk through the standards to think about, my top favorite tools, and some lesson plan ideas. If you're thinking STEM doesn't have any standards, especially engineering, it actually does. In fact, your science standards likely include building a model, creating a solution, or building to solve a problem. Those words are in your science standards for a reason. Some science standards lend themselves well to experiments, while others are better for an engineering design process challenge to build and solve a problem. Really look at those keywords in your standards.

My other favorite standards are the Next Generation Science Standards that specifically talk about the engineering design process. It’s a process real engineers use to build and solve problems and go through the iteration process. It’s different from the scientific method but equally important. I have a poster that supports this process, which I blew up at Walgreens. It was inexpensive, and you can hang it up all year. I also display it digitally. Familiarize yourself with the engineering design process. It’s important and helps design challenges, whether they are multi-day or one-day challenges.

Regarding tools, here are my favorites for reusable items and maker space. For cardboard, I love the thin cardboard from cereal and snack boxes. I collect it constantly. My teacher honey saves it for me, and I cut it up into pieces to force students to build creatively. I also store it in a drawer in my home office. For thicker cardboard like Amazon boxes, I recommend investing in cardboard saws like those from MakeDo. Be cautious with these, especially for younger students. For tape, I prefer masking tape. I limit its use by making baby tape rolls wrapped around a Popsicle stick. I haven’t found a favorite brand, so I look for the cheapest options on Amazon or at Dollar Tree.

For hot glue guns, choose low-temperature ones. Ensure you use the corresponding low-temperature sticks to avoid clogging issues. I use these from second grade and up or third grade and up. I have a poster with instructions, which you can find on my YouTube channel.

For consumables, I love using math manipulatives. I collect old ones from teacher hallways at the end or beginning of the school year. I also found Unifix cube alternatives at Target’s dollar spot. These are great for various STEM activities.

For lesson ideas, if you want to focus on engineering as your main goal, here are some suggestions. For a multi-day project, consider my STEM Survival Camp. In episode four of this podcast, I discuss all six challenges. The build a shelter challenge is popular, where students create a shelter to withstand elements like wind, water, and snow.

For STEM stations, use my engineer inspiration boards. These are low-prep, themed activities that students can build using any materials on hand. They are perfect for last-minute lessons or fast finishers.

For a one-day lesson, consider the paper plate marble coaster. It’s a fun project where students design a coaster using flimsy paper plates. They learn about roller coaster design principles and use cardboard building techniques.

In summary, today we talked about the standards for engineering in STEM, recommended tools, and lesson ideas for multi-day projects, STEM stations, and one-day lessons. You can find all lesson-specific resources in my TPT shop, Naomi Meredith. Feel free to reach out to me via email or Instagram for links or questions. Can't wait to hang out with you next week for the last episode in this series, where we'll talk about all things math.

Thank you for listening to today's episode of the Elementary STEM Coach Podcast. Connect with me on Instagram at NaomiMeredith_ or via email at elementarystemcoachpodcast@gmail.com. Check out my website, NaomiMeredith.com, for show notes and K-5 STEM resources. Reach out with any questions or ideas for episodes. Talk to you soon!

 

 

Related Episodes/Blog Posts:

Connect with Naomi Meredith:

 

More About your host, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is an online K-5 STEM Coach in Colorado supporting elementary teachers world-wide navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there. With over a decade of experience teaching, 5 years teaching elementary STEM, along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM Certificate, Naomi helps teachers world-wide to navigate best practices, strategies and tools out there. 

She offers a variety of tools to help teachers feel successful teaching STEM to their elementary students through lesson plans, online courses, coaching and speaking events.

She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM, innovation and hands-on learning in their classrooms effectively. She can’t wait to connect with you and be your guide!

More About The Elementary STEM Coach Podcast

Are you tired of scrolling online for your next great STEM lesson? Do you feel like there is no time to plan, research and test meaningful STEM lessons, so you throw together a hands-on activity and hope that it works? What systems and routines should you set in place to help students be creative, critically think, and collaborate? 

The Elementary STEM Coach is a podcast for K-5 STEM teachers, classroom teachers, GT specialists, and homeschool parents looking for actionable STEM solutions. Each week, Naomi Meredith will share tools, resources and lesson ideas that are actionable in your classroom and create highly engaging experiences with your students. You’ll learn systems and routines that will create control in the chaos and that will keep you organized all year long. 

Your mindless scrolling days are over! Your new STEM-best friend is now here in your ear buds!

How is Technology Used in STEM? [STEM in Action Series] [ep.167]

by Naomi Meredith

How is Technology Used in STEM? [STEM in Action Series] [ep.167]

Check out the full episode on How Technology is Used in STEM:  

 

Subscribe to the podcast HERE on your favorite podcasting platform.

Have a STEM question? Leave a voice message for the podcast!

Listen to the audio of this episode on YouTube:

Episode Summary

How can you purposefully plan and add technology into your STEM lessons? How is technology used in STEM? We are continuing our STEM in Action series with technology. In this episode, I will be sharing how technology fits into the ISTE standards for students, my top tools for technology in STEM, and lesson ideas that focus on technology.

 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Standards to focus on for technology lessons
  • Top Tools to Use
  • Lesson Ideas that use science as the main focus; project, station & 1 day lesson

Resources Mentioned:

 Some items are linked to my Amazon Affiliate account. When you purchase through my link, there is no added cost to you, but I receive a small commission in return.

Episode Transcript: 

What are some ways to purposely plan for and add technology effectively into your STEM lessons? We are continuing our STEM in Action series, where we kicked off the series with guest experts in the field to help connect the different elements of STEM. In this second half, I am sharing my insights and practical lessons that you can implement in your classroom. In the last episode, episode 166, we talked about science as the main focus of your lessons.

In this episode, we are diving into technology as the main focus, with everything else falling in underneath. I know technology is such a broad topic, and there are many ways to approach it depending on your goals. In fact, you might even have technology embedded in your lessons throughout the entire year.

I will be sharing a mixture of topics and ideas to help with your planning and implementation, whether you're using technology throughout the year or focusing on it as your primary tool. Welcome to the Elementary STEM Coach Podcast, a show that will help you with lesson ideas, systems, and actionable tips to apply in your classroom. I am your host, Naomi Meredith, a former classroom teacher turned current STEM teacher and coach.

With over a decade of experience teaching and a master's degree in STEM leadership, I am here to coach you throughout the year to help you gain back more time to create innovative experiences for your students. Grab your earbuds and let's get started. If you are looking for more ways and support when getting started with STEM, and you need resources that you can use on the go and in your own time, I invite you to join my on-demand professional development.

I have a couple of options for you. If you enjoy hanging out with me but want to do it in your own time, I recommend my STEM Teacher 101 course. This is perfect for teachers who have taught STEM for one year or are just diving in and want to know what to do to get started.

The course covers setting up your classroom, basics of lesson planning, and grouping students. If you are interviewing, there is a whole section about what it could sound like in your interview, including potential questions and how I would answer them. The course is self-paced and includes certificates for professional development credit.

If you are ready to level up your planning after teaching STEM for a while, I have several workshops for you. They were originally live but are now recorded so you can interact as if you were there live. There is a K-2 STEM planning workshop and a 3-5 workshop. Many teachers start with the K-2 workshop and then proceed to the 3-5.

These workshops include tips and tricks for lesson planning, one-day challenges, and longer projects. Additionally, if you need school-wide news ideas, I offer pre-recorded school-wide video news workshops, with templates, emails, and the entire system and processes. There is also a workshop on setting up your own STEM career day. You can find the links in the show notes or check them out at NaomiMeredith.com.

In today's episode, we will focus on technology as the center of your lesson, with all other STEM elements embedded within. Technology is a broad topic, so where do you begin and what should you do? I like to use the ISTE standards for students as a base. These standards help clarify what you want students to do with technology, whether they are creating, collaborating, or learning about digital citizenship.

I then merge these standards with science standards, like the Next Generation Science Standards or your state science standards, to create content that goes along with the technology use. You can see this integration in my K-5 STEM year-long plan, which is available for free. All my lessons combine these standards to ensure comprehensive STEM education.

When it comes to technology tools, there are many options. I will focus on what I use with students. If you are interested in hearing about the technology tools I use on the teacher side, let me know.

For documenting and sharing resources with students, I use Seesaw. It allows students to record their voices, take pictures, and draw on digital interactive notebooks. This platform helps me create a library of notebooks for students, making it easy to add elements on top. Major projects from my shop come with Seesaw versions, Google Slides, and PowerPoint.

For coding platforms, many use Hour of Code or Code.org. Another great platform is Make Wonder by Wonder Workshop. It uses block-based coding and offers free challenges and lessons. Upgrading provides a virtual Dash robot for coding at home. This platform is excellent, especially if you plan to use Dash robots.

For video and audio projects, I highly recommend WeVideo. I used it for school-wide video news and classroom projects. It supports green screen, is very visual, and easy to understand. WeVideo is cloud-based, so you can use it on any device. For 3D printing software, I love Tinkercad by Autodesk. It's free and offers teacher features for creating classes. Another option is Doodle 3D Transform for younger students or those needing more support.

For stop motion, I use the Stop Motion app. The free version is great, and the paid version has extra editing features. I recommend importing stop motion projects into WeVideo or iMovie for additional editing.

Now, let's get into some lesson ideas. For a project, a great starter is creating a 3D-printed birdhouse prototype. Students can study how birds create nests and design a birdhouse using Tinkercad. This project is suitable for second grade and up.

For a STEM station, I did day and night robotics coding with first graders. Using Bebots or Code & Go mice, students coded robots to different items on a grid based on day, night, or both. This station helps students understand day and night concepts through coding.

For a one-day lesson, focus on digital citizenship and media balance. Students built a balance using various materials and categorized activities as screen-free or screen-based to understand the importance of media balance.

As a recap, we discussed standards for planning technology-focused STEM lessons, favorite technology tools, and lesson ideas, including projects, stations, and one-day lessons. All mentioned lessons are available in my TPT shop, Naomi Meredith. For more information, visit my website, NaomiMeredith.com. Join me in the next episode, where we will focus on engineering. Thank you for listening to the Elementary STEM Coach Podcast. Connect with me on Instagram at NaomiMeredith_ or email me at elementarystemcoachpodcast@gmail.com. Check out my website, NaomiMeredith.com, for show notes and K-5 STEM resources. I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Related Episodes/Blog Posts:

Connect with Naomi Meredith:

 

More About your host, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is an online K-5 STEM Coach in Colorado supporting elementary teachers world-wide navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there. With over a decade of experience teaching, 5 years teaching elementary STEM, along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM Certificate, Naomi helps teachers world-wide to navigate best practices, strategies and tools out there. 

She offers a variety of tools to help teachers feel successful teaching STEM to their elementary students through lesson plans, online courses, coaching and speaking events.

She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM, innovation and hands-on learning in their classrooms effectively. She can’t wait to connect with you and be your guide!

More About The Elementary STEM Coach Podcast

Are you tired of scrolling online for your next great STEM lesson? Do you feel like there is no time to plan, research and test meaningful STEM lessons, so you throw together a hands-on activity and hope that it works? What systems and routines should you set in place to help students be creative, critically think, and collaborate? 

The Elementary STEM Coach is a podcast for K-5 STEM teachers, classroom teachers, GT specialists, and homeschool parents looking for actionable STEM solutions. Each week, Naomi Meredith will share tools, resources and lesson ideas that are actionable in your classroom and create highly engaging experiences with your students. You’ll learn systems and routines that will create control in the chaos and that will keep you organized all year long. 

Your mindless scrolling days are over! Your new STEM-best friend is now here in your ear buds!

science-used-in-stem

How is Science Used in STEM? [STEM in Action Series] [ep.166]

by Naomi Meredith

How is Science Used in STEM? [STEM in Action Series] [ep.166]

Check out the full episode on How Science is Used in STEM:  

 

Subscribe to the podcast HERE on your favorite podcasting platform.

Have a STEM question? Leave a voice message for the podcast!

Listen to the audio here on YouTube:

Episode Summary

Have you been thinking of some ways to purposefully plan and add science into your STEM lessons? In today’s episode, we are continuing with our STEM into Action series, with me sharing my insights and some practical lessons that answer the question, “How is science used in STEM?”

 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Standards to focus on for science lessons
  • Top Tools to Use
  • Lesson Ideas that use science as the main focus; project, station & 1 day lesson

Resources Mentioned:

Some items are linked to my Amazon Affiliate account. When you purchase through my link, there is no added cost to you, but I receive a small commission in return.

Episode Transcript: 

What are some ways to purposefully plan and effectively add science into your STEM lessons? We are continuing our STEM in Action series, where we kicked it off with guest experts in the field to help connect different elements of STEM and really focus on what STEM means and can look like in different capacities. For the second half of the series, I will be sharing my insights and some practical lessons that you can implement in your classroom. The next four episodes will focus on each letter of STEM, and these will all connect together and give you some practical ideas that you are really going to enjoy.

Welcome to the Elementary STEM Coach Podcast, a show that will help you with lesson ideas, systems, and actionable tips to apply to your classroom. I am your host, Naomi Meredith, a former classroom teacher turned current STEM teacher and coach. With over a decade of experience teaching and a master's degree in STEM leadership, I am here to coach you throughout the year to help you gain back more time to create innovative experiences for your students.

Grab your earbuds and let's get started. At the time of this recording, we are right in the middle of summer. Maybe some of you have been on summer break for a little while, or maybe some of you are just starting. Wherever you are, I get it. I understand. June has been a very busy month for me again. You probably know where I was last time in June, and this year has been very busy as well. I understand the busyness and all the cool things that you can do in summer.

Having on-demand trainings can be extremely helpful. If you're on the go or traveling, one of my favorite things to do is listen to trainings on airplanes or while using cardio machines at the hotel. I understand, like I said, and so I have some on-the-go trainings for you that are perfect for summertime. You don't have to attend live, but they can really help support your STEM instruction.

I have my STEM Teacher 101 course. So if you are getting started in STEM and don't know where to begin and want someone to tell you what to do before you even set up all the lessons, I invite you to join my STEM Teacher 101 course. That is a great place to start.

If you're looking for strategies on specific lesson planning or maybe you're thinking, “Oh, I want to host my school-wide video news this year,” or “I would love to host a STEM career day,” I have some workshops for you. All of those workshops are two hours, come with tons of resources, and they were live at the time. So I did have teachers who were there for the live trainings, except the STEM Career Day is 100% on demand.

However, you can hear that interaction and get access to all those resources right there. And again, be on your way with what you are looking for. You can find all of that linked in the show notes, or if you even just head to my website, NaomiMeredith.com, you'll see tabs that go along with the things that I'm talking about. That’s a great way to spend some time with me this summer, even when you are on the go.

When you're thinking about implementing science, the format of these next four lessons is going to have the same structure. So you know what to listen for and what to really think about. We are going to be talking about standards—what standards should you use when thinking about that part of STEM. Today we are talking about science. Then I’m going to share my top tools that I love using when it relates to that letter in STEM. Finally, I will give you some lesson ideas that are mostly focused on science.

Of course, they encompass all sorts of things cross-curricular, which is how you should be planning anyway. I'm very big on that. That is going to be the structure for these episodes. When it comes to standards, when you are really focusing on the science part of STEM, your state most likely has some sort of science standards that you should be focusing on. I like to base my lessons on the NGSS, the Next Generation Science Standards. Those are more widely used nationwide. Here in Colorado, some standards are based on the NGSS, but I like to teach with the NGSS so it's more universal. However, you need to look at the standards specific to your state and what you should be teaching at that grade level.

In the last episode with Nicole Aschen, episode 165, we touched on this as well. If you are limited on time with teaching, which we all are, but a lot of you teach one-day lessons, why not make it more purposeful by bouncing off what classroom teachers are doing and teaching with those standards? I was spoiled at times where I had more time with kids, but I always planned with standards no matter what. I would just give it a STEM twist. I will be sharing some lessons with you, but just know that when I am planning lessons, I am always planning with standards. It's ingrained in my soul.

Make sure you check out your science standards. When it comes to the top tools, this is hard to pick my favorite, but I do have a few favorites when it comes to the science part of things. One of my favorite tools, and I always used these, and some of these might sound very random, but they are things that I liked having on hand.

I have a little set of 3D toys or models of the life cycle of a ladybug. That is something that would come up all the time. I used it as an example or a model for something to show kids when talking about insects or life cycles. Having that model was something I pulled out all the time. Likewise, having similar hands-on models is one of my favorite things to show. I even taught an in-person STEM class the other day at my local coffee shop, and I was so excited it was sold out.

We were talking about camouflage and how ocean animals, specifically octopuses, but then we started talking about other ocean animals. The kids were very engaged, so I brought in real coral and real seashells that I had found while traveling. I love having those tangible hands-on things where kids can see, touch, and look at them to make sense of what they’re learning. I’ve even had times when people have given me things, and you can't keep everything, of course, but I had a parent ask me if I wanted to hold on to a wasp nest for a while. All the wasps were gone, and that was such a cool experience for the kids to see it. Some of them were scared, but I assured them the wasps were gone.

I even did a segment on our school-wide video news where I interviewed the kid who brought it in. We put it on the news, and I answered all the questions I kept getting about it. Having those hands-on models are very, very important, and they can be used over and over again.

Along with that, with top tools, this kind of flows into everything as well. I love to travel. I don't know if you guys know that. Maybe you've seen it on my Instagram. If you follow me on Instagram at NaomiMeredith_underscore, you'll see I love to travel. When I travel, I'm always thinking about STEM. I can't get away from it. I take videos and pictures of things that I know my students would love, and I use these photos and pictures as talking points when I am chatting with kids. It’s a great way to get to know them, but I will show them, “Oh my gosh, I saw this while whale watching,” and explain how animals didn’t want to be camouflaged, they wanted to be showy. I show videos from that experience. When you’re traveling, or if you’re going to the zoo, take some extra photos or pictures that you know will connect to a lesson, and you can pull them out later. These might not be the types of science tools you thought of, but those are things I really love to use to enhance my lessons.

Okay, so on to those lesson ideas. Yes, STEM is all integrated, but we’re really thinking about how science is the main standard for this subject. For this series, when we talk about each letter of STEM, or the upcoming episodes, I will be sharing with you a project, a station, and a one-day lesson. Depending on how long you see kids or what you are looking for, this will give you some good ideas.

In terms of a project, the standards that I was looking at were in second grade and the NGSS. It was about how weathering and erosion can happen, and I focused on water erosion for this project. The project goes through the whole engineering design process. Students explore different ways and inventions that help with water erosion. It can be tricky, especially for third grade and younger, to find resources that help with the imagining and planning phases. I wrote short, kid-friendly articles with image examples and audio where kids can explore different inventions. From there, students plan their design using those ideas, combining what they have learned. They create an invention using maker space materials to try to either stop or slow down water erosion of the soil.

When I've done this with second grade, I've tried it a few ways. There are certain supplies they could use, or I've done a shopping method where students shop for supplies. If you're interested, go back and listen to episodes five and six about maker space, as I discuss the shopping piece. When we got to testing their designs, I tried different methods. One year, I had buckets of dirt and soil, probably potting soil, and students tested their designs in these buckets. It was December, so it was cold in Colorado. But when I did this lesson again in October, it was warmer, so we tested our designs outside. Testing inside was nice because the buckets of dirt could dry out and be ready for the next few weeks. But taking kids outside wasTesting inside was nice because the buckets of dirt could dry out and be ready for the next few weeks. But taking kids outside was fun too, as they had to adjust their designs and see how they worked with water. If you want to test this lesson indoors, I highly recommend using those buckets of dirt.

For a station lesson, this can be something used in rotations, especially if you have lower grades. I have a lot of robot extensions and use robots to integrate science concepts, specifically animal adaptations and how that translates into robots. You could start by reading “What if You Had Animal Eyes?” or “What if You Had Animal Hair?” which are very cute books and only take 10-15 minutes to read. Then, you could discuss how engineers get ideas from nature, called biomimicry. Following this, you could have different science stations with robotics extensions. One example is using Cubelets to have kids build different robots representing animal features, like eyes that can see or camouflage.

Another station example is using Bee-Bots to talk about habitats. You could have maps with different animal habitats, and students can program the Bee-Bot to go to different locations on the map. If you have older students, they could create the maps for the younger kids to use. There are many ways to connect robots with science concepts, and these are just a few examples.

Finally, for a one-day lesson, I love using littleBits to create inventions. One lesson idea is having students create a warning system for when their drink is too hot. They could use littleBits temperature sensors to create an invention that warns them when the drink is at a certain temperature. This can be tied to discussions about heat and temperature, making it a quick, engaging, and educational activity.

There you go! That was a lot of information, but I hope you found some new ideas and ways to integrate science into your STEM lessons. Remember, integrating science doesn't have to be complicated, and using standards as your foundation will ensure that your lessons are purposeful and impactful.

 

 

Related Episodes/Blog Posts:

Connect with Naomi Meredith:

 

More About your host, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is an online K-5 STEM Coach in Colorado supporting elementary teachers world-wide navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there. With over a decade of experience teaching, 5 years teaching elementary STEM, along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM Certificate, Naomi helps teachers world-wide to navigate best practices, strategies and tools out there. 

She offers a variety of tools to help teachers feel successful teaching STEM to their elementary students through lesson plans, online courses, coaching and speaking events.

She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM, innovation and hands-on learning in their classrooms effectively. She can’t wait to connect with you and be your guide!

More About The Elementary STEM Coach Podcast

Are you tired of scrolling online for your next great STEM lesson? Do you feel like there is no time to plan, research and test meaningful STEM lessons, so you throw together a hands-on activity and hope that it works? What systems and routines should you set in place to help students be creative, critically think, and collaborate? 

The Elementary STEM Coach is a podcast for K-5 STEM teachers, classroom teachers, GT specialists, and homeschool parents looking for actionable STEM solutions. Each week, Naomi Meredith will share tools, resources and lesson ideas that are actionable in your classroom and create highly engaging experiences with your students. You’ll learn systems and routines that will create control in the chaos and that will keep you organized all year long. 

Your mindless scrolling days are over! Your new STEM-best friend is now here in your ear buds!

Empowering STEM Education: Harnessing Adobe Express in the Classroom

by Naomi Meredith

Empowering STEM Education: Harnessing Adobe Express in the Classroom

Article is courtesy of Adobe Express

 

In today's digital age, educators are constantly seeking innovative tools to enhance the learning experience and engage students in meaningful ways. Adobe Express, a powerful and user-friendly design platform, offers a myriad of possibilities for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) teachers to enrich their classrooms. By integrating Adobe Express into STEM education, teachers can foster creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration among students. Here’s how STEM teachers can leverage Adobe Express to transform their classrooms into dynamic and interactive learning environments.

Visualizing Complex Concepts

STEM subjects often involve abstract and complex concepts that can be challenging for students to grasp. Adobe Express provides an array of design tools that enable teachers to create visually appealing and easily understandable representations of these concepts. For instance, teachers can design infographics that break down intricate scientific processes, mathematical formulas, or engineering principles. By presenting information in a visually engaging manner, students can better comprehend and retain complex ideas.

Creating Interactive Learning Materials

Gone are the days of static textbooks and handouts. With Adobe Express, STEM teachers can develop interactive learning materials that captivate students' attention. Teachers can create digital worksheets, interactive diagrams, and animated tutorials that allow students to engage with the content actively. For example, a biology teacher can design an interactive diagram of the human body, where students can click on different organs to learn about their functions. This interactive approach not only makes learning more enjoyable but also reinforces understanding through hands-on engagement.

Enhancing Project-Based Learning

Project-based learning (PBL) is a cornerstone of STEM education, encouraging students to apply their knowledge to real-world problems. Adobe Express can significantly enhance PBL by providing students with tools to document and present their projects creatively. Students can use Adobe Express to create digital portfolios, project presentations, and multimedia reports. This not only hones their design and communication skills but also allows them to showcase their work in a professional and polished manner. Moreover, teachers can use Adobe Express to create project templates and guides, streamlining the PBL process and ensuring consistency in project documentation.

 

Promoting Collaboration and Teamwork

Collaboration is a vital skill in STEM fields, and Adobe Express facilitates teamwork by enabling students to work on design projects together. The platform’s cloud-based nature allows students to collaborate in real-time, regardless of their physical location. For instance, in a group project, students can collectively work on a research poster, each contributing their unique insights and creativity. This collaborative approach mirrors real-world STEM practices, preparing students for future careers where teamwork and digital collaboration are essential.

Supporting Differentiated Instruction

Every classroom is diverse, with students possessing varying levels of understanding and learning styles. Adobe Express allows STEM teachers to cater to these diverse needs by supporting differentiated instruction. Teachers can create customized learning materials tailored to individual student needs. For instance, teachers can design different versions of an assignment with varying levels of complexity, ensuring that every student is appropriately challenged. Additionally, Adobe Express’s multimedia capabilities enable teachers to provide content in various formats, such as videos, infographics, and interactive modules, catering to different learning preferences.

Encouraging Creativity and Innovation

STEM education is not just about mastering technical skills; it’s also about fostering creativity and innovation. Adobe Express provides a platform for students to express their creativity while learning STEM concepts. Whether it’s designing a poster on renewable energy, creating an animation explaining the laws of physics, or developing a website for a science fair project, Adobe Express encourages students to think outside the box and explore new ways to present their ideas. This creative freedom not only makes learning more enjoyable but also nurtures the innovative mindset essential for STEM careers.

Streamlining Assessment and Feedback

Assessment and feedback are critical components of the learning process. Adobe Express simplifies these tasks by providing tools for creating visually appealing and comprehensive assessments. Teachers can design quizzes, rubrics, and feedback forms that are not only informative but also engaging for students. Additionally, Adobe Express allows for the easy integration of multimedia elements, enabling teachers to provide richer, more detailed feedback. This approach helps students understand their strengths and areas for improvement, fostering a growth mindset.

 

Adobe Express is a versatile and powerful tool that can revolutionize STEM education. By incorporating Adobe Express into their teaching strategies, STEM educators can create engaging, interactive, and personalized learning experiences for their students. From visualizing complex concepts to promoting collaboration and creativity, Adobe Express empowers both teachers and students to excel in the ever-evolving world of STEM. Embracing this innovative platform is a step towards preparing students for the challenges and opportunities of the future, equipping them with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in a digital and interconnected world.

Rock and Roll Science: Behind the Scenes with Geologist, Vanessa Lintz [ep.16]

by Naomi Meredith

Rock and Roll Science: Behind the Scenes with Geologist, Vanessa Lintz [ep.16]

 

Check out the full episode on Rock and Roll Science: Behind the Scenes with Geologist, Vanessa Lintz:  

 

Subscribe to the podcast HERE on your favorite podcasting platform.

Episode Summary

Hey, my Questees? Have you ever been outside on a walk and noticed all of the pretty rocks that are lying around in nature? You may have even noticed that every rock is of a different size, shape, and color. Some rocks are smooth and bumpy, while others are shiny. There are so many rocks in the world. Each rock can tell us so much about our Earth’s history. 

There are people in the world who study rocks for their job, and they are called geologists. In today’s episode, we get to hear from geologist, Vanessa Lintz. Vanessa shares so many fun facts about her STEM career, including what it’s like to be a geologist, some of the fun projects she has worked on, and so much more. Don't forget to join our STEM Career Quest Club so you can learn even more about what it’s like to be a geologist. 

Related Episodes/Blog Posts:

Want more ways to enhance your podcast listening experience? 

Click HERE to join our STEM Career Quest Club!

Inside, you get access to 

  • a private community of other STEM Career Quest listeners
  • comprehension guides for each episode
  • teaching slides for each episode, where it is broken up into chunks so you can listen in smaller segments
  • related STEM activities you can complete with simple materials
  • one monthly virtual STEM field trip

And more!

 

 

Meet Vanessa Lintz:

Vanessa Lintz is a geologist who has spent most of her career exploring for oil and gas and drilling wells in Colorado. Her interest in geology started when she was growing up in a small mining town in the heart of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. One of her favorite things to do was search for the coolest rocks she could find in the forest behind her home and while her family was out exploring the mountains. A high school earth sciences class grew her excitement for the processes and earth features that geology studies and set her on the path toward becoming a geologist.

Vanessa has participated in a fossil dig in Montana where she helped find a fossilized palm tree, co-authored a publication on the CO2 sequestration potential of Colorado, and been part of an exploration team that reinvigorated the second oldest oil field in the United States (the Florence Field). During her time in the oil and gas industry she has focused primarily on the shale and mudstones that were deposited when the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway covered Colorado over 66 million years ago. Not only has she found it fascinating to gather a variety of data sources together to solve the puzzle of where oil and gas can be found and developed more efficiently, she appreciates the opportunity to help provide reliable and portable energy sources and raw materials for many of the products that make our lives easier and safer. Vanessa is grateful for the opportunity to share a little bit about being a geologist (and her love for fossils) with you!

Connect with Vanessa: 

 

See a Geologist in Action:

 

 

 

 

 

More About your host, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is an online K-5 STEM Coach in Colorado supporting elementary teachers world-wide navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there. With over a decade of experience teaching, 5 years teaching elementary STEM, along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM Certificate, Naomi helps teachers world-wide to navigate best practices, strategies and tools out there. 

She offers a variety of tools to help teachers feel successful teaching STEM to their elementary students through lesson plans, online courses, coaching and speaking events.

She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM, innovation and hands-on learning in their classrooms effectively. She can’t wait to connect with you and be your guide!

Connect with the Host, Naomi Meredith:

More About The STEM Career Quest Podcast

Have you ever found yourself asking this question… “What do I want to be when I grow up?” Maybe you already have an answer to that, maybe you don’t.

Both are ok!

Welcome to the “STEM Career Quest” podcast! A show made for kids like you to help you build your dreams, or even find new ones, in science, technology, engineering and math. Each week, hear captivating stories and interviews to explore the exciting world of STEM. Oh! And grown-ups and teachers, you can listen too!

We’ll talk to experts in STEM who are passionate about what they do in the real-world and how they make a positive impact in their careers. Created and hosted by K-5 STEM Coach, Naomi Meredith, this show will spark your imagination and passions.

Join us each week on our quest to explore the possibilities of careers in STEM, one episode at a time.

creating a STEM culture

Creating a STEM Culture and High-Quality Teacher Support with Nichole Austion from NMSI [STEM in Action Series] [ep.165]

by Naomi Meredith

Creating a STEM Culture and High-Quality Teacher Support with Nichole Austion from NMSI [STEM in Action Series] [ep.165]

creating a STEM culture

Check out the full episode on Creating a STEM Culture and High-Quality Teacher Support with Nichole Austion from NMSI:  

 

Subscribe to the podcast HERE on your favorite podcasting platform.

Have a STEM question? Leave a voice message for the podcast!

Episode Summary

Are you tired of feeling like you don’t have enough time to implement effective STEM lessons in your classroom? Or maybe you haven’t been able to get your school on board with incorporating STEM curriculum into your classroom. Today’s guest, Nichole Austion can relate to both scenarios. In this episode, she shares some great tips for creating a STEM culture and getting support as a teacher who wants to bring STEM to your school. 

 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • How to create a STEM culture 
  • Why creating a STEM culture is important
  • Supports for effective implementation of STEM culture

Resources Mentioned:

Meet Nichole Austion:

Nichole Austion is the Vice President of Public Affairs at the National Math and Science Initiative where she leads marketing and government relations. With a focus on STEM advancement, she orchestrates strategic initiatives, bridging marketing and government relations to amplify NMSI’s impact nationwide. Austion’s expertise stems from global technology firms like Sabre Holdings and Teradata, where she drove multimillion-dollar revenue through innovative marketing strategies. She is the author of “Miles and the Math Monsters,” a children’s book that transforms math into a friendly presence, encouraging children to see it as a helpful companion intertwined with their everyday environment. She holds an engineering degree from Howard University and an MBA from The University of Texas at Austin.

Connect with Nichole:

Episode Transcript: 

Naomi Meredith [00:00:00]:

You are excited to implement STEM in your classroom or school building, but maybe you're feeling short on time, or you don't have enough training to plan effective lessons or even get your school on board, whatever that looks like for you. I definitely hear you. I have been in those exact same situations at various points in my career as a classroom teacher and also when I was a STEM teacher. So I completely understand where you're coming from, and I hear it all the time from you guys as well in my Instagram DMs and also in my email. So I definitely hear you and am here to help provide you support as always. And today's guest, Nicole Aschen, can resonate with what you're going through as well. She works with an organization that can help support your needs. Talking with Nicole was just so powerful because the National Math and Science Initiative, also NMSI, where Nicole is their vice president of public affairs, her philosophies and the things that she was talking about, what the organization stands for, really aligns with what I believe STEM education could be.


Naomi Meredith [00:01:21]:

And so we had a really, really awesome conversation, and it's one of those situations in the interview where you're just so glad that this is being recorded. There were some technical difficulties, but we're just so glad it's recorded because there's some really powerful stuff that you'll take away from our conversation. Nicole holds an engineering degree and focuses on STEM advancement, orchestrates strategic initiatives, and bridges marketing and government relations to amplify NMSI's impact nationwide. Nicole's experience stems from global technology firms, and she drove a multimillion-dollar revenue through innovative marketing strategies. She is also the author of Miles and the Math Monsters, which she does talk a little bit about, and I'm really excited for you to hear that part as well. The whole thing is great, but I also hear about that part too. Her book is a children's book that transforms math into a friendly presence, encouraging children to see it as a helpful companion intertwined with their everyday environment. Like I said, I'm so excited for you to hear today's interview and all the great takeaways you're gonna get for it in our STEM in Action series.


Naomi Meredith [00:02:42]:

And so, sit back, enjoy, and maybe take a few notes along the way.


Naomi Meredith [00:03:17]:

Alright. Well, thank you, Nicole, so much for being here today. We were chatting a little bit before we hit record, and once you guys watch the video version of this, Nicole has the best glasses on right now. They are beautiful. She's so beautiful, and then her glasses just accentuate that, but they're bright red. They're so cute. They're so cute. So you guys have to check out the video once that's posted, but thank you so much for being here.


Nichole Austion [00:03:45]:

Thank you for having me. I'm so pleased to be on your podcast today.


Naomi Meredith [00:03:49]:

I'm very excited to get into what we're gonna chat about today. But before we do that, if you want, thinking about you and just how you support STEM education and your background.


Nichole Austion [00:04:04]:

Absolutely. My name is Nicole Achin. I'm the vice president of public affairs for the National Math and Science Initiative. National Math and Science Initiative is a STEM solution provider, and we provide excellent quality STEM professional development for teachers in grades 3 through 12. I am a STEM woman in STEM. I have an engineering degree from Howard University and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, which I thought at one point took me out of STEM. But the fact that I have, spent 20 years in technology companies made me realize that I am a woman in STEM and that I have spent my entire career doing that. In the last 6 years, I have been affiliated with the education industry.


Nichole Austion [00:04:56]:

I spent about 2 years with the Charter Management Organization working as their director of marketing, and I've been with the National Math and Science Initiative for 4 years. I'm also a mother and a wife, mother of a teenage son who has a little bit of math anxiety and is also neurodiverse.


Naomi Meredith [00:05:17]:

Well, I love how all of your experiences have blended together, and I sure help you so much with what you're currently doing with the organization that you are a part of because definitely having your background in STEM and then you worked in those companies, and now, helping out teachers with great training, which is definitely needed, hence why this podcast exists. I taught in the STEM classroom for 5 years and had limited supplies and zero curriculum. I personally didn't have a background in STEM. I ended up getting a master's in it, but I think it is so important with what you're doing and supporting teachers and, just with great high-quality professional development. So, what types of things with your professional development do you guys really focus on in terms of STEM? Like, what are the types of things that you really hope teachers will gain from the program that you're involved in?


Nichole Austion [00:06:21]:

That is such a great question, Naomi. So, at the National Math and Science Initiative, about 80% of our employees are former teachers. And being former teachers, they understand what quality professional development is and what professional development without quality is. And so we really wanna focus in on making sure that, number 1, we create community amongst the teachers. As a matter of fact, we are getting ready to have our content workshops in the Fort Worth area, where we'll have over 500 STEM teachers, and in Norfolk in the Virginia Beach area, sorry. Excuse me. Virginia Beach area, where we'll have over 300 STEM teachers. And so number 1 is we wanna create that community.


Nichole Austion [00:07:09]:

We want teachers to understand that they're not alone in the classroom. Secondly, we want to make sure that we have excellent content and pedagogy. We know that a lot of teachers come to STEM with a literacy lens, and they need the content and the pedagogy to be solid in their minds and build that confidence in them because there are so many other things to do within the classroom. Classroom data, try this one of my Yes.


Nichole Austion [00:07:36]:

Things that I hate the most. Right? But if you have that knowledge content and pedagogy knowledge, then you can focus on other things within the classroom. And then thirdly, and certainly not any less important than the other 2, are really creating a culture of STEM literacy. And we define STEM literacy as individuals who are critical thinkers who can apply concepts from science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the humanities to understand complex problems, innovate around those problems, and collaborate with others to solve them. And what we wanna emphasize is that that's not just a teacher thing. Right? That's a school culture thing. Yeah. That's a curriculum thing. Mhmm.


Nichole Austion [00:08:25]:

That's a career awareness thing. So we tend to put all of those things into our content workshops so that teachers have a broad view of and leaders have a broad view of how to create those STEM literate cultures in their schools, in their districts, and in their states.


Naomi Meredith [00:08:48]:

I think that's very important, and I think can be really tricky depending on what school you are at and even who your admin is. For me, personally, I had an admin who is super supportive of STEM and very, excited about it and, just that type of thinking, and then how to admin where that was not the case, then they never came into my classroom. So, I think that's really, really important as well. So, for people who might not have a strong STEM culture or have that type of support, what types of things does your program recommend for getting started and creating that type of community and support?


Nichole Austion [00:09:36]:

Absolutely. Thanks for that question. So we really do try to partner with districts and states in order to provide that STEM literacy culture. But if you are a teacher in an environment that does not have that support, one of the one of the ways you can really start doing that for your students is to present them with real world problems in the classroom. I think if you take a look at your teaching team, and you can work with your teaching team and present real world problems, things around climate change, how to grow food in a flood plain, how to get supplies to refugees. Those are examples of lessons that you can use cross-disciplinary, and interdisciplinary, and ways that you can start kind of introducing some of that critical thinking and problem-solving in the classroom. Another way that you can do that is to perhaps approach your administration about becoming a trainer. Right? So, train the trainer model.


Nichole Austion [00:10:46]:

So can I, a teacher, go and be trained on how to proliferate STEM literacy in our school and then bring that back? Right? That may be something that you can propose to your administration, in order for them to kind of see the benefits. Sometimes, they might wanna stick their toe in the water, just test it out a little bit, and then broaden that type of program. The other thing I think is critically important is really understanding the careers that we need in STEM. We are woefully short and will be woefully short for many decades to come in terms of the STEM professionals that we have. So get yourself well versed in what career options we need to staff up on in here in the United States and globally, and maybe hold a career fair. Introduce your students to different types of careers. And you can make that interdisciplinary as well. Yep.


Nichole Austion [00:11:47]:

But make sure you're exposing those kids to all of the breadth and depth that they could potentially have within the world of STEM. So those are just a few ways since you might be able to start.


Naomi Meredith [00:12:00]:

You are getting me so excited because, okay. Yes. Like, a 100%. I'm so glad you mentioned this because I was a classroom teacher for 6 years before getting into STEM, and my school did this. They did have, like, a train-the-trainer type of model. When we really focused on math that year, we started doing that with technology and, at the time it's technology, not so much stem, but still that project-based learning. So I a 100%, that's what we did. Then our teams, we had co-planning times, and we did plan those project-based learning experiences.


Naomi Meredith [00:12:39]:

And one of them even, like, your examples are so real, and they're so true and kids don't even know those exist and even things that happen in your own school. We did it even. The kids planned one of our parties, our class parties, and our fall party, and we actually used the data that we're learning about graphing and part, which is pretty cool.


Naomi Meredith [00:13:09]:

But I'm, yeah, so glad you said that because it can work. I've been in a school where it works, but also the STEM careers. Girl, I got a whole other podcast about STEM careers for kids.


Nichole Austion [00:13:20]:

That's fantastic.


Naomi Meredith [00:13:21]:

A whole other one.


Nichole Austion [00:13:22]:

Yeah.


Naomi Meredith [00:13:23]:

Yeah. So, if you guys haven't heard, it's the STEM Career Quest podcast, and I interview people in STEM and have done a whole series on this podcast about STEM career day. So I'm so glad we're aligned with this because I'm not just making this stuff up. Nicole is saying the things that are here, guys. This is real. This works.


Nichole Austion [00:13:44]:

Absolutely.


Nichole Austion [00:13:46]:

Absolutely. And I'll tell you, like, with this generation too, I love the idea of kind of that flipped classroom that you talked about, because as we all, you know, probably experience, these kids, especially when it comes to technology, they're so adept at such a young age. And what a great way to get them involved in their own learning. Present them with a project, you know, a project-based lesson that can flip that classroom and have them teach their peers or have them teach you about technology and having them presenting them with a real world problem that they can tap Alexa for with, you know, within ethics.


Nichole Austion [00:14:24]:

But how can we,


Nichole Austion [00:14:26]:

you know, how can we really engage them in the world that they're really gonna be growing up in, in a way that helps them to understand the linkages between what they, you know, like and love about STEM and those critical skills that they're gonna be building throughout the lab.


Nichole Austion [00:14:46]:

Mhmm.


Naomi Meredith [00:14:47]:

Really, Mark, and what you like with the program, the things that you're doing are more cross-curricular instead of being isolated, we are making this project, the end, like, everything kind of blends together and using all of those skills. Is that what you guys really focus on?


Nichole Austion [00:15:06]:

But we do wanna have that interdisciplinary approach. We also wanna make sure that we are helping teachers in terms of vertical teaming. Right? Mhmm. This was not a thing that I was aware of, having not been a formally trained educator, but you may sit, and you know this, you may sit in the 3rd grade.


Nichole Austion [00:15:28]:

Mhmm. You


Nichole Austion [00:15:28]:

don't have any idea what those kids need to know in 8th grade.


Naomi Meredith [00:15:32]:

Mhmm.


Nichole Austion [00:15:32]:

So what we'd like to focus on, as well as the interdisciplinary nature of what we train, We also wanna focus on that vertical team. Yeah. If you're sitting in a district, an elementary school, you need to know what those kids


Nichole Austion [00:15:47]:

have to


Nichole Austion [00:15:47]:

know when they get Yeah. In middle school.


Nichole Austion [00:15:49]:

You have


Nichole Austion [00:15:49]:

to have that communication along that vertical team. And it doesn't have to although we'd like for it to cross from elementary to middle, middle to high. But sometimes just within elementary school.


Naomi Meredith [00:16:01]:

Yeah. True.


Nichole Austion [00:16:02]:

Have to know: What do these kids absolutely have to know in order to be successful in the next grade, in the next grade, in the next grade? And everything that we teach in terms of our professional development is mapped back from AP standards. Now, that doesn't mean every kid is gonna take an AP class. Right? Yeah. But it's mapped from AP standards so that you understand as a teacher if this kid can grasp this, they can then perform in an AP class, and they can be ready to transition into a college-level course.


Nichole Austion [00:16:41]:

Mhmm.


Nichole Austion [00:16:41]:

So we really wanna make sure that that's solid in the minds of our teachers as they look to scaffold skills throughout the year.


Naomi Meredith [00:16:50]:

That is so important too that, yes, you're doing these really cool lessons, but why are you doing it? Like, how is this connected to the bigger picture? What standards are you relating this to? Because I hear that too when I talk with teachers and have done, like, professional development and group coaching. And even when I did coaching in my school, even classroom teachers might not always know what standards they're supposed to teach. And so it is important if you're doing even if you're doing hands-on things and engaging kids, it has a purpose, and it there's a reason why we're doing this. Like, it's a whole big thing. And so the standards like, maybe it's annoying, but it is important to understand what is this rooted in, how is this connected. You're not teaching to the test. It's that, can they achieve what's gonna be coming in the years to come? So, I'm so glad that you guys see that. When you work with teachers or even things that you have seen, are there any specific projects or cool things that you've done with teachers that they've really enjoyed, like STEM and project-based learning?


Nichole Austion [00:18:02]:

Yeah. The cool thing that we do are really hands on. Mhmm. I love watching some of the math and science teachers work with our teachers. At one of our recent new teacher academies here in Atlanta, we had a fabulous coach who was teaching about measurement in the middle grades. And as we went out into the foyer, all the teachers and the coach were out there. They were measuring things. I mean, they had actual projects that they were taking on and they would take back into the classroom, potentially.


Nichole Austion [00:18:38]:

And they were really thinking critically about how the project could be, executed. And it looked like they were the kids.


Nichole Austion [00:18:47]:

It was beautiful. Right? But they


Nichole Austion [00:18:49]:

were so engaged in, you know, making sure that, you know, they had the appropriate directions, that they, you know, where directions were missing, they could use those critical thinking skills. So I really like the fact that our coaches, who are current classroom teachers, which is wonderful, really provide lessons that are hands-on for our teachers so that they can experience being a student as well as experience being, have experience being the instructor, while they're doing their professional development. We've also partnered with some fabulous, organizations who are corporate organizations who want to provide information, and resources to to students. We currently work with Deloitte and their Smart Believers Factory project, where they provide rovers to our school. We develop the curriculum behind that particular program, and that's fun because it's a little robot,


Naomi Meredith [00:20:01]:

And


Nichole Austion [00:20:01]:

all of the curriculum is standards-aligned, but it's all about getting that rover working. And it was fun to see the teachers doing that, too.


Naomi Meredith [00:20:09]:

Like Does it look like a Mars rover? Does it look like a real rover?


Nichole Austion [00:20:14]:

It looks like a little rover, and there are exercises to help lights blink and get it actually moving and put it together. So we really love having some of our corporate partners who are leaning into that investment in STEM education and leaning into that quality professional development coming to us because they know that our program is curriculum agnostic and customizable, but it's it's a program that teachers love. Right? And that's the Yeah. Right? We want teachers to love the professional development that we provide. And let's face it. Mine have another 10 professional development. It's not fun. But we wanna make it fun and applicable for Oh, yeah.


Nichole Austion [00:20:57]:

Our


Naomi Meredith [00:20:58]:

Oh, absolutely. And, you know, I mean, if the teacher is bored, like, do they really wanna teach what they're saying? I would wanna teach about a rover, though.


Nichole Austion [00:21:06]:

Mhmm. For sure.


Naomi Meredith [00:21:09]:

So one thing with teachers, maybe you see this too because I know you have all sorts of teachers, like classroom teachers and maybe some who teach STEM. And some schools, like, I know there are teachers who listen to this. They don't have a STEM teacher, and that's okay. But I one thing I really hear is with the time, the limited time, and sometimes the projects are too long. Are there things that you guys recommend? Like, there are a lot of teachers who listen and only see their kids once a week for 1 hour. They see the whole school within the week. And so these longer projects, they really want to do, but then they don't have a lot of time. They're like, I only see them for 1 hour, and then I'll see them for 1 hour next week, and the kids forget.


Naomi Meredith [00:21:58]:

And how do I store everything? Are there projects you have in mind or things that you guys recommend where they are still doing these high-level things but just in a shorter amount of time?


Nichole Austion [00:22:08]:

Yeah. I think that is really where the interdisciplinary nature and teaming within the schools is gonna be critically important. Because if you can take a portion of a social studies lesson, right, And you can make it applicable, design a lesson in science or design a lesson I mean, math, probably not the right example, but biology or design a lesson, chemistry, that kind of goes along with that particular social studies lesson. You might be able to have more traction,


Nichole Austion [00:22:43]:

with


Nichole Austion [00:22:43]:

those students. And then working in your grade level team to integrate, you know, some of the concepts and things that you wanna teach in your particular STEM class into those that history class or that social studies class. And look, don't don't ignore physical education. Don't ignore Yeah. You know, some of your extracurricular types of activities. You know, make sure that you're learning, especially within STEM, is interdisciplinary because there are so many applications and so many ways to connect the dots for those Mhmm. Those students. So try as much as you can to work as a team if you only have that short period of time.


Nichole Austion [00:23:24]:

Yes. And then, once again, you know, make sure that you're doing things that could be really impactful, especially if it relates to culturally relevant education. Talk about


Nichole Austion [00:23:35]:

Mhmm.


Nichole Austion [00:23:36]:

Different cultures, ethnicities, and gender identities that are STEM Mhmm. Professional. Right? Try to bring in STEM professionals from your local, Yeah. Companies to talk to the kids. Right? Mhmm. Because there's nothing like seeing somebody in a profession, talking to somebody, in that profession to kind of spur that imagination about what a child would be.


Naomi Meredith [00:24:03]:

Mhmm. That's really, really good advice, and I love that too because I think, well, not that I know when I was, coming from a classroom to being a STEM specials teacher, I felt very isolated where I don't have I had a team, PER and music. However, I didn't know what the teachers were doing. I did co-teach for a while, but I think that's really helpful if you only see them once a week, like you said, that what they're doing in their regular classroom can help build that background knowledge. And even too, I know some teachers will have a like, it's just a lot teaching science, and don't teach science, but maybe you could take on, oh, maybe I can have a different stem to it. It's sort of like what I try to do with my projects that were standards-based and having a stem perspective, like, maybe you're learning about life cycles, but now we're gonna create a 3 d model of the life cycle that can be printed on our 3 d printer. So making those connections, I think, is so important because we're not teaching in silos. Like, you might be a different room, but we're all on the same team.


Nichole Austion [00:25:16]:

That's right. That's right. It's very important to remember that. Yep. Absolutely.


Naomi Meredith [00:25:21]:

Okay. So I'm gonna ask you, do you have any fun projects that you might be working on that might be helpful for teachers to your organization that you're a part of does amazing things? But is there anything in particular that you have going on that you wanna share?


Nichole Austion [00:25:40]:

So, I do have a project that I'm working on, so you can probably see a little bit of it in the video. I just produced and published a book called Miles and the Math Monsters. And it is all about a young man, a little boy named Miles, who has a bit of math anxiety. As most teachers and educators know, math was the 2023 word of the year designated by Education Week. Mhmm. And I Mhmm. I was inspired to write this particular book because I had a very math intensive journey as an engineer. There math I didn't have a choice, but math is interdisciplinary.


Nichole Austion [00:26:25]:

You showed up everywhere.


Naomi Meredith [00:26:27]:

Yes.


Nichole Austion [00:26:27]:

School. Right? And I have a child who struggles with math. And so I've had to be barely creative in trying to get him to understand certain concepts. He struggled a little bit with working memory, so we utilized things that he loved. So, he is a Fortnite fanatic. Right? And he's really good. Alright. So to get him to kind of understand the concept of addition and subtraction, he's in the game.


Nichole Austion [00:27:03]:

And if he's in the game, and he's one of 7 players left, okay. So, if you're one of 7 players left, how many players then do you have to eliminate? Right away. Right? So, utilizing things that are in his everyday life to really get him to understand the concepts of addition, subtraction, and multiplication, and then building upon his strengths. Now, I will tell you, he will struggle with certain concepts, but he does exponents like a champ, and most people don't.


Nichole Austion [00:27:37]:

Oh. Yeah.


Naomi Meredith [00:27:38]:

I know. 


Nichole Austion [00:27:40]:

That's hard.


Naomi Meredith [00:27:41]:

Good skill.


Nichole Austion [00:27:43]:

Yeah. He's really, really good with exponent and all of the operations with exponent. But really, I was inspired to write the book because of him. You know, we were kind of on the opposite end of the spectrum.


Nichole Austion [00:27:54]:

I had all this math. He struggles with math. And, I wanted to show, you know, young children that you don't have to be afraid of numbers. Numbers are everywhere. Math is a language, and it's a language we're all gonna be using for the rest of our lives. And there that may look scary on a board, but it doesn't look scary when you're ordering 2 scoops of ice cream or when you're counting players on the basketball court, the ones who are on the bench versus the ones who are playing. It's not scary to see the number of trees in your local park. You know, it's not scary when you recognize that numbers are everywhere and math is everywhere, and it's a part of our lives.


Nichole Austion [00:28:36]:

And so that was the inspiration for writing the book. I'm hoping that they'll become a series of books, around STEM. So that's one of my projects.


Naomi Meredith [00:28:47]:

Yeah. That's a great book. I know, Jers, we, especially in elementary, love using books and using that as a good talking point. And that's a great book for any time of year, but especially for back to school when we're talking about growth mindset and how we think through problems, especially math, and how math can be scary. But we're all math people. So, I love that. Put that in the show notes so teachers can grab it for their extra school bookshelves.


Nichole Austion [00:29:18]:

Absolutely. Absolutely.


Naomi Meredith [00:29:20]:

Well, thank you so much. Is there anything else that you would love to share that I missed out on or anything else that you think teachers should know?


Nichole Austion [00:29:29]:

I think what really I wanna emphasize is the fact that you know, you're not alone, teachers. Especially when we talk about the National Math and Science Initiative. We are here to help you build the content and pedagogy that you need. We understand that teaching is a valuable profession, and we treat it as such. Right? And I know there are so many challenges in the classroom these days, but I want teachers to understand that if they're looking for quality STEM professional development, they have allies. Right? You have allies outside of the National Math and Science Initiative, but certainly with our organization as well. And on our website, which is nms.org, we have free lessons that teachers can download. So if you go to our website, go to the resources page, we have a wealth of free lessons that you can utilize in your classroom, and this is really for teachers in 3 grades 3 through 12.


Nichole Austion [00:30:32]:

We also have culturally responsive lessons that we've put together with partners like 3 m and the Leiden Hill Institute. So check out our website. It can't hurt to have a free lesson, something to help you build that STEM literacy culture in your school and in your classroom.


Naomi Meredith [00:30:52]:

I love that. Thank you so much for sharing those, and, definitely, if teachers want to dive in this summer, if you're chilling this summer, look at it during back to school. That's fine, too. We'll link all of that for sure, but we appreciate your insights so much, Nicole, and what you're doing, helping support teachers through your book and also the organization that you're a part of. And, thank you so much for all of your insight today.


Nichole Austion [00:31:20]:

Thank you, Naomi. I really appreciate you having me on your platform.


Naomi Meredith [00:31:25]:

Thank you.

creating a STEM culture

 

Related Episodes/Blog Posts:

 

Connect with Naomi Meredith:

 

More About your host, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is an online K-5 STEM Coach in Colorado supporting elementary teachers world-wide navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there. With over a decade of experience teaching, 5 years teaching elementary STEM, along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM Certificate, Naomi helps teachers world-wide to navigate best practices, strategies and tools out there. 

She offers a variety of tools to help teachers feel successful teaching STEM to their elementary students through lesson plans, online courses, coaching and speaking events.

She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM, innovation and hands-on learning in their classrooms effectively. She can’t wait to connect with you and be your guide!

More About The Elementary STEM Coach Podcast

Are you tired of scrolling online for your next great STEM lesson? Do you feel like there is no time to plan, research and test meaningful STEM lessons, so you throw together a hands-on activity and hope that it works? What systems and routines should you set in place to help students be creative, critically think, and collaborate? 

The Elementary STEM Coach is a podcast for K-5 STEM teachers, classroom teachers, GT specialists, and homeschool parents looking for actionable STEM solutions. Each week, Naomi Meredith will share tools, resources and lesson ideas that are actionable in your classroom and create highly engaging experiences with your students. You’ll learn systems and routines that will create control in the chaos and that will keep you organized all year long. 

Your mindless scrolling days are over! Your new STEM-best friend is now here in your ear buds!

supporting students in math

Supporting Students in Math & Critical Thinking with CEO & Founder of Math N’ More, Dr. Christopher Roblész [ep.164]

by Naomi Meredith

Supporting Students in Math & Critical Thinking with CEO & Founder of Math N’ More, Dr. Christopher Roblész [ep.164]

supporting students in math

Check out the full episode on Supporting Students in Math & Critical Thinking with CEO & Founder of Math N' More, Dr. Christopher Roblész:  

Subscribe to the podcast HERE on your favorite podcasting platform.

Have a STEM question? Leave a voice message for the podcast!

Episode Summary

In today’s episode, we are continuing the STEM into Action Series with tips and strategies for supporting students in math and critical thinking. I chat with Dr. Christopher Roblész, the Founder and CEO of Math N’ More. Roblész shares some practical ways that you can implement math and also help kids think about math differently in your STEM instruction.

 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • How Math N’ More is supporting students in math
  • How students respond to the math interventions implemented at Math N’ More
  • How to use metacognitive strategies to teach math
  • Strategies for engaging reluctant math learners
  • Pi Day activity idea

Meet Dr. Christopher Roblész:

Dr. Christopher Roblész, the Founder and CEO of Math N’ More, is an experienced Mathematics enthusiast. Commencing his career in NYC in 2009 as a math interventionist, he has contributed to Math communities across the East Coast.

Throughout his educational career, Dr. Roblesz has undertaken various roles, including Math Interventionist, Network Math Specialist, Special Education Director, and School Administrator. When Dr. Roblész worked at SEED Miami, he achieved groundbreaking results as the 9th-grade cohort witnessed an outstanding 111% increase in passing scores on the Algebra 1 EOC within a single school year.

Approximately 60% of scholars attained Satisfactory – Mastery, surpassing both Miami Dade County Public Schools and the State of Florida on the Algebra 1 EOC (End-of-Course) exam. Dr. Roblész possesses a profound passion for Mathematics, holding professional teacher certification in Mathematics and Special Education across various states. He recently completed his Doctorate in Education in Applied Learning Sciences, Application of Metacognition in a Secondary Mathematics Classroom.

Beyond his dedication to education, Dr. Roblész enjoys flying and traveling, with his preferred vacation spot being Grand Turks.

Connect with Dr. Roblész:

Episode Transcript: 

Naomi Meredith [00:00:00]:

What are some practical ways that you can implement math and also help kids think about math differently in your STEM instruction? This is the 7th episode of my STEM in action series, where we are breaking apart each letter in STEM to give you ideas on how to boost up each component in your instruction. I am interviewing guests who specialize in each of the letters, and I also share my quick tips to give you some ideas when you are lesson planning. For our guest today, I am talking with Dr. Christopher Roblész, who is the founder and CEO of Math N' More. Doctor Roblész possesses a profound passion for mathematics and holds a professional teacher certification in mathematics and special education across various states. He recently completed his doctorate in education and applied learning sciences and has an application of metacognition in secondary mathematics. Throughout his educational career, doctor Roblész has undertaken various roles, including math interventionist, network math specialist, special education director, and school administrator. Robos and I were on a live call together for the STEM Crew Magazine, and I thoroughly enjoyed his passion for math and how he helps students to be successful. His philosophy definitely aligned with mine in terms of how you should teach kids math.


Naomi Meredith [00:01:46]:

During the live, I actually asked him in the chat for his email so that he could be a guest on my podcast for you guys to hear. But, also, he was also a guest on my podcast for kids, the STEM Career Quest podcast, where I interview people who are in STEM jobs to help inspire them about what they wanna be when they grow up. So in that episode, he shares about what it's like being an entrepreneur with a math focus. So make sure to go and check out that episode. I am so excited for you to get to know Roblész and all of the amazing tips and tricks when it comes to implementing math and also getting kids excited when they are thinking through those problems. 


Naomi Meredith [00:02:52]:

Well, thank you so much, Roblész, for being here. We met on a live call with Tiffani Teachey for the STEM Crew Magazine. And when you were speaking as this whole guest experience we were in together, I knew I had to have you here on the podcast. And I actually messaged you in the chat during the live event. Like, I need your information. We need to connect. And so, I really appreciate you being here today and talking with teachers and parents out there about all things math, and I'm so excited for our conversation.


Naomi Meredith [00:03:32]:

So, if you wouldn't mind telling us, brief if you could briefly describe your background about you and Math N' More and how you got into this space.


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:03:41]:

Yes. Indeed. First of all, thank you for having me. I am excited and elated to be here today. Happy Pi Day. Today is March 14th, so happy Pi Day. And just a little brief overview about myself and Math N’ More. I've been in the education space my entire life.


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:03:59]:

I started out in 2009 as a math interventionist at a middle school in New York City. Then I progressed my career over the years, from being a math coach to an assistant principal to special education coordinator, and district leader, all of these different roles. That was not the order in which I served in those roles, but I've done all of those different things. And then at the height of the pandemic, I saw a need that needed to be addressed as it pertains to mathematics and students having access to mathematics, mathematic education, and, like, tutorial services. So, I created Math N' More. So, Math N' More was founded in the height of the pandemic to address scholars who had deficits in that. And it was because of those deficits and my experience as an educator that I was able to address those concerns and support students right where they were. So all of it culminating, yes, it was a very hard time and COVID was a very unique experience for us all.


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:04:58]:

But out of COVID, we had the birth of Mathew Moore. So I do think that it was an experience for us.


Naomi Meredith [00:05:05]:

I love that. That way, I love how you just culminated all of your teaching experience into your program and saw that need, and I feel like there are so many different things that popped up during that time with teaching online. And like you said, you noticed those gaps in math and all of that. So what does Math N' More what do you, specialize in? So math, obviously, but what does Math N' More do?


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:05:33]:

Tutorial services after school and during our summer program. We offer personalized tutoring services throughout the school year for students in 1 on 1 and small group instruction. During the summertime, we offer a very unique small group intervention type style program where students are in small groups, where there are peer instructions with an adult educator who is actually honing in on just those high-ticket items that you would normally see as deficits in a classroom throughout the school year, but they're actually going through them and combing them out. So that way, when they go to the school year, the new school year, they have summer gains and not summer losses. The and or part of it is where we support students with wraparound services. So I'm really big on community programming and making sure that the whole student is supported. The majority of our scholars do have an exceptionality, meaning that they have an IEP or a 504, the IBA, act. And we do support with IEP writing.


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:06:35]:

We sit on the board, the panel of the IEP meeting, the 504 meeting. We sit through the MTSS process if necessary for the parent. We educate parents. We host workshops. Our most staple event that I'm sure you know about, is Pi Day. So Pi Day just happened in Atlanta, Georgia, this past Saturday, where we brought community school leaders from different STEM organizations together, and we celebrated the Mathematica constant pie.


Naomi Meredith [00:07:04]:

Oh, that's great. This is so perfect. I'm I love how we are recording a big event for you. That's amazing. That's so cool. And I love how it's there's so many different offerings to help support students in math. And, how how do the kids respond to these types of interventions? Because maybe they've had certain experiences in school that have been positive or not so positive. What have you seen with the kids in your programs?


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:07:38]:

So the students that are in our program, we've had a 100 percent matriculation rate to the next grade. And particularly, and I don't have the exact numbers in front of me, but I think we started off at, like, 45%. In our last inaugural summer program in our 6th/7th grade cohort, we started off at, like, a 45% proficiency rate. So the students take a placement exam at the beginning of the program, data data data. Right?


Naomi Meredith [00:08:06]:

Yeah.


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:08:06]:

But then at the end of the program, students scored a 93% proficiency as it pertains to the skills that we targeted. So it really does show that our program through individualized support, through this, connection because as Stephen Covey said, no good learning happens from people that you don't like. So we build connections, we build bonds, and then we teach. And then through that teaching, we allow for exploration and saying, it's okay to fail forward. It's okay to not understand. We create a safe space, and then, ultimately, students learn.


Naomi Meredith [00:08:42]:

That is so true. And I feel like with any teaching space, it really goes back to those relationships. And, like, it does change your whole teaching environment, whether it is the small group or the whole group instruction. Students definitely need to feel safe in your space and, connect with you, and I've seen that with even creative projects. I've talked about it in the podcast before where when I first started my STEM class, my students had a hard time getting into the projects because they weren't they didn't know me yet, and they didn't know the type of environment it would be to fail forward and, be creative because it is such an a vulnerable, place to be in when you're creating something. And so, we definitely built that up built that up, and it changed students' attitudes for sure, towards our STEM projects and how they wanted to attack everything. And so I'm so glad that that is a core value of what you're doing with kids. That is extremely, extremely important, and I don't know if all programs are like that.


Naomi Meredith [00:09:45]:

And so that's really good that you keep that in the forefront with what you're doing.


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:09:50]:

Yes. Absolutely.


Naomi Meredith [00:09:52]:

So, speaking of the things that you are doing to encourage, students in math, you mentioned the relationships and, you have yours and then you teach your programs. When it comes to their mindsets and encouraging the kids in math, are there any strategies you recommend for teachers or things that you do in your program where maybe a teacher well, there's a couple things. So kids who might be reluctant in math, and then we can go into more of, even with teachers that they're really struggling just teaching math in general. So, two audiences.


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:10:26]:

Yes. So, the one thing that makes what I do so important in the work that it makes it so impactful is because I actually use metacognitive strategies to implement the teaching of mathematics. So, it is so underutilized. And, honestly, I'm not too sure how many people studied metacognition. I know that Flable in 1977 was like a staple researcher as it pertains to metacognition, but there are not really many new studies that pertain to it. But it actually lends itself to so many other things as it pertains to the development of mathematics and then self esteem, which can lend itself to social emotional loan learning and growth. So utilizing those metacognitive strategies inside a classroom is a tip that I would give teachers because it's just honestly the thought process about the thought process. Yeah.


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:11:26]:

But it's also a great strategy for the students because now the students are being reflected about what they did, how they did it. They're actually using graphic organizers. They're structuring their work in a way that is unique. We don't think about math as a as a structure. We think about computation. We think about just input, output, and values and numbers, but it is a structure. It is the way sySTEMs work. It is a language indeed.


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:11:53]:

So by getting kids to understand that, to respond to it in that way and not just these numbers that they see isolated for 45 to 60 minutes a day, and that it is something that is cross-curricular, that it is something that you will see in science, something that you can see in art, something that you can see, in your daily life when you're just going down to the grocery store, then it gets them to buy in a little bit more, and now they're intrigued. Now, their interest is sparked. Now they know what to do and how to respond because they have reflected and know what that reflection process is like. And now they can circle it back again. Like, okay. I didn't get it, but I reflected on it. I know what I'm doing, and this is what I can do for next time.


Naomi Meredith [00:12:36]:

Are there, like, specific, like, a lesson you have in mind where what that might look like? Like, if you're teaching, like, fractions or place value, like, how does that look if a kid is reflecting on a specific math problem?


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:12:52]:

So in elementary school, I don't teach elementary school, very often, but, I have coached and supported elementary school teachers.


Naomi Meredith [00:13:02]:

Mhmm.


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:13:03]:

So just thinking about fractions, as you said, getting kids to think about stop think and locate, stop think and locate the denominator, stop think and locate the numerator. Where would this number go? If it's an improper fraction, where are you gonna put this? How are you gonna set this up? Do you need a graphic organizer? How do you structure an improper fraction? Having kids a think aloud is nothing more than a metacognitive strategy.


Naomi Meredith [00:13:29]:

Yeah.


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:13:29]:

You don't have to use this big word, to appease these kids because the kids aren't gonna know what you're talking about anyway.


Naomi Meredith [00:13:36]:

Yeah.


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:13:36]:

So just tell them to, like, okay, well, think about it. What would you do? How would this work? Get them to reflect in real time about that particular lesson, and then also tell them remove the word math out of it. We're talking about a fraction. A fraction is a part of a whole. If I have a cookie and you have a cookie, how many cookies do we have? How many whole cookies do we have? And if I was to break the cookies in half, what does that look like? You're taking away the math and creating a vulnerable space because a 2 year old can talk about how many cookies they have.


Naomi Meredith [00:14:14]:

Yes.


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:14:16]:

Now you're putting a standard and a strategy to it by calling it fractions and teaching it in 3rd and 4th grade. That's the only difference.


Naomi Meredith [00:14:25]:

Mhmm.


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:14:25]:

But a 2 year old knows how many cookies they have. Trust me. So now build on that prior knowledge and talk about those sand cookies that they talked about when they were younger.


Naomi Meredith [00:14:35]:

That's so great and making it real. Like, there is a connection to these math concepts. They're not so ambiguous, and even going back to, like, that concrete pictorial and abstract, like, connecting those together and making it, very visual, whether it is a STEM teacher or just a teacher, implementing, math in general. I mean, in elementary, you almost teach everything. Most teachers have to teach all the subjects, and so, I like how you're using that positive language and also just here's what's happening, that let's think about this. Let's make sense of it. It's not as scary as you might think. That's really that's really, really, really helpful in just the language that teachers can shift in the way that they're talking about math.


Naomi Meredith [00:15:21]:

And you made it sound so happy. And, I mean, cookies.


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:15:26]:

Right. Exactly. I really do think that, one of the strategies that we can do and we should implement is implementing in the use of the math dictionary. Not many people are aware that there's an actual math dictionary.


Naomi Meredith [00:15:41]:

Yeah. I didn't know this. But


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:15:44]:

but when you use the math dictionary let me backspace for a second. When you're in English class and you are trying to write a paper and you're trying to synthesize and you're let's take it down to elementary school. When students are learning vocabulary words for the first time, they have to learn the vocabulary word. What do they have to do? They have to look up the word. They have to do all of these things. Right? They are exploring. They're using exploration to define in their heads what this means.


Naomi Meredith [00:16:12]:

Yeah. Why


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:16:12]:

aren't we using the same strategy in mathematics? Mhmm. So you utilizing a math dictionary allows for students to feel safe with the concept now because they're using a strategy that was already taught to them in a different classroom. Mhmm. A Freya model is an a great example of a metacognitive strategy that can be implemented in a math classroom, that can support with math language.


Naomi Meredith [00:16:39]:

Gotcha.


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:16:39]:

And if at any point you want me to explain, because I know I've now I've used metacognition for your mom all the time. Like, I trust that the teachers listening to this podcast fully understand all of these different ideas, but I'll be happy to explain.


Naomi Meredith [00:16:54]:

Oh, yeah. Just give a recap of the Frayer model because some people might just be listening on the go. They probably know, but then when you're explaining, like, oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:17:04]:

the Freer model is very simple, and depending on how you set it up, because there are different ways that you can set up the graphic organizer. But it's just simply a graphic organizer with the word in the middle. The student is now synthesizing it by getting a synonym. They're drawing a picture. They're writing out the definition, and they're giving an example. So it's just their way of solidifying their understanding of what this new concept, a new vocabulary word is.


Naomi Meredith [00:17:29]:

I think that would work really well in a STEM lesson. Like, when you're thinking about introducing a topic, one lesson that I would do with 4th graders is we were coding robots, to well, before that, we were coding robots, but we were creating, symmetrical snowflakes, and we were talking about lines and angles and different types of angles. And they hadn't gotten to that unit yet in their 4th grade classroom, and that's okay. I mean, that doesn't always line up, but that would have been a great connection. I was introducing the vocabulary, but just another way to, really make sense of, okay, what is an angle? What are they? How what is symmetry and all of that? So that's a really Where


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:18:12]:

do you see it? Where do you see angle?


Naomi Meredith [00:18:14]:

Mhmm. What happens?


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:18:15]:

If it's at the end of the corner, you have to make a left. What happens? So getting to understand that those angles are in real life as well, not just in shape.


Naomi Meredith [00:18:24]:

Yeah. That's so good, and it's so true. And making it all connect together, like, why do we need math? Well, math is everywhere. So that's really, really, really awesome and, really good to think about where, yes, let's say you're teaching STEM, you still need sometimes you really do need to be explicit about what you're doing in your class. We can't assume that they know. Unlike my example, my 4th graders hadn't had that lesson yet in their classroom. And so I was the one introducing that topic, and that can happen, which is great. It's there's no problem with that.


Naomi Meredith [00:19:00]:

It's just how it goes sometimes. So, that's a really great I love how you're using that in math, the Frayer model, because I did use that when I teach, literacy. That's really, really smart.


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:19:11]:

Correct. Yes.


Naomi Meredith [00:19:13]:

So in terms of what you do, I'm sure it's fun all the time. Do you have any fun projects you're working on? You did talk about Pi Day, but, anything that you have going on in terms of your fun math world?


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:19:26]:

Yeah. So a couple of different fun activities that you can do on Pi Day, So every student, we knocked down, like, in a box, rolled up a dice, shook it up, and there were certain number of digits on everybody's postcard. Then everybody had to use it. So in a classroom, a full classroom, you might get 3.14. Somebody else might get 1.59, but it's on a graph it's on a graph paper, and then everybody brought their, skylines together. And we created 1 period skyline, so each period had their own skyline. And then now they're all in sync together with and there's different abstracts and different arts, but they all work culminating with the different digits of pi. So that's a very simple elementary school activity that teachers can do, and it could be cross-curricular.


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:20:24]:

Right? Because that art teacher can do one set of numbers, the math teacher can do another set of numbers, then you put it in a hallway on Pi Day, and now here you have this beautiful collage of the digits of pi and students are engaged and having fun with art in Now Math.


Naomi Meredith [00:20:40]:

Do you have a picture of this?


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:20:42]:

It might be on my website. It actually might. I think it's like the first, like, the literally, the first picture of the students coloring in the digits of pi.


Naomi Meredith [00:20:50]:

Okay. I will find it, and we will link this because I'm so curious to see how this looks. Yes. I love that. Now I'm curious about this too. I'm gonna ask where people can find you. But is white you do only in person, or do you have, like, online resources as well?


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:21:08]:

So everything we do actually is in, is virtual. And we do in person activities throughout the city of Atlanta with different schools and different organizations.


Naomi Meredith [00:21:20]:

Love that. So, if you're in Atlanta, you guys are super lucky. But with virtual


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:21:26]:

I'm open to, traveling. So if there's anybody that or a school that wants to have a high experience, we call it, at your school or a different sort of ex experience, just reach out and we'll build something together.


Naomi Meredith [00:21:42]:

I love that. I think teachers would really be interested, in that. So how can they reach out and connect with you? Where are the best places to look?


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:21:51]:

So our website is www.math, the letternmoore.com. And that is also our social handles everywhere except for Twitter. Twitter is math n more or x now. Mathnmoreone. But everything else is at math, the letter n, and more.


Naomi Meredith [00:22:12]:

Perfect. Well, I'm sure teachers are gonna look you up and just really rethink just some of the strategies that they are when they're, teaching math in their classroom and integrating that in their content. And, we I mean, no matter what you're teaching, you want it to be a positive experience. And, you know, for sure with math, it also can be very positive and very fun. And, just even just those refreshers of things when you, go into that space. I think all of the strategies you explained, and I'm sure there's way a ton of great things too on your website, to help support teachers.


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:22:47]:

Yes. 


Naomi Meredith [00:22:49]:

Well, thank you so much, Roblész, for everything that you're doing with kids, and I appreciate your knowledge so much on this show.


Dr. Christopher Roblész [00:22:57]:

Thank you. It was lovely being here. Thank you for having me.

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More About your host, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is an online K-5 STEM Coach in Colorado supporting elementary teachers world-wide navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there. With over a decade of experience teaching, 5 years teaching elementary STEM, along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM Certificate, Naomi helps teachers world-wide to navigate best practices, strategies and tools out there. 

She offers a variety of tools to help teachers feel successful teaching STEM to their elementary students through lesson plans, online courses, coaching and speaking events.

She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM, innovation and hands-on learning in their classrooms effectively. She can’t wait to connect with you and be your guide!

More About The Elementary STEM Coach Podcast

Are you tired of scrolling online for your next great STEM lesson? Do you feel like there is no time to plan, research and test meaningful STEM lessons, so you throw together a hands-on activity and hope that it works? What systems and routines should you set in place to help students be creative, critically think, and collaborate? 

The Elementary STEM Coach is a podcast for K-5 STEM teachers, classroom teachers, GT specialists, and homeschool parents looking for actionable STEM solutions. Each week, Naomi Meredith will share tools, resources and lesson ideas that are actionable in your classroom and create highly engaging experiences with your students. You’ll learn systems and routines that will create control in the chaos and that will keep you organized all year long. 

Your mindless scrolling days are over! Your new STEM-best friend is now here in your ear buds!