Home » Back to School

Category: Back to School

Easy Classroom Incentive Idea for Positive Behaviors in STEM [ep.179]

Easy Classroom Incentive Idea for Positive Behaviors in STEM [ep.179]

Check out the full episode about easy classroom incentive idea:

 

 

Subscribe to the podcast HERE on your favorite podcasting platform.Have a STEM question? Leave a voice message for the podcast!

Watch the video episode here!

 

Episode Summary

When you teach multiple classes a day, how can you easily set up a classroom incentive that encourages positive behaviors? In this episode, I'll share with you a game I came up with that's easy, fun, and motivating for elementary students of all ages.

There is also a bonus clip where you will hear me introduce this incentive with a class and hear their reactions!

Resources Mentioned:

 

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.

I got a question asked over on my Instagram @naomimeredith_ and it reads, Hi Naomi, I was wondering if you have any recommendations for whole classroom reward systems. This is an area I'm struggling as a first year STEM teacher. This is a great question.

And whether you teach the same kids all week, you see the whole school in one week, or maybe you even teach STEM after school clubs, or you are subbing as a STEM teacher, which is all the above all the things that I have done and do. So let's get into this classroom reward system that I came up with that I actually have tested with classes. It is very, very simple.

Anybody can implement it. Even if you're a classroom teacher, it's very easy to manage, very straightforward. And I think you're definitely going to enjoy it.

So this classroom reward system that I came up with is called Behavior Blast Off. And all it is is a poster with the title of Behavior Blast Off. It has a giant rocket and then an open space that will have five large stars.

Then on the side, I have a small cup of other stars. And each star has their own number labeled one through 30. The goal of this behavior management system is that it is rewarding positive behaviors.

So the goal for the class is to earn all five stars to get a five star rating. And we know that can be a good thing if it's five out of five stars. So the kids of the class are trying to earn these five stars.

And every time they're demonstrating the positive behaviors that you talk about in your classroom all the time, they can earn a star that goes right above that rocket. And every time you see those things, they can earn another star. And for every star that is earned, you have that tiny cup of the stars with the numbers.

At the end of class, that means how many stars that the class earned, the big ones, is how many little stars you're going to pull out of this cup. And I mentioned that all these little stars have a number on them. And those numbers match a student.

So maybe it is their cubby number, their laptop number. So you probably have the kids numbered one through 25 or however many students you have. So if the class earns four stars, that means you pick out four stars out of the cup.

And what happens when you pick those stars at the end of class? Well, they can earn a small prize. And this could be very small. It could be a sticker.

Maybe there are things that the school already does that they can earn. Maybe you have school stickers they can earn. Maybe it is to help you out or to have lunch with you.

Whatever it may be. It can be a very big prize. It can be a very small prize.

It could be anywhere in between. So this is really fun because it's kind of random. It is a game.

And the kids get really excited because they want to be the ones to get their star pulled out of the cup. Now, one caveat to this, this actually happened. I did this with six different classes in a row.

And it didn't really come up until the last class. Well, what if there is a student that you have to talk to repeated times and their number gets called? Do they get to pick out of the prize box? And I wish I had gone over this before when I explained the game because that happened. I did have a student who was having a harder time.

Their name got called and it kind of wasn't fair. So that is something with your discretion that can be up to you that you can do as well. Now, I did something else when I was a STEM teacher.

It was different because I had that relationship. I kind of didn't really do an incentive like this, but I should have. But I've tried this with other classes that I have been in recently.

And the incentive of earning a prize is huge and all my classes have bought in and they're super into it. Can classes lose stars? Up to you and what your philosophy is with that. They could or they couldn't.

So definitely up to you, but play around with it. So that really is the game. It's very easy to manage.

And I actually packaged it all together. I have the print and go poster. I made this the morning before I was subbing for a STEM teacher one day because I needed something.

And so I made, I thought of this when I was walking my dog Frederick one day. And so the poster is very, very easy. The rocket's already big.

So you just print it out on normal paper. I put it on a poster and was good to go. So I have it all packaged in my TBDT shop and also linked in the show notes.

And I also walk through everything that I just explained for you that if you forget how to implement, it's all there. So as a little bonus for this episode, I actually have short audio that I'm going to play right after I'm done talking. But you actually get to hear me when I was explaining this to the class.

There were a lot of other things that were happening in between. I did keep, this is when I was subbing for a STEM teacher. I did also keep her incentives that she did in her classroom.

So that would be a really fun episode too, is gathering what do all of you do for behavior class incentives. So I'm going to keep that in mind for another question I need to ask, but there were some things going on. So if it sounds a little choppy, I did cut some things out, but you get to hear how I use this with, and it was a first grade class, but I did use this K through five.

This is behavior blast offs. You're going to play my game. So we have this rocket and some stars.

Let's see how many stars are up here. Ready? Five. Now, if you're doing a good job, you'll earn stars from me.

Every star you earn at the end of class, you guys know your cubby number, your classroom number, tell the person next to you what your number is. Thumbs up if you know your number. Right now there is one star because you came in and you listened really well.

So that means I will pull out one star and whoever's number I call, you get a pick from the prize box that I brought. You can earn up to five stars. So it's a game.

It's fun, but pretty cool. So you already have one out of five stars. So you want a five star rating.

Have you heard of that? That's good. So when you have a restaurant or like a hotel and it's out of five stars, if you say five out of five stars, this is great. We went to a restaurant, you guys, we have a one out of five stars.

It's not pretty fun, right? I did post this video on my Instagram. So it's also embedded in the show notes. So if you want to watch me when I was doing this, it's all there.

So I hope this helps. Don't make it overly complicated. Make it simple for you to understand, to keep up with.

Same with the students, for them to understand, for them to keep up with. And as long as it's a game and it's encouraging that positive behavior, something like this can really help in your classroom. Thank you so much for this question.

If you have any other questions, feel free to DM me or send an email my way. I love this two way street where I'm getting your input and all of your insights. And then I'm here in my home office by myself talking to my camera, but really makes me feel like that we are connecting in a different way.

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:

 

 

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!

What Do STEM Teachers Do During Parent Teacher Conferences? [ep.178]

What Do STEM Teachers Do During Parent Teacher Conferences? [ep.178]

Check out the full episode about questions about what STEM teachers do during parent teacher conferences: 

 

Subscribe to the podcast HERE on your favorite podcasting platform.Have a STEM question? Leave a voice message for the podcast!

Watch the video episode here!

 

Episode Summary

During Parent Teacher Conference season, what is the typical expectation for STEM teachers? While this can vary from school to school, overall there is a common consensus amongst STEM Teachers of what they do during this time. How do I know this? Well, I went ahead and asked YOU and sharing your responses in this episode.

 

Episode Transcript: 

What are the expectations for a STEM specialist in an elementary space when it comes to parent-teacher conferences? I was recently talking with one of you over on Instagram at Naomi Meredith underscore and the topic of parent-teacher conferences came up and we were chatting back and forth and it gave me the idea to record an episode about this. But not only that, I actually asked you in various places what you actually do during parent-teacher conferences. So there's no video for this one because I'm going to do a lot of reading.

You guys showed up and shared exactly what you do and this I think is very insightful because you might be in this situation where you might be the only one who teaches STEM in your building and maybe you have a team of other teachers who are kind of similar like PE, art, and music, but really you're probably only the STEM teacher in your space. So I appreciate these comments so much and I know you are going to as well. Really quick before I read those, I will share what my role was when I was teaching STEM and what it was like for parent-teacher conferences.

For our parent-teacher conferences, they actually were four nights. We went Monday through Thursday in a row and there were two late nights where we went until seven o'clock and then two shorter nights where we went till five o'clock. Doesn't seem that much shorter.

But what we did as a special team is we counted out all the hours and we divided out the hours evenly and we took turns covering the main office. So our office ladies actually were not expected to stay for parent-teacher conferences, but we were as specialists. So we took turns being in the front office and our job was to make sure that parents signed in.

We let them in through the front doors and we directed them to classroom. Another thing that we did is we actually had to go on the intercom every 15 or 20 minutes, whatever the conferences were. We had to go over the intercom and say, this is the end of like your 7-15 conference.

Thank you so much parents for being here. Please finish up and we can move on to the next appointment slot. Our school, we made sure everybody signed up at conferences.

They had the same timeframes and this was really helpful for teachers because you know, you might have some more chatty parents or ones who want to take over the next time. So we would go ahead and do that. That's what we did.

And then it would come in waves for sure when the parents would come in. So what I would do in between little slow moments is actually set up all of my emails for the rest of the year for the teachers. So when it was their rotation, when to bring their computers.

And then I also set up all of my emails for my afterschool clubs. So I always did a reminder email the day before. So that's one thing.

It's kind of mindless-ish, but something that I would work on or another thing I would work on is like cutting out stuff. But couldn't get a whole lot done. And then of course, talking to parents too, if I had their students, which it was usually pretty positive.

Here and there, I would go in and support classroom teachers with specific students where they needed some more support and other eyes of what was happening in the classroom. So if that was the case, me and my team, we would figure out, hey, could you come cover for this little bit? I need to go into this classroom. So I wasn't in the front office the whole time, neither were my teammates, but that was just a responsibility that we had.

All right, so let's get into what you all shared. I'm going to share first names, but they're also in no particular order. So I think this you will find very helpful.

Brandon says, we can have conferences with families. It's our choice. We usually just mostly greet parents as they come in, direct traffic, etc.

Be a welcoming voice and talk to the parents as they wait for grade level conferences to begin. Shannon says, usually we're answering questions and guiding parents to rooms. I also like to put information for parents on the bulletin boards outside my hall and highlight student work.

Oh, I love that. If you have the room, that's a great idea. Sometimes I'm brought in to reinforce another teacher's observations about behavior or understanding of content knowledge.

Patty says she's mostly support. I sit in on a conference that might be challenging for the homeroom teacher to support concerns and help with upset parents. I field questions on a drop-in basis and anything that might be requested.

So, so far with these teachers, and I'm sure these other teachers as well that I'm going to read to this too, most of these teachers, and I think you can relate, were in the classroom before. So having that other support of another teacher in the building is really, really insightful. It really helps get that well-rounded view of a student.

Sharon says, we haven't had formal parent-teacher conferences yet at the time of her submitting this comment, but I have called some parents to introduce myself and let them know my role. I do like to tell the parents positive stories about their children. I think that's excellent at any time of year, especially if you don't, you don't want the first phone call to be, hey, something bad happened.

I'm the STEM teacher. This is what STEM is. So that's a really great idea to keep the communication all year long.

Cindy says, I'm in my space working on new learning for me, but families can stop by whenever they want. I have the room set up like it is when students are here and kids can show their families what we do. It's been very helpful in getting donations and support for the program.

I have K through 5, about 750 students. I feel your girl is a great idea. And I would do the same thing the times I wasn't in the front office.

So super helpful. Nick says, very similar to what Cindy said, we were just available if parents wanted to come talk, but usually didn't see many parents, which that can happen too. I think one year I set some stuff up for kids to do if they came down, so I can meet some parents.

Dana says that they support parents needing to locate teachers, which definitely can be a thing. It can be really confusing in any elementary school I have found. And she also helps run food to teachers and manages the front door.

Kelsey says for parent teacher conferences, my specials team is expected to have a table set up by the book fair on our library during our late night. Then parents can stop by and say hi if they want, which I think that's a great idea. I've seen quite a few schools and some of the schools I've been at have done this, not every year, but they do the book fair the same week as parent teacher conferences.

So that's a great tip too, to get those donations for your school and knowing that families might be staying later anyway, that's a great location to be at. One of my friends, Becca, she has to actually help inside the book fair. So that is quite an adventure.

I've done that also before and it's really fun. Of course I would find it fun, but I think it's really fun bringing up the books and showing kids what there is available. Kelly says that she gives directions and chats with anyone who comes by the lab.

It's usually one to two families out of 400, which yeah, that can be really common. Kristen says, I thought this was really cool. I have never heard of this and I should have followed up with her if this actually helps seeing more parents, but she said our students get a passport booklet to get a sticker from each special that they visit and then she's also supporting teachers and being available for the parents and students.

So I'm curious, I should ask her if that does help seeing more because they want to get that sticker. That's really, really cool. Then Sarah says she supports the teachers if needed, but otherwise the help out pass out books and information to families.

So overall, very different than a classroom teacher for sure, but as you can tell with all of these responses that everybody is helping at the school in some way and still being supportive of that community and being visible during that time. If your school is a little bit confused, what should you even do? I think these are really great suggestions and overall very similar to what the expectations are for a STEM specialist or just even special teachers in general. I hope you found this episode helpful.

I'm trying out lots of different styles, especially ways to get your voice. So it's like we're traveling to each other's classroom. So if you loved this episode, let me know.

Feel free to send me an email or you can send me a DM on Instagram at Naomi Meredith underscore. 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-5 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:

 

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!

10 STEM Door Decoration Ideas for Your Classroom

10 STEM Door Decoration Ideas for Your Classroom

Easy STEM door decoration ideas that you can easily print, cut and hang, and even use again year after year! What's even better is they come in full color or black and white versions to meet your printing needs.

Sure, you can be creative and think fo some fun ideas on your own, but to have STEM door decorations that are already created AND thought out for you, this is a no-brainer.

You can grab the entire bundle of these door decorations here in my TpT Shop-Naomi Meredith. 

#1 STEM Door Decoration- Inventions that Light Up Our World

Inspire students with different inventions that glow and light up like light bulbs, fireworks and candles. This board says “Inventions that Light Up Our World” then have cute lightbulbs that each have an invention with a picture and label.

Grab this door decoration here 

#2 STEM Door Decoration- Perfect STEM Pairs 

There are some STEM inventions that are better together. Things like paper and scissors, monitors & keyboards and robot & batteries. This cute, heart themed board is perfect for Valentine's Day season and says “Perfect STEM Pairs”. Surround the words are connected hearts with the STEM inventions to match.

Grab this door decoration here

#3 STEM Door Decoration-STEM Lucky Charms

There are those items when working with STEM Projects that when you have access to them, you feel extra lucky. Can anyone say “Unlimited tape please!?”. This board says “STEM Lucky Charms” with those need-to-have STEM items surrounding on shamrocks with words like hot glue, cardboard, and batteries. This board is great for March with its vibrant rainbow and pot of gold that can be added to the corner.

Grab this door decoration here

#4 STEM Door Decoration-Inventions Our Earth Loves

Not all inventions are Earth-friendly. However, some make a major and positive impact. Celebrate Earth Month with this door that says “Inventions our Earth Loves”. Surround the words with hearts with innovative inventions that are making a positive impact to Earth's resources like Wind Turbines, solar power, and maglev trains. The Earth on this board is absolutely adorable with its little smile!

Grab this door decoration here

#5 STEM Door Decoration-STEM is out of this world!

This space-themed door is perfect for any time of year. Complete with an easy to assemble rocket and the words “STEM is out of this world”, this door is a lot of fun! To complete the design are stars highlighting skills STEM provides like creating, exploring, inventing and discovering.

Grab this door decoration here 

#6 STEM Door Decoration-Core STEM Structures

What are some simple, yet effective building techniques that engineers use to ensure things hold up the way they should? On this board displaying “Core STEM Structures” are some of those need-to-know designs. Items such as screws, arches, and levers are added to the apple and apple core designs that decorate this door.

Grab this door decoration here. 

#7 STEM Door Decoration-The Magic Potions of STEM

Sure, there are fun things you can build with STEM, but what are those “Magic Potions of STEM” as this door describes? What really improves STEM projects is creativity. grit, hard-work and innovation, which are some of the words listed on the bottle designs on this door. This board works well for Halloween season, but many teachers like to hang this board up for other times of year too!

Grab this door decoration here

#8 STEM Door Decoration-STEM is unbeLEAFable

As the leaves change outside, so can your STEM door decoration with this design. With the words “STEM is unbeLEAFable” there are different types of projects listed on leafs. Things like robotics, experiments, and coding are listed on the colorful leaves for this door.

Grab this door decoration here 

#9 STEM Door Decoration-Let it Code, Let it Code, Let it Code

The weather outside is frightful, but your door decoration can be do delightful. Build a snowman not out of snow and hang it next to “Let it Code, Let it Code, Let it Code”. Then, surround the scene with snowflakes that have different coding vocabulary listed like debugging, binary code and algorithm.

Get this door decoration here

#10 STEM Door Decoration-Cooking up Sweet STEM Creations

Building a gingerbread house can be messy, but not with this door decoration design. Hang up the words “Cooking Up Sweet STEM Creations” with a cute gingerbread house and gingerbread people. Listed on the gingerbread characters are the fun topics you can learn about in STEM like Makersapce, 3D Printing and Digital Design.

Grab this door decoration here 

 

Which designs would you hang up in your classroom? You can grab the entire bundle of print and cut STEM door decorations HERE.

 

STEM Door Decorations Listed in this Post

#1- Inventions that Light Up Our World

#2-Perfect STEM Pairs

#3-STEM Lucky Charms

#4-Inventions Our Earth Loves

#5-STEM is out of this world!

#6-Core STEM Structures

#7-The Magic Potions of STEM

#8-STEM is unbeLEAFable

#9-Let it Code, Let it Code, Let it Code

#10-Cooking up Sweet STEM Creations

 

Other Posts You Might Enjoy:

Connect with Naomi Meredith:

 

More About the author, 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!

Why Every Elementary STEM Classroom Needs a STEM Affirmation Station

Why Every Elementary STEM Classroom Needs a STEM Affirmation Station

As educators, we know that the classroom environment plays a crucial role in student engagement and learning. But beyond posters, bulletin boards, and seating arrangements, there's one addition that can truly transform your elementary STEM classroom: a STEM Affirmation Station.

What Is a STEM Affirmation Station?

A STEM Affirmation Station is a dedicated space in your classroom where students can find positive affirmations related to their STEM learning experiences. It's a place where they can take a moment to reflect on their abilities, celebrate their achievements, and build the confidence needed to tackle challenging STEM concepts.

Imagine a corner of your room filled with colorful cards, posters, or even a digital board, all displaying encouraging messages like, “I am a problem-solver,” “I can learn from my mistakes,” or “I have the creativity to find solutions.” These affirmations can be tailored to reinforce the growth mindset, which is especially crucial in STEM subjects where students often face complex problems and need persistence to succeed.

Why It Matters

1. Promotes a Growth Mindset: STEM subjects require students to embrace challenges, experiment, and learn from failures. An affirmation station encourages a growth mindset by reminding students that making mistakes is a natural part of learning. It reinforces the idea that effort and perseverance are just as important as getting the right answer.

2. Builds Confidence: Many students struggle with self-doubt, especially when they encounter difficult concepts in math, science, technology, or engineering. A daily dose of positive reinforcement can boost their confidence, making them more willing to participate in class discussions, take risks, and engage in hands-on projects.

3. Encourages Self-Reflection: An affirmation station invites students to pause and reflect on their learning journey. This practice of self-reflection helps them recognize their strengths, set personal goals, and take ownership of their learning. It’s a simple yet powerful way to foster intrinsic motivation.

4. Enhances Classroom Culture: A STEM Affirmation Station contributes to a positive and supportive classroom culture. It helps create an environment where students feel valued, respected, and encouraged to express their ideas. This sense of community can lead to more collaboration, better communication, and a stronger sense of belonging among students.

 

How to Create a STEM Affirmation Station

Setting up a STEM Affirmation Station is easy and can be customized to fit your classroom's needs:

  • Start Small: Begin with a simple board or wall space where you can post a few affirmations each week. You can also use sticky notes, index cards, or printouts.
  • Get Students Involved: Invite your students to contribute their own affirmations. This can be a great way to involve them in the process and ensure the messages resonate with them.
  • Use Technology: If you have access to a digital board or tablets, consider creating a digital affirmation station. Students can interact with the affirmations, adding their own or selecting ones that speak to them.
  • Rotate Affirmations: Keep the station fresh by rotating the affirmations regularly. You can align them with current lessons, upcoming projects, or even the challenges you know your students are facing.

 

 

Conclusion

Incorporating a STEM Affirmation Station into your elementary classroom is a simple yet impactful way to support your students' emotional and academic growth. It helps cultivate a learning environment where students feel empowered to take risks, embrace challenges, and celebrate their successes. By fostering a positive mindset, you're not just teaching STEM—you’re nurturing the innovators of tomorrow.

So, why not give it a try? Your students' smiles and newfound confidence will be all the affirmation you need that it’s working.

 

Grab this STEM Affirmation Station for your classroom here! 

 

 

Related Posts:

Connect with Naomi Meredith:

 

More About  the Author, 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!

 

 

3 STEM Teacher Systems You Need to Start Now [Back to School Series] [ep.174]

3 STEM Teacher Systems You Need to Start Now [Back to School Series] [ep.174]

Check out the full episode about STEM teacher systems:

 

Subscribe to the podcast HERE on your favorite podcasting platform.

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

Watch the video episode here!

Episode Summary

How can you actually get it all done and keep track of everything as a STEM teacher? I'm sharing my tried-and-true systems and hacks to help you stay on top of your busy schedule as a STEM teacher. Balancing the demands of teaching, meetings, and other responsibilities can be overwhelming, but with the right strategies, you can maximize your productivity and keep track of everything that needs to be done.

From managing emails and using Google Calendar to setting timers for yourself and your students, these simple yet effective techniques have helped me stay organized both in the classroom and in my small business. I hope you find these tips helpful and encourage you to try them out in your own routine!

Key Takeaways:

  • Email Management:
    • Install the email app on your phone but set notifications for specific times of the day.
    • Organize emails into folders for easy reference and keep your inbox clutter-free.
  • Google Calendar:
    • Input all your class schedules, school events, and personal tasks in your Google Calendar.
    • Utilize reoccurring tasks for routine activities and sync your calendar with your devices for seamless reminders.
  • Task Tracking:
    • Use a simple notebook for daily task lists, highlighting completed tasks to visually track progress.
    • Re-write unfinished tasks each day to stay on top of your to-do list.
  • Timer Hacks:
    • Set timers on your watch for student activities and personal breaks to keep your day running smoothly.
    • Use classroomscreen.com for visual timers during class activities.
  • Staying Productive:
    • Create systems that work for you, like organizing emails, using digital calendars, and setting timers, to reduce mental load and increase efficiency.

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.

You're teaching hundreds of kids a day. You have before school duties, after school clubs, lesson meetings, staff meetings, all the things that comes with being a teacher in general, and it is still busy being a STEM teacher. How can you keep track of it all and maximize your work time and also all of those little tasks throughout each and every day? I'm going to be sharing with you my systems and hacks that I use religiously as a teacher and also as a small business owner.

They might seem very simple, but they work very, very well, and it has helped me stay productive and keep track of all the many things that are going on each day. I hope you are liking this short episode format. They're really fun for me to record a little bit hard because I just want to talk and talk and talk, but I hope that you are getting a lot out of it.

So let me know, write a review or send me a message on Instagram. I would love to hear how you're liking this new format. The first thing that really helps me stay on top of things is the way that I manage my emails.

And this might sound counterintuitive what I'm going to explain. But hear me out. This is what I do.

I actually do have the email apps on my phone. As a classroom teacher, I actually did not because I felt like you got a lot more parent emails in that way. But when I became a STEM teacher, I actually got the app on my phone.

And what the first thing that I did was I switched my email notifications to only turn on at a certain time of the day during the week, and then turn off. So I believe I had my email turn on from six to 4pm. I still got emails outside of those times, but I wasn't notified.

And I really want to go in and check unless there's something really, really, really important I need to keep track of. Otherwise, I wouldn't get those notifications. This is also really helpful too.

Because if you're on vacation, you can just delete that email app, but then you can have to resign in and do all the things I would just go in put myself like turn off notifications completely during those longer breaks and easy as that. Like I said, you can check when you need to. I also will check my emails all day and respond all day.

And I know most people are totally against that they need to be in the moment and everything. I am a busy person on the go, I will respond to you as soon as I can. And I will move that message that goes along with my second tip into a folder.

I hardly delete messages in my email, if there's spam, sure. But I have folders for everything, everything. When I was teaching every single grade level had their own folder, every single project, every type of event, or there's a district folder, there was a school folder, I have folders for everything.

Because then everything was sorted and organized, my inbox usually has about 10 to 15 emails in there. Because those are things that I am working on projects. And then when I'm finished, I will move it into the folder.

So I know everyone has different systems, maybe they never delete anything or never move any emails. For me, that's visually crazy. And so I answer emails all throughout the day.

During that work time, I answer on my phone, if it's a longer email, I will sit down and respond. But this works very, very well, because I hardly ever, as a teacher sit down and just answer emails all day. That is not what I would do, I would answer them on the go, and then move on to the next thing.

And when I get to school, I had more time for lesson planning, which is what you really want to be doing. Next is how I use my Google Calendar. This is also something I am very obsessed about.

And it actually makes sense. Because as a kid, I was obsessed about getting a new planner every school year. And I love a good planner, I'm more into notebooks for writing checklists down for tasks.

This is another side tip, I actually use a blank notebook. For my daily tasks, I write down everything that's in my head, I need to get done. And then if I finish them, I will highlight them.

So I know what it is. But visually, I know it's finished, but I can see what I finished. And then each day, I will rewrite the tasks I didn't get done and write down any fresh ones.

So that way, I don't have a million sticky notes going on. But that's just like a little hack. I don't use a paper planner anymore, I am obsessed about my Google Calendar.

What I will do is I will sit down and type in every single schedule that I have with my students. So what is my daily schedule, my Wednesdays were always different than Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, the times would change because we had an early release day. So I would sit down, it's easier on your computer.

If you do this, by the way, I would sit down, I would put in all the times for all of my grade levels. And then you can even put in ending dates, you can delete certain dates so that you actually don't have anything going on. Again, during a break, it looks like a break, I would put in all of my schedules.

And then I also would put in the school calendar. So days off all of that, those all went in my Google Calendar, and I made sure to put it in my school account. So anything that was school related went into my school Google Calendar.

Now this goes along with the emails thing, if there was ever an event or something happening at school or a field trip, there was a time change, a class is gone, I immediately go into my Google Calendar, make the change to that date. Because even with reoccurring dates in Google Calendar, you can actually change specific things and it will ask you do you want to change all of them, or just one of them, I would go in and change it and then put that email where it needs to go. So you're like double dipping our school actually used Outlook, which I'm not a personal fan.

I know you can connect your calendars and stuff that way. But I prefer Google Calendar because I would have my school Google Calendar. And then I have my personal Google Calendar and then also my business Google Calendar.

But on your phone, that's really cool is you can actually see all of your calendars at once and go from there. So I still do the same thing and put every single thing in my Google Calendar. And that is how I keep track of everything.

Something new that I'm really obsessed with are new to me is the tasks. So I'm really bad at doing laundry. This is like something about me I'm really, really, really bad at, I don't do it, don't put it away, I don't stay on top of it.

But something with me with laundry is I can handle one load a day. And so with those things that you should be washing every so often, like the towels I wash every week, I couldn't remember when I did the towels. So I actually put in reoccurring tasks in my Google Calendar.

So they don't take over as events, they can happen anytime. If you schedule an event on that day, they don't override each other. But I actually put in reoccurring tasks in my Google Calendar.

So I know on this day, I do towels, and I can check it off. And then the task will repeat every week. So if you have that going on in your STEM classroom, there's things that you have a hard time remembering, but you know, you need to do it, the tasks are really helpful, because it's just a visual checklist.

And you can see it all in there in your calendar, especially if there's a deadline for something, and it will keep popping up, it'll move each day, if you don't go in and check it off, it will move on to your next day, like pay credit cards need to do that. So those are really, really helpful. But again, I'm very, very obsessed about my Google Calendar.

And I even figured out how to link all my Google calendars, you link it to your phone. So I have an iPhone, and it talks to my watch. So all of my events for the day pop up on my watch.

This is the same with my school schedule with kids. So then I knew exactly when things were happening. I didn't have to go to my computer, it was all right there for me.

It's either my phone is on my watch. And I it was just one less thing I had to worry about because I set that system up in place. And finally, the last system and hack that I like to use to help with my productivity as a STEM teacher is using timers.

I use timers with students and I use them for myself as a human as a teacher. As you can tell, I can forget things and there's a lot going on. And especially reading the clock and being in the moment and managing the projects and who's in the bathroom and this fight and then who's cutting somebody's hair with the scissors.

The last thing I am worrying about is checking the time on the clock. I've always want to watch teaching. But I just have a hard time just I'm just really in the moment.

That's really what it is. And so what I will do is as students, I send them off to work. So I have my mini lesson, all that I'm not worried about the time.

Because I always can get it done really, really quick. Unless there is a stern talking to my mini lessons are short, five to eight minutes, eight minutes of them teaching them a new tech tool. But when I send the kids off to work, I immediately again, I go to my watch, but I immediately my watch set a timer for when I want them to clean up.

So I, depending on the class, it's five to 10 minutes, some need 10, some need five, some need three, some are really quick. But I will set a timer for myself. So then my watch will buzz when I want them to clean up.

Depending on the class, I will actually put up a timer for the students. The timer for the students on the screen might not match what is on my watch. It might be the same, it might be different.

If it's station rotations, it wouldn't be the same because they're at their station shorter. Or sometimes I will like put a timer, you have two more minutes left. Again, it really depends on the class.

But I have the master timer on my watch. And then the one on the screen for the students is whatever I need them to be timed for what I want them to do. Are you going to do this job for five minutes, after the timer goes off, you're going to switch.

So see what I mean how their timer wouldn't match mine. That's what I mean by that. My favorite timer to use that doesn't have scary sounds is classroom screen.com. This is not sponsored, I am obsessed.

It has a little clock and timer widget you can put up. You can also put images and embed Google Slides and stuff everywhere. So you can literally have a million things on your screen.

That is for that lesson. So that is how I like to hack timers. I use timers.

This is so crazy. I depending on the class, I only had five minutes or 10 minutes in between classes. And I need to go to the bathroom or I needed to go get some water or whatever and make some copies.

My passing time would start I would set a timer on my watch. I knew I had that much time before my next class would start. I actually kept my door closed in between classes for safety issues.

But also a class couldn't just appear in my room five minutes early, I'm busy, I have things to do that was a boundary I would set, which I do have an episode about setting boundaries, which boundaries are very, very important as a teacher. But I would set timers like that I set timers for myself like this all the time. Sounds like an advertisement for Apple Watch.

It's not you can set a timer lots of different ways. But this is going to help you again, it's those little things you don't have to think about anymore, but help you stay productive. So funny enough, these are all different hacks that I like to use using technology.

And I'm wondering if any of you use those same types of things. Let me know, send me a DM, I hope that this was helpful for you. And if you haven't already, before you move on to your day, make sure to go and review this podcast, write something that you're loving about it.

We are getting up to 180 episodes. And I know I don't have 180 reviews. So I would love to see what you think of the podcast.

If you've been a longtime listener, first time writer, let me know. And thank you so much. I hope you're having a wonderful back to school 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 calm 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! 

 

 

 

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 to Get Materials for Your STEM Classroom [Back to School Series] [ep.172]

How to Get Materials for Your STEM Classroom [Back to School Series] [ep.172]

Check out the full episode about how to get materials for your STEM classroom:

 

Subscribe to the podcast HERE on your favorite podcasting platform.

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

Episode Summary

In this episode, I’m sharing some of my favorite tips and strategies for gathering materials for your STEM classroom, no matter what kind of budget you’re working with. Whether you're starting the school year or need to replenish your supplies midway through, I’ve got you covered. From self-donations and tapping into your school community, to grant writing and borrowing materials, I’ll walk you through how to keep your STEM space stocked and ready for all your innovative projects.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Self-Donations:
  • Teacher & School Donations:
  • Parent Community Contributions:
  • Grant Writing
  • Borrowing Materials
  • Taking Inventory

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.

How do you get materials for your STEM classroom? Some of you have nice hefty budgets and you are fully stocked in your classroom and you can buy pretty much whatever you want. But most of you do not and you need some creative ways to gather materials for your STEM space. Whether it is for back to school or even midway through the year, what can you do about it? I'm going to be sharing with you some tips that I have done for my STEM space and continue to do for the ways that I teach in STEM.

So let's jump in. First are donations and there are a few ways that you can do this. First, you can actually donate yourself.

Yep, that's right. You can actually donate to your own STEM classroom and I am thinking about those recyclable materials. You will be so surprised about how many recyclables that you collect in your own home by yourself and you can bring them to school.

I am so much in the habit of collecting recyclable materials such as the thin cardboard, cardboard tubes, plastic bottle caps, and I have little places I store them in my home office and when I need them, I take them out as I go. But I am so used to collecting the cardboard especially that when my teacher and honey and I were traveling this summer and I was making a charcuterie board, there was a lot of thin cardboard with the things that we were eating and I was debating whether or not I should take that cardboard home. I was already flattening it and ready to cut it up.

So that is a really great space to start. Like I said, you're going to collect way more than you think. If you wanted to, you can have a few of your next-door neighbors collect for you and that so-and-so garbage will start adding up.

Speaking of this, the other way you can collect donations is asking the teachers in your building. I put a box in our teacher's lounge and wrote a handwritten note. Hey, any of your cardboard that you have from your lunch, put it in this box.

And the cardboard was overflowing. And when you teach a lot of kids, you need a lot of cardboard. So that was an easy way to gather cardboard that was already in my school.

For other types of materials, and this was really helpful when you really need those hands-on manipulatives, is ask those classroom teachers if they are getting rid of anything. A lot of times, curriculums will change over. There are different manipulatives that are provided.

They might not want the old ones anymore. And so ask those classroom teachers, are there any Unifix cubes they don't need anymore? Pattern blocks? Those types of things. You'll be surprised what will come into your classroom.

And along those same lines with donations, you can definitely ask your parent community, whether it is paid for items like batteries or different types of supplies, glue sticks. You can even ask for recycled materials as well. Have a couple of donation boxes where it's easy for families to drop off, and you are good to go.

You can even think about how you can break this down for specific projects, or if you ask certain grade levels at different times. I have an editable letter that you can send out to families. It has some cute little materials on the side, some cute little pictures.

So you can edit that, send that out. I will link it in the show notes. Next is thinking about writing grants.

Maybe as a classroom teacher, you wrote some grants. Maybe you haven't, and you're kind of a little bit overwhelmed about grant writing. I'm not going to get too far into it, but grants are really helpful for those bigger purchases and thinking about things that could be used for multiple grade levels and for multiple projects.

So you want to get really creative on what you are going to write a grant for. I have a handful of episodes that is all about STEM grant writing, so definitely recommend checking those out. Specifically, refer to episode 76, where I talk with Jennifer Mahan, who did a ton of grant writing for her classroom, and she shares all of her successes.

After that, in episode 77, I speak to none other than DonorsChoose, and they talk all about grant writing and how beneficial that is. I have written a few DonorsChoose grants and got those funded, so it definitely is a great resource. And also check out episode 127, where a teacher that I worked with in my group coaching, and this is also something I can do in my one-to-one strategy sessions, she wrote a successful $1,000 grant for her school, for her STEM space, and it got funded when we worked together.

So grant writing is definitely a must, and you actually have a leg up because it is for STEM, and a lot of grants want to help out in the STEM space, so that is worth your investment of time. And finally, consider borrowing materials. You don't actually have to own everything that is being used in your classroom.

Are there materials at local libraries that you can check out and use in your classroom? Likewise, are there things in your district that you can check out and borrow? My district did that. Actually, my local library does that with materials that we can actually check out things as teachers, and also my school district had a lending program where we could actually use items and borrow them from the district, namely 3D printers, robotics, so I didn't have to own them, and you're not usually teaching the same thing all year anyway, so that was actually really, really helpful. Also, do you have a partner school? Can you guys swap materials for specific lessons? I would swap different robots with my STEM teacher friends, and that was really helpful.

Again, we don't have to own the items, and we trusted each other enough where things wouldn't get broken in a horrible way. We knew things to get taken care of. Maybe if you are allowed to, can you combine funds? Maybe you have a little bit of money, they have a little bit of money, not enough to buy what you want, but if you combine, could you combine money and actually buy something? Maybe you could check out your district policy, and also maybe a local company would be willing to lend something for you to borrow as well.

Maybe they have a 3D printer or something that you can use, like maybe one of those interactive tables, those sand tables that show topography. You never know. You're gonna have to get a little bit creative, but don't feel like you have to own every single item in your classroom.

It is nice, but if you only need it for a short amount of time anyway, why purchase it? Can you borrow it from another location? If you're wondering what in the world should I buy? How do I even know where to begin? What kind of donations to look for? I actually took inventory of my K-5 STEM classroom at the end of the year, one year, and put together a whole inventory spreadsheet. If you make a copy of it, it is a live link, so you don't get all of the real-time updates. I will periodically go in and change and update things in there, but it's completely free.

There are different categories of things to think about to add to your space. Also think about the lessons that you have as well. I actually go more into how to plan and prep for what you need to buy.

In my STEM Teacher 101 course, there is a lesson all about that. There is a method to the madness. It's not like, I just want you to buy this.

I just need to buy this. I actually have a whole method of how I go through purchasing every year. Again, all the things that I am mentioning will be linked in the show notes.

Before we go, I wanted to read a quick note from one of you who messaged me on Instagram. I love these notes so, so much. This teacher said, your podcast is my summer binge.

Starting my new job as a K-5 STEAM teacher after 10 years in general education. Your tips and tricks are so practical and give me realistic takeaways that I know I'll use in my classroom. Thanks for your hard work.

Thank you so much for the kind words. I love getting all of these messages. If you haven't already, when this episode's over in a few seconds, go ahead and leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

That would mean the world to me. All those sweet messages that you send, I absolutely love. I write back to you.

Put them on the podcast so people know, hey, this is a show that I should listen to too. I would appreciate it so much. Thanks again for being here.

Happy back to school 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-5 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! 

 

 

 

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!

My Go-To Teacher Backpack

My Go-To Teacher Backpack

As a teacher and a traveler, finding the perfect backpack that can handle both of these roles was a challenge. I needed something durable, versatile, and functional—a backpack that could seamlessly transition from the classroom to the airport. After trying out a few options, I finally found one that ticks all the boxes, and I couldn’t be more impressed.

Let me take you on a little tour of my favorite backpack and show you why it’s become an essential part of my daily life.

Pockets Galore

One of the standout features of this backpack is the abundance of pockets. There are so many pockets that, at times, it might feel like a challenge to keep track of where everything is. But that’s part of the charm! Whether you need to store teaching supplies, travel essentials, or personal items, there’s a pocket for everything. I like to keep cleaning supplies and wet wipes handy, and this backpack has just the right spots to store them. The side pockets are roomy enough to fit even larger water bottles, which is a must for staying hydrated on the go.

Spacious and Secure

The main compartment is incredibly spacious. I can fit my entire laptop, and there’s still room for my iPad. If you’re someone who carries multiple devices, this backpack has got you covered. There’s also a deep pocket on the back that’s perfect for stashing items you want to keep secure yet easily accessible.

 

Tech-Savvy Feature

For those who rely on their devices, this backpack offers some pretty cool tech features. It has a built-in way to connect your phone to your laptop, allowing you to charge your phone directly from your computer while it’s still tucked safely inside the bag.

 

 

Travel-Friendly Design

Traveling with this backpack is a breeze, thanks to a clever feature that allows it to hook onto the top of your suitcase. This little addition makes a big difference when your backpack is heavy and you’re navigating through airports. It keeps the backpack securely in place, so you don’t have to worry about it sliding off while you’re on the move.

A Stylish and Budget-Friendly Choice

Beyond its functionality, I’ve grown to love the style of this backpack. It’s traveled the world with me, and I’m already eyeing other colors to match different outfits. Plus, it’s a great option if you’re on a budget but still want something reliable and stylish.

Final Thoughts

In short, this backpack has been a game-changer for me. Whether I’m in the classroom or on the road, it’s become my go-to companion. If you’re looking for a backpack that’s durable, versatile, and budget-friendly, I highly recommend giving this one a try. It’s a purchase you won’t regret!

 

Click here to grab this backpack for yourself!

 

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

 

Related Posts:

Connect with Naomi Meredith:

 

More About  the Author, 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!

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

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]

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!

Empowering STEM Education: Harnessing Adobe Express in the Classroom

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.