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Ideas for Professional Development for STEM Teachers 2024 [ep.158]

Ideas for Professional Development for STEM Teachers 2024 [ep.158]

professional development for STEM teachers

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Episode Summary

Have you been wondering what types of STEM professional development you should be participating in? What are the best STEM professional development opportunities available? In today’s episode, I’m sharing ideas for professional development for STEM teachers in 2024. The resources and ideas I’m breaking down will cover three categories of professional development types, giving you lots of options.

 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • 2024 in person conferences and virtual summits for professional development for STEM teachers
  • Additional resources available for professional development for STEM teachers
  • Tips for getting the most out of these professional development opportunities

Resources Mentioned:

Episode Transcript: 

Naomi Meredith [00:00:00]:

As a STEM teacher, what types of professional development should you be looking for? And, honestly, what is actually out there that will be helpful? In today's episode, I'm going to be sharing with you some resources and different ideas to help you with your professional development as a STEM teacher for 2024. 


Listener Message [00:00:56]:

Hi, Naomi. This is Evelyn. I was emailing back and forth with you not too long ago, just the other day. And I was wondering if you would have any insight on what the best professional development for STEM is, in terms of teachers just like you who are teaching pre-k through 5th to attend. I'm very new to STEM, just like you, and I would love to do some paid professional development that my school is actually willing to pay for. And so I'm researching right now, but I was wondering what it is that you would recommend.


Naomi Meredith [00:01:30]:

Thank you so much for submitting your audio question. I appreciate this so much. I love it when you guys ask me questions like this or when it's an audio message because they do actually pop up in my email, and it is just so fun to listen to your guys' voices. Because I am here in my home office, my little dog Frederick is staring at me. And so it's just so different when I can hear your voice and interact with you. So thank you so much. If you wanna record a message like this, if you have a question for me, you can do that from your phone. Just head on over to naomimeridith.com/voice.


Naomi Meredith [00:02:11]:

When I was teaching in a school so I teach them in lots of different ways. But when I was in a school, and I moved from being a classroom teacher for 6 years and into the k through 5 STEM space, I had a whole different appreciation for specials teachers when it came to professional development. And, really, a huge thing with professional development is it is targeted towards classroom teachers, which makes sense. That's the majority of the staff where they're working in their homeroom and working on all of those standards and learning goals, which, as a STEM teacher, you should be doing too, but in your own different way. But it often was really frustrating because none of the professional development was things that I wanted to learn about in STEM specifically. Like, is there something that will help me plan a STEM lesson that is engaging for the time that I have with students? What is the new technology out there I should be learning about? What are some topics that are important in STEM to make sure that my lessons are relevant and modern? Who are some other STEM teachers that I can connect with and learn from since I'm the only one in the building? You might have similar experiences as I did, and so I am coming at you with a list of things that you can do in 2024 starting this summer, and feel prepared to go into your next school year for whatever adventures you have in STEM. For this podcast episode, I have things broken up into 3 categories. For these categories and the things that I mentioned, everything is going to be linked in the show notes for you.


Naomi Meredith [00:04:01]:

So feel free to take notes, but also you can head over to those where things are clickable and easy for you to find. So, let's jump in. The first set of professional development opportunities to consider is conferences. And I don't know if you have seen the episode of Abbott Elementary. My teacher, Honey, and I love watching that show. But on one of the episodes, Janine and I forget her good bud that she really is friends with. She and the other guy, they are they go to a teacher conference, and they are so excited. They're making a list of all of the things that they want to go see, and they're super pumped up about all the things about the conference, the swag bags, and talking with other teachers.


Naomi Meredith [00:04:50]:

They are all about it. And then there's a couple of other teachers at their school as well who are more seasoned which is fine, but they're really not about the conferences. And that really is me. I love going to conferences. I love talking to people and connecting. And my teacher, Honey, not so much. So and he teaches Spanish, so he wouldn't be going to a STEM conference with me anyway. And so, if you are able to do something in person, I am going to mention some really cool conferences to keep an eye out for if you're able to go, but also check to see if there are local things as well.


Naomi Meredith [00:05:26]:

For this episode, I couldn't list every single conference opportunity that is out there in every single state. But if you are able to do something in person, I highly recommend it because the virtual stuff is really great, which I am gonna talk about, and I love the use of technology. Hence, this podcast, I am so grateful for technology, but there's something different about being in person and chatting with people and having those conversations and the body language and their voice interaction. Conference to conference to keep your eye out for, this is in Colorado. It's from June 19th through 21st in 2024. It is Steve Spangler's Science Conference. You probably have heard of Steve Spangler. He's actually a local, I guess, local semi-celebrity here in Colorado, and he's on our news all the time.


Naomi Meredith [00:06:27]:

I haven't met him yet, but he does a lot of cool things locally with kids. But he's actually hosting a conference that is hands-on and interactive and fun for teachers, where it has some more of that conference, but also workshop type style where you actually get to try out some things to do with kids. So that's here in Colorado. If you haven't been, check it out. But that also leads into the next conference I'm going to talk about that's also in Colorado. So you can actually stay. They go back to VACC, so stay for Steve's and then come to the other one. I will not be at Steve's conference, but that's something that is definitely up my alley.


Naomi Meredith [00:07:05]:

But I will be at this next one, and the next one is ISTE, which is a huge national conference. This is actually ISTE. They have it in different places, but it was in Denver another time before. And I was teaching 3rd grade at the time. I remember this. I went down with one of my good friends I taught with, actually, Becca, who you've heard on this podcast. We went down to the conference together. We were able to go, and it was such a pivotal moment for me that this conference really sparked so much in me to what technology and innovation and hands-on learning means with kids and something I found I was really passionate about and wanted to learn more.


Naomi Meredith [00:07:51]:

And so there's just so many cool things, soaked up all this different information, and it's really cool looking back when I attended ST at the time and where I'm at now where, yes, I get to be at sessions and still continue to learn, but I'm really excited to talk to people. You may or may not know this, Mommy. I love to chat with people. It's, like, one of my faves. So, I love to chat, and I'm so excited to go to this. I will be there all the days. And the board that I'm on for INEDCO Innovative Education Colorado, we typically put on a conference every summer as well. But because of ISTE, we are actually partnering with ISTE and supporting them with other things with the conference.


Naomi Meredith [00:08:36]:

Not a whole lot, but some items that we are involved in. And one of those is we are running playground sessions. So, if you go to ISTE and you look up playgrounds, I actually went toward the space a couple of weeks ago. It's like it's a newer build in this convention center, but if you go find the playgrounds, there's regional, there's other types of playgrounds. But if you look for the local playgrounds that are Colorado based, it's in this huge room. I might be hanging out over there or asking somebody with an INEDCO shirt. They'll know. They can text me.


Naomi Meredith [00:09:12]:

If you wanna meet, I would love to meet you. So, if you end up going, please let me know. Some of you have actually reached out to me on Instagram and asked if I'm going and if I'm presenting. So yes and no on the presenting part. I will be presenting some playground sessions, so they are more interactive, you get a chat with me, so not like a go, sit, and listen to type of thing. However, we were all told on the board that we all needed to have a couple of presentations in our back pocket if anything were to happen. So I could be doing, like, a pop up presentation. So keep an eye out.


Naomi Meredith [00:09:49]:

I definitely am active on social media. Message me on there. But this is just an amazing conference. It's all things innovation, not just technology. It has evolved over the years, but what does this type of learning look like in schools? What should we be talking about? A big thing I know is that there are a lot of sessions about our AI. So, keep an eye out. I would love to chat. Like I said, this is a great conference and so much fun.


Naomi Meredith [00:10:17]:

And Denver is a lot is a blast. It's actually at a really cool location, and there's a big bear looking into the building. So you'll have a lot of fun. Alright. If you wanna kick continue to book up your summer, here's another one shortly after ISTE, but you gotta make your way to Florida. That is a long flight from Colorado, and it is the Spaceport Area Conference. And so all things space, oh my gosh. I would love to go to this, but I can't fit in that many conferences.


Naomi Meredith [00:10:44]:

I wish I could. But it's at the Kennedy Space Center, and it's all things space. And this just sounds so amazing. And it is really important to see these things in real life. And even as a teacher, you have these experiences, especially if you're in a location that is doing such important work like space, you can take those experiences back to your students. So those are some fun ideas to get you started. Definitely look up again things that are local for you, because it is a game changer when you get to be in person with other people who are passionate about the things that you are doing. Likewise, there are a bunch of virtual summits that come out during the spring and into the summer.


Naomi Meredith [00:11:28]:

And it's really good to mix these into because this type of learning, you can definitely do on the go and in your own time. One thing I like to do with virtual summits, because typically they're prerecorded and there are some live elements, is if I, register for these types of summits, I like to watch the sessions, like, when I'm on a cardio machine. So that way, I'm still getting a workout in but also learning. That is a huge hack that I definitely have done. And if I'm not finished or wanna listen to another one, when I'm done showering, and I'm getting ready, blow dry my hair, I will have some earbuds in and tune in to that session. So if you're like, I don't have time to learn. I don't have time to learn. That it was it's a huge game changer.


Naomi Meredith [00:12:13]:

I do this all the time still. So if you're looking for ways to fit in those conferences and it's like, oh, it's one more thing, combine it with something else that you're already doing. So, some virtual summits, there's a bunch out there. One that came out today, at the time of this podcast recording, just in time for teacher appreciation week, is the Spring International STEAM Summit by Wonder Workshop. This summit is absolutely free. I actually was our keynote speaker last year, which was a super fun experience. The fun thing, too, I was actually at home, but it was live, so that was very different. I couldn't see everybody's faces.


Naomi Meredith [00:12:51]:

So maybe one day, I will be doing a keynote in front of a bunch of people live. We shall see. You heard it here on the podcast. But it's really cool. You don't have to have Dash the robot to be able to attend. There are a lot of sessions about that. I will be speaking about Wondermark workshop-themed stations that you can do, as well also why you would do STEM stations. But there are some other sessions as well that other people are presenting about that are all things STEM or STEAM.


Naomi Meredith [00:13:20]:

So really fun to check it out. There's a smaller list of presenters, which is okay because you probably can listen to all of them within a week or 2. So, definitely check it out. The live call kicks off tonight. It will be recorded. Make sure to register because there are some incentives and some prizes. Also, this is a time when they like to announce a lot of cool things that are up and coming, so make sure to find me there. Another summit that is a fun one with similar vibes, some are about the product, some aren't, is Seesaw Connect.


Naomi Meredith [00:13:55]:

Again, make sure to register. It says that spots are filling up where not everyone will be able to attend, which is new this year, so make sure you sign up. But it is free as well. And I'm also presenting at this one all about STEM Music Park, one of my favorite units to teach. I think I say that all the time that it's my favorite unit to teach because they are. But this one's really cool too. Again, it is prerecorded, the same kinda thing with some cool incentives, different ways to learn about STEM, and even ways to implement Seesaw in your classroom. This was a tool that I used all the time as a classroom teacher and then used it consistently and all the time when I taught STEM.


Naomi Meredith [00:14:36]:

So, if you want to learn more about what Seesaw is, this would be a great introduction to that. I have had some people wondering, well, how do I even connect this together? And so, just a really cool conference as well. That one isn't until August, so you have some time. Oh, and it's a summit, not a conference. And then another one that truly is on the go that is all podcast style, and I love that some of these summits are doing this where it's audio only, there's no video whatsoever, is this back to school audio summit. When I get more information, and maybe even by the time this episode comes out, I will have the links. But this one's really cool where it's a lot of different things about education, for elementary and and things that, again, can get you pumped up for the next school year. I am actually talking about things that are STEM-related that actually work for classroom teachers or homeschool parents as well.


Naomi Meredith [00:15:31]:

And during this summit, there are actually new things that come out each month. So things will come out in May, June, July. I think it's actually June, July, August. June, July, and August, new topics will be coming out in this audio summit. I'm not sure if it's free or paid. If it is paid, it's not very much. I'm so sorry I'm vague on the details, because I don't have all of them yet. But I am presenting 3 different things that can help you with your prep during the summer.


Naomi Meredith [00:15:59]:

And mine are about STEM, so, make sure to check those out. And the last set of things when it comes to professional development resources are things that I create for you. This podcast is called The Elementary STEM Coach for a reason, and I have those lesson ideas for you ways to help support you in your classroom. I create professional development. And so there's a lot of different options that are a lot like, more involved, less involved, whatever you're looking for. First of all, is this podcast, but make sure that you use the time you listen to this podcast each week. Turn in those hours. And you don't need to go through them, like, oh my gosh.


Naomi Meredith [00:16:41]:

How many minutes is this episode? What does this apply to? I've already done that work for you. So, I go in and update this spreadsheet. I sort all of my podcast episodes and categories, and I have all of the time stamps for you and a certificate that you can turn in for this professional learning. You're still learning. Hopefully, it's fun. I tell the kids at my skating STEM field trip that I'm not so bad. I'm pretty fun. So hopefully, you'll laugh a little bit with me.


Naomi Meredith [00:17:09]:

I have no idea. But keep track of that time. You can turn that in. I put this together for you, and I want this podcast to be useful. Along with that, a lot of you like to take the time in the summer to read books, where you really feel like you can chill, you can get that reading in, do some longer walks, and listen to audio. And I know that reading is so important in so many ways for fun and for learning. I'm always reading 3 books at one time. I always have a fiction book going for fun, a nonfiction book, whether that is for my business, just like business learning, or for my STEM teacher bookshelf.


Naomi Meredith [00:17:48]:

So I'll switch off between reading and audio for those two options, but I always have 3 going on at once. I don't watch a whole lot of TV by myself. I prefer books. I'm such a nerd. But in the STEM teacher bookshelf it's super low-key where we've modified the structure a bit where there is a Facebook group where we'll chat about some topics, some updates, some questions to answer maybe. And then, instead of a live call, because I know you're busy and we all live in different time zones, there are 2 private podcast episodes that come out each month. They are raw unedited. You get to hear all the things.


Naomi Meredith [00:18:24]:

If my dog barks, he barks, and we're that's where we're at. But at the beginning of the month, you get a private podcast episode where I talk about the book, why the book was chosen, and things to look for in your comprehension guide that I create for every book. And then at the end of the month, I will recap anything that happened in the Facebook group, some things to look forward to, and it resets from there. So you get to listen and learn on the go. Low key, I don't want it to be stressful. I really do try to choose books for the summer that have audio options when possible. So this springtime, there is a lot of audio, because if you're busy or cleaning your classroom, this is a great time to listen to books and get that learning in. And then this summer, I'm very, very thoughtful about the books and why I choose them for certain times, and you get to hear about why I chose the books for that time of month.


Naomi Meredith [00:19:17]:

So fun, low key membership. Would love to see you there. Also, if you're looking for very targeted learning and you wanna get something done, something prepped, you've been googling, you're like, I don't know what to do. I have some on-demand workshops. At the time, they were live, but you actually get to hear back the recordings. You can watch or listen. And I have different workshops to target different things that you were hoping to create. One that is very, very popular well, they're actually all really popular in their own way based on what you're looking for.


Naomi Meredith [00:19:51]:

A lot of you have mentioned I wanna do a school-wide news club. I might not wanna start at midyear. Where do I get started? Get this all prepped now, and I give you every single template and every single new thing you need in my school-wide virtual news workshop. In 2 hours, you will set up your whole news from start to finish. And I met with a teacher, and I'm saying this off the cuff, and you know who you are because I met with you on Zoom, and she did this workshop and implemented the news at her school. And then her students actually showcased their news at an awards thing in their district about technology. And the kids actually presented to me over Zoom their presentation and how they got started with their news and how it's going at their school. And it was so sweet.


Naomi Meredith [00:20:43]:

They even gave me a shout out. Like, that is so cute. But they were so proud of themselves, and I was proud of them, and they were I was not even in their classroom. I was over Zoom. So this is so, so amazing. So, a lot of you have reached out with emails saying, I implemented this news. It's going really well. So, if you just want everything laid out, I got you covered.


Naomi Meredith [00:21:05]:

Same thing with lesson planning. If you're taking a deep dive into your lessons, I have 2 separate workshops, shops, a k through 2 STEM planning workshop, and a 3 through 5 STEM planning workshop. There is a bundle. You can grab those together. But I do plan differently for each grade level. So, with the people I had live, we collaboratively planned units together, but you actually get to hear the thought process and the thinking out loud, which I think is very valuable. Also, if you're helping to put on a unique STEM event, I have a workshop all about STEM career day, where, again, I give you all the templates, all the emails, and everything you need to do to set up this event where students can see people in real life who are doing amazing things in STEM. And finally, if you are just starting from scratch, you're new to this position, you just found me, or you went through a year or 2, and you just need to really focus on your program and the systems and routines, how can you plan? What are some ways that students can collaborate together? How can I set up my classroom? I have that all for you in my STEM Teacher 101 course, where there is video.


Naomi Meredith [00:22:12]:

Again, audio. I'm very big on having both. But I will walk you through setting up your classroom. What should you look for? What routines do you need to have in place? How do you plan a stem lesson? What should you be doing to set that foundation? So this is really gonna build that foundation up for you, and you can do it in a weekend. It's not anything crazy, but you also have some handouts and some getting started things for you as well. So, as a recap, I gave you a lot of different options when it comes to professional development opportunities as a STEM teacher for 2024. Now, the things that I offer you are always there. But for 2024 we talked about how you can go to conferences in person, some different options for there.


Naomi Meredith [00:22:58]:

Check out some virtual summits that can be really fun, and also all the different things that I have created just for you based on request. Thank you so much again. I know this is a lot of information and resources, but, of course, check out the show notes so you can grab all the links and let me know how and what you end up choosing to support your STEM journey.

professional development for STEM teachers

 

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More About your host, Naomi Meredith

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

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

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

More About The Elementary STEM Coach Podcast

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

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

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

free STEM PD

How to Use this Podcast as Free STEM PD [ep.98]

How to Use this Podcast as Free STEM PD [ep.98]

free STEM PD

Check out the full episode on How to Use this Podcast as FREE STEM PD:  

 

Subscribe to the podcast HERE on your favorite podcasting platform.

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

Episode Summary

Are you looking for creative ways to get free STEM PD or professional development? In today’s episode, I share three ways you can use this podcast as free STEM PD. I also share about the free resource I created to help you track your STEM professional development hours as you listen to this podcast.

 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • 3 ways to use this podcast as free STEM PD
  • How to use the STEM PD spreadsheet tracker I created for you to keep track of your hours
  • Tips for effectively using this podcast as STEM PD

Resources Mentioned:

Episode Transcript: 

Naomi Meredith [00:00:00]:


Listening to podcasts is a great way to learn about a topic on the go. You're already listening, and I know I don't need to be telling you that, but instead of having your listening time be a passive activity, let's put your learning into action. In fact, you can also use what you are learning here and get credit for it, which I'll explain in this episode. Today, I'll be sharing with you three ways you can use this podcast, the Elementary STEM Coach, as free PD or professional development for your learning.


Naomi Meredith [00:01:08]:


I've always listened to audiobooks during my college days, especially when I was student teaching with my teacher program. I actually didn't get a choice as to which school I got to student teach at, which is fine. That could actually be really intimidating, actually picking a school, so I was okay with that. But my college had partnerships with local schools in the area and then placed us, which in turn helped me get my first teaching job, which that was pretty cool. I was living at home at the time, and my student teaching school was actually 45 minutes away, so I would be driving 45 minutes there in the morning, really early in the morning, and then 45 minutes, sometimes an hour, back home. I listened to a lot of fiction audiobooks at the time. I was listening to a book series that I really loved. Also, I hate it in book series when you're listening, and then they have different readers for another book in the series, and it totally messes up how you interpret the characters.


Naomi Meredith [00:02:15]:


You get really confused. So that was a fun journey, but at the time, a lot of those were actually on a CD. Later on, the first podcast I actually got into, which is probably like most of you, was the whole series Serial. And it's not like cereal that you eat. It was like a serial, like serial killer. Not that I shouldn't be laughing at that, but sorry. I'm not too surprised I got into that.


Naomi Meredith [00:02:46]:


It's really, really well produced. It's a great podcast. From there, I got more into True Crime, and then I was obsessed with that for a while. I really got into crime junkie when I had my townhome. It was a fixer-upper, so I had a lot of time to listen. And then, during that time, I don't know how it happened, I started getting into more business podcasts and learning while I was doing so, I've had a lot of inspiration for podcasts, and I've always dreamed of having my own. And in fact, this podcast, the Elementary STEM Coach, is actually my second podcast. Some of you here listening, I know, followed the first show that I co-hosted.


Naomi Meredith [00:03:31]:


I believe it started in 2020 with Spencer Sharp, the innovative teacher podcast. And I believe you can actually go back and listen to that one so you can hear early podcasting days, and it is different when you're co-hosting. So I've always really enjoyed this whole platform of podcasting and learning through audio and taking advantage of those moments of time where you don't have to be necessarily so focused. You can free up your brain. Well, you should be focused when you're driving, but you know what I'm saying, you have that time when you can be learning on the go. So how can we maximize this time that you're listening to me each week? I appreciate every single one of you that you are choosing me to listen to, which is so kind, and how can we maximize that time listening to this podcast and actually making meaning of that? So I have three creative ideas on how you can use this podcast for free, meaningful, professional development. So we're taking that time that you're listening and putting it into other ways that you can use all the information. The first way that you can use this podcast as free PD is to take notes as you listen.


Naomi Meredith [00:04:53]:


And this sounds like a simple idea, but I know, again, a lot of you listen on the go, and you're like, oh, I'll do that later. Oh, I'll do that later. And then you forget what you learn. And also, you don't have to do everything that I say you can, but you don't have to. So a big way that you can make meaning after you listen or when you're done with an episode, or let's say you listen halfway before you get out of your car, or once you get home from walking the dog, is think about at least one major takeaway as you listen. If you're on the go, you can actually create a folder on your phone in your Notes app, or if you use a similar platform like Google Keep, Asana, or anything like that, type down one or two major takeaways as you listen. And when you are ready to work on things for your classroom, you can pull out this digital record of those things that you listen to, and then that way you have some inspiration, and then you don't feel like you're scrambling, you have all those ideas. So I like to do this.


Naomi Meredith [00:05:59]:


You can even create a little folder for each podcast that you listen to if you want to keep everything sorted and organized. But that way, you are reflecting on the things that you're learning, like what we do with our students really, we have them write down a major takeaway or the biggest thing that they learn. And so, for you as a podcast listener, this will help you keep track of all of the things that you're learning. Another way that you can use this podcast as free PD is not only to keep the podcast and learning to yourself, but you can share it with your teacher besties. And there are a couple of ways that you can do this, like a book club. So think about like a format of a book club. You can decide together with your group which episodes you're going to either listen at the same time. So you could do this in the same room.


Naomi Meredith [00:06:54]:


So maybe you have a time that you are meeting up together, maybe it's in person, or it even could be virtual. You could have somebody play an episode, one person's in charge of playing it off of their computer, and then you could all listen at the same time. Or let's say okay, this week we are listening to the two newest episodes from this podcast, the elementary STEM Coach. And then we're going to come back and talk about it together. So it is really taking ideas from the first way. I said you could share key ideas and then discuss the topic. This is great for the summertime especially. So let's say you guys listen to the episodes, and then you come together. Maybe you're texting about the episode.


Naomi Meredith [00:07:40]:


But also, if you are needing an idea for a committee to run, this would be a fun twist on a shared book reading. I actually talked to a teacher recently at a conference that I attended here in Colorado, where I'm from in EDCO Innedco, and they actually said this is how they're using my podcast at our school. I felt so honored that there are teachers who are meeting up and then they're talking about the things that they are learning. This is a fun way to not always have to be forced to read a book, especially if you are the only STEM teacher at your school or you feel like you're only doing innovative things that you can choose your own adventure. So learning, of course, isn't just through reading. We know that, and we tell our students that, but then a lot of times, our professional development for teachers isn't that. So it's just a cool twist that you could use this podcast in a creative way. If you're doing this, if you are using this as PD as a group, take a picture and tag me on Instagram.


Naomi Meredith [00:08:46]:


I really want to see @NaomiMeredith_. Show me what you're doing now. Also, on the side, if you do need a book club idea, there's something I am not bashing reading. I love to read, I love to learn. I'm always learning in lots of different ways. But if you do need a book club idea, you can actually check out my STEM teacher bookshelf membership. And there's a new book every month, which is definitely doable, especially with the books that I'm choosing. And every book gets its own guide.


Naomi Meredith [00:09:14]:


So whenever you join, you get access to all of the past guides and all of the content. So if there's something that in my book club, you saw a book, you're like, oh my gosh, that looks really great. It was in May, you could still get all of that stuff as well. So that's another idea. You could do both. You could do the podcast, and then you could do the book and mix it in as your professional development. And the last way that you can use this podcast as free PD is you can pick specific topics that you want to learn. Now, I know when you first go into this podcast, the elementary stuff, because you look at it on your phone, you're like, oh my gosh, that's a lot of episodes. I'm overwhelmed.


Naomi Meredith [00:09:57]:


But you can actually just pick and choose the episodes that you want to learn about. You don't have to listen to them in order. You definitely can. You can even go back to episode one, especially if you're listening here in the summer. If you're new here, I encourage you to actually go back to the beginning because a lot of that content is actually relative for back to school time. Because this podcast came out. If you're listening to this live almost a year ago, July 18, I believe it was 2022. So if you go back to the beginning, you're going to find stuff for back to school anyway.


Naomi Meredith [00:10:31]:


Also, I often record little series throughout, so there are multiple episodes in a row that apply to the same topic. So sometimes, when I'm talking about something, there are a lot of different ways that that conversation can go. So that's why there might be a lot of episodes in a row that will go together. So you could definitely listen to those miniseries. Now, I know this podcast like the back of my hand. I often know what episode numbers are pretty close to. If someone's asking, hey, do you have an episode about blah, blah, blah? I almost always can refer to it, or I can find it really fast. And so, with that in mind, I created a free podcast playlist where I already organized all the episodes for you.


Naomi Meredith [00:11:20]:


This podcast is free. The playlists are free. So this will be linked in the show notes. It's at Naomimeeritis.com podcastplaylist. All one word, no spaces. So what it is, is it's a spreadsheet where I have on the first tab of the spreadsheet all of the links to the playlist. So it's really cool. And I was working with my podcast manager on this the best way to do this.


Naomi Meredith [00:11:45]:


So. Thanks, Andria. It works like the podcast here. So you're going to see all of the categories. So coding and robotics maker space and STEM supplies, community engagement, different main categories that the episodes fall under. Now a lot of them fall under multiple things, but I try to pick the category that best fits. So you will see all of the different playlists, and then you could access all of the playlists. There's no time limit on these as of now, so access the playlist that interests you.


Naomi Meredith [00:12:20]:


You'll click on the link, and then it will prompt you to add the playlist to your podcast player, and it will pop up in your podcast player just like how this one does. So then, any new episodes that I add to the playlist they're not exclusive episodes, by the way, so it's all preexisting episodes. They're just organized into categories. So whenever I am organizing other episodes that are new on this main podcast, they will go into the playlist. So then, you don't have to read down those playlists if that makes sense. So you'll have links to all that. You can add all of them. You can add some of them. So if there's a specific topic that you are wondering about, you can grab that playlist.


Naomi Meredith [00:13:06]:


And then, the other tabs on the spreadsheet have all of the titles of those episodes in the playlist listed in order of when they were released. So you can see what episode number it is from the main podcast and then the title. And then, it also has the length of the episode rounded to the nearest minute. There's also a checkbox you can click if you have listened to that episode. And then you just type in on the side how many minutes you listen to that episode. It could probably be the full thing. And then you'll see that all of those minutes will actually start totaling up the amount of time you spent listening. So you're like, well, why does this even matter? I have teachers all the time talk to me about how can I get credit for the work that I'm doing. I have to turn in these hours for this professional development that I'm doing.


Naomi Meredith [00:13:58]:


Not for college credit, but just recertification hours. You can keep track of all this time you're listening on the podcast as recertification hours. So when you're adding up all those minutes, you'll have the minutes for each podcast for each playlist. Sorry, you'll have the minutes from each playlist, and then you can total those up in a way that works best. Convert them to hours if you need to. And then inside of this whole freebie, there's also a certificate where you can type in the total amount of time you spent listening to this podcast, the Elementary STEM coach, and then turn that in for your free professional development hours. So this is something that you are going to do anyway. But I know for you, sorting my own podcast in categories is going to take you much longer than I can because I'm like, oh yeah, it's blah blah, blah, blah, blah.


Naomi Meredith [00:14:49]:


So I already did that for you. It will be updated every so often with the new episodes when they come out. So I will say when you make a copy of it, it obviously doesn't update with the new episodes, but you can always type it in, too, if you see it pop up in your podcast player. You could just type in those minutes as well. So this is just a fun, creative way to earn those hours. And as I said, podcast listening is one of them. Reading is one of them. Actually, in my STEM Teacher Bookshelf membership, I give them a spreadsheet as well to keep track of the time that they are reading and participating in the STEM Teacher Bookshelf membership. So if you're looking for a couple of ways and easy ways things you're going to do anyway, use this podcast and track all of that time this summer or whenever.


Naomi Meredith [00:15:40]:


And then you can also join in on the STEM Teacher Bookshelf membership and track all of that time too. So both will be linked in the show notes where you can grab both of those, but definitely, just a fun way to keep track of the time and the time that you're hanging out with me. Make meaning of it as a recap. Here are the three ways that you can use this podcast, the Elementary STEM Coach, as free professional development. First, take notes as you listen. Next, share with your teacher besties. And third, pick specific topics, and you can record that with the podcast playlist. Again, grab those free podcast playlists and the spreadsheet.


Naomi Meredith [00:16:25]:


I will keep it free for you to save you time, but grab that free podcast and playlist, and spreadsheet to track your minutes by going to Naomimeredith.com/podcastplaylist. Again, thank you so much for listening. I can't believe we have made it to episode 98. It has definitely flown by. I never thought I would keep doing two episodes a week, but you guys are listening. I see the numbers, and I've been talking to people who listen. It's so incredible. I love, love, love the emails that you guys send me, and I've even met some people at the conference that I just went to who listen.


Naomi Meredith [00:17:08]:


And I love being able to put a face to a number really of those who are out there listening. So I appreciate all of you spending time with me each week and letting me be your guide and your Elementary STEM Coach. So thank you so much again; grab that free spreadsheet and all the playlists, and I will talk to you soon.

free STEM PD

 

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More About your host, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is a former classroom teacher turned current K-5 STEM teacher and coach. Her role not only includes teaching over 500 students in her school, but also leading professional development and co-teaching with teachers to help them integrate STEM & Technology.

With over a decade of experience along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM certificate, she helps teachers navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there.

She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM & Technology 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!