Uncategorized Archives - Teaching the Stars

Happy New Year!

Wow, starting another year! I always reflect on my teaching practices and how my students are learning. Questions I ask myself: Are my students learning? Are they engaged? Are they enjoying learning? Are they loving school? Are they becoming lifelong learners? This year while reading, these words stuck out to me: Learning by doing! I feel that STEM totally encompasses… Read More

20 Things I’ve Learned in My 20 Years of Teaching!

20 Things I’ve learned in my 20 years of teaching!! Wow! The saying is so true, “Time flies when you’re having fun!” I’m not saying teaching is easy or there hasn’t been days that I wanted to become a Wal-Mart store greeter, but when your passions meet your love you don’t feel like it’s work!! Whenever you love what you… Read More

STEM Famous Landmarks Bundle~ Supply List

Hey if you are considering purchasing my STEM Famous Landmarks Bundle, you may want to check out the supply list before you buy! Remember these are only suggestions! My students usually blow my mind with the creative ideas they come up with. Have fun! Click here STEM Famous Landmarks Supply List Suggestions!

STEM Challenges for the Entire Year Bundle Supply List

STEM Challenges are a great way to engage your students. The Next Generation Science Standards has a great engineering component. Adding STEM to your classroom will get your students thinking critically, problem solving, and collaborating with their peers! Students will begin thinking more creativity when given STEM opportunities. My STEM Challenge Bundle is a great packet for beginning… Read More

Technology in Elementary Classrooms

How I use 1:1 Technology in My Upper Elementary Classroom I’ve had the benefit of having 1:1 technology in my classroom for the last three years. In my classroom, we have a Smart Board, my students have Chromebooks, eleven iPads, 3 Dashes, 8 Ozobots, and 2 Spheros. So, learning how to use technology effectively, while still implementing “best teaching practices” has… Read More

Easter STEM Challenges

Wow! Spring Break is over and there are only 43 more days of school left before SUMMER!!! This year has been a blur! I always start wondering, “What will my students remember about being in my class?” “Will they remember worksheets or test prep?” I really hope not! Yes, I use worksheets (sometimes) and I prepare my students with… Read More

March Madness in the Classroom

March is an important learning month! It also seems to pass by so fast, parent-teacher conferences, third quarter ends and the fourth quarter begins, Spring Break, and it’s about a month before standardized testing!! SO, IT’S CRUNCH TIME!! It’s important to make learning fun, but also purposeful. One activity I love using is my Basketball STEM Challenge, it’s perfect since college basketball is starting their… Read More

February STEM Challenges and Winter Games STEM Challenges

Valentine’s Day Fun: Some of my favorite STEM activities are Valentine’s Day related. Students get excited during holiday seasons, and there is nothing like keeping them engaged using a STEM activity. 7 Valentine’s Day STEM Challenges are a fun way to engage students in learning. I love using Conversation Hearts! They are cheap! It’s way too easy to spend too much money… Read More

Christmas STEM: Ways to Engage Your Students Before the Holidays!

It’s important to keep your students engaged during the holiday season. Some of the best ways to keep your students learning and to prevent behavior problems is to engage them in STEM Christmas activities. Students love STEM Christmas Challenges. Here are a few of my favorites, they are easy to implement and my students loved them. 1. Christmas Tree Challenge: … Read More

Halloween STEM and Student-Led Conferences

I love the fall season from the Pumpkin Spice to pumpkins and mums by my door. Friday night football games and the cool breeze in the air, make this one of my favorite seasons. STEM is a huge element of my classroom. My Halloween STEM Challenges are a great way to hit the Next Generation Science Standards… Read More

Slime & STEM

A fun way to introduce the Phases of Matter was with SLIME! Yes, I said slime. I know all the kids are into it, so why fight it!! Glue is cheap at the beginning of school and your kids will think you are the coolest. The secret to making it not stick to you is the eye contact solution. It is… Read More

First Week of School Easy Activities

What a Great 1st Week of School What a great week of learning. One of our favorite Easy STEM projects was building Pencil Towers. Students learned the importance of working together to complete a task. Students design, engineered, and constructed pencil towers. Only at the beginning of the year would we have enough pencils for everyone to do this activity at once. If… Read More