Teacher Training By Dr. Diana Wehrell-Grabowski

These days we hear quite a bit about incorporating STEM education in K-12 classrooms. STEM explorations can and should be incorporated into the early childhood classroom. Early childhood classrooms already incorporate science, math, and simple engineering explorations. Along with the K-12 STEM teacher training workshops I conduct nation and worldwide, I’ve developed STEM teacher training workshops for early childhood teachers. The early childhood teachers have been very receptive to incorporating STEM explorations within their early childhood classrooms. Below is select video footage from a recent early childhood teacher training workshop  I conducted. 75 early childhood teachers were actively engaged in conducting hands-on-minds-on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) explorations. Additionally, teachers were introduced to children’s literature that had STEM-related themes. Once again, a great group of teachers.

You can sense a slight change in the seasons in Florida during this time of year, and the teacher training workshop I presented as a featured speaker at the Daytona/ Flagler County Early Learning Coalition Discovering The Joy Conference Young Nature Explorers could not have been timed better. Approximately 45 early childhood teachers were actively engaged in exploring age-appropriate early childhood science concepts. Additionally, teachers were introduced to connecting mathematical concepts, and children’s literature as they explore outdoor and life science concepts with their early childhood students. During the teacher training workshop teachers used eye loupes and simple microscopes to explore a wide-array of specimens from nature including: leaves, seeds, rocks, animal coverings, and more. Additionally, teachers observed and touched live garden snails, earthworms, and pill bugs. Teachers also were asked to draw pictures of what they observed throughout the teacher training workshop. As the session ended teachers were invited to bring the snails, earthworms, and pill bugs back to their classrooms to share with their students. Teachers left the session motivated, energized, and ready to teach their early childhood students about nature using their schoolyard as a classroom. Another great session and group of dedicated teachers. For further reading on sharing nature with children check out the following books. All the books listed can be ordered from Amazon via this site at no extra charge.