Teacher Training By Dr. Diana Wehrell-Grabowski

All Kindergarten and First Grade teachers of Lafourche Parish School District in Louisiana are being introduced to STEM explorations during a two-day teacher training workshop over a five-month period. Teachers are introduced to STEM philosophy and concepts via conducting hands-on-minds-on investigations. All investigations are inquiry-based, incorporate the Engineering Design Process, make connections to Louisiana Science and Math Standards, The Next Generation Science Standards, as well as connect to the Common Core. Teachers implement the Engineering Design Process as they conduct investigations to explore: structure and function, patterns, geometry concepts applied to man-made and natural structures, floating and sinking, and they use toys and musical instruments to explore force, motion and energy concepts. The teachers have really enjoyed the STEM teacher training sessions, and are eager to implement STEM investigations within their elementary classrooms. Check out the photos below depicting some of the hands-on-minds-on inquiry-based STEM investigations teachers conducted during the two-day STEM teacher training workshop conducted by Dr. Diana Wehrell-Grabowski.

Whether you are just beginning to research the possibility of implementing STEM investigations in your classroom, or you are fully engaged in implementing STEM investigations already, December 2012 Vol.50 No.4 Science and Children magazine an NSTA publication has some fantastic articles to help get you started, or add to your STEM library. Check out the issue online here.  Articles cover everything from the Engineering Design Process, Materials Science, and hosting a STEM Family Night. If your school or district is looking for quality STEM teacher training, check out the STEM teacher training workshops I offer on my website. STEM teacher training workshops are offered for all grade-levels, throughout the nation and world,  year-round.