As a one of the two science teachers in my middle school, I am committed to become a leader at my school for STEM education, as well as science education at the middle school level. Next year we will start writing a curriculum map for our science department. I plan on being on that committee along with the other science teacher to ensure that we have STEM education as well as inquiry based instruction added to our curriculum. I have joined the science articulation group, and am the representative at our building to work withe high school and area middle schools to collaborate and discuss our science programs and how we can help our students be successful in middle school and in high school.
I have been lucky to work with another science teacher that is amazing and is just as passionate about science and math as I am. We have worked together well and plan on developing an integrated science program at our school that prepares our students with the skills they need to use critical thinking, problem solving, and be prepared for with the 21st century skills they will need to be successful in their futures. I have also been blessed with a extremely supportive and knowledgeable administrative staff and school board that have made it easy to promote change and rigor to our science program. I plan to stay abreast of the latest developments on STEM education and work hard to promote STEM education in my classroom and throughout our school for all levels and subjects. I work with a great group of teachers that really have our students best interest at heart and are willing to try anything new, no matter how much work or change it entails to prepare our students to be successful once they leave our building and move on in the world. They make it easy to be successful!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Keeping up with Global Competition
I have to say that I have never been that political. I try to stay informed when it comes to politics, the war, deficit spending, but I tend to glaze over when I read articles or listen to programs. I never feel quite informed enough to have a political debate or a heated opinion. I think I prefer to wear my "rose colored" glasses and hope that the people that know what they are doing will work it all out. However, after reading the article, What's Our Sputnik, by Thomas Friedman, I do have to say that I agree one hundred percent with his opinions about the wasted money on the war and our oil dependence.
I know that there has to be some sort of repercussions somewhere that I am not aware about, but I think we should stop all the foreign aid and start to put that money back into our own country. In my opinion, our financial dependence and competition with China, along with our oil dependence with the Middle East is our Sputnik. If we worried about our own country put the money into education, specifically STEM, and technology, we would be preparing our students for the jobs of the future and the innovation that will not make us oil dependent. Innovations that will develop solutions for alternative energies for our homes, factories, and automobiles, and concentrate on environmental issues so we have a healthier planet for us and generations to come.
I feel like we need to stop interfering with everyone else's governments and how we think they should be run and worry about fixing our own. If we stay out and stop funding, then they cannot blame us any longer for their problems, as Friedman states in his article.
I am not sure if what I suggest will work or if it is even a solution. However, I think it is essential to worry about our own borders, our own citizens, our own economy, and especially our education. President Obama, states that he is in support of STEM education. Let’s hope we start to see that support in education reform. I read somewhere that we do not have enough of our own students that are prepared to be in those STEM careers and we have to continually look outside our borders to employ IT professionals and engineers. Something is wrong with that, and we need to start addressing it. The only way that I know how to help is to promote STEM education in my classroom and be a leader in my school in STEM education and awareness. That where I plan to start.
I know that there has to be some sort of repercussions somewhere that I am not aware about, but I think we should stop all the foreign aid and start to put that money back into our own country. In my opinion, our financial dependence and competition with China, along with our oil dependence with the Middle East is our Sputnik. If we worried about our own country put the money into education, specifically STEM, and technology, we would be preparing our students for the jobs of the future and the innovation that will not make us oil dependent. Innovations that will develop solutions for alternative energies for our homes, factories, and automobiles, and concentrate on environmental issues so we have a healthier planet for us and generations to come.
I feel like we need to stop interfering with everyone else's governments and how we think they should be run and worry about fixing our own. If we stay out and stop funding, then they cannot blame us any longer for their problems, as Friedman states in his article.
I am not sure if what I suggest will work or if it is even a solution. However, I think it is essential to worry about our own borders, our own citizens, our own economy, and especially our education. President Obama, states that he is in support of STEM education. Let’s hope we start to see that support in education reform. I read somewhere that we do not have enough of our own students that are prepared to be in those STEM careers and we have to continually look outside our borders to employ IT professionals and engineers. Something is wrong with that, and we need to start addressing it. The only way that I know how to help is to promote STEM education in my classroom and be a leader in my school in STEM education and awareness. That where I plan to start.
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