Let’s Make Math Accessible
I remember early in my teaching career I had the notion that scaffolds in math were a “crutch” that made students skip the “essential pieces” of algebra, trigonometry, or [...]
Science Classroom Resolutions 2021: Part 2
As we close out 2020 and greet 2021 with open arms, it seems like a good time to reflect on how classroom practices have changed due to our changing [...]
Looking forward to 2021: STEM Resolutions for a New Year
This has been the most adventurous year yet in education (and that is saying it lightly). All educators have basically reinvented the wheel without any time at all, and [...]
Breaking Down the Buzzwords: Social Justice in STEM
In education, especially STEM education, teachers often find themselves face to face with jargon. Often, it can feel like there are new words every school year! Each of which [...]
3 Free Digital Makerspace Planning Tools
I love everything about makerspaces. What’s not to love about all the problem-solving skills, “Ah ha!” moments, displays of teamwork, and real-world applications of STEM ideas in one space? [...]
Culturally Responsive Teaching in STEM
Northeastern University has defined culturally responsive teaching, at its most basic level, as “a pedagogy that recognizes the importance of including students’ cultural references in all aspects of learning.” [...]
Let’s Design a Game: Part 2
Before we examine the steps of the design thinking process, I want you to understand this fundamental truth. Design thinking is best described as systematic chaos. And although that [...]
Let’s Design a Game: Part 1
Taking an idea from inception to reality isn’t for the faint of heart. And I’m not simply spewing hollow words from the sidelines. I know the complexities well because [...]
2 Arguments for Coding as a Foreign Language
I have been in the mood for a good debate lately—something that gets the neurons firing. Recently, I had a flashback to the days when I took French in [...]
The History of Pi and Why You Should Celebrate!
Pi is somewhat of a magic number used in mathematics. It is defined as the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. The circumference is the [...]
