It’s no secret that teaching in 2020 has been stressful. Many teachers are feeling burnt out. Sometimes, what you need is a fun lesson that brings back the joy of teaching. That’s why I put together these four January STEM activities. They’re perfect for weekly STEM! New Year's STEM Challenge I used tape, a balloon, straw, ribbon, and two ribbon spools for this activity. We ...
The Simply STEAM Blog
States of Matter STEM Ideas
Is your science curriculum boring? Are you tired of doing the same old thing for teaching states of matter? I'm so excited to share these states of matter STEM ideas with you because they are meaningful and fun! According to research from Dr. Cassie Holmes, meaningful and fun activities equal happiness! School is a happy place! Shouldn't we teach lessons that bring joy into our ...
Holiday Party Ideas
Christmas is almost here! Are you ready? I'm thankful we're beyond the pandemic because I love celebrating with my class. The only problem is that sometimes the festivities cause kids to get overwhelmed emotions are off the charts. The holiday party ideas can be used for a party or brain breaks. These holiday party ideas can also be used in person or virtually. They are also very versatile. ...
How To Increase Math Fact Fluency
First, let’s talk about what math fact fluency is and is not. Fluency is the ability to recall the answers to basic math facts automatically and without hesitation. It does not mean we start teaching memorization right from the beginning. There are building blocks that we must do before we get to memorization. Let’s consider the way a dancer learns a new dance. First, the dancer ...
10 Tips for Virtual Parent Teacher Conferences
This year, parent-teacher conferences look a little different. Normally we would get everything ready in our classroom, arrange times, and meet with parents face to face. This year though, most teachers likely aren’t seeing any parents in person and instead are doing a virtual conference. While this is planned to keep us all safe and healthy, it does add its own challenges. Conference ...
Build Math Fact Fluency with Little Effort
At the ripe age of seven, I received the best gift ever. Santa brought me a math keyboard! Of course, this was the time before computers were a household item. It was like an advanced computer system! All I had to do was guess the product or sum and press a button to check my answer. It was like magic. It was the best car companion because it kept me busy. Without a doubt, that little gift ...