You may have read the title of today’s episode and thought, how does this relate to STEM? Friend, keep listening because this is a wonderful episode that every teacher needs to hear. Stepping into a new role like elementary STEM can be completely overwhelming. Many of you are like me and have transitioned from a classroom of your own with 25-plus students to teaching all the students in the school with little to no curriculum and lots of fancy tools. Well, today’s guest completely understands th...
Feb 13, 2023•33 min
Wondering what it’s like having a guest speaker for school events who connects with your STEM content? In this episode, I was interviewed by Shauna Douglas from SAM Labs for their STEAM and Sip video segment. During the interview, Shaunda asked me how I scheduled an industry expert for my school and what the entire process entailed. I also discussed other creative ways to have industry experts speak in your classroom. Check out the checklist for connecting with industry experts I created in coll...
Feb 09, 2023•23 min
It's important to have guest experts speak with your students in the STEM space. While the experiences that they are having in your classroom are powerful, you can bring another dimension to their learning by hosting guest experts. In addition, students should be exposed to role models who are different from them so that they respect the ideas, abilities, and potential of others. I'm sharing three classroom guest speaker ideas for STEM in today's episode. Head to the show notes for a full transc...
Feb 06, 2023•17 min
In honor of February being Black History Month, in today’s episode, I'm sharing three STEM activities that you can do with your students to celebrate this time. Of course, these are activities that you can do all year long to help students learn about important people that have made an impact on history and impact in the present. Whether you’re a STEM teacher or a classroom teacher, these activities are great for sparking creativity in your students. Head to the show notes for a full transcript ...
Feb 02, 2023•14 min
Today's episode is special because I had the opportunity to collaborate with Wonder Workshop, the robotics company, and EdWeb to interview Bekah Sosland Siegfriedt, a current flight director at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She was one of the featured team members in Amazon Prime's GOOD NIGHT OPPY and got to work with space rovers Spirit and Opportunity. This episode was a live webinar; the video replay is available and linked in the show notes. At the end of the conversation with Bekah, the...
Jan 30, 2023•50 min
Stepping into a K through five STEM role is equally exciting and overwhelming. If you were a classroom teacher before, like I was, you were thrown into a whole bunch of new teacher responsibilities. Without systems and boundaries, you can quickly drown in everything you have to do, and you might not get anything done. In this episode, I will share with you three STEM teacher boundaries that you need to start now so that you can be productive and not overwhelmed. Head to the show notes for a full...
Jan 26, 2023•23 min
February is one of my favorite months, and that is because my birthday happens to be on Valentine’s Day! I’m sure you know by now that I love a good theme. In today’s episode, I share five February STEM activities you can use in your classroom. These are lessons that I have done with my students over the years, and they have absolutely loved them, so I know that your students will too. All of these STEM activities for February that I share can be done as one-day challenges, or you can spread the...
Jan 23, 2023•15 min
In today's episode, I am interviewing Tiana Walton, who is a former long-term substitute and is now a STEM teacher for first through fifth graders. In her role, she teaches over 400 students in her building and loves to teach her students and show them all the ways to learn about projects and create their challenges. Tiana shares her journey to becoming a STEM teacher, how things have been going in her first year of teaching STEM, and more. If you are new to STEM or considering transitioning int...
Jan 19, 2023•26 min
Are you struggling with how to structure your STEM time for grades K-2? Well, these little friends in our STEM space can often have a lot of energy, but they also have a ton of creativity that they can bring into this environment. In today’s episode, I am sharing three hacks for K-2 STEM planning to help you make the most of your time with these little ones. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode53 Download my ...
Jan 16, 2023•24 min
In today's episode, I interview Kristin Kenner, a K through sixth STEM teacher who taught in the regular classroom for over 25 years. Many of you will relate to Kristin's experience since many of you were also in the classroom before your STEM role. Kristin and I were talking over the summer before her role in STEM, and she was super nervous and asking for advice. I knew that the experience she already had would be so helpful in her STEM role. In this episode, Kristin shares her journey as a cla...
Jan 12, 2023•27 min
Looking for books to promote growth mindset in your STEM classroom. These 5 picks are perfect for all ages of elementary students that should be added to your classroom library. These books are great for teaching specific growth mindset topics throughout the school year. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/stemspotlight1 Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan Leave a voice message HERE for the podcast ...
Jan 07, 2023•5 min
How do you teach growth mindset activities in STEM? In my opinion, a growth mindset is one of those soft skills you should definitely be teaching in your STEM classroom. In this episode, we'll be going over strategies on how to teach a growth mindset in your STEM space and how it can also be a natural fit into what you are already teaching. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode51 Download my Free K-5 STEM &...
Jan 05, 2023•19 min
I can’t believe we have made it to the 50th episode! We have a special guest on today’s episode to celebrate this special occasion. Today I am chatting with Aaron Shepard, a software engineer at NASA Goddard. We had an awesome discussion about his journey and career, his passion for STEM, STEM in the real world, and how to get kids involved in STEM. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode50 Download my Free K-5 ...
Jan 02, 2023•32 min
I am a huge fan of Seesaw and teaching with the Engineering Design Process. So naturally, I found a way to merge the two with my everyday teaching in the STEM classroom. Today’s episode is from an online summit I did in the past at one of the Seesaw Connect Online Conferences. In today’s episode, I am breaking down different ways that I like to integrate Seesaw when teaching with the Engineering Design Process and how to make it work for K-5. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this ...
Dec 29, 2022•33 min
Even though it's not in the name, literacy definitely has a place within STEM challenges. In fact, I would even say that STEM and literacy are a perfect match. The audio from today’s episode is from an online summit I presented at in the past at one of the Wonder Workshop International STEAM Summits. In this episode, I'll be sharing five different ways that you can combine STEM and literacy together and make the perfect pairing in ways that you might not have thought of before. Head to the show ...
Dec 26, 2022•25 min
Stop motion requires minimal materials for students to be successful but involves a high level of creativity and critical thinking. This episode is a presentation from an online summit I spoke at in the past, the Teach with Tech Conference. In this episode, I provide an intro to stop motion animation, a list of tools to get started, an explanation of student examples, and ways to extend this lesson even further with other resources. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, p...
Dec 22, 2022•26 min
Today is a special episode that you helped me plan. I told you to ask me anything. You sent me questions on Instagram and via email. I’m answering those questions in today’s episode. Some of these questions are STEM-related, but some are personal, and I’m answering them all. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode46 Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan Leave a voice message HERE for the podcast w...
Dec 19, 2022•28 min
In today's episode, I chatted with Kelly Hogan from mathematically enthused. Kelly shares her journey from classroom teacher to STEAM teacher and provides tips and tricks for strategies and activities she has incorporated into her classroom. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode45 Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan Leave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and comments! T...
Dec 15, 2022•36 min
Looking for some fun robot ideas for wintertime? In this episode, I will be sharing with you five winter-themed robot lessons that you can teach in your classroom. These are lessons that I have taught my students that they have absolutely loved, and I know that yours will too. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode44 Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan Leave a voice message HERE for the podcast...
Dec 12, 2022•17 min
Have you been wondering what robots you should buy for your elementary STEM space? In this episode, I will be giving my recommendations for the best robots that you should invest in for your elementary classroom. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode43 Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan Leave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and comments! TpT Shop: Naomi Meredith | nao...
Dec 08, 2022•19 min
Looking for some fun winter STEM activities? These five winter-themed challenges are perfect for sub plans, one-day lessons, and even classroom parties. My students have had a really fun time with these. So you can definitely implement these winter STEM activities in your classroom. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode42 Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan Leave a voice message HERE for the p...
Dec 05, 2022•15 min
Today's episode is another oldie but goodie! I am re-releasing episode 22, the first guest interview I did on the show. In this episode, I interviewed Jen Sevvy about how she implements engineering design sprints during her students' design challenges in a day. You'll love her creative ideas for how she taught these quick one-day lessons using the Engineering Design Process, which are perfect if you see students once a week or if you need an extra boost in your sub plans. Head to the show notes ...
Dec 01, 2022•24 min
Do you teach STEM, but you are exclusively in a co-teaching or coaching role? Or, if you are a classroom teacher and you are looking for ways you can co-teach and plan with an instructional coach in your building, this episode is for you. In today’s episode, I interview my longtime friend Becca McMillan. Becca gives us insight into what a STEM coach does, tips for co-teaching, and lesson plan ideas. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https:...
Nov 28, 2022•27 min
The holidays are creeping in, and it's a great time to look for deals to purchase new items for your STEM space or even start creating your wish list of must-have items. In this episode, I share five of the best STEM toys in 2022 for your classroom. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode39 Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan Leave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and com...
Nov 24, 2022•17 min
Are you looking for Hour of Code ideas for elementary STEM? There is an abundance of free resources available, but it can be overwhelming navigating them all and finding what will work best for your classroom. In today’s episode, I break down how to navigate Hour of Code resources for K through five, review devices you can use and options for unplugged coding, and provide instructions on how you can set up the Hour of Code in your classroom. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this e...
Nov 21, 2022•24 min
Looking for easy November STEM activities to try? In this episode, I will share with you four ideas you can implement in your classroom immediately. There is a lot to celebrate during the month of November, so these STEM challenges that I will be sharing with you aren't tied to a specific holiday or celebration. These fun ideas will help you harness the crazy energy during this month and put it into productive use with these STEM challenges. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this e...
Nov 17, 2022•15 min
Today's episode is an oldie but goodie. For this episode, I am re-releasing episode 8, where I share my top three behavior management strategies for STEM teachers. Whether you are a STEM teacher, classroom teacher, or library specialist, this episode will provide you with three behavior management strategies to implement with your students. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode8 Download my Free K-5 STEM &...
Nov 14, 2022•18 min
Struggling to find a structure and a flow when teaching your STEM lessons? In today's episode, I'll be sharing with you how to teach all of my K through five STEM lessons. This method has allowed me to get through the content. Students are able to have enough work time, and it even saves a little room for cleanup at the end. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode35 Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Lon...
Nov 10, 2022•23 min
Have you ever felt stuck or overwhelmed with lesson planning, specifically project-based learning? It takes a lot of time and careful planning to create these meaningful experiences for students. Today, I had the pleasure of talking to Jeff Imrich, the co-founder of Rock by Rock. We had a meaningful conversation on what learning can look like in STEM and engagement in the classroom using project-based learning lessons. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and a...
Nov 07, 2022•25 min
No matter what you teach, writing sub plans is a lot of work. Sometimes it's easier to teach than write the sub plans. Am I right? For those days you need to be out of the building, here are my tips, systems, and lesson ideas for STEM sub plans, so you don't have to stress about it anymore. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode33 Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long Plan Leave a voice message HERE f...
Nov 03, 2022•20 min
