Increasing Student Stem-ina

Outline

Step 1: Foster a Growth Mindset
Introduction to Growth Mindset: Importance of establishing a growth mindset from day one.
Book Introduction: Use The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires as a foundation for discussing perseverance and the engineering/design process.
Story Overview: A young girl learns to overcome frustration and manage failure by persisting through challenges.
Incorporate Focused Attention Practices:
Example Practice: Imagining breathing in your favorite color and breathing out your least favorite color to manage emotions.
Implementation: Teach and practice these exercises until they become a class norm.
Additional Resources: Link to more focused attention practices.
Step 2: Goal Setting with SMART Goals
Why Goal Setting Matters: Set a tone of purposeful growth from the start of the year.
Introduction to SMART Goals:
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound: Define each component of SMART goals.
Worksheet Resource: Provide a SMART goals worksheet for student use.
Encourage Student Reflection:
The Power of “Yet”: Encourage students to focus on areas they want to improve but haven’t mastered yet.
Celebrate Success: Emphasize the pride and satisfaction of achieving goals.
Step 3: Normalize Struggle
Introduction to the Concept: Normalize challenges as a key part of the learning process.
Examples of Perseverance in STEM:
Storytelling: Share stories of Mary Anning, George Washington Carver, and Jane Goodall, who overcame challenges in their fields.
Modeling Resilience:
In-Class Examples: When encountering problems in the classroom, model perseverance by discussing your process of overcoming obstacles.
Engaging Challenges to Start the Year
Active Learning vs. Passive Learning: Replace rule-reading with engaging challenges.
Bell Ringer Activities:
Purpose: Use puzzles or brainteasers to reset student focus and engage problem-solving skills.
Mini-Challenges:
Teachers will participate in the following activities:
Walking through a sheet of paper using only scissors and a sheet of paper.
Creating the longest paper chain.
Designing marble mazes on paper plates.
Connection to Classroom Management: These activities help introduce students to supplies and establish group work expectations.
Resilience Practice: Encourage perseverance through focused attention practices during tough moments.

Supporting research

https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/the-importance-of-setting-purposeful-goals-with-students/

https://revelationsineducation.com/100-focused-attention-practices/

If You Can't Manage Them, You Can't Teach Them: Advice for Running a Chaos-Free Classroom Where Middle and High School Students Can Really Learn
Book by Kay Herting Wahl and Kim Campbell