From marilyn.ratzel at gmail.com Wed Sep 3 14:30:41 2014 From: marilyn.ratzel at gmail.com (Marilyn Ratzel) Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2014 11:30:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Sagamore] STEM Certification Work at Sagamore In-Reply-To: <53FF4539.3040707@1.0ne.org> References: <53FF4539.3040707@1.0ne.org> Message-ID: Sorry to sound uneducated, but can anyone on the list serve give me a brief idea of the STEM certification process and what, if certified, what it means in terms of every day instruction? For example, will there be specific STEM related programs that are ability based or voluntary, or is it schoolwide instruction. In a nutshell, how does it work, and why is it good, in broad strokes. Thanks! On Thursday, August 28, 2014 11:05:39 AM UTC-4, Dave Allen Barker Jr wrote: > > Myself and two other parents were invited to sit in on the first monthly > meeting of the school year regarding Sagamore's pursuit of STEM (Science, > Technology, Engineering, Math) certification. I was very impressed with > what I saw, and you can get an impression of what some of it is about by > viewing the attached pdf scan of the first few pages handed out at the > meeting. Hat's off to Ms. Miller and all the teachers putting in so much > time and effort to make Sagamore, "be more", in this way. > > To stay in the loop, subscribe to the fledgling Sagamore STEM discussion > group. > > 1. Email stem+su... at groups.sagamorehillspta.org > 2. Reply to the confirmation email (don't follow the link (blue > botton)) > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dave at 1.0ne.org Thu Sep 4 18:22:17 2014 From: dave at 1.0ne.org (Dave Allen Barker Jr) Date: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 18:22:17 -0400 Subject: [Sagamore] [stem] Re: STEM Certification Work at Sagamore In-Reply-To: References: <53FF4539.3040707@1.0ne.org> Message-ID: <5408E619.9070009@1.0ne.org> Principal Taylor, Ms. Miller, or others at the school, can you please answer (or provide pointers to answer) the question quoted bellow? Please reply-all to include the Sagamore STEM discussion group ( stem at groups.sagamorehillspta.org ). Thanks! Here's a quote I like from the old Sagamore Hills ES website hosted DeKalb County Schools from last year (the current site is completely different): The long range goal of STEM education is to prepare students for a full range of college and career options, including aspiring to become the next generation of scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians. Beginning at the elementary level we will build the knowledge and skills students need, including creativity, communication, and problem solving skills. We will integrate the disciplines of STEM in all content areas. Our students will engage in real-world collaborative problem solving activities. *What does STEM look like in the classroom for the students?* * Asking questions and defining problems * Planning and carrying out investigations * Analyzing and interpreting data * Using information and critical thinking assisted by technology * Constructing explanations and designing solutions * Gathering, evaluating, and communicating information Research tells us that students learn best when encouraged to construct their own knowledge of the world around them. Through an integrated approach to STEM education focused on real- world, authentic problems, students learn to reflect on the problem-solving process. Students at Sagamore Hills Elementary will experience projects that involve solving authentic problems, working with others, and building real solutions. On 09/03/2014 02:30 PM, Marilyn Ratzel wrote: > Sorry to sound uneducated, but can anyone on the list serve give me a > brief idea of the STEM certification process and what, if certified, > what it means in terms of every day instruction? For example, will > there be specific STEM related programs that are ability based or > voluntary, or is it schoolwide instruction. In a nutshell, how does > it work, and why is it good, in broad strokes. Thanks! > > > > > On Thursday, August 28, 2014 11:05:39 AM UTC-4, Dave Allen Barker Jr > wrote: > > Myself and two other parents were invited to sit in on the first > monthly meeting of the school year regarding Sagamore's pursuit of > STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) certification. I > was very impressed with what I saw, and you can get an impression > of what some of it is about by viewing the attached pdf scan of > the first few pages handed out at the meeting. Hat's off to Ms. > Miller and all the teachers putting in so much time and effort to > make Sagamore, "be more", in this way. > > To stay in the loop, subscribe to the fledgling Sagamore STEM > discussion group. > > 1. Email stem+subscribe at groups.sagamorehillspta.org > 2. Reply to the confirmation email (don't follow the link (blue > botton)) > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From MELANIE_MILLER at fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us Fri Sep 5 14:24:31 2014 From: MELANIE_MILLER at fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us (MELANIE MILLER) Date: Fri, 05 Sep 2014 14:24:31 -0400 Subject: [Sagamore] [stem] Re: STEM Certification Work at Sagamore In-Reply-To: <5408E619.9070009@1.0ne.org> References: <53FF4539.3040707@1.0ne.org> <5408E619.9070009@1.0ne.org> Message-ID: Hello there! I am sorry that I am a little bit late getting back to you all. We just finished up an AWESOME STEM day, and I am positive that all of the kids had a wonderful time! The information that Dave pulled is perfect in describing the "why". I want to provide you with a little more information as well. The Sagamore's STEM certification will be whole-school. There is an option to just get certain programs in a school certified, but that is usually geared more towards high schools. I encourage you all to go to stemgeorgia.org and you can see the rubric and application for elementary schools. The rubric even contains examples of things that they will be looking for when they come out to visit Sagamore for certification. In terms of instruction, STEM is a school-wide initiative. Classroom teachers have been getting professional development training on exactly how to implement STEM in the classroom on a regular basis. We will be using Engineering is Elementary (EIE) kits this year school-wide. These EIE kits are wonderful in taking STEM and making sure that it is utilized throughout the curriculum. Our professional development trainer, Hannah, also has other units that she is sharing with all of us to implement in the classroom that were developed based on a strong STEM foundation. We are also going to be adding some new voluntary clubs based largely around STEM. Be on the lookout for more information about these clubs soon! I hope that this answers your questions! If not, please feel free to email me at any point! Have a great weekend! Melanie Miller Discovery-Grades 2, 3, and 5 Sagamore Hills Elementary School Melanie_Miller at fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us http://millerdiscovery.weebly.com From dave at 1.0ne.org Fri Sep 5 15:22:04 2014 From: dave at 1.0ne.org (Dave Allen Barker Jr) Date: Fri, 05 Sep 2014 15:22:04 -0400 Subject: [Sagamore] [stem] Re: STEM Certification Work at Sagamore In-Reply-To: References: <53FF4539.3040707@1.0ne.org> <5408E619.9070009@1.0ne.org> Message-ID: <540A0D5C.4030506@1.0ne.org> Even better, email Ms. Miller AND the stem group ( stem at groups.sagamorehillspta.org ) so that we all hear the Q&A (and Ms. Miller won't have to repeat herself ?). Thanks, Ms. Miller! On 09/05/2014 02:24 PM, MELANIE MILLER wrote: > I hope that this answers your questions! If not, please feel free to > email me at any point! Have a great weekend! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dave at 1.0ne.org Tue Sep 23 21:36:14 2014 From: dave at 1.0ne.org (Dave Allen Barker Jr) Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 21:36:14 -0400 Subject: [Sagamore] Photos of BBQ Message-ID: <5422200E.5030508@1.0ne.org> Thanks to those who brought us 'Q tonight; it was a lovely scene. As you can see?a little PTA business, food served with a smile, and socializing. Thanks again, Sagamore volunteers! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: IMG_20140923_182508.jpeg Type: image/jpeg Size: 126300 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: IMG_20140923_183247.jpeg Type: image/jpeg Size: 124105 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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