STREAMing into Learning: Perfumy Goodness

We just finished our 4th class at my Summer Learning Camp aptly called, STREAMing into Learning. STREAM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Math. Educators may recall the term STEM, which is still widely use, for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Then someone said, Why not art? And I started to hear not only STEM but STEAM. Well, not to be left out, reading finally joined the acronym to create STREAM. Now, from what I hear, it's all in. And I like it that way. I do. I think a good teacher meshes all of it anyway.

I started this camp to help scaffold my unwilling learner (my daughter) into learning. I made it in a way I would want to learn: hands on learning, nature centered, student driven. And its been a hit, not only for my daughter, but for the kiddos involved.

The first week (two days) we identified trees, plants, and flowers. Dissected a Shasta Daisy, explored a terrarium filled with millipedes, pill bugs, and earth worms. Painted water color scenes of what we saw. Built a robotic bug and talked A LOT because by sharing we learn :)

At the end of our second day (first week), I asked the kiddos what they were interested in doing the following week. They, amazingly, all at once said Potions! And thus the ideas for Chemistry week started.

Now we have ended with two days of authentic learning, and project based discovery. What I had was high engagement and knowledge retention. They don't forget as they are in charge (mostly! ;)

I don't know about you, but I get BORED with the same thing...I like to think outside the box, explore topics of interest, go PLACES, spend time learning about what interests ME, not what someone tells me I need to know. And do it in a calming atmosphere. Nature does it for me, it might not for you, and that's OK as long as we can both get what we need via DIFFERENTIATION.


For those not familiar with the "D" word, it equates to each person getting what they need, but at their level. We want everyone to soar. Sadly, differentiation is not used to it's full potential. Folks still talk about teaching to the middle. Which equates to leaving out the high kids as they already know it, and leaving the most struggling learners to sink or float. Yet, there are new ways of thinking, new bridges to adventure, if we are willing to take the time to stop and check them out. Kinda like pulling alongside the road and checking out something interesting while knowing nothing about it. There is beauty to be found by trying.

I get change can be hard, but keeping the brain in motion is good. Same ol' Same ol' = Your Brain Not Exercising. As teachers we should model what we want our students to do. If we want our kids to learn, we need to become learners.

And with that I created my first quote using Word Swag :)

Happy Adventures!

Just Say No to Homework in K

Tonight, during my most recent bout with insomnia, I came across a FB article pertaining to homework in kindergarten. A teacher shared a blog from a parent who said, in essence, that she didn't have time for homework (busy work, aka worksheets). Her kindergartener is exhausted, she has other children and (gasp) things like dinner and laundry to do, and forcing said kiddo to do some boring worksheets is not her idea of a fun time. I wholeheartedly agree.

I attended the I Teach K! national conference in Las Vegas a few years ago. The biggest take away was that homework in kindergarten did not help kids. The kids who did it didn't need it and the ones who did didn't do it.

It's been 3 years since I heard that epiphany and quite frankly I am awestruck by the number of kindergarten teachers who either haven't heard what research says, don't care that research says it's not helpful, or are are required by districts to provide homework in the form of take home sheets (busy work).

Kindergarteners (and young minds in general) learn best from hands on immersion into units of interest. They also learn best from living and doing. In a sense, they do tons of homework each day: it's called dramatic play, exploration, creativity, and environmental study. It's done in the backyards, parks, grocery stores, and libraries in our communities. It's done when parents read 3 books at night time, play Barbies to help develop oral language,and interpersonal skills, and play games that incorporate turn taking, manners, and problem solving. Things no worksheet provides.

When I meet with my new parents at the beginning of the year I stress the lack of "home" work and explain to them all the learning opportunities provided through life on a daily basis. These are only limited by their imagination. Putting away dishing is sorting. Adding 4 cans of green beans to the grocery cart is counting and one-to-one correspondence. Making a picture or card for grandma or auntie is authentic writing. Reading words on signs is word identification. Hiking, walking to the park, exploring the dirt in the backyard are all segways to science. Making a plan and creating a cardboard vehicle or spaceship is engineering in real life. These are much more enjoyable, and meaningful, than any cut and paste worksheet.

What I do emphasize to my parents, via a handout, that I don't think they honestly realize, is the importance of reading to their child at home. Think about it. I can totally see why someone thinks, It's just a book I am reading out loud. How much can it possibly help? But it does help...immensely. Reading together not only provides a time for bonding and mindfulness with your child (you do realize how fast they grow, right? Notice those small hands, the wide eyed interest, the laugh and the smile, the intense look of anticipation. I'm already teary eyed that my 5 year old is almost 6), but it enlarges vocabulary (What does ginormous mean Mommy?), facilitates interest and conversation (Are dinosaurs still alive?), allows children to hear how language is used to convey meaning, implies feelings through tone, and allows them to see what all those alphabet letters are used for. Amazing things happen from simply reading a book.

So please, next time you are thinking of sending home that packet of worksheets to do during winter break, spring break, or summer vacation, save trees and don't do it. We need to learn through our 5 senses and authentic learning experiences. :)

Now go forth and be advocates for hands on learning, learning via living, learning in real life context and leave the kind in kindergarten.

PS-I do believe in helping parents be teachers by letting them know the areas of need to focus on for their child. I.e. penmanship/letter formation a struggle? = a recommended fun app on a tablet or kindle. Sight word memorization lacking? = suggestions on how to help use various methods to learn them. Shape identification lacking? Go on a shape hunt. Differentiation in instruction is needed; 1 size (worksheet) does not fit all.