STEM- Growing ECE Educators Who Can Support Children's Learning in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math by Suzanne Thouvenelle

This session is part of the Classroom Investigations Series

sponsored by the InvestiGator Club

Have you ever heard of STEM and wondered exactly what that means or how it applies to early childhood classroom practice? Join this webinar to find out about this "hot" topic. Learn why it’s so important to help teachers develop strategies to foster interest in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) with even the youngest children by capitalizing on their natural curiosity.

Recent inquiries into the reasons why more students aren’t pursuing careers in (STEM) is that they haven’t had positive early experiences.

The outdoor environment is one of the best places to begin. AND the earlier we begin the better! As soon as toddlers and young children show curiosity and start asking questions about the world around them, they are ready for intentional experiences designed to respond to their inquiries.

In this webinar you will learn new strategies to help the teachers in your program implement proven practices that promote school readiness and other important outcomes in health and child well-being.

This webinar will help you as an instructional leader learn about approaches that increase teachers’:

• use of the outdoor environment in support of STEM with special emphasis on SCIENCE;

• strategies for intentional planning for and implementation of discoveries in nature;

• strategies to strengthen children’s language and literacy development, including vocabulary, through intentional nature-based science and math explorations;

• recognition of the key science process skills of observing, predicting, investigating, classifying, and communicating, which are the basis of critical thinking and learning for children;

• focus on children’s school readiness progress in science, math, approaches to learning, and physical health and development; and

• motivation to engage families in outdoor science experiences with children as they support parents.

The session offers accessible resources and effective practices for directors, curriculum directors, staff development providers, and education managers that ensure they are well-prepared to help teachers plan and implement positive STEM experiences in natural environments for our youngest learners.