We believe in self-directed learning: Standard Eight. SPARK has implemented STEM challenges for students to use our school’s Engineering Design Process. The STEM Challenges foster ingenuity and creativity. We use Eureka’s math curriculum, which allows for and teaches students many creative strategies to solve problems. This allows students to take ownership in their problem solving and gives them the tools to build conceptional understanding.

At SPARK, we want our students to always be willing to inquire and to wonder. Through questioning and STEM challenges our students are constantly engaging in self-directed STEM learning. The Engineering Design Process helps guide our students through the problem-solving and learning process with our teachers becoming guides and learners themselves. Teachers challenge the students to think beyond their first solution and to take time to stop and give feedback to others. We foster the Engineering Design Process in reading instruction through the use of guided inquiry and strategy based lessons that allow students to access authentic texts and respond to real world problems. In addition, we utilize the Engineering and Design Process in writing to draft and revise writing meant for real readers. Students share their work through gallery walks, student presentations, and community display.

We encourage and celebrate when our students take initiative and action to ask questions and solve the problems they encounter in their community, and in our world. To support this, we have a STEM Lab where students work to solve problems, coaches model lessons, and teachers are encouraged to use resources.