Did you know that STEM jobs are a large part of the workforce in Ashe County? From understanding fermentation and chemistry to create food, cheese, and other products made from Ashe County resources, to agriculture (Ashe County is the Christmas Tree Capital), eco-tourism, construction, manufacturing jobs, graphic design, the arts, coding, entrepreneur-operated businesses, trade jobs, and much more, STEM is a large part of the Ashe County Community. Not only do our students need to understand science, math, technology, engineering, and math skills, but they also need to be able to use communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity to solve problems throughout our county.  When students complete STEM activities at home, in after-school clubs, or in school-wide STEM challenges, they become stronger meaning-makers of the world around them, understand what they are learning at a deeper level, and can see  STEM pathways for their futures.

One of the hardest parts of being an adult helping a child with a STEM challenge is that we want to just dive in and tell children what to do to solve it.  When you do a STEM challenge with your child, remember it is about them learning and you encouraging them to solve problems. Don't just jump in and tell them how to solve the problem, but encourage them as a guide from the side.  Watch this video on the engineering design process to see how your child will work through it to solve their problem for the STEM challenge.