The curriculum at Medora Elementary School has undergone a dramatic transformation through the process of becoming a STEM school. Classroom teachers and administrators have worked collaboratively to develop and implement a curriculum that is learner-centered, engaging, and requires students to think critically about real-world problems. The Engineering and Design Process has also played a central role throughout the development of the curriculum.

A mixture of teacher-developed and evidence-based STEM units form the integrated MES curriculum. Integrated Project Lead the Way Launch units are taught on a quarterly basis to all students in grades K-5, with hopes to add pre-K during the 2020-2021 school year. PLTW units empower students to adopt a design-thinking mindset through compelling activities, projects, and problems that build upon each other and relate to the world around them. As students engage in hands-on activities in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science, they become creative, collaborative problem solvers ready to take on any challenge. Code.org, a researched backed computer science program, is used by all students in grades K-6 weekly in their STEMbrary special. Research shows that 58 percent of all new jobs in STEM are in computing while only 10 percent of STEM graduates are in Computer Science. By providing our students with strong skills in computer science, they will be better prepared to be successful in a 21st century workplace. Computer Science and Employability standards are also integrated into all planned STEM units.

All classroom teachers have received training on providing extra support for special needs students in STEM. The special education teacher works closely with classroom teachers to ensure identified students are receiving necessary modifications and accommodations to be successful, independent learners. The implementation of 1:1 Chromebooks allows staff to leverage technology to provide further support for special needs students. The hands-on nature of STEM also lends itself to the learning style of special needs students allowing them to be successful in a learner-centered atmosphere.

Classroom teachers use a variety of assessments and data to identify and address gaps in student learning related to STEM instruction. Rubrics, informative assessments, group discussions, and self-assessment all play a daily role in the classroom. Exact Path is used as a formative assessment to identify and remediate students in areas of weakness in ELA and mathematics. Student products vary greatly depending on the unit. Students build and design products for teachers to assess their learning of the topic.

At MES, all students are engaged in a rigorous, integrated STEM based education. From classroom instruction to specials, students are exposed to a variety of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics curriculum within all content areas from evidence-based programs. We strongly believe that by exposing all students to a STEM-based education, we are better preparing them to be successful and engaged 21st century citizens.