ST1.7
STEM educators collaborate as an interdisciplinary team to plan, implement, and improve integrated STEM learning experiences.
Embedded Files
ST1.7 Narrative
ST1.7 Narrative
Strengths
Our teachers are leaders of learning by sharing their professional attributes locally, district wide, and regionally. Structures of learning include Professional Learning Communities where teachers dig into data and make collaborative instructional decisions. District level learning teams enhance teachers knowledge and daily practice. These teams include content-focused collaborative groupings as well as resource and instructional practice-based learning communities. Learning cohorts are focused on the growth and expansion of student learning. Teachers plan locally as well as with colleagues at neighboring schools.
Weaknesses/Challenges
Vertical teaming and barriers of knowledge and understanding of content below or beyond the grade level is a focus area for LES. The purpose of vertical teaming is to increase communication across grade levels so teachers work together to identify grade-level expectations and support one another in meeting those expectations.
Action to Sustain Strengths/Action to Address Weaknesses
As we continue to utilize Professional Learning Communities, we can provide a platform for teachers to capitalize on the strengths and experiences of others. We will analyze data and discuss STEM integrations with content. By doing so we are able to implement strategies to enhance engagement and achievement for students.
In regards to our challenge, by providing time to meet vertically we can offer teachers opportunities to share and collaborate and provide students the support needed for the future. Weaknesses in student responsibilities or content is an area worthy of teacher discussion and planning during vertical teaming.
Key Exemplars
Key Exemplars
Talladega County STEAM Cohort
Talladega County STEAM Cohort
Each year, several teachers from LES have the opportunity to participate in Talladega County’s STEAM Cohorts. These cohorts were a component of the Math and Science Partnership Grant through the University of Montevallo and AMSTI. Through this initiative, teachers are provided the opportunities to understand computational thinking and the pedagogy of why TCBOE participates in STEAM-focused professional development. These activities ranged from book studies to local professional development and even included attending statewide conferences. It was through this professional development that teachers were able to take a hands-on approach to learning in order to internalize the ideology of STEAM.
PLC/PBL Grade Level Planning
PLC/PBL Grade Level Planning
Isolated teaching is a thing of the past at Lincoln Elementary School. Our PLC meetings allow opportunites for teachers to develop pedagogical skills and build collective knowledge by pulling from others in their grade level, school, and district. Most recently, teachers were able to use these questions in planning their interdisciplinary PBL lessons and draw from the expertise of others in the room. PLC planning included adding needed resources to our planning calendar, securing visitors, creating rubrics, and evaluating the integrations of technology using the SAMR model.
Dynamic Learning Project Advocates
Dynamic Learning Project Advocates
DLP Advocates at Lincoln Elementary School are teachers who want to help showcase the ways that technology can amplify professional and student learning. They are enthusiastic teacher leaders excited to share their passion for technology and STEAM use with their school and community. These DLP Advocates are cheerleaders for meaningful technology use in your school. They amplify their efforts to innovate, and they model using technology to solve challenges teachers and students face. As a DLP team, they helped plan our school-wide STEAM Showcase on DLDay. These leaders meet once a month to plan professional development for their grade levels and to take back ideas for projects.
Expert Down the Hall
Expert Down the Hall
Expert Down the Hall teachers improve the craft of blended learning in the classrooms to help colleagues with the ultimate goal of improving student performance. As a county, Expert Down the Hall teachers come together to unpack technology and computational thinking standards and learn about new technology integration tools to help teachers use them more efficiently in the classroom. Each year, 1 teacher from all Talladega County Schools participate in this initiative. These teachers bring back their learning and share with their colleagues during grade level meetings and whole group faculty meetings. Attached you will find a document that EDTH teachers are working collaboratively to meet the standards with resources for grade levels.
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