Table of Contents
- Organize and Refresh Classroom Supplies
- Create an Engaging Learning Environment
- Plan and Update Lesson Plans
- Integrate Technology and Digital Tools
- Prepare for Hands-On Activities and Experiments
- Foster a Collaborative Learning Environment
- Professional Development and Continuous Learning
- Setting the Stage for a Successful School Year
While the summer months allow students and teachers to relax and unwind between school years, many educators find themselves using the off months to prepare for the coming school year and ensure their classrooms are ready for their new students. This preparation period allows educators to enter the first day of school prepared, organized, and ready to facilitate effective lessons with their students.
This preparation is especially important in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics subjects, where creating an effective learning environment improves student learning outcomes drastically. In this article, we will review over 20 tips for successfully preparing your STEM classroom for the next school year.
Organize and Refresh Classroom Supplies
When creating an effective learning environment, it is important to ensure students have access to all necessary materials and supplies. The summer months are a great time for educators to replenish old classroom supplies and add new materials that align with their changes and additions to the classroom curriculum map.
Beyond ensuring the classroom has all the necessary materials, it is key that educators organize these supplies in a way that makes teaching complex STEM lessons easier, quicker, and more efficient.
Below are three general tips for how to restock and organize STEM supplies in your classroom:
- Inventory and Restock Supplies: Take inventory of existing supplies and restock essential items such as lab materials, tools, and consumables. This ensures you are only spending money on new supplies when needed.
- Label and Organize: Use labels and storage containers to keep supplies organized and easily accessible. This helps students take control of their learning, by gathering their own needed supplies for the lesson.
- Clean and Maintain Equipment: Ensure all equipment is clean, in good working condition, and ready for student use.
Create an Engaging Learning Environment
The learning environment educators create has a major impact on student learning and success. That is why it is key for educators to spend time creating an environment conducive to learning, especially when facilitating complex STEM curricula.
Here are three ways to create a STEM learning environment that will help students flourish:
- Display STEM Posters and Visuals: Decorate the classroom with STEM-related posters, visuals, and student work to create an inspiring atmosphere.
- Flexible Seating Arrangements: Arrange seating to facilitate collaboration and hands-on activities.
- STEM Stations and Centers: Set up designated areas for different STEM activities, such as a maker space, science lab, and coding station.
Plan and Update Lesson Plans
The education landscape is constantly changing. As educators and school administrators, it is our responsibility to continue to update, revise, and replace our lesson plans to ensure alignment with national standards, state standards, and current best practices.
The summer months are the perfect time to audit existing STEM curricula and revise lesson plans as needed. Below is a checklist of how to ensure you are effectively vetting your curricula going into the new school year.
- Align with Standards: Ensure lesson plans align with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Common Core State Standards (CCSS), K-12 Physical Education Standards, and other relevant standards.
- Incorporate New Activities: Integrate new and engaging STEM activities that reflect current trends and technologies.
- Create a Yearly Curriculum Map: Outline a curriculum map for the entire school year to ensure a balanced and comprehensive STEM education.
Integrate Technology and Digital Tools
The technology landscape is rapidly changing. It is now an expectation that individuals entering the workforce are fluent in the current technology being leveraged by companies to find efficiency and increase profitability. This push for technology literacy starts in the classroom, with educators giving students the space and opportunity to use this new technology within their STEM lessons.
Below are three easy ways educators can bring technology into the classroom in a way that improves the student learning experience.
- Update Software and Devices: Ensure all digital tools and devices are updated and ready for student use.
- Introduce New Apps and Tools: Research and integrate new educational apps and digital tools that enhance STEM learning.
- Set Up a Digital Classroom: Create a digital classroom space using platforms like Google Classroom or Microsoft Teams to facilitate online learning and collaboratio
Prepare for Hands-On Activities and Experiments
Hands-on STEM learning is proven to increase student comprehension and retention of complex subject matter. These interactive lessons often require additional educator planning time to properly facilitate, which can be much more difficult to do mid-school year. Summer is a great time to prepare the classroom and incorporate hands-on learning opportunities for students into the classroom curriculum.
Here are ways to make implementing hands-on activities and experiments easy and effective.
- Pre-Plan Experiments: Review and prepare for all planned experiments, ensuring all materials and safety protocols are in place.
- Create Safety Guidelines: Develop and display clear safety guidelines for all hands-on activities.
- Organize Materials in Advance: Pre-package materials for each activity to save time and reduce disruptions during lessons. This also includes purchasing turnkey curricula kits that allow for easy, efficient implementation.
Foster a Collaborative Learning Environment
STEM subjects can be daunting for students. Their seemingly complex nature makes students afraid to fail or make mistakes in front of their peers. This fear of failure diminishes the student’s learning potential within the classroom and stops them from gaining confidence in their STEM abilities.
Here are three tips for how educators can approach creating a collaborative and inclusive work environment for students that promotes risk-taking and excellence (not perfection).
- Encourage Teamwork: Design activities that require teamwork and collaboration.
- Promote Inclusivity: Create an inclusive environment that supports diverse learning styles and backgrounds.
- Involve Students in Classroom Setup: Engage students in setting up the classroom and creating classroom rules and procedures.
Professional Development and Continuous Learning
The STEM workforce is rapidly growing and changing, which makes it increasingly important for educators and school administrators to continue adapting alongside this field. This can be done by taking a continuous learning approach, where professional development is encouraged.
The summer months are a great time for educators and school leaders to continue their learning, as they do not have to focus on their students, grading papers, or any of the other many tasks on their plate throughout the school year.
Here are three effective ways to stay up to date on STEM best practices and trends this summer.
- Attend Workshops and Conferences: Participate in professional development opportunities focused on STEM education.
- Join Professional Networks: Connect with other STEM educators through professional organizations and online communities.
- Stay Updated with Research: Read and apply the latest research and best practices in STEM teaching.
Setting the Stage for a Successful School Year
Summer is the perfect time to prepare yourself and your classroom for success in the next school year. By following the tips in this blog, you can enter the school year ready to implement a STEM curriculum that will help students improve their STEM literacy and prepare them to enter the workforce.
