My STEM kindergarten is made up of 23 diverse 5 and 6 year olds in a southern Arizona Title I school. My students are Hispanic, African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, or refugees, coming from low income households. Ninety-nine percent of the students are on free and reduced lunch program.The majority live in trailer parks, apartments, or subsidized housing.Their parents don't have money to buy hands-on toys or technology. Kindergarten is no longer just for social and emotional development. My students spend most of their day doing activities to prepare them to think, problem solve, and succeed in our future world.They're expected to to sit a large part of their day learning academic material, and have little time for active "exploration" at school and home.It's important that they have classroom opportunities to explore with math and science manipulatives, develop STEM skills, and make real world connections.
About my class
My STEM kindergarten is made up of 23 diverse 5 and 6 year olds in a southern Arizona Title I school. My students are Hispanic, African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, or refugees, coming from low income households. Ninety-nine percent of the students are on free and reduced lunch program.The majority live in trailer parks, apartments, or subsidized housing.Their parents don't have money to buy hands-on toys or technology. Kindergarten is no longer just for social and emotional development. My students spend most of their day doing activities to prepare them to think, problem solve, and succeed in our future world.They're expected to to sit a large part of their day learning academic material, and have little time for active "exploration" at school and home.It's important that they have classroom opportunities to explore with math and science manipulatives, develop STEM skills, and make real world connections.
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