BELLE ISLE ENTERPRISE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS DISCUSS HOW TO CRAFT A SELF-PROPELLED ROCKET USING RECYCLED MATERIALS AS PART OF AN ENGINEERING UNIT IN SCIENCE CLASS.
STEAM principles are useful when teaching young students how to read, Fullbright said. “STEAM is science, technology, engineering, art and math, and you have to be able to read to do all of those things, so we talk about the importance of reading,” explained Fullbright. “When they get a robot and they’re learning how to program a robot, they need to know how to read directions to assemble that robot. And then they need to have a little bit of background knowledge or figure out how to code, so then they’ve got to go have that reading instruction.” Investing in the future In Norman, there is a similar focus on cross-curricular learning — incorporating multiple academic disciplines into a single lesson or course — which STEAM principles provide. “It’s our job at the elementary level to really help kids understand what they are capable of doing, the possibilities, what they believe they can do,” said Kristi Gray, director of Gifted and Talented and Advanced Placement programs for Norman Public Schools. “It’s our job to help them see all those possibilities that are out there and to help them make sure they believe they’re capable of doing any sort of career path they want.” The Norman Public School Foundation recently donated $500,000 to equip new STEAM Labs for each of the district’s 17 elementary schools. A local school bond issue approved by voters will fund construction of the labs. The foundation’s donation will cover the cost of curriculum, equipment and other learning tools. “With this partnership between the school district and the foundation, we’re not just building labs, we’re building futures,” said Alesha Leemaster, the foundation’s executive director. “The Foundation Labs will ignite curiosity in our students, preparing them for the challenges of tomorrow.” Another way the Norman school district is preparing older students to begin visualizing their futures is the Oklahoma Aviation Academy, which meets in portable buildings at the Max Westheimer Airport in Norman. “Schools like this are encouraging kids to get involved in industry, to pick a passion at a younger age,” said Terry Adams, the academy’s director. “We’re a STEAM academy that’s themed around aviation and aerospace.“
OKCPS SUPERINTENDENT DR. JAMIE POLK AND STUDENT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEMBER AND DOUGLASS HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR ROBYN SHIRLEY READ TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AS PART OF READ ACROSS OKCPS DAY.
Construction on a 113,000-square-foot facility that will hold 600 students is scheduled to begin in January. Currently, 240 high school students are taking classes. “The biggest challenge is recruiting, creating your curriculum and your pathways, and then recruiting kids that want to be a part of that,” said Adams. Reading literacy gains Administrators from both school districts credit the emergence of STEAM education for “slow and steady” academic gains, particularly among young readers. “When you’re trying to reach a goal it’s better to take small steps than (make) huge gains,” said Fullbright. “Sometimes it’s hard to see when you’re in the middle of the hard work what our principals and our teachers are doing. When we sit down and look at data, even though it might just be a one or two percentile gain, they’re still gains. So, I think we’re making progress on our reading scores. They’re slow and steady, and as you know, slow and steady wins the race.” Editor’s note: This article marks the beginning of the series What’s Right with Our Schools , highlighting the innovative and inspiring programs shaping education in the Oklahoma City metro. Each installment will explore a different theme, showcasing how educators, administrators and communities are coming together to create meaningful opportunities for students. Tim Willert is a freelance writer and adjunct instructor who previously worked as a reporter for The Oklahoman and as editor of The Norman Transcript . He lives in Norman with his wife, Jennifer, and their two children.
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