Teaching Programming to Middle Schoolers
Coding is a very important skill for today’s students. Currently, computer science job openings outpace the number of qualified applicants, and as we move into the future, more and more industries will require employees to have some basic computer programming skills… But how exactly do you go about teaching programming to middle schoolers? It seems […]
Understanding Fear of Failure in STEM Education
Fear of failure and not having the “right” answer is one of the most common challenges STEM students face. This anxiety is especially prevalent when your class gives them their first real STEM experience. While most traditional courses condition students to expect clear “right” answers – where consistent effort typically leads to good grades – […]
Computer Parts Lesson Plan for Middle School
So you’re teaching computer science… Now what? This computer parts lesson plan will transform how middle school students learn technology fundamentals. Our detailed lesson plan for computer parts provides everything you need to start your computer science or technology course by teaching the basics. Using printable or digital materials, students will explore their background knowledge […]
Engage Your Students with this Middle School Coding Unit
Teaching the basics of computer science can feel overwhelming, but this complete middle school coding unit provides everything you need for 3 weeks of rigorous, engaging instruction. With over 100 pages of print and digital resources, you’ll build a strong foundation your students can build on throughout their computer science journey. Introduction to Computers and […]
5 Tips for Effective Group Work in Middle School STEM
Let’s be honest – getting middle school students to work together effectively can feel impossible. As a new STEM teacher, I learned this the hard way. You’d think it would be simple, right? Put kids in a group, give them an exciting task, and be nearby to answer questions and help troubleshoot. But we all […]
How to Make Middle School Science Sub Plans in STEM
Creating effective middle school science sub plans can feel overwhelming, especially since taking a day off often requires more work than teaching the class yourself. For STEM teachers, finding or creating great sub plans presents unique challenges because many substitute teachers don’t have experience in our content area. Our courses are usually hands-on and require […]