3 Last Minute Gift Ideas for Every Maker

The countdown is on!  Holiday shoppers are beginning to panic!  What last minute gifts are still on your list?  Here are 3 easy, last minute gifts for every young maker.

1.  Create Your Own Maker Kit

Head to the local dollar store.  Spend less than $20 and create a maker kit that every maker with love.

• craft sticks
• pipe cleaners
• balloons
• plastic cups
• straws
• marshmallows
• tape
• glue sticks
• rubber bands
• construction paper
• scissors
• playing cards
• foam shapes/sheets
• colored pencils
• aluminum foil
• play-doh
• notebook
• and basket or bin to hold all the stuff !

2.  Children's Books

There are so many great children's books that support creativity and the maker mindset. These are perfect for teachers, parents, and kids!  Check out my website www.steam-makers.com for a full list of books that support STEAM Maker learning K-12, but here are a few amazing ones:

https://www.amazon.com/Cardboard-Box-Book-Princess-Castles/dp/0312517386/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1513619724&sr=8-2&keywords=cardboard+book

https://www.amazon.com/Built-House-Chris-Van-Dusen/dp/0803737513/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1513619866&sr=1-11&keywords=iggy+peck

https://www.amazon.com/Whoosh-Lonnie-Johnsons-Super-Soaking-Inventions/dp/1580892973










3.  Duct Tape!

Sometimes a cardboard box is better than the present inside.  The box is the gift--the gift of creativity.  So, buy some duct tape and grab some of those Amazon boxes you tossed into the garage.  Build a race car or a rocket ship or a secret hideout--the possibilities are endless!

Happy Making One and All!

Thanks for the PUSH !

As a part of the Compelled Tribe, I am not always the best at keeping up with our goal to blog every month.  OK, I'm pretty bad at that part, but I love reading the blogs of my colleagues from all over the US.  I appreciate our Voxer group and reflect on those conversations often.  It is the support from this group and others in my life for which I am grateful.  They provide the push I often need, even if they don't know it.

The push comes from  colleagues, friends, and family members, too.  It's the encouragement I often need to keep moving forward that think about my next step, personally and professionally which comes in the form of an encouraging word, an friendly text, or a call-out that holds me accountable.

Accountable towards our work, our vision as a school district, and my pursuit of innovation as an educator and learner.

Its even more interesting when push or a nudge comes from a stranger--well not really a stranger but someone who you've never really met.  If you've ever been lucky enough to hear George Couros speak, then you know he can challenge your thoughts and cause you re-imagine your practices.  He nudges people within his talks--well OK sometimes he downright shoves you!  But in a good way.  In a way that makes you momentarily second guess your stance on things and potentially question your practices.

At a recent conference he blatantly tells a group of school and district leaders--if you didn't bring a device to this session, you are making yourself irrelevant!  He goes on to push the audience further and explains that social media is an necessary tool in the world we live in.  Within a few minutes, a superintendent in the audience who vowed never to join Twitter did just that.  She was pushed out of her comfort zone to try something that she didn't consider doing before.  That was a risk for her but one that will surely pay off in the open communication that she will create in her district and within her personal learning network.

While this superintendent shared this news with the group she had a huge smile on her face, but you could see that she was still nervous about taking this leap.  The reality is, we need to use social media in education to connect with others, build relationships, and share our stories.  As school leaders, we need to model social media use for our teachers and students.  George shared insight from a student he worked with who said, "Social media is like water.  You can either let us drown or teach us to swim."

The superintendent in that session is now taking on this responsibility to teach the students and teachers in her district the power of leveraging social media.  It was the push from a stranger that propelled her forward.  It is that same push that often drives me to Persist Until Something Happens. 

Create Your Own Lane

Earlier this week, a Twitter friend of mine (Thanks @kerszi !) posted this Quote of the Day.  I'm on Twitter every day and see lots of quotes, quirky sayings, and cool images, but this one has stuck with me all week.  There are 3 things that really made this resonate with me.

1.  I laughed at the term "boss up" but I loved that choice of words!  You know, like a boss, take control and do it.  I felt like that was a good motivator, a way to call others to action.  Sometimes you have to just step up and make a decision.  Take a risk.  Make that leap.  Just do it.  Like a boss.

2. Sometimes in education we have to create a new path where one  never existed.  Create your own lane.  That's what innovators do, whether in the classroom or as a school leader we have to forge ahead through new territory and design our own lane because we know it's what's best for kids.

This reminded me of those old "create your own adventure" books.  You remember these?  You get to a certain juncture in the story and you either choose between page 47 and page 86.   I used to love these books when I was little, but sometimes you need more than the two options provided.  That's when you have to create your own lane--jump off-road and take the path less traveled.

Innovators are often lonely on those single-lane highways, but usually the journey and the destination are well worth it.

3.  The last part that really had an impact was the phrase"had no choice".  Truly, there was a choice, wasn't there?  It is a choice to stay on the same path and keep moving along at the same pace as everyone else.  But for innovators, that's just not an option.  That lane is full of other cars doing to same old thing.  Innovators are pushed to the point that they have no other choice that to break away and create a new lane--that's when the magic happens.

Are you ready to "boss up"?  In what ways are you creating your own lane?  Share your comments!

10 New STEAM Makers You Should Know

Over a year ago I wrote a post about the 25 STEAM Maker educators that you should follow on Twitter. Since then both STEAM (STEM, STREAM, whatever you call it) and Maker Education are heating up and more and more educators are getting involved in this exciting pathway to learning.

This list of educators represents those with less than 1000 followers on Twitter, who are doing AMAZING things in their schools.  Please check them out!

1. Tori Cameron @STEAMuptheclsrm
Check out Tori's podcast STEAM Up the Classroom.  She connects with STEAM Maker educators who are taking risks and pushing innovation.  She promotes all things STEM, STEAM, Maker and Makerspaces.

 2. Ed Bringas @annoyingDrones
A STEAM Maker Specialist--gotta love that title!  Ed posts relevant articles and examples of amazing student work. 

3.  Chris Cook @FlintHillMakers 
Coding, 3D printing, robotics, sewing--Chris posts all kinds of student projects.  Where was this middle school maker teacher when I was in school ???

4. Kristen Nan @nankr1120 
Kristen is a third grade teacher who is overflowing with passion for teaching and learning.  Her students are leaders in the classroom, as Kristen facilitates project-based learning in her school's makerspace. You must check out the learning happening in this classroom!

5. Bethany Jones @bethany_jones4
This middle school engineering design teacher truly embraces the 4Cs.  The creative projects from her class are awesome and her Makey-Makey projects are off the charts!!!!

6. Maureen Frew @FrewsCrew
Maureen is a teacher on special assignment with a mission for making.  The hands-on making that she does with the youngest of learners is just amazing.

7. Penny Rayhill @PennyRayhill
Penny is a tech coach and maker from West Virginia.  She works with students and teachers to incorporate digital making and tech in creative ways.  Check out what she is doing with Quiver!

8. David Lostetter @MrLostetter
This technology/STEM teacher does some pretty cool stuff in his elementary makerspace.  His student projects definitely have the WOW factor!

9. Mandi Figlioli @mrsfigmakes
As a curriculum specialist, Mandi sees both the classroom side and the leadership side of making.  She is passionate about hands-on learning and posts great ideas for other makers.

10. Mr. Russo @RussosRoom
This NY teacher's profile says it all:
STEM isn’t about showing your students how to do something, but empowering them with the right tools to create and discover it on their own.


Of course, this is not an exhaustive list, but simply some great educators to connect with around everything STEM, STEAM, and Making.  Who else would you add?

4 Types of Educators You May Know

There are many analogies that can be made about educators, but one that I've heard recently stuck with me.  I've been in school leadership for the last 14 years and have worked with lots of teachers.  They range from passionate go-getters, to competent, compliant educators to those who are simply stuck.  Consider the attitudes, motivation, and actions of the teachers that you know. I bet they will fall into one of these categories.  It is important to recognize that all of these people are a part of your organization.  The key is to figure out how to connect with each and move on a successful path for your school or district.



Speed boats

These are the teachers who are always one step ahead, zipping through the waters with ease and often leaving others in their wake.  They don't mean to leave others behind, but they are interested in trends in education and pride themselves on being connected educators "in the know".  When presented with a new initiative they go full speed ahead.  If you want to grab on, they are willing to show you the way, but you better be ready to move forward.  As an administrator, these are the teachers I love!  They are curious, creative, and forward-thinking.  They want to try new approaches and new technologies because they are excited about what it could provide to their students.  The speedboats don't get bogged down in rules and regulations, once they know better, they want to do better.  (Thanks, @nankr1120 !) 

Tugboats
The tug boats are consistently strong classroom teachers--they can hold their own in the water, chug-chugging along. Progress may be at a slower pace than the speedboats, but they are moving.  Sometimes, they connect with a speedboat and they are off making waves, too.  These teachers need our encouragement.  They need to know we are with them on this voyage and together, we will exceed our goals.

Barges

Imagine a huge barge inching down the river.  It will get to its destination, but at its own time and pace.  There's not much to make it move faster or take another path, but try as you might--keep pushing it forward.  The barge is just fine with waiting for the speedboats to zip ahead and then report back with the success of an initiative.  There's just no urgency to rush.

These won't be your leaders of innovation, but school leaders must support the barges through their journey and continue to communicate the end goal.  Connect the barge with a tugboat and now you might have some momentum.

Anchors 

A heavy, immovable weight stuck down into the depths.  You aren't moving this one--and they're not afraid to tell you so.  They've watched many things pass them by and they are content right where they are.  Focus on ways keep all the other boats moving.  Don't let them get pulled down by the anchor.


Teachers--which one are you?  If you are not where you want to be, how might you change it?

School Leaders--how do you support each of these?  Can you lift the anchors? How to you respond to your barges?  How do you continue to fuel your speedboats?  

3 Things That Scare Me in Education--(Halloween Edition)

Education is shifting--but that's not scary to me. Schools are embracing changes and looking ahead to the future. That's exciting!  Infusing inquiry and hands-on learning into classroom--that's the good stuff, but there's some scary stuff out there that is more a trick than a treat.  Here are three things that we need to reconsider in education.

1.  Homework

As an educator and a parent, I am scared about the mounds of homework I see.  Matt Miller and Alice Keeler preach about this in their book Ditch That Homework  and I couldn't agree
more.  Why are we inundated our young people with meaningless assignments and piles of paperwork?  Let's give them valuable tasks to do at home, like reading together or taking a walk as a family.  Homework is scary, mostly because there's just so much of it but also because research doesn't support it.  Research shows that less is more.  So, let's stop this terrifying trend and reconsider the type of work that our students should do at home. 

2.  Desks in rows

When I see sterile classrooms with desks in neatly formed rows, I just want to scream!  AAAHHH! Who wants to learn in a space like this?  With the recent flexible seating trend, more classrooms are shifting away from this frightening set-up and moving towards seating options that meet the needs of our students.  Student-centered classrooms should fit the learning needs of the kids.  My NAESP article Learning Space Transformation talks about why this is so critical for our students.  Let's create classrooms that support creativity and collaboration, because the only other place I know of that is set up in rows is here!

3.  BOOOOOO worksheets!

I know some classrooms, who alone, may send the school copier to a cemetery from the amount of papers they copy each day.  In one day, I know a kindergarten student who brought home 15 papers.  Yes, FIFTEEN! That is an awful lot of trees killed--and that is pretty scary.  Can't we move away from the worksheet mindset and look to more authentic types of learning?  I know that some people will never give up their paper and pencil tests on Fridays, but we owe it to our students to provide meaningful learning opportunities that engage and excite them.

I know the thought of moving away from homework, desks, and assignments may be just as scary to some.  Maybe what I am suggesting sounds like a horror movie to you. I challenge you all to ditch the homework, change up the rows, and give up the worksheets--- just for a week.  I wonder what will change for your students if you do????

6 Tips For STEAM Maker Success

Chances are your school is moving forward with some type of STEMish program.  STEM or STEAM or STREAM or whatever you may title it--this integrated approach to learning in the content areas is taking hold in many schools. 

Personally, I favor the term STEAM, because I believe the A is an integral part of learning.  Makers are artists, thus bridging the connection between STEAM and Making.  Many schools are pushing their thinking ahead and pairing his hands-on approach with makerspace learning. 

Just as every makerspace looks different from the next, every program will also look different.  Here are 6 tips that will help as you develop any of these learning experiences in your school.

1. Empower

Why are you embracing STEAM and Making?  What types of opportunities will you provide?  Let your student decide!  Empower them to make decisions.  Can they design the learning space?  Can they select the materials to buy?  How might they learn the learning for others?  Include your students early and often when planning any STEAM Maker initiatives. Empower them to drive the learning.

2.  Invite

Reach out to parents and community members and invite them in.  If they aren't familiar with STEAM or Making, here's your chance to share the joy.  Plan a parent maker night.  Not only can an event like this engage parents, it's always a great way to restock your space.  Ask each family to donate a clean recyclable item like paper towel rolls, water bottles, or even a dollar store item.  The important part is to share the experience with those who are outside of the school by extending the invitation and the learning.

3.  Connect

Explore the potential partners you may have right in your backyard.  Community partners like local businesses, universities, or corporations can add value to your program in a number of ways.  Can the community partner support your students through mentoring?  Can students design and create for an authentic business audience? Maybe they can support you with funding or support with materials.  Establishing relationships with communities partners can have both long and short term benefits for your students.

4.  Ask

Don't be afraid to ask . . . for anything.  There are lots of organizations supporting STEAM and Maker learning.  Ask them for stuff!  Materials, time, support, tools.  We beg, borrow, and steal in education, right?

Bird Brain Technologies, a Pittsburgh company, has a loan program for their educational robotics materials.  So instead of struggling to figure out how to fit this into your budget, you can borrow items for a month or two and then pass them on to another educator.  Last year, I reached out to a local company who sold used furniture and other recycled items and asked for some flexible seating for my school.  They generously donated twice what I requested.  You'll never know unless you ask!

5.  Visit

In education, we can become isolated.  We stay in our classrooms and teach our students, and that's it.  Now with social media like Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook more teachers are sharing questions, ideas, and practices but we still stay isolated in our physical spaces.  Get out!  Visit other schools.  Check out other makerspaces or innovative STEAM programs near you. Talk to other educators engaging in this work. Expanding your horizons and visiting other schools can be both validating and refreshing!

6.  Build

STEAM and Maker learning is only as good as the facilitators leading it.  Building capacity among the educators in your school by providing innovative PD that includes hands-on learning and skills in Making are critical to the sustainability of a program.  During our recent professional development day, we offered an "innovation lounge" where teachers could tinker with educational technology tools and collaborate with colleagues in an informal setting.  This summer, we offered teacher workshops on sewing, circuitry, and soldering for those who wanted to plan ways to incorporate hands-on learning into their language arts classrooms.  How do you build capacity for STEAM Maker learning in your school or district? 

STEAM and Maker Education provide a hands-on pathway to learning that is growing in schools across the country.  These six tips can provide some guidance for those just getting started or for those well on their way.  What other tips would you share?