It took me awhile to write this post because I feel very passionately about the integration of technology using Common Core and Essential Standards. I hear every single day about how sometimes it is hard to incorporate technology. It is. I hear all about how hard it is to keep kids motivated. It is. I hear all about how hard it is to keep students on task while they have interesting technology in their hands. It is. I hear all about how hard the preparation is to prepare lessons with meaningful, integrated technology. It is.

All of this is hard, but it is NECESSARY. One of the main reasons we have moved to the Common Core and Essential Standards is to help highlight 21st century learners that will develop critical thinking skills. We want metacognitive thinkers and problem solvers. Learners that grew up using technology every day to the best of its ability and using the engineering design process and STEM to make it even better.

The preparation and classroom management is SO MUCH harder with technology, but it is so much more meaningful. Our students are completely benefitting and if I am just impacting one person, that is enough.

I love history. I love everything about history and social studies. I love relating the world around us to both the past and future.  BUT many of my kids do not share my passion, which is why I wanted to become a middle school social studies teacher.

I am also language arts and science certified, so I incorporate literacy and science into my STEM classroom every single day. This summer externship has provided me with many different opportunities for curriculum in my classroom.

First off, I have learned so many new science vocabulary words related to immunology and salmonella that I never knew before. I have understood where my students have been when they have struggled through concepts and vocabulary in both a social studies and science context. I have a better understanding of explaining confusing concepts to them now because I understand what I needed explained when I was confused.

Secondly, I have been able to see an even better correlation between science and social studies. At my STEM school, I will be able to bring an even better cross-curricular, project-based learning environment to my own team and the whole school community.

Lastly, I teach ancient history. I have had many conversations with the people in my lab about bacteria and immunology. We have discussed how the science has changed over time, including medicine. Things are very different from the Black Plague days of Europe to now. My greatest goal is to bring back more knowledge about viruses and bacteria that have infected our earth. My students, through hands-on experiments, can learn about how our immune systems have adapted from the cavemen days to the present day.

I am striving to make my social studies classroom even more hands-on.