Through the KFP , I am fortunate enough to intern with Google Fiber.  I have been there for a full two weeks now and have one more full week to go until my visits become sporadic.  During these past couple weeks, I have been pushed way out of my comfort zone and it has been fabulous!  I just can’t get over how vastly different this work environment is from my 180-day grind in the classroom.  For example, as a “Googler”, I can build my work schedule around my life schedule.  It is understood that there is life outside of work but there is also an expectation of getting done what you must get done, no matter when it happens.  I can use the restroom whenever the need calls and don’t have to have someone watch my class.  Finally, I am actually able to enjoy my lunch as opposed to inhaling it.  Fellow teachers, you know how important these little things are to us!

Besides these perks, I’ve also realized how important it is to teach my students 21st Century skills (collaboration, communication, creativity and problem solving) and to give opportunities to use these skills daily in my classroom.  I would even add time management and computer science to the list of 21st Century skills.  After speaking with several employees and through my observations, I can now honestly speak to my students about how absolutely imperative it is to have these six skills mastered before entering into a STEAM field.  Companies will train you to do the job you’ve been hired for, but they will not train you to be a good employee.  It is my job, as the profession that creates all others, to ensure that my students leave my classroom with experiences that use these necessary 21st Century skills in order to be successful adults with STEAM careers.