You don't have to have a fancy degree or even a lab coat to be a scientist or mathematician. The students at Ryan Elementary in Lafayette are proud to call themselves both everyday. That's largely thanks to the work of Janet Stellema, the school's Math and Science Coordinator.
In the summer of 2005, the school was transformed from a standard elementary to a math and science focus school and Ms. Stellema was recruited to help rebuild the curriculum. Now students are encouraged to consider math and science during every lesson–whether they're learning about anything from Alaska to zebras. "It's their world, Ms. Stellema explains. "It's looking at learning through that lens of math and science."
In Ryan Elementary's science lab, much of the learning is hands on. Many of the students' favorite activities in the lab is called Lunch Bunch. It's an opportunity visit with the animals in the lab during lunch recess. "She is a science teacher and she has a whole lot of animals," explained student Sophie Cox-Wright. "She has birds and rats and all different kinds. She's even got cockroaches."
Many of the lessons, however, aren't contained in classrooms. Throughout the school are science experiences created by CU engineering students. "Hands on items are available almost everywhere and she encourages the kids to explore and interpret on their own," said one parent, Marla Joy Leonard.
Ms. Stellema has also expanded the kids' opportunities to learn about math and science, by offering special field trips and after school activities. "I think a lot of it is just giving them the opportunities: structured in class, after school–we have math and science every day after school. Every day! Those kiddos pick from a wide variety of opportunities."
The school's principal, Jim Armitage, says that it's these great activities that can help positively shape kids' impressions of math and science. "Our school philosophy is that our kids learn more, when they're having fun. (Ms. Stellema) adds to our school in that way. She believes in giving kids experiences and having fun with those experiences."
"If the kids leave Ryan as a Math and Science focus school–feeling confident and successful about math and science–I'm a scientist, I'm a mathematician… I can do this… than our job is done," explains Ms. Stellema.
"It's the best job in the world," Ms. Stellema said. "How you can you have a bad day surrounded by all this?"'
Subscribe to the 9Teachers Who Care RSS feed
