HAZARD, Ky. — Through its EKY STEM Ecosystem Initiative, Rural Up recently hosted two free STEM professional development opportunities designed to help K–5 educators bring engaging, standards-aligned STEM learning experiences into their classrooms. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. The hands-on STEM Toolkit Training sessions equipped teachers with strategies for using children’s literature as a launching point for STEM lessons aligned with the Kentucky Academic Standards, giving students opportunities to design, test, problem-solve, and explore science, technology, engineering, and math while reinforcing literacy, creativity, collaboration, and communication.
Held on July 28 at the Challenger Learning Center in Hazard and July 30 at the Kentucky Highlands Innovation Center in London, the trainings brought together 13 educators representing 9 school districts and educational communities across Kentucky. By equipping teachers with classroom-ready resources and instructional strategies, Rural Up hopes more students have opportunities to explore STEM concepts, develop problem-solving skills, and build confidence through hands-on learning.
Samantha Bryant, a Math Teacher for Knox County Schools and Rural Up’s lead STEM instructor, developed the STEM Toolkit Training drawing on her experience leading the organization’s STEM camps for the past four summers. Through the professional development sessions, Bryant helped educators explore practical ways to bring hands-on STEM learning into their classrooms while making meaningful connections to literacy.
“We wanted teachers to leave this training with more than just an idea. They needed activities they could take back to their classroom and use,” said Bryant. “By using children’s literature as a starting point for STEM learning, teachers can build meaningful connections between literacy and hands-on engineering challenges while giving students opportunities to think creatively, solve problems, and learn by doing.”
The educators who registered for the training represent 9 school districts and educational communities, including:
The STEM Toolkit Training is part of the EKY STEM Ecosystem’s ongoing commitment to strengthening STEM education capacity throughout the region. This work is powered by Rural Up, Inc., and supported through funding from Rural Up’s Eastern Kentucky STEM Collaborative, funded by an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) READY Grant and the Kentucky G.R.A.N.T. Program. This initiative is focused on strengthening STEM partnerships, supporting educators, and expanding access to high-quality STEM learning opportunities throughout the region.
For more information, visit ruralup.org or follow @ruralupky on Facebook.
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