ENSPIRE Contributor: Sophia Kang
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​A Houston educator is taking a creative approach to raising STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) awareness in her own classroom and beyond. LaTanya Brooks launched her ongoing children’s book series, Grow With STEM, in 2017 to inspire curiosity about STEM among students of color and students with disabilities—two groups significantly underrepresented in the STEM industries. So far, the series includes two books: Marisol: A Little Girl with a Big Dream and Adam Baum: The Autistic Engineer.
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STEM stands for Science Technology Engineering and Math.  If you haven't heard of STEM by now, you may be living under a rock.  Many of us that know what STEM stands for, however, we may not understand exactly how it is integrated into school curriculum or life. Over the past few years, STEM has been a hot topic of discussion in education.

The common misconception is that STEM only involves science, technology, engineering and math.  The truth is, STEM involves teaching skills that benefit all areas of life and education.  Students learn to use a "problem solving loop" that can translate into other areas of their lives.  With this model, students identify a problem and conduct research to generate different ideas on how to solve the problem.  Next, students learn to take those ideas and narrow it down to the one they feel is best, and put it to the test. Once results are evaluated, students are able to see what worked and what didn't or if they need to ditch the idea and start over again.  It's a system of trying, failing, tweaking and trying again. Can you see how STEM teaches life lessons and helps students learn to deal with adversity? Have you ever heard the saying "nothing beats a failure but a try" or that fail stands for First Attempt in Learning? Whether students are creating something new, making something better or just using the model to solve everyday problems in their lives.  STEM is certainly and integral part of youth education that is here to stay..

STEM...

1. Inspires ingenuity and creativity
2. Encourages students to work as a team
3. Fosters an environment of critical thinking and problem solving
4. Builds resilient thinkers while teaching adaptation
5. Boosts confidence and strengthens the brain
6. Gets kids excited to learn
7. Teaches problem solving skills for real life situations
8. Helps kids prepare for a better future for themselves
9. Allows kids to benefit society or the world as a whole
10. Builds curiosity

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Meet educator and author, LaTanya Brooks and Atlanta Barber College president and CEO Greg Rutledge Jr.

​Saturday, August 21st
5 pm CST
Click her to watch the live show

As mortgage rates remain low, millions of Americans are interested in buying homes. To help accommodate this increase in demand our experts at Bankrate compiled a list of the best mortgage lenders for low credit scores. This guide walks readers through the different types of home loans and which one may be right for you based on credit score and financial preparedness. Click here to find out which program is right for you.

Recently, I covered the 5 steps to becoming a mompreneur. I mentioned that as your business grows, you’re going to need capital for things such as an office, a staff and other business tools. Before you venture out to search for a lender, you’ll need to make sure your credit is in good condition. This might mean you have to repair your credit. The better your credit score, the more appealing you look to lenders when the time comes to request a small business loan. If you need to repair your credit, look into reputable companies that can assist you in the process. 

You also need to know know how credit repair companies work. Some companies have been known to overpromise and underdeliver, many have been accused of being scams. To avoid credit repair scams you need to research different companies, read FTC recommendations, BBB ratings, and consumer reviews.
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Find more insights and updates at the Grow with STEM blog!
 
Carl Sagan once said, “Every kid starts out as a natural-born scientist, and then we beat it out of them.” It's true that conventional teaching methods do little to inspire a love of science and technology. A focus on rote learning not only limits students' understanding of science and math concepts, but it also contributes to waning STEM interest as children progress through school.
 
Getting students to stick with STEM requires a new approach. Here's what teachers can do to foster a love of science and technology in young learners.

Getting Comfortable with STEM 
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Before educators can instill STEM confidence in students, they need to get comfortable with STEM themselves. Elementary school teachers often feel apprehensive about teaching science and technology due to a lack of strong background in the subjects. A variety of STEM professional development courses cater to elementary teachers seeking to expand their STEM literacy. The most effective programs combine professional development with new curriculum materials.
 
Advanced teaching degrees also give teachers the opportunity to specialize with master's degree programs in science and mathematics education. With online degrees, current teachers can reap the benefits of an advanced degree without putting their careers on pause.

3 Rules for Effective STEM Education 

What makes STEM education stick? By following these simple rules, educators can design STEM lessons that emphasize creativity and critical thinking rather than content expertise.

1. Make it hands-on. Children learn better by doing. Make lessons project-based and have students explain their process in their own words.
2. Present tasks in context. Lessons are more meaningful when students can connect them to their world.
3. Focus on process over product. Encourage problem-solving and perseverance, and make sure students know it's okay to fail.

Tips to STEM-ify Your Curriculum 

How can teachers find time to foster creativity and experimentation when there are standards to meet? By building STEM education into everyday classroom materials.

• Design cross-curricular lessons that tie STEM to history, art, and other classroom topics.
• Build digital literacy by integrating technology into lesson plans.
• Opt for problems that require students to show their work over multiple choice.
• Encourage students to solve their own problems or collaborate with classmates before asking for help.
• Grade on process, not product, and celebrate mistakes.

STEM Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources
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Looking for fun ways to bring STEM into the classroom? These teacher-recommended resources are full of great ideas to enhance your STEM curriculum.

• BrainPOP is a fantastic teaching resource across the curriculum, but the real-world science and technology lessons especially shine.
• Education World is another website teachers can use for technology lesson planning.
• Don't forget to check out TeacherVision, with lesson plans and links to helpful resources like coding tools for early learners.
• Science Buddies offers free lesson plans for hands-on science instruction as well as classroom kits and science fair tools.
• TeachEngineering has a digital library of engineering lessons and activities for K-12, including activities that can be done at home for distance learning or homeschooling.
• Mashup Math aims to increase student engagement in math curriculum with fun (and free!) math videos, puzzles, and worksheets.

STEM Books for Students and Teachers 

Books are a great way to build the connections between science, math, engineering, and kids' everyday lives.

• Dream, Invent, Create is a popular book and teaching resource from Start Engineering. The 40-page publication is designed to introduce elementary and middle school students to the ways engineering shapes the world.
• Grow with STEM books by author LaTanya Brooks include Adam Baum: The Autistic Engineer and Marisol: A Little Girl with a Big Dream. These books are especially great for showing students underrepresented in STEM what's possible when they dream big. Included reading comprehension questions make the Grow with STEM series an excellent addition to the classroom library.
• Suzanne Slade's STEM books are another must-have for elementary teachers. With books about iconic STEM figures such as Katherine Johnson, Thomas Edison, and Anna Comstock, as well as a series on food chain reactions, Slade offers a wealth of kid-friendly STEM content.
• The National Science Teaching Association also releases an annual list of the best K-12 STEM books, so you'll never run out of great classroom content.

 
STEM careers are the future, but students won’t pursue STEM if it’s introduced in a way that’s difficult to engage with or understand. By rethinking your approach to STEM education, you can nurture a generation of students with the skills, passion, and confidence to succeed in STEM.

Photo credit Pexels
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​If you have a special skill, invented something, or just have a passion for helping others, you may have considered becoming a “mompreneur” – a stay-at-home mom who runs a business. It can be a great way to make money and save on child care.
 
How do you start? These four steps, courtesy of Grow With STEM, will help you to go from business idea all the way to successful business.
 
Step 1: Find Your “Why”
 
Why do you want to start this business? It’s important to get to the heart of this question. Many people say “to make money” but really, that’s your “what” –the result of your hard work. Your “why” is your purpose, for example, helping other moms start their own businesses or advocating for children’s education. Inc. recommends looking to your strengths and thinking about what you would love to do if money were no object.
 
Once you find your purpose, look at your skills, talents and experience to see how the two align. For example, if you are passionate and knowledgeable about healthy living and like to engage with others, you can become a nutrition coach.
 
Once you’ve decided on your path, make it official by selecting a business structure and registering with your state. Many people choose a limited liability company, or LLC, for example. It’s a popular option, thanks to the protection it provides your personal assets. It also offers tax advantages and can grow as your business grows. Consider filing through an online service since they will save you looking up the legalities involved.
 
Step 2: Finding The Best Business Model For You
 
What’s the difference between a business and a business model? A business is centered on the product or service you are selling. A business model is how you sell it. Here are some business models, as explained by Investopedia:
 

• Bricks and mortar is another term for a storefront; clicks-and-mortar combines this with an online store.
• Direct sales, commonly called network marketing.
• Franchises.
• Advertising-based business models.

 
You can also provide a service like bookkeeping, become a travel agent, or open a subscription service. Online consulting is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to get started in business. However, having multiple business models will allow you to build multiple streams of income.
 
Step 3: Getting Your First Clients
 
Your first clients may be friends, family and acquaintances. This is great if they are willing to pay full price and if they need your services. Otherwise, you may want to heed this advice from The Balance: Think about your fourth client first. Taking that longer view can ensure that you “put the marketing and consulting fundamentals in place that will secure your future as a consultant.”
 
Step 4:  Marketing Your Business
 
The best way to build your business is with solid marketing. Here are some tips that will help you get started without breaking your budget:
 

• Build a blog. There are many ways you can use this tool to build your client base.
• Grow your business with social media marketing.
• Join your local Chamber of Commerce and attend their networking events.

 
Step 5: Planning For Funding
 
As your business grows, you’re going to need capital for things such as an office, a staff and other business tools. Before you go out looking for a lender, you’ll need to make sure your credit is in good condition. This might mean you have to repair your credit. The better your credit score, the more appealing you look to lenders when the time comes to request a small business loan. If you need to repair your credit, look into reputable companies that can assist you in the process.
 
Balancing Work And Family
 
This is going to be a challenge but you also need to make sure your family respects your work time. This means finding a space (preferably with a door) for your office and setting regular work hours and providing your kids with appropriate activities like board games or school work. Balancing work and family can be challenging, but with the right tools, strategies and motivation, you can do it!
 
Starting a home-based business is the dream of many stay-at-home moms. When you know your purpose and are dedicated to your dream, with hard work and dedication, you can build a successful legacy for your family. Look to Grow With STEM for more tips, tools and information that can help you and your family thrive!

These young "would be" voters spare no excuses when it comes to voting. In this delightful, informative PSA, created by 15 year old entrepreneur Cameron Samuels, of CamSam Productions, is chock-full of sensible advice on why we should vote and the steps on preparing for the polls.

They all agree that if you don't vote, you lose the right to complain.  There are no excuses! Mask up! Get out and vote!

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