Introduction

I am excited to begin in my new role as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Coordinator in the Reading Public Schools. 

Please view our Coordinator entry plan here: https://goo.gl/VGNbdP

And here is a quick 'hello' in person; 

I have enjoyed the last 5 years within the Reading Public Schools as the Principal of Barrows Elementary.  During that time I've had the pleasure of getting to know the amazing Reading students and families as well as many outstanding teachers and leaders in this district.  The opportunity to work in a different capacity with Reading educators is something I'm very excited about in this new position. 

The STEM fields have always been an area of interest and passion of mine.  In high school I worked for the Conservation Commission of my hometown doing field work to certify vernal pools and also worked at a lab with horseshoe crabs.  As a teen I volunteered time to support the science-based summer camp across the street from my house.  I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of New Hampshire followed by my Masters in Elementary Education from UMASS Lowell.  I'm also completing my doctorate at UMASS Lowell in the area of Educational Leadership.  While in college I was a program site director the NH Audubon Society summer camps.  My first official teaching job was as a sixth grade Science and Mathematics teacher at the O’Maley Middle School in Gloucester.   I loved the experience of the intersection between the content of Mathematics and Science and the learning process.  I had the pleasure to serve as assistant principal both at O'Maley as well as at Newbury Elementary School before joining the Reading community. 

pictures from our gardens!

In my personal life I am the mom to 2 elementary-aged daughters.  My family and I love nature and the outdoors, and some of our summer hobbies include gardening, playing with our puppy, and raising butterflies.  I love reading, learning, and enjoying time by the water.

I am thrilled to work on the new Learning & Teaching team. I look forward to the opportunity to work across the elementary and middle schools in-district while support our community across the areas of STEM.

article review: Encouraging Persistence in Math

I enjoyed this article from Edutopia; "Encouraging Persistence in Math"

The author shared the value of open-ended questions and their opportunity to enrich student persistence in mathematics.

The challenge we face is ensuring that we provide rich and complex problems for our students to dig into, the quality of the problem allows for the student struggle and stretch.

This article recommends that in looking for problems and opening this learning to your students, consider the following;

• Low floor, high ceiling (basic skills required to complete, but allowing for layers of complexity)
• Room for multiple interpretations 
• Teacher coaching to remove barriers to access
• Keeping the time open - don't require a solution and focus on the process
• Structures for communication with peers
• Variety (challenge, problem type, and content)

I encourage you to consider other aspects of your problem-solving routines;

• Providing access to a range of manipulatives so students can explore multiple ways to dig into their thinking
• Build it as a routine - is this a "do now" students can do when they enter the class in the morning?  Do students go back to this problem when they complete other work?
• Coach number talk stems as ways for students to effectively discuss, share, and disagree
• Reflection time - ask students to reflect on their process - either through discussions or a written journal

Find a good resource for open-ended problems?  Share it below!

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Heather Leonard
STEM Curriculum Coordinator

Reading Public Schools

The aim of science is to discover and illuminate truth. ~Rachel Carson
Every time a student makes a mistake in math, they grow a synapse. ~ Jo Boaler
There's nothing I believe in more strongly than getting young people interested in science and engineering, for a better tomorrow, for all humankind. ~ Bill Nye

What does STEM mean to you?

This is my first post as I begin a new adventure as the STEM Curriculum Coordinator, K-6 for the Reading Public Schools.  In my beginning days I have been reaching out to folks in district to gather their thoughts and feedback about STEM, where we are as schools and a district, and priorities for setting the vision for our work together.

One thing that has really jumped out at me so far is that each person seems to have a different perspective about what "STEM" means to them... so I would love to hear from the wider virtual world;

What does S.T.E.M. mean to you?

Although we may all know what the acronym stands for - I want to hear what you think it means in schools.  Comment below, tweet with the hashtag #ReadingSTEM, send me a vox @hleona126, or send me an email heather.leonard@reading.k12.ma.us

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Heather Leonard
STEM Curriculum Coordinator

Reading Public Schools

The aim of science is to discover and illuminate truth. ~Rachel Carson

Every time a student makes a mistake in math, they grow a synapse. ~ Jo Boaler

There's nothing I believe in more strongly than getting young people interested in science and engineering, for a better tomorrow, for all humankind. ~ Bill Nye