Transforming My Classroom into a STEM Lab: Part I

*I have not been compensated in any way for the products mentioned in this post.

Over the past four years, I have transformed my classroom space into a STEM lab that is available for our entire school to use.  Here is a little background information:

• I'm our school's Gifted Resource Teacher.  I don't have a "homeroom" class of my own, but I work with identified Gifted students and their teachers in grades K-5.  Our county has a collaborative teaching model, meaning I push into classrooms to plan and implement lessons with all students.
• I have a full size classroom of my own, but it is accessible to any teacher in our building to utilize.
• I have amazing support from my building administrators and my Gifted Coordinator at the division level. 
• Our county has an Education Foundation that has funded many of the things I'll talk about. Each Spring they ask for teachers to submit proposals for projects and I've been awarded grants three years in a row.
• Other funding has come from Donor's Choose, instructional supply money, and our awesome PTA.

What's in Your Pool Bag? Summer Reading Recommendations for Pedagogy

Are you looking for some professional summer reading recommendations?  Be sure to stop by the Virginia is for Teacher's blog here to see my suggestions for making changes to your pedagogy!

Picture Books to Support STEM Lessons

One of my favorite go-to anticipatory sets (hooks, introductions) is reading a picture book.  Yes... even for my "big" kids! I'm constantly on the hunt for new titles to add to my collection, and I love when they connect directly to curriculum that I teach.

I've recently purchased several picture books that would be great for introductions to any STEM lesson, because they aren't content specific..  Here they are, in no particular order!