St. Mary Immaculate is fortunate to be able to share the news of our new state-of-the-art STEM lab at its Catholic school that will help to better provide our rigorous learning to facilitate the advancement of our students.
STEM education is active and focuses on a student-centered learning environment. Students engage in questioning, problem solving, collaboration, and hands-on activities while they address real life issues.
Recent research has recommended that every effort should be made to start as soon as children enter elementary school. Studies have identified the elementary years as the period when students form their interests in STEM identities and careers—much earlier than many people probably believe to be the case. This is particularly important for science, which gets short shrift in many elementary schools.
STEM, in the real world as practiced by professionals, is about examining, exploring, and solving real life problems. As such, it should follow that this should be the focus when teaching STEM. Elementary teachers are in the unique position of being with their learners most of the day. This enables them to integrate cross-curricular learning activities.
STEM proficient students are logical thinkers, effective communicators and are technologically, scientifically, and mathematically literate. Having a fully equipped STEM Lab at Saint Mary Immaculate will provide our teachers and students the space and resources needed to allow for personalized learning and engage students of all ages, interests, and abilities. This STEM Lab will complete our effort in implementing STEM Education and putting our school ahead of the rest.
Registration for the 2017-2018 school year is in progress. Call today 815-436-3953 or log on to www.smischool.org