During the summer I was given the opportunity to extern at Summit Innovation Lab, a STEM Learning Center that hosts education and activities for students in elementary and middle school. The summer was made up of different STEM-themed weeks, such as coding or engineering, and each week there would be anywhere from four to fifteen students ranging in ages from 5-13. As an ELA teacher, I didn’t have an extensive knowledge STEM before starting my externship, and my goal for the summer was to broaden this knowledge so that I could better understand and give resources to my students who want to pursue STEM-related careers. I found that the students I worked with at Summit were extremely kind, smart, and creative, and they excited to learn new concepts and share their ideas. They were given ample time during the day to explore and experiment, as well as play at the local park during the hour before lunch. On Fridays we went to the river for an hour or two, and the kids played in the water and in the sand. While at Summit I saw students trying new things, taking new approaches, and collaborating with others, and I never saw anybody give up or say a project was too difficult to complete. When we “failed,” they would make changes and try again. When we “succeeded,” they worked to make it better. I learned a lot about STEM while at my externship, and though I was working with students younger than those I teach during the school year, I was able to take many different skills and strategies and apply them to my classroom teaching. I am very grateful for this experience and am glad to have spent my summer at Summit.

Grade Level and Subject Taught: 10th Grade ELA