STEM is an engaging, hands-on learning experience driven by inquiry-based learning. Students develop their skills in collaboration, problem solving, and critical thinking to tackle challenges and objectives. With growing career opportunities in STEM-related fields, and the applicability of those 21st Century skills across academic and career disciplines, there is increased attention placed on STEM instruction. Catapult Learning offers supplemental STEM programs and professional learning to support the implementation of effective STEM instructional practices and curriculum. We asked one of our coaches, Jodon Orimaco, to share a few tips he offers to the schools and districts he supports. 1. Organize [...]

In May 2018 I wrote about Culturally Responsive Teaching. To be a culturally responsive teachers we ourselves must be culturally competent. According to The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, “cultural competence means to be respectful and responsive to the health beliefs and practices—and cultural and linguistic needs—of diverse population groups. Developing cultural competence is also an evolving, dynamic process that takes time and occurs along a continuum.” What is a Culturally Responsive Teacher? Let’s start this school year by reidentifying the definition and importance of being a culturally responsive teacher. The Diversity Toolkit: Cultural Competence for Educatorssays, “Cultural competence is the ability to successfully teach students who [...]

In September, Catapult Learning held the inaugural Back to School Sweepstakes. We asked teachers and supervisors from across the organization to tell us why they were excited to start the 2018 – 19 school year. The responses were overwhelming. Some teachers shared the thoughtful and creative prep work they were doing in their classrooms for their students, such as color-coding folders and filling up candy jars. We also heard about the bright smiles and eager energy that the students bring every day. The winner was Tracey Coleman from The High Road School of Baltimore County. In November, we visited Tracey [...]

Great leaders and managers recognize the importance of maximizing their resources, including recruiting and retaining the right people for their organizations. In the book, First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently, authors Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman state, “Select a person, set expectations, motivate the person, and develop the person. These four activities are the manager’s most important responsibilities.” The authors speak to what great managers do and don’t do, including treating every employee as an individual, focusing on strengths instead of weaknesses, and finding ways to measure, count, and reward outcomes. For instructional leaders in [...]