CES Teachers Shine at State Conference

CES Teachers Shine at State Conference
Posted on 03/08/2018
CES Teachers Present at State SCIRA ConferenceSeveral teachers from Chesnee Elementary School took their love of developing innovating teaching methods to the state-stage in hopes of providing fellow educators with new skills.

Mandy Gregory, Jenna Turner, and Skylar Herdinar were featured presenters at the South Carolina State Council of the International Reading Association (SCIRA) gathering in Hilton Head.

“The SCIRA conference is a professional highlight for us each year. We appreciate our school and district for promoting involvement in career enhancing conferences like this one,” Gregory said.

The CES teachers’ presentation was called "Oh Snap, Look How We Integrate" and focused on how to integrate ELA (English Language Arts) with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) projects.

"I strongly believe we need to empower every student and educator to explore and challenge their minds. Unlocking the full potential of every learner means addressing multiple intelligences,” Gregory said. “Engaging and integrated projects allow students to be creative, collaborative problem solvers. This approach helps educators get the most bang for our buck by requiring the application of many different disciplines in cohesive learning projects. Most importantly, this type of learning is just plain FUN!"

During their presentation, the CES teachers invited participants to complete a short activity related to an excerpt from "Charlotte's Web" using the Engineering Design Process.

"The CES teachers represented District Two in an amazing way by presenting examples of the great science, technology, engineering and mathematics experiences that are provided for their students," said Spartanburg Two Director of Elementary Education Kim Ashby.

At the conclusion of their presentation, the teachers shared some of their favorite technologies to communicate student learning and the group tested the "Spiderling's Parachutes" that were created at the beginning of the session.

"I feel like it was important to present on the integration of STEM and ELA because it is not only helping to foster creativity and problem solving, it is reaching the whole child to make learning a more meaningful experience," Turner said.

The CES teachers said seeing the enthusiasm and creativity that their fellow educators showed during their presentation was encouraging and motivating.

"While presenting at SCIRA, it was important to explain to fellow educators in South Carolina just how easy it is for students to take ownership in their learning while going deeper in their content. STEM puts the creativity back into learning,” Herdinar said. “Project-based learning promotes collaboration among even the most timid students. In today's world, it is crucially important to make sure every student is heard while showcasing their abilities in all areas of learning. That being said, STEM is the epitome of teamwork using effective communication and collaboration skills. The information being taught and projects being produced will be memories students will cherish for the rest of their lives!"
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