Scheduling
This will depend on how your space is going to run. Is it a rotation in the library? Do you have a dedicated space with a teacher? You may have to get creative about how this will work and who will implement it.
Schedule for our dedicated space with half time teacher and half time para:
We had a need to increase both teacher and student exposure to a lot of technology tools and STEAM processes. This schedule is highly dependent on having a teacher who will coordinate with classroom teachers to provide modeling of projects and tools and a para who can support reinforcement. We anticipate that this schedule will morph over time! Because the ETF is part time, we created a schedule in which classes attend the MakerSpace in the morning each day to learn a new skill; then come in the afternoon with the para facilitator to practice that skill again.
So a teacher's schedule might be:
Week 1: come in Monday morning with ETF teacher - students will learn and practice a new skill in the rotations provided
Week 2: come in Monday afternoon with para coordinator - students will continue to practice skills from last week
Week 3: no MakerSpace session
So a teacher's schedule might be:
Week 1: come in Monday morning with ETF teacher - students will learn and practice a new skill in the rotations provided
Week 2: come in Monday afternoon with para coordinator - students will continue to practice skills from last week
Week 3: no MakerSpace session
Another consideration: if teachers are going to be willing to use their instructional time in such a space, they need to see the instructional value of the activities in the space. While they may be willing to include some activities that are unrelated to their curriculum content - they also need to see how the tools can be used within the curriculum. Collaboration with the teachers is key to what is scheduled!
Link to our schedule so far this year (includes basic info about the activities).
Link to one of the weekly newsletters sent to teachers to make sure everyone is in the loop.
Link to our schedule so far this year (includes basic info about the activities).
Link to one of the weekly newsletters sent to teachers to make sure everyone is in the loop.
Schedule for a space that is housed in the library and can only meet for 40 minutes a day:
You may be in a situation where you have to find a space that isn't being used for a part of the day. In this case, you may want to have your materials on a cart of some kind that you can roll in to set up for that period of time. You will not be able to reach as many students as quickly - but it is a starting point as you build enthusiasm.
Link to the schedule here.
Link to the schedule here.