Engaging young engineers: teaching problem-solving skills through STEM

Help young children develop problem-solving skills, and teachers will boost their kindergarten readiness and set them up for long-term success in STEM subjects. In this timely and practical book, teachers will discover how to support the problem-solving skills of all young children by teaching them basic practices of engineering and five types of critical thinking skills (curiosity, persistence, flexibility, reflection, and collaboration) and discover how to sharpen all these skills as a teacher.

Using a clear instructional framework and fun activities tailored for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, teachers will help children birth to 5 explore big ideas and develop new ways of thinking through engaging and challenging learning experiences. A must for teachers in inclusive early education classrooms, this comprehensive guide is their key to teaching the 21st-century skills children need for STEM learning and school success.

Demystify and teach key engineering practices . Prepare children for success in all STEM areas by teaching four essential engineering principles: think about it, try it, fix it, and share it. Boost problem-solving skills with proven activities. All the suggested activities have been piloted and tested in classrooms and incorporate teacher feedback. Plan effective lessons for all children.

Discover how to use universal design for learning (UDL) to plan lessons that work for children with and without disabilities. Start the learning early. Help even the youngest children develop problem-solving skills with activities tailored for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Encourage language and literacy development .

Get suggestions for weaving reading into problem-solving experiences, and discover how your use of language can prompt children;s thinking skills. Promote other skills needed for school success.

With the framework and activities in this book, teachers will also support development of social-emotional skills, self-regulation, and executive functioning.

Practical materials:

• Classroom activities that incorporate children's books
• Self-reflection checklists
• Practical strategies and modifications
• Early Childhood UDL planning sheets
• Blank experience planning templates for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.