While classroom teachers are constantly being asked to measure student growth and development, generally specials (or enrichment) teachers are not expected to show writing samples because we measure growth in a different way (the number of push ups a student can do, or how well they play a song on the recorder) but STREAM is different (of course it is). Last year, I used A LOT of printed resources from Carly and Adam STEM Teacher’s Club, among other things. My students almost ALWAYS have a page where they Plan and Design the project before they start to build it, so they do have writing samples, to a point.
I decided that this year, I’d like to save those pages all in one central location to create a sort of running record of their STREAM development over the course of the year. Does anyone really care about this? Probably not but it will show we are DOING something instead of always sending home their papers into oblivion. At least now, they will stay with me and I can send them to oblivion at the end of the year. Unless I decide to keep them for the next year. I’m just not sure how many pages those 25 cent 3 prong folders can hold! In short, I CARE about seeing that growth!
To get started, I created my own version of a STREAM Journal. I built it in Canva, because that’s my go to for creating ANYTHING I want to print and use for my classroom.
I had to make my own because my school includes Religion and Art in the STREAM class, and very few people use STREAM instead of STEAM or just STEM (unless they use the R for Robotics instead, but in my mind, that’s part of technology anyway)
Since I went to the time and effort to make it for my own students, I thought, why not put it up on my TPT store and see if anyone ELSE wants one!? So, right now, for a few days at least, this resource is available for $2.50. That’s half price!
The final journal has 10 pages, but in this document I’ve included three options for a cover, two options for R (Robotics or Religion), and two options for the All About Today page.
Now let me tell you about this All About Today page. For my Kindergarten class, we’re going to do a quick circle time review of the weather/seasons (science), a number of the day (calendar, how many days have we been in school and how to write the number), a color of the day - because at the very beginning of school I review the colors just in case they forgot them or don’t recognize the words, and finally How Do I Feel Today.
I expect this review will take at least the first 10 minutes of class, but that’s OK because it will be a FUN and fast review!
So I created a page to go along with those topics for the students to record their answers on. Will they be able to WRITE everything at the beginning? NO, probably not, BUT most of my students are coming from our PreK4 program so a lot of them are already familiar with this and this will bring them along quickly. I made the PreK and Kinder version very color and drawing friendly.
Oh, and I’ll write a separate post about my classroom set up but here’s a very far away photo of my Math and Science focus wall.
So each day when the students come in and after our circle time review, they will go to a table for their center that day and get their folder, record the weather, the number of the day, the color of the day and how they feel! It’s like a little daily reflection. Even if they don’t know how to write the words, I know they will feel comfortable drawing and I might find some magazines for them to cut out pictures (scissors skills anyone?)
Alright, are you ready to go grab that STREAM Journal for just $2.50?
I also built a second version of the All About Today page for older kiddos. This one just has blank space to draw or write about the weather of the day, record the date, what I learned and how I feel. I think it’s important to include a little reflection about feelings time they come to my class. Sometimes feelings can get hurt when we are discussing our projects. This will give them space to record their feelings that day.
Other than the All About Today page, I’ve included a page to take or draw notes about each part of ST(R)E(A)M which can be used as a beginning of the year introduction to the class. I will use that with my older students, 1st-3rd grade, for 4th and 5th I’m pondering how to make a digital version of this or as a running portfolio in Canva for them.
There is a page titled I Wonder where students can write or draw questions they have that they want to research later.
Oh and of course an All About Me page that I am going to have them fill out during the first few classes, as time allows. Those first few days are generally spent reviewing rules and procedures so I want them to have something to work on to get them excited about their STREAM Journals! As the year progresses, we will use the journals as a home for any other pages they use for planning and designing projects and it will be a great place to include reflection pages after the projects are done! See? GROWTH!
The product listing has more details and images of what is in the journal. I’m still new to selling on TPT so I hope you’ll pick this resource up and make use of it while it is half price! I also have a BUNCH of other FREE resources and stuff for just $1.
Thanks for reading all of this and stay tuned for a detailed post about my NEW classroom set up.