176. How The Bug Chicks Make STEM Fun and Fearless with Entomologists Kristie Reddick & Jessica Honaker

In this episode, I dive into my Instagram DMs to answer some of the most common questions you’ve asked me about Makerspace. Whether you're an experienced STEM teacher or just getting started, I’m sharing tips on everything from managing materials to encouraging student collaboration. I’ll walk you through how I handle group projects, how students can "buy" supplies using a Makerspace menu, and creative ways to decide who gets to take projects home. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode177Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long PlanLeave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and comments!TpT Shop: Naomi Meredith | naomimeredith.com/tptshopCourse: STEM Teacher 101Workshops: K-2 STEM Planning 3-5 STEM Planning K-5 STEM Planning BundleStellar School-Wide News STEM Career DaySTEM Teacher Book Club: naomimeredith.com/stemteacherbookshelf1:1 STEM Coaching Support: naomimeredith.com/coachingCheck out more inspiration on her website: naomimeredith.comConnect with her on Instagram: @naomimeredith_YouTube Channel: Naomi MeredithFacebook Group: The Elementary STEM Coach Community | Technology & STEM for K-6 TeachersCheck out my other podcast for kids: The STEM Career Quest

I’m sitting down with two incredible women in STEM, Kristie Reddick and Jessica Honaker—also known as The Bug Chicks! These two amazing entomologists have a passion for bugs and an even bigger passion for teaching kids and educators how to use insects as a powerful learning tool.Kristie and Jessica share their fascinating journey from grad school to building a career that inspires others to see the beauty and importance of bugs in our world. We chat about everything from conquering fears to making STEM more approachable through hands-on experiences. Whether it’s using bugs to teach social-emotional skills or simply sparking curiosity, The Bug Chicks have so much wisdom to share.Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode176Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long PlanLeave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and comments!TpT Shop: Naomi Meredith | naomimeredith.com/tptshopCourse: STEM Teacher 101Workshops: K-2 STEM Planning 3-5 STEM Planning K-5 STEM Planning BundleStellar School-Wide News STEM Career DaySTEM Teacher Book Club: naomimeredith.com/stemteacherbookshelf1:1 STEM Coaching Support: naomimeredith.com/coachingCheck out more inspiration on her website: naomimeredith.comConnect with her on Instagram: @naomimeredith_YouTube Channel: Naomi MeredithFacebook Group: The Elementary STEM Coach Community | Technology & STEM for K-6 TeachersCheck out my other podcast for kids: The STEM Career Quest

Back to school night for STEM teachers and classroom teachers can look very different.Back to school night expectations for STEM teachers is different for each school. As a STEM teacher, what should you set up for back to school night? In today’s episode, I will be sharing 5 back to school night ideas that STEM teachers can incorporate into their classrooms.Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode13Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long PlanLeave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and comments!TpT Shop: Naomi Meredith | naomimeredith.com/tptshopCourse: STEM Teacher 101Workshops: K-2 STEM Planning 3-5 STEM Planning K-5 STEM Planning BundleStellar School-Wide News STEM Career DaySTEM Teacher Book Club: naomimeredith.com/stemteacherbookshelf1:1 STEM Coaching Support: naomimeredith.com/coachingCheck out more inspiration on her website: naomimeredith.comConnect with her on Instagram: @naomimeredith_YouTube Channel: Naomi MeredithFacebook Group: The Elementary STEM Coach Community | Technology & STEM for K-6 TeachersCheck out my other podcast for kids: The STEM Career Quest

How can you actually get it all done and keep track of everything as a STEM teacher? I'm sharing my tried-and-true systems and hacks to help you stay on top of your busy schedule as a STEM teacher. Balancing the demands of teaching, meetings, and other responsibilities can be overwhelming, but with the right strategies, you can maximize your productivity and keep track of everything that needs to be done. From managing emails and using Google Calendar to setting timers for yourself and your students, these simple yet effective techniques have helped me stay organized both in the classroom and in my small business. I hope you find these tips helpful and encourage you to try them out in your own routine!Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode174Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long PlanLeave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and comments!TpT Shop: Naomi Meredith | naomimeredith.com/tptshopCourse: STEM Teacher 101Workshops: K-2 STEM Planning 3-5 STEM Planning K-5 STEM Planning BundleStellar School-Wide News STEM Career DaySTEM Teacher Book Club: naomimeredith.com/stemteacherbookshelf1:1 STEM Coaching Support: naomimeredith.com/coachingCheck out more inspiration on her website: naomimeredith.comConnect with her on Instagram: @naomimeredith_YouTube Channel: Naomi MeredithFacebook Group: The Elementary STEM Coach Community | Technology & STEM for K-6 TeachersCheck out my other podcast for kids: The STEM Career Quest

No matter how long you have been teaching, preparing for back to school is a lot of work. From setting up your classroom and figuring out systems and routines to attending back-to-school meetings and lesson planning for the first few weeks, it can feel overwhelming even for the seasoned teacher.With so much on your plate, what types of activities should you plan that will be meaningful to your students?In today's episode, I will share five STEM activities you can use in your K through Five STEM classrooms. These activities are great back-to-school STEM challenges. Many of these activities I will be sharing with you have an element of collaboration to help build classroom community, which is important in any classroom setting.Whether you are a STEM teacher or a classroom teacher, this episode will provide you with a variety of activities to implement in your classroom!Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode7/Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long PlanLeave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and comments!TpT Shop: Naomi Meredith | naomimeredith.com/tptshopCourse: STEM Teacher 101Workshops: K-2 STEM Planning & 3-5 STEM Planning & Stellar School-Wide News & STEM Career DaySTEM Teacher Book Club: naomimeredith.com/stemteacherbookshelf1:1 STEM Coaching Support: naomimeredith.com/coachingCheck out more inspiration on her website: naomimeredith.comConnect with her on Instagram: @naomimeredith_YouTube Channel: Naomi MeredithFacebook Group: The Elementary STEM Coach Community | Technology & STEM for K-6 TeachersCheck out my other podcast for kids: The STEM Career Quest 

Today's episode is a special one! You'll be hearing a special episode from the podcast "Who Smarted" where they will chat about what causes ocean waves. This is an episode that you can listen with your students and own children. I highly recommend their show!Subscribe to their full show here: https://pod.link/1533462141Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long PlanLeave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and comments!TpT Shop: Naomi Meredith | naomimeredith.com/tptshopCourse: STEM Teacher 101Workshops: K-2 STEM Planning 3-5 STEM Planning K-5 STEM Planning BundleStellar School-Wide News STEM Career DaySTEM Teacher Book Club: naomimeredith.com/stemteacherbookshelf1:1 STEM Coaching Support: naomimeredith.com/coachingCheck out more inspiration on her website: naomimeredith.comConnect with her on Instagram: @naomimeredith_YouTube Channel: Naomi MeredithFacebook Group: The Elementary STEM Coach Community | Technology & STEM for K-6 TeachersCheck out my other podcast for kids: The STEM Career Quest

In this episode, I’m sharing some of my favorite tips and strategies for gathering materials for your STEM classroom, no matter what kind of budget you’re working with. Whether you're starting the school year or need to replenish your supplies midway through, I’ve got you covered. From self-donations and tapping into your school community, to grant writing and borrowing materials, I’ll walk you through how to keep your STEM space stocked and ready for all your innovative projects.Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode172Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long PlanLeave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and comments!TpT Shop: Naomi Meredith | naomimeredith.com/tptshopCourse: STEM Teacher 101Workshops: K-2 STEM Planning 3-5 STEM Planning K-5 STEM Planning BundleStellar School-Wide News STEM Career DaySTEM Teacher Book Club: naomimeredith.com/stemteacherbookshelf1:1 STEM Coaching Support: naomimeredith.com/coachingCheck out more inspiration on her website: naomimeredith.comConnect with her on Instagram: @naomimeredith_YouTube Channel: Naomi MeredithFacebook Group: The Elementary STEM Coach Community | Technology & STEM for K-6 TeachersCheck out my other podcast for kids: The STEM Career Quest

In this episode, I share my top three essentials for setting up a successful K-5 STEM classroom. Drawing from my extensive experience in various STEM spaces, I discuss the importance of having a group meeting place, planning storage for student projects, and labeling materials for easy accessibility and independence. Whether you're reconfiguring your space or setting it up for the first time, these tips will help you set the stage for a productive and engaging STEM classroom. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode171Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long PlanLeave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and comments!TpT Shop: Naomi Meredith | naomimeredith.com/tptshopCourse: STEM Teacher 101Workshops: K-2 STEM Planning 3-5 STEM Planning K-5 STEM Planning BundleStellar School-Wide News STEM Career DaySTEM Teacher Book Club: naomimeredith.com/stemteacherbookshelf1:1 STEM Coaching Support: naomimeredith.com/coachingCheck out more inspiration on her website: naomimeredith.comConnect with her on Instagram: @naomimeredith_YouTube Channel: Naomi MeredithFacebook Group: The Elementary STEM Coach Community | Technology & STEM for K-6 TeachersCheck out my other podcast for kids: The STEM Career Quest

It’s officially time for back to school, which means you’re most likely preparing to start decorating your classroom. With so many ideas available for decorating your classroom, what should you set up? What are some creative ways you can set up your bulletin boards? In today’s episode, I’m sharing six STEM classroom bulletin board ideas that you can implement for the new school year. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode170/Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long PlanLeave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and comments!TpT Shop: Naomi Meredith | naomimeredith.com/tptshopCourse: STEM Teacher 101Workshops: K-2 STEM Planning 3-5 STEM Planning K-5 STEM Planning BundleStellar School-Wide News STEM Career DaySTEM Teacher Book Club: naomimeredith.com/stemteacherbookshelf1:1 STEM Coaching Support: naomimeredith.com/coachingCheck out more inspiration on her website: naomimeredith.comConnect with her on Instagram: @naomimeredith_YouTube Channel: Naomi MeredithFacebook Group: The Elementary STEM Coach Community | Technology & STEM for K-6 TeachersCheck out my other podcast for kids: The STEM Career Quest

Today, we are wrapping up our STEM in Action Series with math in elementary STEM. Whether you already purposefully plan and implement math in your STEM lessons or are looking for ways you can effectively create math STEM lessons, today’s episode is for you. In this episode, I share some of my favorite tools for incorporating math in elementary STEM, some of my most popular math lessons, and how to ensure you are planning with the standards in mind. Head to the show notes for a full transcript of this episode, pictures, and all the links: https://naomimeredith.com/episode169/Download my Free K-5 STEM & Teach Year-Long PlanLeave a voice message HERE for the podcast with your questions and comments!TpT Shop: Naomi Meredith | naomimeredith.com/tptshopCourse: STEM Teacher 101Workshops: K-2 STEM Planning 3-5 STEM Planning K-5 STEM Planning BundleStellar School-Wide News STEM Career DaySTEM Teacher Book Club: naomimeredith.com/stemteacherbookshelf1:1 STEM Coaching Support: naomimeredith.com/coachingCheck out more inspiration on her website: naomimeredith.comConnect with her on Instagram: @naomimeredith_YouTube Channel: Naomi MeredithFacebook Group: The Elementary STEM Coach Community | Technology & STEM for K-6 TeachersCheck out my other podcast for kids: The STEM Career Quest