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World-Class Professional Development
A variety of services working in partnership with schools and teachers to ensure success.
Professional Development
Learn about WhyMaker's 5 different Professional Development Offerings and choosing a style that best suits you or your school.
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Why are our PDs different?
WhyMaker offers completely customized and curated professional developments to meet the needs of your teachers. We work with school leaders to determine an action plan that supports teachers in meaningful and engaging professional growth.
The WhyMaker Way PD sessions for educators always allow for their voices and knowledge to be honored and respected, while pushing them to move their instructional practices to the next level.
Below are some of the ways we like to structure our PD based on the needs of the school and educators.
Peson Name
Title
Professional Learning Communities
WhyMaker will foster STEM professional learning communities. Educators learn best from other practicing educations that they feel connected to and a similarity with. Educators will be tasked to think about the theme selected and overarching big ideas about STEM education. They will share in a safe environment with their peers their thoughts and ideas.
Educators will be tasked to try a best practice in their class and report back. Educators will be encouraged to bring questions and concerns to the group for discussion. Educators will be encouraged to collaborate with peers in PLC to build integrated learning experiences for their students.
Book Study
WhyMaker can implement a book study of any great STEM books including Daily STEM by Chris Woods, Invent to Learn by Sylvia Libow Martinez, STEM-Rich Maker Learning: Designing for Equity with Youth of Color by Angela Calabrese Barton and Edna Tan and many others. Focus of conversations and the book will be around the chosen theme. Educators will meet for a pre-reading, discuss their hopes for learning from the book.
Then educators will read portions of the book while picking out interesting learnings, things that resonated and questions they have. Educators will meet for two more sessions to discuss takeaways and questions they have. They will be given ample amounts of time to listen and share ideas with their peers. And think about ways to implement practices and learnings with their class.
Job Embedded Coaching
WhyMaker will implement a 3 step, non-evaluative, STEM instructional coaching cycle. Coaching and lesson development and feedback will focus on the theme. A trainer and educator will co-plan lessons, then co-teach the lesson together and then discuss the successes and areas of improvements with the lesson.
WhyMaker trainers will become invested in the well being of the educators and the students in the class, ensuring that all students receive equitable and high quality STEM instruction. Teachers really excel from this type of professional learning because it helps them with their specific needs at the moment.
Workshops
Allow teachers to practice with a new STEM tool or technology in a low pressure environment. The pressure of the work day schedule is lifted and educators can dive into hands-on practice with tools and technologies becoming comfortable and confident exploring and learning all about it. WhyMaker will also tie learning back to the theme chosen for this learning experience.
A specific STEM technology, robot, electronics toy, coding platform, construction set, or other tool needs to be chosen and available for use (we can make recommendations), 2 - 8 hours, 100 teachers max, virtual or in person. Great for after hours and summer professional learning opportunities.
Professional Learning for Leaders
WhyMaker will work with leaders in professional learning communities to identify their role in building a robust STEM culture on their campus. Leaders will understand their role as a connector, supporter, and integrator. Leaders will develop a set of ‘look fors’ when informally or formally observing STEM classrooms.
Leaders will build local STEM community connections that integrate into school projects and career conversations. Leaders will learn language that encourages educators to expand their STEM teaching. Leaders will learn how STEM can be integrated across grade levels and content areas.
Start learning with WhyMaker
Ready to join our WhyMaker family? We have tons of different Workshops, Products, or Trainings curated just for you!
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Why Choose WhyMaker?
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Top Notch Course For Teachers
Our hands-on course, is hands-down the best for practicing how to plan Makers projects Here!
Outstanding Curriculum Writing
Spreading a love of STEM in organized and functional lessons throughout the world.
High-Quality Stem Products
Robots, Coding, Electronics, Makerspace, Construction, Architecture are more! All vetted by STEM teachers themselves.
Whymaker's Offerings
Project Planning
Project planning for STEM using the Design Process and how to implement into any classroom and plan STEM projects
Social Emotional STEM
Teaching STEM while incorporating empathy and character strengths to bolster social emotional learning
Literacy and STEM
Finding and using connections of STEM in reading books to improve literacy
Community & Career Connections for STEM
Implementing STEM by discovering STEM is Everywhere, making community and career connections
Universal Design STEM Learning
Using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to support all learners, especially students with special needs and English language learners, with STEM learning.
Why Teachers Love WhyMaker
" The training was well received and helpful because of the reinforcement of how to specifically use robots with 20 middle schoolers."
"Each and every time we work together I am more and more impressed with your preparation, energy and organization."
“By far one of the best teams I ever worked with. There products and courses don't just stop their, you're basically buying into the entire Whymaker family.”
