As home educators, we often look ahead to the long stretch of our children’s education and tentatively plan what it will look like. But for most families, there is a big gray splotch in the high school years they are afraid to think about. It has to do with teaching science and math.
Add to that fear a buzzword traveling around education circles: STEM requirements. What is STEM? Are we talking about a very loudly spoken part of a plant? Of course not. STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. It involves a set of educational goals that many educators feel are necessary for the next generation to meet. And that acronym can be scary. Yet, even if a student does not want to become a rocket scientist or a brain surgeon, having a basic understanding of these fields will be extremely important as he or she enters the future workplace.
As an author and homeschool mom of 21 years, I have had opportunity to talk with many parents about the importance of teaching science to our children. After all, even if your student is not pursuing a career in science, having a basic understanding of anatomy and physiology is helpful when you are up at 2A.M. with a sick toddler, right? Well, I’m here to give you some encouragement while also inspiring you to look forward to these subjects as you educate your children, preparing them for the life God has for them as adults.
Let me first break down the STEM components for you. Science is a way of thinking, a way of asking questions and looking for answers to them. Technology is a tool, using the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, such as sharing of information and connectivity. Engineering is the application of these concepts, using them in real-world situations such as design and construction. Math is a means to take collected data, study it, and evaluate the results.
Looking at those four definitions you can see how at their core they are really just methods of studying the world around us in an orderly manner and applying that knowledge to benefit everyone. Well, that’s what we do in home education! We come alongside our children and study our world in an orderly way, whether it’s through literature, science, history, or math. Then we take that information and apply it to how we live our lives. You see, if we believe God created our world and desires us to know him, then by studying creation, we learn more about our creator. That’s our motivation!
This is something all of us should be doing, not just future theoretical physicists. As home educators, we need to realize that advanced math and science education isn’t just for those students who are enthusiastic about becoming doctors and architects. Everyone will benefit from a working knowledge in these fields.
I’m not saying all this because I have a background in science. I am here to tell you that YOU are scientists, too. When you take your toddler for a walk outside and he suddenly stops to look at a caterpillar on the sidewalk, do you whisk him away, saying, “That’s science. We don’t do that stuff.”?
Of course not. You marvel along with him at those amazing little legs and how they work in a coordinated manner to create movement. You are amazed at the coloration, allowing that small creature to perfectly blend in with its surroundings. You think, Hey, I should go to the library and borrow that sweet book about caterpillars so I can read it to my son.
Did you know that you are taking part in the ideals of STEM education when you are doing this? National education pundits say that it is important for parents to weave science into everyday experiences, because it becomes less mysterious and more a part of everyday life. You probably don’t have to make your children curious or excited about looking at how the world works. Children have a natural love for exploration. Our job as home educators is to encourage and foster that natural love.
STEM advocates are striving to prepare students to become lifelong learners, knowing how to access and analyze information. Because information today is rapidly growing and changing, the best prepared students will be those who can look at problems systematically, find cause and effect, determine creative solutions to those problems, and teach themselves about new material as it is necessary. Home educators already do this!
So as you prepare your students for middle school, high school, and beyond, don’t forget to include a solid education in STEM. If you’re uncomfortable doing that, look for co-ops in your area or other helps. Consider giving your kids opportunities to shadow people in STEM careers. Look for internships where they will see how the information they’re studying is being applied in real life. By coupling science and math instruction with problem solving and critical thinking skills, you will be preparing your children for the future.
So be encouraged, not daunted by the new emphasis on STEM education. Homeschooled students are showing themselves to be leaders with creative and organizational abilities. Focus on these skills as you discover together more about how our world is created, and you will be providing your students with the potential to succeed in a science career or any other direction the Lord takes them. Now is the best time for STEM!
