STEM

River Eves is a Georgia Department of Education STEM certified school; the first STEM certified school in Fulton County Schools.

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Teachers integrate these subjects in their classrooms during day-to-day instruction and through STEM challenges on STEM day. Learning is collaborative and project based. Students work closely together in a hands-on way to solve real word problems. Learning problem solving skills and helping students develop into creative, critical thinkers is at the core of River Eves.

STEM days: 

River Eves holds full-day quarterly STEM days each year.  STEM initiatives will be scheduled throughout the day where a “free-flowing” framework will be in place as students maintain their regular schedule. This approach will provide students and staff with continuity and consistency resulting in a relaxed and enjoyable experience.

The River Eves Elementary School (REES) STEM curriculum focuses on integrated math and science instruction that ultimately leads to student-driven “Project Based Learning” (PBL) challenges.  The PBL work culminates at each school-wide quarterly STEM Day.  Daily math and science instruction incorporate the use of grade-level specific STEM journals where students continually collect and analyze data, throughout the school year, via state-wide “Georgia Standards of Excellence” (GSE) science units.  STEM journals allow students to accomplish notetaking, data collection, weekly Math and Science connections/integrations, and use of the “Engineering Design Model” (EDM) during every STEM Day challenge. Students also use STEM journals to collaboratively design and present a standards-based STEM challenge, founded on a recent science unit, to their peers and teachers at each quarterly STEM Day.  All REES teachers participate in strategically aligned professional development that focuses on integration, extension, and enrichment activities in Math and Science instruction.  Targeted 3^rd-5^th grade teachers are required to be certified in middle grades Math and/or Science content to support connecting intermediate-level students to the extended curriculum beyond the elementary setting; this approach offers a larger scope and sequence for both students and teaching staff alike. Specials courses teachers (art, music & physical education) also embed STEM connections in lesson planning by highlighting the elements of technology and collaboration on a consistent basis. Applicable REES teachers participate in weekly collaborative STEM planning; this endeavor results in Math/Science connections taking place during STEM blocks and is documented within lesson plans; collaborative conversations are also captured within weekly planning documents.  A mathematics teacher focus group worked in tandem to develop and establish school-wide Math “Look Fors” to ensure that all K-5 students have access to consistent research-based instructional practices involving daily Math instruction; it is important to note that the focus group was comprised of representatives from all grade-levels, as well as applicable support teaching teams.  Students consistently utilize technology to produce tangible products via performance-based outcomes. Adaptive math software is integrated into daily STEM blocks to offer more personalized and differentiated math skills development, spiraled practice, and learning support.