STEM Superstar Covey Denton shares strategies for funding your classroom dreams!

Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning

Covey Denton is a rock star STEM educator. We met through Steve Spangler, when we were both presenting workshops at Science in the Rockies. Check out her strategies for helping you get your science classroom funded.,

[01:26] - Covey's Journey

• Covey explains her diverse career path, starting from biomedical engineering, and transitioning into teaching through unconventional pathways.

[04:04] - Contribution to Kesler Science Escape Rooms

• Covey shares how she pitched the idea of writing escape rooms to Chris Kesler at a conference, as well as their effectiveness in formative assessments.

[06:24] - Perspective on STEM Education

• Covey discusses STEM as a departure from traditional teaching, fostering problem-solving and diverse solutions as students are empowered to collaborate for creative solutions.

[08:25] - Applying STEM For Learning at ALL Grade Levels

• The applicability of STEM across age groups is discussed, using The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind as an example.

[12:13] - Getting Started with STEM and Grant Writing

• Covey shares her experience of teaching with a limited budget, the importance of wise spending on reusable materials, and how to request assistance from local businesses.

[17:11] - Grant Writing and Success Stories

• Covey dives into her journey of grant writing, highlighting a seminar she attended that helped her write her first grants.
• Initial struggles with grant rejections and how she turned it into a learning opportunity with great success.

[19:38] - Building Relationships and Telling Stories

• Covey emphasizes the importance of storytelling and shares strategies for building relationships in grant writing.

[24:17] - Practical Grant Writing Tips

• Key tips include obtaining administrator support, starting with small grants to build confidence, setting aside dedicated time for grant writing, and expressing genuine excitement in grant applications.

[25:53] - Challenges and Joys of STEM Education

• Covey discusses the challenge of storage for ongoing STEM projects and shares her strategy of using non-consumables and recyclables.
• Joy of witnessing students who aren't necessarily top academic performers excelling in hands-on problem-solving and showing resilience in the face of failure.

[29:48] - Picture Books for STEM Connections

• Some of Covey's go-to picks include The Most Magnificent Thing and the Ada Twist, Scientist series for their relatability and diversity of characters.

[34:25] - Opportunities and Challenges for the Upcoming School Year

• Covey shares opportunities she sees in STEM education, particularly through invention/STEM competitions like ExploraVision.
• The impact of recognition on students' confidence and belief in their ability to make a difference.

[36:49] - What Brings Joy

• Covey talks about her upcoming work on STEM exhibits, STEM.org certification, and her ongoing commitment to being a better STEM educator.

View the podcast episode on YouTube.

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