STEAM Workshop at SFPL Main

On May 18^th, 2012, the San Francisco Public Library hosted a “What’s Hot in STEAM?” workshop led by Dr. Judy Cheatham from Reading is Fundamental (RIF). This lively event was attended by approximately 50 San Francisco and Oakland Public Library children’s librarians, branch managers, Project Read staff, and other library professionals plus San Francisco Early Literacy Network partners from Raising a Reader, Bring Me a Book, Screen Actors Guild BookPALS, and Pulsing Word Consulting.

STEAM is an enhancement of the STEM initiative which promotes making science, technology, engineering, and math skills a natural part of education from early literacy on up. STEAM proponents hope to broaden the scope by including the arts.

Dr. Cheatham was dynamic, warm, funny, and astute. She discussed RIF’s multicultural literacy initiative, the current reading landscape, basic interpersonal communication skills vs. cognitive academic language proficiency, the summer reading slide, and quite a bit more. Her presentation and the interactive small group activities were engaging and practical. RIF also generously provided each attendee with three picture books particularly suited to STEAM use, a wealth of curricula, and a delicious continental breakfast. For a visual tour of the workshop please peruse the 15 photos posted below.

For more information about STEM, STEAM, and RIF please use the following links.

STEM

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-launches-educate-innovate-campaign-excellence-science-technology-en

STEAM

http://stemtosteam.org

Reading is Fundamental (the nation’s oldest and largest children’s and family literacy non-profit)

http://www.rif.org

All the best, Amy Perry and Brian Castagne

Christy Estrovitz, San Francisco Public Library Early Literacy Coordinator, introduces Dr. Judy B. Cheatham of Reading is Fundamental (RIF).

Judy Cheatham engages the audience.

Judy Cheatham compares math and science scores of students from the US to those of students from China.

Strategic education priorities from the White House.

Spirited interactive activity.

Sharing her new favorite picture book, Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham.

Modeling how to employ the STEAM framework during a read aloud.

Lynne Mayes of Pulsing Word Consulting and Screen Actors Guild BookPALS embraces the activity with Christy Estrovitz.

Eric Auyeung, SFPL Children's Librarian, and Karen Drachler from Bring me a Book generate learning activities.

SFPL Children's Librarians Ruben Balderas and Eric Auyeung being creative.

SFPL Children's Librarians, Eric Barbus, Sarah Stone, and Children and Teen Selection Specialist Denise Schmidt devise learning activities.

Oakland Public Library's Janet Cheung, SFPL Children Services Librarians Laura Tarango and Mary Ellen Massa, and Golden Gate Valley Branch Manager Irene Lee evaluate new learning materials.

Amy Perry of SFPL Mobile Outreach Services, Liesel Harris-Bundy from West Portal Branch, and Celia of the Oakland Public Library look over the wealth of materials.

SFPL's Kimberly Lauer and Barbara VanderBorght, and Michelle Callwood of Raising a Reader show that learning is fun.

Lyn Davidson, SFPL Fisher Children's Center Assistant Manager, details the bounty of books and learning materials provided free from Reading is Fundamental. She then convened the SFPL Children's Services Monthly Meeting.