STEM Spotlight: Yukon elementary school's STEM program inspires students to think big
A STEM teacher at Skyview Elementary School in Yukon is making a significant impact by encouraging her students to think creatively and solve problems
A STEM teacher at Skyview Elementary School in Yukon is making a significant impact by encouraging her students to think creatively and solve problems
A STEM teacher at Skyview Elementary School in Yukon is making a significant impact by encouraging her students to think creatively and solve problems
Each week, KOCO 5 spotlights STEM-focused programs, educators and students around the state, with a Yukon elementary school standing out due to its vibrant program.
The third graders at Skyview Elementary are captivated by science, technology, engineering and math, largely due to their inspiring STEM teacher, Crystal Butcher.
"The STEM teacher is really encouraging, and I like when people encourage me," one student said.
Butcher said she aims to make learning vibrant and engaging for her students.
"I wrote the STEM creed that they say every day when they come in," Butcher said.
The creed includes phrases like, "I want you to help other people" and "I want you to keep on trying."
"Those are the skills that I really, I want them to have," Butcher said in part.
She said believes that the STEM class is more than just understanding the science and math of everything, especially at this young age.
"I want them to feel like, why not try this and why not do it this way? Because they're going to be the ones that come up with the answers that we don't even know the questions yet. And so I love that they think outside the box, and they're free to do that," Butcher said.
Skyview Elementary officials said Butcher was the first STEM Pre-K through 3rd-grade teacher in Oklahoma.
"Whenever they're in pre-K, they are already open to so many ideas, and there's not a set way to do anything. And I want that to stay that way, and I want to encourage that," Butcher said.
During KOCO 5's visit to Skyview Elementary, the brilliant third graders were problem-solving in their STEM class.
Butcher said she wants her students to understand that it's OK to get frustrated and for things not to work out, because that's the real world.
"Whether they become an engineer or whatever. If you are a stay-at-home mom because I've been at home with my kids, you're a problem solver. There's still things you say, 'Well, that didn't work. What else can we do?'" she said.