EDITOR ’ S NOTES
It ’ s 2017 ! A fresh new year with lots of possibilities and opportunities to explore . As we head into the cold , dark stretches of January and February , it can be easy to get bogged down in the hum-drum of our curricula .
That ’ s why I love the January issue of STEAMed every year . This begins our 3rd year of the magazine and with it , ideas to invigorate and investigate our lessons . This issue is a great mix of both testimony of why integrating the arts is important and how to do so effectively .
If you ’ re looking for a way to advocate for bringing STEAM to your school , check out how two schools in Cobb County , GA are leading the way ( pgs . 6 and 34 ). Or maybe you ’ re looking for a whole new way to approach a topic . If so , check out what husband and wife teaching team Wade and Hope King did with the Power Rangers at the Ron Clark Academy ( yes - THAT Ron Clark from Oprah fame ) on page 10 . If you want to see how organizations are helping schools move into a STEAM direction through partnerships , check out Taking Art to the Cellular Level ( pg . 50 ) which shares some amazing outreach work . And , how do you create a maker space with a purpose ? Christopher Sweeney showcases projects that are pushing the boundary on page 45 .
A highlight for me was being able to interview famed artist Phil Hansen for our cover story ( pg . 20 ). Phil ’ s incredible personal story of overcoming physical challenges to pursue and thrive in the arts is both heartwarming and incredibly motivating . You ’ ll also find Phil keynoting our upcoming Winter Arts Integration and STEAM online conference !
And of course , no issue would be complete without some helpful tools , tips and resources . In this issue , we have a special section dedicated to working with special populations which I think you ’ re going to find so valuable ( pg . 25 ), as well as a handy checklist of our favorite STEAM tools and lesson plan template ( pg . 37 ). Ready to dig in ? Well get cozy and let ’ s go !
Cheers ,
Susan M . Riley , Editor
STEAMed Magazine
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January 2017 Edition