MakerSpaces are difficult to define. Essentially they are a "space" where students are allowed to explore, collaborate and learn by "making" or creating. The power of MakerSpaces is that it is student-driven: students experiment and explore what is of interest to them. MakerSpaces can take many forms and be as high-tech or low-tech as the materials available within them.

• Allow for students to embrace failure as a means for heading toward success
• Allow students to collaborate and learn from one another
• Create experts who students will look to for guidance
• Foster creative thinking
• Create ways for students to ask real questions to drive their exploration
• Encourage students to pursue existing passions or seek out new passions
• Ignite excitement and a joy for learning
• Promote multiple ways to solve problems
  
• Allow students to practice perseverance in day to day learning
• Expose students to materials they may have never used before: 3D printers, robotic balls, textile materials, circuits, littleBits, programming, and so much more!
• Encourage student reflection on the process of making
• Create thinkers

It can be as low-tech or high-tech as your community needs it to be. It's about supporting your students!

• Curriculum
• Book Club/Literacy Activities
• Specials or Elective Classes
• Lunch time
• Breakfast Time
• Genius/Passion Hour
• Clubs
• Saturday/Family Events
• Homeroom Time

@DianaLRendina

@smartinez (Author of Invent to Learn)

@gravescolleen

@ccassinelli

@actinginthelib

@ginaseymour

@LFlemingEDU

@maker_maven

#MakerSpace

#MakerEd

#WorldsofMaking

#DIY

#STEM

#STEAM

#ArtsEd

#GirlsWhoCode

#KidsCanCode

#3Dprinting

#DesignThinking

Diana Rendina - http://renovatedlearning.com/
Gwyneth Jones - http://www.thedaringlibrarian.com/
Laura Fleming - http://worlds-of-learning.com/
Colleen Graves - https://colleengraves.org/
Kristina Holzweiss - http://www.bunheadwithducttape.com/
Todd Burleson - https://toddburleson.com/blog/

Below are a few fabulous picture books to help your kids begin thinking, innovating, problem-solving, creating, and even failing like makers!

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires (Love This!)

Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty

Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty

Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty

Mr. Ferris and His Wheel by Kathryn Gibbs Davis

Awesome Dawson by Chris Gall

Monkey With A Toolbelt by Chris Monroe

Going Places by Peter Reynolds (Love This!)

Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet

What Do You Do With An Idea by Kodi Yamada

Violet The Pilot by Steve Breen

Papa's Mechanical Fish by Candace Fleming

Anything is Possible by Giulia Belloni

Mr. Cornell's Dream Boxes by Jeanette Winter

Galimoto by Karen Lynn Williams

Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzbert

Marvelous Mattie by Emily Arnold McCully

EngiNerds by Jarrett Lerner

This is my 2nd year at RHES and my ninth in education. My husband and I have two spunky children, Izzy (7) and Aris (3). Our family can often be found outside hiking around the coastal trails or fostering a love of all things nerd in our children by adventuring to historical places, festivals, or DragonCon. Before coming to RHES, my focus was in designing and integrating STEAM education into social studies and language arts right outside of Athens, Georgia and laying the ground work for the first STEM program at Arthur Williams Middle School in Jesup, Georgia. I firmly believe the library is the center of the school in which knowledge and understanding is constructed from not just books, but from each other and asking questions. When you visit the library, you will often hear classical Led Zeppelin playing and rarely will you find me "shhhing" students in our library. I am available to collaborate on projects and lessons, find resources, research, find the perfect book, and lend a hand or two to fix the random tech issues which arise when we least want them to.

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education, a Master of Science in Learning, Design, and Technology from the University of Georgia, and my Ed.S. in Instructional Technology from the University of Georgia.

Email: mbongiorno@bryan.k12.ga.us
Website: discoveringtheremarkable.weebly.com
Twitter: @Mrs_Bongi