STEMbyTAF
STEMbyTAF at Washington
Dear WMS Junior Husky Students and Families,
It is a pleasure to partner with Seattle Public School District and Washington Middle School (WMS), to welcome your child as an incoming Junior Husky!
During the school year, students will be working with their teachers using student-centered instruction that involves a dynamic classroom approach. Students will acquire a deeper knowledge through active exploration of real-world challenges and problems, also known as project-based learning. There will be cross-collaboration among students and teachers from varying disciplines and an opportunity to showcase their work with their peers and community, similar to our Junior Huskies Summer Academy!
You will receive additional communication throughout the school year via email or Robocall. In addition, you may be inclined to download the Washington Middle School app on your phone to receive daily/weekly updates and learn about upcoming events.
We look forward to building a relationship with you and your child, and to provide the best educational experience throughout your student’s time at Washington Middle School. Please feel free to contact us at any time if there is a question or situation you would like to discuss.
About STEMbyTAF
The STEMbyTAF Model cultivates academic environments that eliminate race-based disparity in academic achievement and promote the highest level of student learning and teacher development. The STEMbyTAF Model creates equitable learning environments where students and staff feel safe and supported to be their best creative selves. The model provides the core elements which serve an instructional framework for teachers to transform their learning environments. Through this process teachers can provide a platform where students’ imagination and self-directed learning are ignited.
The STEMbyTAF Model is not a curriculum, but a way of teaching and learning that encompasses and elevates a variety of content mastery strategies. The STEMbyTAF Model is not based on the traditional model of STEM education. Instead, the STEMbyTAF Model is based on TAF’s definition of STEM Literacy – the ability to understand and apply concepts and content from science, technology, engineering, mathematics, humanities and arts to identify and solve challenges or problems that cannot be resolved by any one disciplinary approach. STEM literacy enables students to apply 21st century skills such as collaboration, knowledge construction, self-regulation, problem solving, innovation, information technology and communication to improve the social, economic, and environmental conditions of their local and global community.
This enables the STEMbyTAF Model to be implemented in a way that supports all student interests.
Seattle Public School and TAF have joined together to bring a unique learning environment to Washington Middle School, starting with 6th grade students in September 2020.
Our goal is to build a school environment that:
- Redefines STEM literacy, equitable education, and what it means to be a well-educated 21st-century student.
- Is known for encouraging innovation, for pushing the limits of what is expected, delivering curriculum in a way that is relevant to real-world needs and goals of students, and creating an environment that promotes academic success through a social justice lens.
- Generates learning designed for, and often by, the students, where teachers collaborate as part of their daily practice and learn alongside their students
- Has a bond of caring between all the groups—teachers, students, leadership, and support staff—where people look out for each other and students support each other to do their very best.
We want Washington Middle School students to leave eighth grade with not only the academic requirements, but the habits of minds and social skills necessary to be successful high school students with a sense of direction toward their future.
Please direct all questions regarding the STEMbyTAF Model to krishnar@techaccess.org