Laura Leigh Holland

EESL650
July 29, 2015
Position Paper on STEM
STEM curricula have become a vital part of our schools and our society. As our world is
constantly changing, our education system must change to keep up with societys and the worlds
needs. The acronym STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
According to Wikipedias website on STEM Fields, STEM is used to improve competitiveness
in science and technology development (STEM Fields). Therefore, the goal of STEM curricula
is to help students and our country become more competitive in the fields of science and
technology. The STEM Education Coalition addresses the need for STEM Education in their
purpose statement on their website. This statement says, The central mission of the STEM
Education Coalition is to inform federal and state policymakers on the critical role that science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education plays in U.S. competitiveness and
future economic prosperity. This statement shows that the STEM education curricula go so
much further than classroom learning; it is essential for our countrys future success.
While STEM education is important and vital for all students, it is especially important
for ELs. In order to provide ELs with an equitable education to guarantee them equitable
opportunities in the future, teachers must provide a STEM education with additional scaffolding
for ELs as needed. According to the University of Massachusetts Boston website, As
Massachusetts strives to prepare students for STEM oriented careers, English Language Learners
(ELLs) are in danger of being left behind. There is a well-documented gap - as measured by

scores on the standardized MCAS Science, Math and Technology tests - between the
performance of ELLs and native speakers of English. As a teacher of English Language
Learners, this quote is concerning to me. We must ensure that our ELs are receiving an equitable
education in STEM. One way in which teachers can help close this gap would be to research
instructional strategies for ELs and apply these strategies to the teaching of STEM. For example,
teachers should use the SIOP model to create lessons for STEM. These types of lessons will not
only help ELs, but it will also help native English speakers better understand, internalize, and
apply the STEM content.
Overall, it is important to know that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
education is important for our students to later become successful members of an ever-changing
world. In order for our ELs to not get left behind, there must be a focus on teaching STEM
curricula to ELs. STEM curricula are going to be a permanent part of our education system for
the foreseeable future, so teachers must adjust and learn how to give all students an equitable
education.

Works Cited
STEM Fields. Retrieved from http://www.wikipedia.com.
STEM Education Coalition. Retrieved from http://www.stemedcoalition.org/.
COSMIC (Center of Science and Mathematics in Context). University of Massachusetts Boston
website.