August 16, 2018
Dear Parents,
My name is Dr. Nkechi S. DomNwachukwu. I am your child’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics teacher for the 2018/2019 school year. I have 25 years teaching experience. This is my 21st year with Baldwin Park unified school district. I have taught junior high students Physical and Life science classes in the last 22 years. I find them interesting and the best group to work with. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, a Master of Education degree in Curriculum Studies, a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Education with concentration in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education. Also, I have an extensive training in early childhood and cross-cultural education as well as Project Lead the Way – Design and Model (PLTW-DM).
I am delighted to have your child in my classroom, and I look forward to working with you in bringing about very productive and exciting educational experiences this school year. I am counting very much on your support. Feel free to come into our classroom at any time with your questions, concerns, and suggestions, or just to observe. You can reach me at (626) 962-8312 X 5271, email nsdomnwachukwu609 @bpusd.net.
Your child deserves the best learning environment and that is what we are out to provide here at Jones. To effectively provide this desired learning environment I have adopted some rules to help guide the classroom. Our classroom disciplinary plan outlines our rules, possible rewards, and consequences which accompanies appropriate and inappropriate behaviors. The plan is attached to this letter, please read through these documents with your child. Don’t forget to remind your child every day to turn off his/her cell phone and leave it in their backpack while in class.
Thanks for being a part of Jones family.
Nkechi S. DomNwachukwu, Ph.D.
ABOUT STEM EDUCATION
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) way of teaching 21st century Science
My twenty-six years journey as an educator teaching K-12, added to my earned Ph.D. in Education, has shaped my philosophy of education for the 21st century K-12 STEM classroom. The central question that has guided my research and practice is, “How should 21st century STEM teachers go about engaging STEM learners in the 21st century K-12 STEM classrooms?”
I strongly believe that STEM education should be geared towards making K-12 learners problem solvers. I believe that engineering design and technology should be raised to the same level scientific methods holds in the science classrooms. I also believe that the best way to make this happen is through basing learning on real world problem solving which can be achieved through discipline integration: science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Against this background, I define STEM education as what STEM learners do with what they know about the world around them that help give insight, explanation or possible solution to human problems. This knowledge is deduced from observation, experimentation, engineering design, and research. Hence, to engage STEM learners in the 21st century classroom, we must go beyond mere application of acquired knowledge to problem solving through creativity and model projects.
My passion as a 21st century educator goes beyond finding the best way to solve real world problem through discipline integration, to passing on the tested and proven strategies that work to my colleagues.
