STEM Family Engagement Program for Families with Young Children

Let's Discover STEM is designed to provide enriching foundational Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics experiences for Latino children who likely would not have such experiences; teach parents how to nurture children's curiosity by encouraging and supporting their children's STEM learning at home, in school and throughout the community; and build a connection between homes and schools to support children's STEM success as they enter and progress through school. Since 2017, Let's Discover STEM program in Nevada (Clark and Washoe) have been provided in-person 7-week classes (32 hands-on STEM activities, 7 mini-lessons, and 7 STEM books) to Spanish-speaking families with young children to support their early STEM learning. After the program, parents were significantly more confident about using STEM skills to teach their children; believed their children could learn from them; were significantly more confident about helping their children succeed in school; and felt that they were significantly better prepared to help their children learn. Parents also reported that their children's STEM readiness skills were significantly improved (e.g., recognizing shapes and numbers, building with blocks, recognizing patterns, etc.). [For the full proceedings, see ED656038.]