STEM-Focus Middle school in saint paul

Sparking Curious Minds

LJA’s Guiding STEM Principles

• Nurturing curiosity and wonderment

• Developing the critical thinking skills of identifying, analyzing and using evidence to inform knowledge

• Becoming resilient problem solvers and innovative thinkers

• Applying STEM thinking in and out of the classroom

Principles in Practice

Though LJA students have 72 minutes of STEM class every day, these principles are infused throughout our school. As these principles make clear, we believe being a STEM-focused school is more than strong science content and lots of technology (though we believe it’s that too). When these principles are put into practice, students develop mindsets, skills, and habits that give them the tools for success in STEM fields and beyond, while having experiences that allow them to see how these mindsets, skills, and habits apply to life outside of LJA.

Nurturing curiosity and wonderment

LJA is an environment where inquiry and curiosity are encouraged. We hope to foster these mindsets in each scholar that comes through our doors:

• Pays attention to immediate, local, and global environments

• Constantly asking questions about their world

• Seeks out new experiences and ideas different than one’s own.

• Makes connections between topics 

• Finds connections between topics and own life

• Loves learning new things

• Enjoys complexity and unanswered questions.

Developing the critical thinking skills

LJA challenges students to think critically as they analyze the world around them. Scholars immersed in LJA’s curriculum should continually be developing the following skills in all their classes:

• Gathering evidence/data from multiple sources & perspectives

• Distinguishing between relevant and irrelevant evidence/data

• Evaluating evidence/data for reliability, credibility and validity

• Accurately interpret evidence and explain possible implications

• Analyze evidence for patterns, differences, similarities and trends.

• Make valid inferences based on the evidence and reason.

• Identify potential assumptions and/or bias in sources.

• Identify potential assumptions and/or bias in own collection of evidence

• Synthesizing information to meet intended purpose

Becoming resilient problem solvers and innovative thinkers

LJA scholars apply their knowledge to solve problems and answer questions about their world. As they do, they will be developing important habits of scholarship:

• Defining purpose and target audience

• Taking responsible risks

• Evaluating multiple solutions and ideas to select the best approach/product

• Revising based on feedback from peers, mentors and trials

• Learning from failure’

• Looking for new questions or new information that may inform problem-solving.

• Resiliency in group work

• Responsibility toward group success (mutual responsibility) and for individual contributions (individual accountability)

Applying STEM thinking in and out of the classroom

In order to explore their potential, build competence and confidence, and enjoy the success of tackling complex problems, we want LJA scholars to have a variety of hands-on experiences throughout their time here.

• After-School Clubs: All students have the opportunity to pursue various interests.

  • Examples: SciGirls Code with TPT, Fab Fems, Technovation, Design Team, LJA Reports, Student Leadership Club, Debate, Book Buddies, SheRock SheRock, Yearbook and Drama Club 

• Field Trips: LJA commits to getting students out into the community and the natural world.

  • Examples: History Center, The O’Shaughnessy, Fort Snelling State Park, Wilderness Inquiry, Eagles Bluff, Audubon of the Northwoods, Great River Greening, and Buck Hill   

• Experts & guest speakers: LJA works find individuals who can show how the curriculum is relevant to the “real world”

  • Examples: Fab Fems, University of MN Teaching candidates, Ramsey Conservation District, College of Saint Catherine's PA Nursing Students, Emily Program, Family Tree,  Women’s Advocates, MN Teen Challenge, MN Teen Health 

• Curricular Enhancements:

  • Examples: History Day with MN Historical Society, Makerspace with the Science Museum of MN, Adopt-A-Drain with the City of Saint Paul, and Capital Regional Watershed

LJA is committed to reducing academic gaps in STEM-related fields attributed to issues around gender, race, ability, and other social norms. We work to increase students’ competence and confidence in math and science.