NCTE Annual Convention 2025 | Denver, Colorado
Friday, November 21, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Teaching STEM Skills Through Great Books? Yes, Please!
What if you could help students build curiosity, creativity, and resilience while reading amazing STEM books? Join me and my fellow authors and author-educators, and we’ll show you exactly how to do it. This isn’t a sit-and-listen session. It’s a fast-paced roundtable where you’ll rotate through hands-on activities and walk away with lessons you can use on Monday morning.
What Makes This Session Unique
Participants rotate among five expert-led tables for dynamic 10-12 minute discussions, collecting ready-to-implement strategies, classroom activities, and handouts at each stop. Every table leader shares practical approaches that connect engaging STEM literature with essential 21st-century skills development.
Featured Authors and Topics
Vicky Fang (Layla and the Bots, INVENT-A-PET, ALPHABOT) shares design thinking exercises from her experience as a former Google product designer.
Kirsten W. Larson (THIS IS HOW YOU KNOW: How Science Happens) presents two powerful ELA activities to develop observation skills using primary sources and to build critical thinking.
Jen Malia (TOO STICKY!, THE INFINITY RAINBOW CLUB series), Professor of English at Norfolk State University, explores inclusive teamwork and authentic leadership in diverse classrooms.
Lindsay H. Metcalf (TOMATOES ON TRIAL: The Fruit V. Vegetable Showdown), former journalist, equips educators with strategies for research, argumentation, and respectful debate, plus a complete toolkit for conducting mock trials and evaluating source credibility.
Colleen Paeff (THE GREAT STINK: How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London’s Poop Pollution Problem) champions failure as a learning tool, sharing strategies to make mistakes fun, celebrate resilience, and highlight STEM books featuring real innovators who failed their way to success.
Who Should Attend
Elementary and middle school teachers, librarians, literacy coaches, and curriculum specialists looking for fresh approaches to integrate STEM content while building students’ soft skills in ELA classrooms.
What You’ll Take Home
- Five sets of classroom-tested activities and lessons
- Practical handouts ready for immediate implementation
- Book recommendations for STEM-integrated instruction
- Strategies for developing essential 21st-century skills
- Connections with leading STEM authors and educators
Register now for NCTE’s Dream Boldly Denver 2025 convention to attend this session and discover how STEM books can help students develop the skills they need to shape tomorrow.
