Classroom Management
During a robotics challenge, several students start chatting while you’re giving instructions. You remind them of the camp rules and wait until everyone is silent. What strategy are you using?
What is “establish clear expectations”?
What is “use a signal to gain attention”?
Before camp begins, you check that all power tools for the engineering workshop are in good working order and confirm that students know where the fire extinguisher is located. What safety step are you taking?
What is “conducting a safety briefing”?
What is “inspecting equipment and exits”?
You arrange for a local software engineer to Zoom in and describe a typical day at work, allowing students to ask real-time questions about coding careers. Which career-exploration activity are you coordinating?
What is “scheduling a virtual guest speaker”?
What is “coordinating industry professional visits”?
At the end of each morning session, you hand out quick exit tickets asking students to list one thing they learned and one question they still have about robotics. What formative assessment technique are you using?
What is “using exit tickets for formative assessment”?
What is “prompting one-minute reflection questions”?
A student repeatedly taps their pencil on the table during a coding demonstration, distracting peers. You ask them to gently set down the pencil and focus. What behavior-management technique are you using?
What is “redirecting attention with a clear instruction”?
What is “providing a nonverbal cue for self-control”?
A student repeatedly interrupts peers during group discussions, preventing others from speaking. Name possible ways to address this behavior constructively.
“What is pulling the student aside quietly to establish a private signal for when they need to wait their turn?”
“What is assigning the student as a timekeeper or recorder so they stay engaged in a structured role?”
“What is reinforcing positive talk-turn practices by modeling turn-taking and praising when the student waits?”
“What is having the student write down their thoughts and share them after others have spoken?”
During a chemistry experiment, a student cuts their finger on a broken piece of glassware. You quickly clean the wound, apply a bandage, and call the camp nurse to report the injury. Which safety procedure are you performing?
What is “administering basic first aid”?
What is “reporting incidents to medical staff”?
When students aren’t sure which STEM fields interest them, you lead them through a simple quiz that matches personal interests to potential STEM careers. What exploratory tool are you using?
What is “facilitating a career interest inventory”?
What is “introducing career alignment tools”?
You review a student’s 3D model design and write down two strengths and two specific suggestions for improvement on a feedback sheet. Which feedback approach are you using?
What is “providing constructive feedback with the twin-plus model”?
What is “highlighting strengths and actionable next steps”?
Two students start play-fighting near the soldering station, risking injury. You step in and remind them of the importance of keeping hands to themselves around tools. What intervention are you applying?
What is “immediate verbal correction”?
What is “setting firm boundaries around equipment use”?
Late-arriving students disrupt the beginning of every lesson. What are some interventions to reduce tardiness and minimize classroom interruption?
“What is instituting a brief ‘bell-ringer’ activity that the late student can join quietly without disrupting?”
“What is implementing a positive reinforcement system (e.g., tardy tickets) for students who arrive on time?”
“What is communicating with parents/guardians to identify barriers and collaborate on solutions?”
“What is adjusting the school’s entry routine (e.g., classroom door open earlier or a ‘morning station’) so arrivals are smoother?”
“What is making a seating chart where seats near the door are reserved for students who frequently arrive late, allowing a quieter entry?”
When students work on the electronics station, you require everyone to wear safety goggles, verify that wires are properly insulated, and keep a fire blanket close by. What safety protocol are you enforcing?
What is “enforcing proper personal protective equipment (PPE)”?
What is “monitoring electrical safety protocols”?
To expose students to real-world engineering, you organize a field trip to a local university’s robotics lab, where they observe graduate students working on research. Which career-exposure strategy are you employing?
What is “visiting a university research lab”?
What is “organizing a STEM facility field trip”?
After a team completes their solar car prototype, you use a rubric to score their design on creativity, functionality, and teamwork, then share the results with each group. Which assessment method are you applying?
What is “utilizing a performance rubric”?
What is “conducting team-based evaluation”?
A student is visibly upset after their code keeps failing. They start slamming the keyboard. You calmly ask them to take deep breaths and suggest taking a short break. What de-escalation strategy are you using?
What is “teaching self-regulation with a break”?
What is “using calming prompts to defuse frustration”?
During a whole-class lesson, two students begin a prolonged heated argument that distracts everyone. List possible de-escalation steps a teacher can take immediately.
“What is calmly asking each student to step outside the classroom to talk one-on-one and defuse tension?”
“What is using a predetermined signal or code word to quietly alert a co-teacher or aide for assistance?”
“What is pausing instruction, restating group norms, and reminding all students of respectful communication?”
“What is redirecting both students with a private note or serious look, signaling they must stop before continuing?”
“What is separating the students into different areas and giving them a reflective ‘cool-down’ task (e.g., writing what triggered their emotion)?”
Sudden thunderstorms force the outdoor robotics field testing to pause. You quickly move all students indoors, secure equipment, and update the camp director about the weather conditions. What risk-management action are you taking?
What is “implementing an indoor contingency plan”?
What is “monitoring weather and relocating activities”?
You help students draft a one-page summary of their top STEM strengths and interests, guiding them in crafting a brief “elevator pitch” to share at future career fairs. What skill are you coaching them in?
What is “coaching students on crafting an elevator pitch”?
What is “reviewing student STEM interest resumes”?
Midway through camp, you analyze students’ quiz scores and project progress, then adjust station rotations so stronger students mentor newcomers during STEM challenges. What data-driven practice are you conducting?
What is “differentiating instruction based on assessment data”?
What is “reassigning roles after formative analysis”?
During group work, one student continually interrupts peers, explaining their ideas. You remind them of active listening and ask them to raise their hand when they want to speak. What social-emotional skill are you reinforcing?
What is “modeling active listening expectations”?
What is “teaching turn-taking norms”?
A normally well-behaved student starts showing aggressive behavior toward peers, knocking over chairs and shouting.
"What is removing the student from the class environment to de-escalate and conducting a private behavior conference?"
"What is involving the school counselor, creating a behavior intervention plan, and notifying parents?"
Before a high-ropes STEM confidence course, you complete a detailed checklist of anchor points, verify harness fittings on every student, and review emergency evacuation routes with staff. What safety procedure are you implementing?
What is “conducting a pre-activity hazard analysis”?
What is “using standardized safety checklists”?
You set up a week-long mentorship where each student shadows a different STEM professional on the last camp day, helping them understand various roles in engineering teams. Which professional development experience are you arranging?
What is “coordinating a job shadow experience”?
What is “organizing a STEM mentorship rotation”?
On the final day, each student presents their portfolio of projects to you, and you hold a one-on-one conference to review growth, set goals for future learning, and record feedback for their parents. What summative assessment process are you facilitating?
What is “conducting individual portfolio review sessions”?
What is “providing summative one-on-one evaluations”?
A student persistently refuses to wear safety goggles at the electronics station, despite repeated reminders. You privately pull them aside, explain the risk, and establish a consequence if they continue. What behavioral support plan are you initiating?
What is “conducting a private behavior conference”?
What is “implementing a clear consequence for safety compliance”?