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Welcome to my official website. Look through the site to find everything from my latest work to past projects. I am a national award-winning K-5 Engineering teacher and a Ghanaian-American writer. I didn't see myself in the classroom or the stories I read as a child. Now, I teach classes, facilitate workshops, and present keynote speeches using authentic artifacts and family photographs to inspire readers and students of all ages. My nonfiction picture books are rooted in family, history, heritage, art, travel, and culture.

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New school year, old materials, new possibilities!

A retiring colleague gifted me these pentominoes at the end of last school year. Rather than let them collect dust in my closet, I added dot magnets to the back and turned them into a new hands-on engineering station!

#STEM #math

I 💚 recovering and rejuvenating in nature after a year of teaching.

Some of my happiest moments this summer came during our family trip to Ghana. 🇬🇭 These photos and videos remind me that some of life’s greatest adventures begin just outside my comfort zone.

I fed animals, chased four breathtaking waterfalls, climbed Umbrella Rock, enjoyed a relaxing massage, tried new foods, and experienced peaceful boat and canoe rides, along with an exciting beachside ATV adventure. Every experience challenged me, refreshed me, and filled my heart with gratitude.

Nature has a way of slowing me down, helping me be present, and restoring my joy. I’m grateful for the memories we made, the risks I took, and the chance to return home rested, renewed, and ready to begin my 26th year of teaching.

Summer clean-up in progress…

Found a floppy disk labeled “PowerPoint Pres”

Apparently, my filing system was: “I’ll definitely remember what’s on this later.” 😂🤪

Stay tuned for more flashbacks from 25 years of teaching!

#stem #teacher

I’m presenting! 🎉 Save the date!

How to Create the Conditions for Curiosity, Problem-Solving, and Ownership

This session moves beyond elementary engineering lesson plans to examine the human infrastructure every thriving STEM-based environment depends on. We will look at examples of student-centered design that turn everyday interactions into building blocks for lifelong STEM identity.

😎 The @carlyandadam STEM Teachers Club members get access to this online summit included with their Membership!

🖥 Make plans to join us July 23 - 25, 2026 for the online STEM Teacher Summit - The Building Blocks of STEM.

#stemteachersummit #stem #steam

♻️ STEM treasure hunting!

One of my favorite summer routines is browsing the thrift store on 50%-off Mondays. For just $20 today, I found magnetic wands, a giant Rubik’s Cube, bags of artificial flowers and leis, corks, craft netting, and more!

These inexpensive finds become design challenge materials, prototype supplies, and fresh additions to my scrap/surplus bins. You never know what might spark a student’s next creative idea. They will give students more choice in their creations!

#STEM #STEAM #Makerspace

Anyone else get attached to their prototypes? 😅

It was hard to toss the quick builds I made this school year. They were never meant to be fancy, just 10-minute prototypes to test ideas before students spent 30–40 minutes creating their own decorative versions. I’ve already got take-home challenge ideas brewing for a new year of making, testing, and creating! But first, some much-needed rest and recovery.

#stem #steam

The last day of engineering class still included the design process! Students chose their own materials, machines, pacing, and whether to work independently or collaboratively. What did they create? Watch!

#STEM #StudentInterest #studentautonomy #litebrite #chompsaw

Why do I save cardboard scraps?

✏️ Many K–5 students are still developing spatial reasoning, scale, & efficient material use. Smaller pieces often lead to even smaller designs!

We’ll use the scrap bin to create even more engineering learning opportunities next year! ♻️

#STEM #STEAM #cardboard

I’m honored to receive a retiring colleague’s pentominoes & pattern cards (1984). She wanted them to go somewhere they would continue to be used & appreciated. Like Tetris, they’re a timeless tool for building spatial reasoning, problem-solving, and geometric thinking!

#stem #math #pentominoes

It’s the last days of school, the lights are dimmed, & the engineering stations are buzzing. K-5 students are free to explore, collaborate, and create at their own pace with Lite-Brites, Ultimate Fort Builder, magnetic marble runs and gears, ChompSaws, and more. No time limits!

#stem #steam #stemeducation

Woohoo! 🙌🏾 Last 6:30 a.m. haul of @costco cardboard sheets/pallet separators for the school year! They’re free, clean, print-free, no tape to peel, easy to cut to size, under 3mm thick, and perfect for students using ChompSaws.

#STEM #STEAM @itschompshop

Our first ChompSaw challenge focused on slot cardboard attachment techniques and free choice exploration. In our final class together, students are leveling up their elementary engineering skills by designing pivoting connections with brass fasteners. From simple joins to moving mechanisms, their confidence, creativity, and problem-solving continue to grow!

@itschompshop

#STEM #STEAM #Cardboard #Engineering #DIY

The hundreds of 1st-5th grade end-of-year reflections I’ve read this week keep reminding me why STEM access truly matters.

A 3rd grader wrote: “At home, I want to ask my mom for a box cutter [ @itschompshop ].”

When students are exposed to a variety of STEM tools and machines, they often want to keep designing, building, and exploring beyond the classroom. That curiosity and confidence matter.

#stem #steam #ChompSaw #cardboard #thirdgrade

700+ students…unlimited cardboard practice?! How?? No space for a cardboard library, just bins! I cut sheets, save scraps, and restock daily so students can independently create whatever they want, as much as they want, with the ChompSaw. Take a look! 👀

@itschompshop

#stem #steam #diy #toy #cardboard

Today’s classes averaged 30–38 students, and 8 ChompSaws kept children creating safely and independently! With hundreds of pre-cut cardboard squares ready to go, students focused on designing, problem-solving, and bringing ideas to life instead of waiting for turns. Students could choose whether or not to use the ChompSaws, and those who chose to use them handled the machines safely and responsibly. ChompSaws are a win for student autonomy, classroom management, and elementary engineering!

@itschompshop
#stem #steam #chompsaw #cardboard

A post from @dailystem stuck with me. He said, “STEM isn’t just making stuff, it’s applying math & science skills to making stuff.”

As I read through hundreds of end-of-year reflections, I noticed that a 5th grader echoed the same idea: “Engineering is math…”

That connection matters. Beyond the cardboard, glue, and creativity, students are recognizing that engineering is rooted in problem-solving, measurement, testing, data, and critical thinking. They are beginning to see math and science as meaningful tools they can use to create, improve, and innovate.

#stem #steam #fifthgrade

Let’s play I Spy… 👀 @itschompshop edition!

What’s one interesting thing you noticed my students creating with the ChompSaws?

Drop it in the comments using an emoji!

Mother’s Day is year-round in my classroom. Open-ended engineering design challenges often turn into heartfelt gifts for Mom. Students are thankful for opportunities to design, create, and problem-solve while making something meaningful for their loved ones. It’s not about a perfect product, it’s about student voice. It’s about processing their ideas, their art, and their ability to create with care and purpose.

#stem #steam #mothersday

On Wednesday, first graders got to play the cardboard games they designed for homework and the excitement was everywhere. Students proudly shared their creations, explained their ideas, and cheered each other on.

One of my favorite moments as their engineering teacher was walking through and celebrating their success with them.

#stem #firstgrade #cardboard

If you’ve ever wondered how art, engineering, and storytelling can help us heal and connect, I’d love for you to listen.

I’m honored to be a guest on Episode 54 of The Fierce Urgency of NOW in Today’s Schools with Dr. Cynthia “Mama J” Johnson.

Link in story

#stem #MamasPortraits @edumatchbooks

Introducing our K–5 students to ChompSaws during these final rotations! After learning the basics, they’re exploring engineering through free-choice building, problem-solving, and creative design with simple scrap materials.

Thank you to the @cityofnlv for the Ed Micro-grant that helped me purchase 10 ChompSaws for my engineering classroom and the Makerspace!

#stem #steam #chompsaw @itschompshop
@dickenselementary

First look! I can’t wait to share more examples of our new ChompSaws in action, but this cardboard portrait of me and note from 1st graders already validated the grant-funded purchase:

“Mrs. Moses is the best engineering teacher ever.” 🥹

Thankful for the @cityofnlv Ed Micro-Grant!

#stem #steam @itschompshop

Here’s my teacher’s eye view of elementary engineering!

Students designed and built pinball games in just 30 minutes using accessible materials and their own story/theme ideas.

Every creator approached the challenge differently through creativity, problem-solving, and iteration.

#STEM #STEAM #PINBALL

Wasn’t expecting to find this note after kindergarten left today: “Engineering is fun
You can play”

Engineers are problem solvers, & I’m so glad they’re discovering that through play.

Play is engineering in action, where problem solving feels natural, meaningful, and authentic.

#stem #kindergarten #steam #stemeducation

You’ll see 500+ pinball games.
I see a community that made them possible! ♻️🤝

Glue: @cityofnlv Education Micro Grant
Cardboard: @costco & @ccsdfoodservice
Cereal boxes & paper towel rolls: staff & families
Clothespins: my family
Craft sticks: former colleague
Markers & marbles: my school

Every build tells a bigger story than what’s on the table.

#stem #steam #pinball #stemeducation

The 1st grade teachers read Boxitects & assigned a cardboard design challenge at home.

My hallway duty spot turned into a showcase of creativity, and a flood of proud students eager to share every detail.

Family support ❤️ + ♻️ resourceful materials = meaningful learning

#stem #steam #cardboard #boxitects

“Fun Friday” in action! This cardboard pinball build kept evolving…

A 4th grader called me over again and again to show each upgrade: a stand on the back, marble return to launcher, starting tunnel, and a full scoring system.

He proudly went beyond the criteria and even named it perfectly to close out the week! 🎉

#stem #steam #pinball

I’ve officially earned the National Certificate for STEM Teaching (#NCST). 🎉

Grateful to @nv_osit for the grant support that made this possible!

#stem #stemeducation

Prioritizing the design PROCESS over the PRODUCT means giving students space to follow their curiosity, like building a LEGO roller coaster even if it’s unfinished. ⏰

The real learning is in how they sketch, estimate, collaborate, test structures, iterate, & ✏️reflect.

#stem #steam #lego

A 2nd grader’s partner leaves early. I jump in.

I felt the rush of building, iterating, and racing the clock for one last improvement on our LEGO roller coaster.

I wanted 5 more minutes, but gained a deeper sense of students’ urgency, persistence, and joy!

#stem #lego #steam

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