About Mrs. Lopez & S.T.E.A.M.
Hello! My name is Christine Lopez (formerly Ms. Kafkalas), and I am your child's S.T.E.A.M. teacher and librarian. I am a 2003 graduate of St. John’s University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Childhood Education. I also received a Masters of Science degree in 2006 in Teaching Literacy. I've also completed a Gifted and Talented program to obtain a certificate in Gifted and Talented education. In 2018 I received the Teacher of the Year award and was thrilled to be among other nominees in Districts 20 and 21. I am currently a student at St. John Fisher University and will graduate in May with a second masters in Library Media. I am proud to say the 2023-2024 school year is my 21st year teaching here at P.S. 205. I am honored to be a part of the wonderful staff at our school.
I have always wanted to be a teacher. I was instructed by some of the best educators throughout my school career. I was lucky to have caring individuals who made learning fun. I try to give my students the same feeling of self-worth and encouragement that I was given by my teachers. My classroom is a friendly, safe-environment where children are welcome to voice their opinions and be encouraged to try their best, no matter what the outcome. I am confident that this will be a rewarding year for your child!
I believe that all children can learn if given the right tools. Our classroom will strive to be a place where all children will have the opportunity to show their individual strengths and build upon their unique differences. I believe that education and learning should be fun, exciting, and challenging. If young children develop a love for learning at an early age, that love will continue to grow as they do. Through the use of projects, hands-on activities, technology, and cooperative learning, I will do my part to encourage and motivate each child to achieve their highest level and become life-long learners. I know that education is a partnership between home, school, and community. I am available at any time for parent conferences, concerns, or questions. Through working together, we can make your child's school year an enjoyable and challenging experience!
I am very excited to teach S.T.E.A.M. instruction again in the library. Classes that are scheduled for my class during the week will be learning all about S.T.E.A.M. For one week out of each month, they will also be learning Library and Research Skills. During this time, they will be able to take books out of the library. During non-library weeks, students will learn how to reserve books online, place them on hold, and will be able to pick them up throughout the entire year. Students may return books at anytime and do not have to wait for their library week.
The S.T.E.A.M. Program engages students in project-based learning using hands-on engineering applications. Students are exposed to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.) in a student-centered environment where they are encouraged to be problem solvers and innovative thinkers. When these areas are taught in an integrated way, students are better able to appreciate how each part is necessary for the success of any complex, real world project.
The idea behind S.T.E.A.M. education is to prepare students for successful careers in the 21st century workforce. We live in a time where information is at your fingertips and there is a constant explosion of knowledge. Our children will be working in jobs that don’t even exist today. One thing which is certain about careers of the future is that they will involve constant change. S.T.E.A.M. education seeks to teach students to be creative, innovative, critical thinkers - all skills needed for adapting to change. It engages students in project based learning, where they are often given real world engineering challenges. Teams of students work together to seek multiple solutions to these challenges. They learn that failure is sometimes part of the process and they should seek to try again and improve upon ideas. If students develop skills needed to think deeply and critically, they will be prepared to become the innovators and leaders of our future.
I look forward to meeting with all of the students here in the library this year - whether it be to book shop or to come explore S.T.E.A.M.!