Hi, I’m Dr. Tanielle—and this is my STEM story! Hello Tiny Scientists! My name is Dr. Tanielle Brew Smith and I’m a primary care doctor in Florida. As a primary care doctor, I take care of people of all ages —from tiny babies to grown-ups who are over 100 years old (my oldest patient is 101!). I knew I wanted to be a doctor after watching my grandmother, who was a nurse. Seeing her care for others and help people in our community inspired me to do the same. From that moment o

If you’ve ever watched a child try something again…and again…and again, you’ve witnessed perseverance in its purest form. Before kids ever learn the word perseverance , they live it. They keep stacking the blocks after the tower falls. They keep pouring even after the spill. They keep asking “why?” long after the adults are tired. That persistence — that I’m-not-done-yet  energy — is where real learning begins. And the best part? It’s already happening at home. Perseverance I

When you watch children play, something incredible unfolds. Blocks turn into towers, spoons become catapults, and suddenly your living room is the headquarters of the world’s tiniest engineering firm. And the truth is — our Tiny Scientists don’t need fancy tools to build big brains. They just need space to explore and experiment their way through the day. Everyday play isn’t “just playing.” It’s problem-solving in disguise. Kids Are Born Problem Solvers Children naturally tin

When you watch children explore, something magical happens. Their eyes widen, their hands reach, and suddenly the world is full of possibilities  you didn’t even notice. And the truth is — our Tiny Scientists don’t need us to give them all the answers. They just need us to create space for their questions! Child-led learning isn’t about giving up control. It’s about giving children the confidence to notice, wonder, and ask, “What happens if…?” That’s where science truly begin

Dr. Erica Benjamin Williams — affectionately known as Dr. B  — is an educator, coach, and science-lover whose mission is simple: spark curiosity, confidence, and joy in every child she encounters. With over a decade of experience teaching and supporting teachers, Dr. B has dedicated her career to making science feel accessible, affirming, and exciting for all families — especially those who don’t always see themselves represented in STEM spaces. Her work blends deep education

Seeing Yourself in Science When I first started teaching, I quickly noticed something that broke my heart a little. My students — bright, curious, and imaginative — rarely saw themselves  in the science materials we used. The scientists in the textbooks didn’t look like them. The lab photos, posters, and videos were missing faces that reflected our classrooms. And when my students went searching online, they saw more “white coats” than they did people of color . Representatio

The Kitchen: Where Curiosity Meets Cooking Let’s face it — if your family’s anything like mine, the kitchen is where everything  happens. Homework at the counter. Dinner bubbling on the stove. Somebody sneaking snacks. Somebody else spilling them. But here’s a secret most people don’t realize: your kitchen is one of the best science labs in the world. Every day, there’s chemistry, physics, and biology happening right between the fridge and the sink. So before dinner’s ready,

The Beautiful Chaos of Learning Let’s be honest — science can get messy. Between the vinegar volcanoes, the flour explosions, and that one glitter incident we don’t talk about anymore (R.I.P. my favorite rug), I’ve learned that every mess tells a story. And if you lean in just a little closer, you’ll realize that story is all about discovery. That “oops” moment when the water overflows? Observation. That curious poke into the slimy goo? Experimentation. That wide-eyed “Whoa,