Hands-on, Practical Guidance for Educators

From math, literacy, science, equity, multilingual learners, and SEL, to assessment, school counseling, and education leadership, our books are research-based and authored by experts on topics most relevant to what educators are facing today.

Sparking Innovation in Children Through STEM Exploration - Book Cover

Look Inside

Add to Wish List

Sparking Innovation in Children Through STEM Exploration

A K-8 Teacher's Guide to Inspiring Future Problem Solvers

By: Richard Cox Jr., Brandy Howard

Foreword by Sarah B. Bush and Kristin L. Cook

This groundbreaking book goes beyond traditional STEM education and introduces the Innov8 Framework, a dynamic and flexible roadmap designed to foster curiosity, spark imagination, and build critical thinking within classrooms and beyond.

Full description

Look Inside

Add to Wish List

Product Details

Grade Level: K-8
ISBN: 9781071968079
Published By: Corwin
Year: 2025
Page Count: 248
Publication date: September 23, 2025

Available As:

PURCHASE ON SAGE

Review Copies

This book is not available as a review copy.

Description

Innovation isn't just a goal; it's a necessity in today's world.

Today, educators face an imperative: prepare learners for an unpredictable future. Sparking Innovation in Children Through STEM Exploration: A K-8 Teacher's Guide to Inspiring Future Problem Solvers is here to help meet that challenge by offering the tools to transform classrooms into ecosystems of creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. This groundbreaking book goes beyond traditional STEM education and offers a comprehensive framework that helps educators cultivate the next generation of innovative thinkers and problem-solvers.

Authors Richard Cox, Jr. and Brandy Howard introduce the Innov8 Framework, a dynamic and flexible roadmap designed to foster curiosity, spark imagination, and build critical thinking within classrooms and beyond. Rooted in justice, empathy, and inquiry-based learning, this approach ensures every learner is empowered to contribute their unique perspective to real-world challenges.

With hands-on strategies to ensure access for everyone, this book

Offers practical, step-by-step guidance through The Innov8 Framework, which introduces the eight phases of innovation—from sparking curiosity to sustaining impact
Provides adaptable tools and resources such as editable lesson plans, interest surveys, reflection prompts for both educators and learners, and learner feedback tools designed to seamlessly integrate with existing standards
Includes engaging real-world case studies of thriving innovation ecosystems and personal profiles of educators driving innovation, showcasing actionable steps to replicate their success

Sparking Innovation in Children Through STEM Exploration provides educators with the tools to ignite curiosity, foster collaboration, and empower young learners to become confident, creative problem-solvers. Prepare your classrooms to shape the future. Your learners will thrive, and so will you.

Author(s)

Richard Cox Jr.

Richard Cox, Jr. is the STEM Program Coordinator at Advocate Health, based in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this role, he supports STE(A)M education initiatives for the enterprise, focusing on programming and outcomes for K-8 learners through work at The Pearl Innovation District in Charlotte (www.thepearlclt.com) and Innovation Quarter in Winston-Salem. With over 15 years of research and hands-on experience in transdisciplinary and integrated learning, Dr. Cox has championed STEAM education across diverse settings, from Kentucky to Chicago to North and South Carolina, engaging learners of all ages. Dr. Cox holds a Doctorate in Education and Social Change, specializing in mathematics, science, and transdisciplinary STEAM approaches. His academic career includes a pivotal role as Assistant Professor at Winthrop University, where he helped redefine teacher preparation by blending innovative methods with strategic curriculum development. This work is complemented by his experience as a classroom teacher, K-12 Instructional Coach, and STEAM Lab Coordinator, enabling him to bridge traditional teaching with imaginative approaches. Dr. Cox’s expertise is reflected in his extensive contributions to the field, including 15+ peer-reviewed publications, 30+ presentations, and numerous awards and accolades. His research focuses on imaginative learning, STEAM career pathway development, and workforce readiness, making him a thought leader in preparing learners for dynamic futures. His unique combination of practical experience, academic research, and leadership in professional development ensures that his contributions to this book are both deeply insightful and broadly impactful.

Brandy Howard

Brandy Howard serves as Chief Academic Officer for Bullitt County Public Schools in Kentucky, where her visionary leadership transforms educational practices at the district level. She oversees instructional coaching, professional development, and assessment strategies while championing her district’s Graduate Profile and authentic learning initiatives. As a co-leader of the Transformational Learning Cohort and the Graduate Profile Cohort, Dr. Howard works closely with educators to integrate meaningful, real-world experiences into classroom instruction.

Her influence extends beyond the district through her participation in national and statewide initiatives, such as the NAESP’s Innovative Principal Circle Cohort and the Kentucky United We Learn Innovative Assessment team. Dr. Howard also co-leads the Community Contributors of Innovative Learning Team, fostering partnerships between schools and local stakeholders to reshape accountability systems and create a comprehensive learning ecosystem.

Dr. Howard’s academic background includes research on the impact of year-round education, underscoring her commitment to evidence-based practices and data-driven decision-making. Her involvement with the Kentucky Department of Education Blended Learning Module Team and her induction into the KASA Kentucky Women’s Educational Leadership Cohort further demonstrate her dedication to progressive educational reform.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Sarah B. Bush and Kristin L. Cook

Preface

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

Introduction

Defining Innovation . . . Sort Of

Grounding Innovation in Purpose: The SDGs and the ISPs

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Integrated STEM Practices (ISPs)

The Connection Between SDGs and ISPs

Why This Book Uses Broader Standards

Introducing the Innov8 Framework

How to Use This Book

Your Invitation to Innovate

Chapter 1: Blueprints and Beginnings

Understanding Innovation Ecosystems

1. Collaborative Spaces

2. Diversity of Expertise

3. Incubator and Accelerator Models

4. Community Engagement

5. Technology and Infrastructure

6. Sustainability and Inclusivity

7. Continuous Learning and Adaptation

8. Networking and Mentorship

Looking Back

Looking Ahead

Chapter 2: Ready to Innov8

The Path to Innovation: Our 8-Step Journey

What Role Might You Play?

Step 1: Spark Curiosity, as a Visionary

Step 2: Design, as an Architect

Step 3: Collaborate, as a Connector

Step 4: Empower, as a Navigator

Step 5: Convene, as a Builder

Step 6: Measure, as an Evaluator

Step 7: Model, as a Mentor

Step 8: Sustain, as a Lifelong Learner

Looking Back

Looking Ahead

Chapter 3: Spark

The Act of Sparking Curiosity in Innovation

Creating a Curious Place

Establish Safety First

Embrace and Encourage Risk-Taking

Failure as Fuel

Teacher Self-Assessment

Growth Mindset

Crafting the Vision

Looking Back

Looking Ahead

Chapter 4: Design

The Act of Designing in Innovation

Designing an Innovative Place

Designing for Competency

Designing for Craftsmanship

Designing for Culture

Critical Thinking

Accessible for All

Conversation

Clock (Time)

Designing for Change

Looking Back

Looking Ahead

Chapter 5: Collaborate

The Act of Collaboration in Innovation

Designing a Collaborative Place

Reconnect to Your Role: Check-In

Collaboration in Action

Shared Vision

Finding Common Goals

Navigating Nuance

Looking Back

Looking Ahead

Chapter 6: Empower

The Act of Empowering in Innovation

Designing an Empowering Place

Check for Understanding

Facilitate, Don’t Direct

Elevate Learner Agency

Learn Together, Grow Together

Make Empowerment Tangible

Empowering All Learners

Looking Back

Looking Ahead

Chapter 7: Convene

The Act of Convening Community in Innovation

Designing a Convening Place

Break Down Walls

Mapping Your Community Network

Tap Into Trends

Building a Future-Focused Speaker Series

Convening Over Conversation

Designing a Collaborative Project

Diverse Perspectives Drive Innovation

Navigating Nuance

Looking Back

Looking Ahead

Chapter 8: Measure

The Act of Measuring Innovation

Designing a Place That Values Evaluation

Amplify Strengths

From Data to Insights

Feedback as Fuel

Scaling and Refining Success

Learners as Evaluators

Looking Back

Looking Ahead

Chapter 9: Model

The Act of Modeling in Innovation

Designing a Place That Values Mentorship

Building Authentic Connections

Designing Inclusive Spaces for Mentorship

Nurturing Long-Term Growth Through Mentorship

Encouraging Mentees to Become Mentors

Looking Back

Looking Ahead

Chapter 10: Sustain

The Act of Sustaining Innovation

What Role Might You Play?

Converging to Sustain

A Challenge

Key Takeaways

Next Steps

Potential Barriers and How to Overcome Them

References

Index

Reviews

Everyone tells teachers to innovate, but Richard Cox Jr. and Brandy Howard invite them into a strengths-based, interactive journey. This book is a sandbox of provocations, stories, and reflection tools where teachers can explore, experiment, and make meaning of innovation on their own terms. It’s a space to understand yourself more deeply while learning from the practices of other educators and the structures of innovative workplaces.

Sujata Bhatt
Incubate Learning

Cox and Howard’s guide bridges the gap between boardroom vision and classroom reality for transformative change. More than a book, it’s an essential resource providing tools empowering educators to cultivate innovation, creativity, and problem-solving skills our future workforce demands. A must-read for anyone serious about preparing students for tomorrow’s challenges.

Adrienne Usher
Bullitt County Public Schools

This book is the key to a reimagined education that connects students to humanizing and mutually beneficial outcomes. The authors chart a clear
and integrated pathway to educational ecosystems that did not previously (before this!) systematically exist. Through individualized reflective
opportunities, profiles of successful educational innovators, and a plethora of classroom examples, this book empowers K–8 teachers to create accessible, future-forward innovation opportunities for all learners.

April L. Mustian
Winthrop University

While many recognize the urgent need to reimagine school for today’s learners, what’s often missing is the how. In Sparking Innovation in Children Through STEM Exploration, highly respected educators and leaders Richard Cox Jr. and Brandy Howard deliver exactly that—practical, inspiring, and deeply grounded guidance. This book is a must-read for educators ready to move from intention to action, creating learning ecosystems where curiosity, creativity, and authentic learning are the norm.

Carmen Coleman
ElevatED Studios, The Ohio Valley Education Cooperative

This book is a force for good. It is an inspiring and empowering platform for educators to create an ecosystem that centralizes creativity, curiosity, and collaboration among our young learners. This text humanizes innovation and reminds us that it flourishes in a community’s embrace. Transforming classrooms into innovation districts is and must be the ‘spark’ we educators use to uplift our next generation of changemakers.

Micah Deer
Blumenthal Arts

This book is an outstanding resource for educators seeking to create innovative and engaging classrooms. It is thoughtfully organized, with a clear structure that introduces the ‘why,’ provides actionable steps for implementation, and concludes with a practical action plan.

Cheryl Robertson
UT-PLAYS Initial Licensure Program University of Tennessee

This book is a thought-provoking guide for educators looking to ignite curiosity, cultivate creativity, and lead innovation in their classrooms and
beyond. With a blend of actionable strategies, compelling stories, and reflective moments, the authors inspire educators to reimagine learning in
ways that are both practical and transformative. A must-read for teachers, school leaders, and anyone committed to creating engaging, future-ready
learning experiences for all learners.

Lu S. Young
UK Center for Next Generation Leadership

Available As:

PURCHASE ON SAGE

Review Copies

This book is not available as a review copy.

Related Resources

Access to companion resources is available with the purchase of this book.

Other Titles in: Mathematics | Science | STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics)