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The Integrated Achievement and Mentoring (iAM) Program responds to the challenge of STEM student retention. The iAM Program provides access to the hidden curriculum (the unwritten, implicit skills critical for academic success) and uses legitimate peripheral participation to structure resources. Three essential (integrated support services, mentoring, and responsive program structure) and two adaptable components (STEM writing and metacognition seminar, and scholarships) are intended as mechanisms of inclusivity that build community and promote belonging. Retention of iAM Scholars was 18.3% higher relative to peers who were eligible but did not join the program. The Scholars’ four-year graduation rate was 26% higher than that of their STEM peers. A cost/benefit analysis revealed a net revenue benefit and suggests less-quantifiable benefits to the institution such as increased reputation. While the essential components of an iAM-based program should be consistent across institutions, the adaptable components can be implemented in ways that address local challenges and opportunities across international contexts.

I didn't like science, but when I came to STEM Studio, that changed my mind," said Jasmine. "We got to learn where patterns start. For example, a starfi sh!" said Janae. "STEM Studio made me smart," said Karem.After a year in a teaching and learning lab based on real-world, multidisciplinary design challenges, 4th graders Jasmine, Janae, and Karem have learned more about how to think creatively and critically. They did this as part of the STEM Studio at Hofstra University School of Education.In 2012, Hofstra created STEM Studio, a "space of liberty" (Brooks, Libresco, & Plonczak, 2007) where preservice teachers learn to effectively offer instruction that teaches children to think more reasonably, write more cogently, and compute more carefully. STEM Studio spreads successful teaching practices and classroom structures by engaging teachers in honing their skills by analyzing their students' performances and artifacts. Schools and teachers learn and grow from practices that help their students learn and grow. Innovation generates innovation. What is STEM Studio?STEM Studio was born out of a problem: Preservice teachers were not transferring pedagogical understandings and practices learned in university methods classes to their practice. A starting point was creating a vibrant classroom on campus that brings together elementary pupils with preservice elementary teachers and secondary pupils with secondary preservice teachers in a setting that offers problem-based curriculum and just-in-time instructional mentoring. STEM Studio provides real-world math, science, and engineering design challenges that integrate literacy, social studies, multiculturalism, and the arts. The setting integrates teacher education and student learning by providing:• Classroom structures using multidisciplinary STEM tasks as platforms for learning; • Design challenge templates for diverse student populations; and • Inclusive, just-in-time, multiple career stage professional learning community.STEM Studio offers problem-based, distinctive curricula where pupils learn concepts at deeper levels with transferable skills, and preservice and in-service teachers learn instructional strategies rooted in the research (Bransford, Brown, & Cocking, 2002). STEM Studio WHERE INNOVATION GENERATES INNOVATIONChildren and teachers discover new ways of teaching and learning in a university lab setting.IRENE PLONCZAK (Irene.Plonczak@hofstra.edu) is an associate professor of teaching, literacy, and leadership and codirector of STEM elementary education at Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y., where JACQUELINE GRENNON BROOKS is a professor of teaching, literacy, and leadership, director of the Institute for the Development of Education in the Advanced Sciences, and director of secondary science education; GLORIA LODATO WILSON is an associate professor and director of special education secondary programs; ROSEBUD ELIJAH is an associate professor of teaching, literacy, and leadership; and JULIA CALIENDO is STEM Studio administrative coordinator.C ommon C ore