A NewtonSTEM reader asks if there are any introductory programming classes in or near Newton for middle-school students.  If you know of any after-school clubs or classes that you would recommend, please email info@newtonstem.org.

Jim Forde of @stemnetwork replies:  “download Scratch and go for it! (BTW…. Free!) http://scratch.mit.edu” Any additional recommendations?

Another reader responds:  “Gentle Knowledge (http://gentleknowledge.com/) offers in-home and online programming classes that specifically target middle schoolers.  As far as I know, they introduce programming to older elementary students and use a curriculum that extends to high school level computer science.”