The Newton Schools Foundation has announced that, for a fourth year in a row, an anonymous donor will match up to $25,000 in donations made in March for the Newton Public School’s Calculus Project.  The Calculus Project works in all of Newton’s middle and high schools to have more Hispanic, African American, and low-income students successfully complete calculus in high school, as a path to success in college.  Since its start in 2013, the program has increased enrollment by 70%, 200%, and 800% for these groups, respectively.  The program provides intensive, small-group summer classes, enrichment activities, and year-round mentoring and tutoring.  The summer program includes instruction in Computer Science, field trips to STEM-related companies, and college campus visits for rising 11th graders with a focus on STEM majors and careers. The program currently include 109 students in Grades 8-12 and will welcome 30 incoming 8th Graders this summer.

While the NPS operating budget funds part of the program, tax-deductible donations via the NSF are needed for the summer program, tutoring, enrichment activities, and supplies.

Boston Tech Mom has posted her annual STEM Gift Ideas for 2018 and has also discussed the gifts recommended by educators from Project Lead the Way.

Eric Olson recommends the monthly subscriptions of fun STEM projects from KiwiCo. They’re available in 7 lines, by age:  Explore & Discover (0-3 years), Play & Learn (3-4 years), Science, Art & More (5-8 years), Geography & Culture (6-11 years), Art & Design (9-16+ years), Science & Engineering (9-16+ years), Engineering and Design (14-104 years). Choose 1, 3, 6, or 12 months, with increasing discounts. Change among lines at any time.

Kevin Osborn has an eclectic list of recommendations for makers and robotics fans:

1. Screwdrivers! They are definitely not all created equal! Wiha screwdrivers are always excellent, and you can buy them in multi-bit sets or as dedicated drivers with ergonomic handles. Once you start using them, you’ll want to throw out your other screwdrivers. If you are not buying a set, at least get a #1 and #2 Phillips head. They are available locally at YouDoIt Electronics or online. And if you ever need to open your Macbook or Android phone, specialty screwdrivers are needed. This Japanese made set is terrific and has regular drivers included, so it’s just about got you covered for any job involving small screws.

2. To explore electronics on a budget, look at Adafruit’s Circuit Playground Express, which has a bunch of sensors, a speaker, microphone, addressable LEDs, etc. It can be programmed in the browser with Microsoft’s MakeCode, with Arduino, or you can drag-and-drop Python programs to it. Many accessories are available, including Crickit, which turns the Circuit Playground #xpress into a great platform for building your own robots.

3. mBot is not like so many “STEM” robot toys that are expensive one-trick ponies (once you’ve learned what they have to teach you, they are no longer very interesting). mBot includes distance sensing, line following, motion, and more, and it’s part of a more extensive line (makeblock) that’s sort of an Erector Set of robotics. With many attachment points, you can also add on your own embellishments (both artistic and functional) with standard screws and nuts. Buy two to set up your own robot sumo contest!

The Newton Public Schools recently adopted the following STEM-related goals among its Systemwide Goals for the 2018-19 school year:

Elementary Schools

• Implement Investigations 3 in grades K, 1, 2, and 5.
• Roll out new science units in grade 3 to align with MA Science and
  Technology Engineering (STE) Frameworks and Next Generation
  Science Standards (NGSS).
• Develop and revise science and engineering units in grade 4 to align
  with new standards.

Middle Schools

• Implement Illustrative Math curriculum in all middle school grades.
• Plan for improved research writing across disciplines in accordance
  with the MA DESE Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies,
  Science, and Technical Subjects in collaboration with library teachers.
• Develop a plan for improving students’ literacy skills across disciplines
  in accordance with the MA DESE Standards for Literacy in
  History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects.
• Begin developing short performance assessment and embedded
  assessments in new science curriculum to measure student progress.
• Evaluate the use of anchoring phenomenon to engage students in
  critical and creative thinking in STE.
• Continue the Calculus Project.

High Schools

• Support Calculus Project students in grades 9-11, monitor course
  placement and achievement in both high school cohorts.

The Newton Schools Foundation has announced that, for a third year in a row, an anonymous donor will match up to $25,000 in donations made in March for the Newton Public School’s Calculus Project.  The Calculus Project works in all of Newton’s middle and high schools to have more Hispanic, African American, and low-income students successfully complete calculus in high school, as a path to success in college.  Since its start in 2013, the program has increased enrollment by 70%, 200%, and 800% for these groups, respectively.  The program provides intensive, small-group summer classes, enrichment activities, and year-round mentoring and tutoring.  In 2018, the summer program includes instruction in Computer Science, field trips to STEM-related companies, and college campus visits for rising 11th graders with a focus on STEM majors and careers. The program currently include 138 students in four grades next year will expand next year to cohorts in Grades 8-12.

While the NPS operating budget funds part of the program, tax-deductible donations via the NSF are needed for the summer program, tutoring, enrichment activities, and supplies.

Boston Tech Mom builds on her recent list of recommended STEM-oriented gifts with a blog post about Project Lead The Way’s recommended STEM gifts focused on engineering and computer science.

Eric Olson recommends that you consider the wide range of STEM educational products at Picoturbine.com.

Kevin Osborn recommends Engadget’s article on Learning Toys and STEM Toys We Love.

Public radio’s Science Friday had a really interesting discussion this week of the Best Science Books of 2016 with Maria Popova of Brain Pickings and Lee Billings of Scientific American.  Their recommendations are written on the site along with the podcast, and the comments contain many more book recommendations.

Be sure to read the LigerBots’ op-ed column in the Newton TAB, which explains, with examples, the value of two key tenets that drive the innovation, success, and character-building of FIRST Robotics:

• Gracious Professionalism — “the idea that rather than taunting or jeering opponents, teams should compliment and even help their competitors when needed”
• Coopertition — “displaying unqualified kindness and respect, even in the face of fierce competition”

The LigerBots invite the entire community to see, cheer, and learn about this at its next competition, on April 2-3 at Boston University (Agganis Arena, 925 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston — see schedule).  It’s free, open to all, inspirational, and a blast.