Thanks to our fantastic readers, here are some terrific ROBOT resources: 
The Various Applications of Robots
Leg and Motion Control Design Principles
Automotive Design Principles for Future Engineers & Robotics Teams
How To Build A Robot From Scratch
How To Store Hobbies (incl. technical components)
Guide to Automation and DIY Robots

STEM Resources

Download, Print, or Read Now

Miss Kitty is math shy, but you shouldn't be!

Are you math shy? Forget that; you do math every time you shop, pay a restaurant check, cook, and a bunch* more ways. We are just NOT programmed to think this way, especially girls. Today we think math is about computational intelligence, complexity theory, or, at the very least; trigonometry. Nope, that's not the case, and with the adoption of digital skills and tech tools, basic math (foundational math) is all the more important. Gone are the days when we said, "Take a wild guess, ballpark it." Computers are precise, maybe some day robots will be able to "guesstimate" but not today. So, make sure you tell your kids: "We all do math, we all know math."

There are many apps and online resources for math, search Twitter and you'll find thousands. Here's one we like: Math Videos @ Edutopia!
  • This free site is for "teachers" so homeschool families will be able to find excellent middle school resources: Engineering by Design 
  • Our friends at Library 2.0 recommend this app with free, global resources: TES Teach
  • Google Launches Project Bloks, a programming  project to help kids code.
  • ​The Smithsonian has hundreds of great STEM online activities in their Learning Lab.
  • Developed at Rice University, Accelerate Learning is a K-12 STEM Learning hub with lessons, resources. 
A Framework for Integrated STEM Education
is a scholarly work well worth reading, especially if you need support for your pro-STEM position. 

*Bunch is now an obsolete word, unless you're buying bananas. Today every skill or occupation is using very precise math. Our friend, Vic, an automotive technician, must perform his work within a tolerance of only three millimeters ... a tiny amount. There's no "turn it a bunch" in any shop, industry, or construction site today.

Additional STEM Resources

- IBM has just launched a new STEM resource site.
This is aimed at teachers, but anyone will benefit from checking out, even students. 
- Of course we love CODE.ORG. Here's a page you might not have seen at CODE.ORG ... statistics! 
- Chicago Museum of Science & Industry has some awesome online games.
- PBS Kids has great STEM resources, we really like Design Squad. Perfect for the future engineer. 
- Try Engineering an IBM and IEEE partnership has career info, lesson plans, and fun facts. There's also Teachers Try Science . And Teach Engineering.
Think STEM is only in a few countries? Moms learn coding in Jakarta! Thanks to a great program sponsored by 7 Eleven.  Imagine going to a convenience store to learn a skill or trade. Moms Take Up Coding! Very inspiring and our homeschool coordinator is taking a Khan Academy coding course this month! Online coding sites and apps are a great way to dip your toe into computer science.

Books & Reports 

Recent Reads ...

Take a moment - our National PTA has just released its STEM Report. Key highlights include: 
  • Families are unaware about the vast career opportunities in STEM
  • Families are not equipped to support STEM education decision-making or to guide their children toward STEM careers 
  • Families have not been empowered to advocate for high-quality STEM education and programs for all students in school, home, community, or digital settings
"We cannot ignore the reality that most state education systems are falling dangerously behind the world, leaving the United States overwhelmingly underprepared to succeed in the 21st century economy." This realistic and new NCSL report should be read by all. 

We love this book: INDUSTRIES of the FUTURE by Alex Ross. Mr. Ross discusses many of the careers our children will be considering in the near future. Guaranteed to make you think. His call for cyber-warriors is spot on.

You may have seen our Tweet series: "I was born to ..."We used solder, code, invent, and we should add, "Princess" since so many girls aspire to princess-hood. Here's a revealing look into the world and marketing of Princess-land from our friends at the Washington Post, Princess Culture.  Girls can accomplish anything when they explore, learn, aspire. 

National Science Teachers Association has a wonderful online bookstore. Be sure to check out the BARGAIN BOOKS ​too while you're there. 
"I can't do this" is a starting point for learning how to do it, moving beyond no.
The New Education Philosophy - Politics, Policy, and Reform is a fascinating book by a number of different authors. Larry Cuban is probably my favorite in the whole book. In it he writes "This lack of responsibility for policy errors to improve schooling has been a constant criticism, past and present, and one that I find warranted."  An emeritus professor of education at Stanford University, Prof. Cuban is not shy to share valid insights and opinions about education, curriculum, leadership, and reform. 

The Innovators by Walter Isaacson contains a wealth of inspired information, and provides real insights. Is your kid the next innovator? Genius? The book also provides some grounding for the whole STEM -- STEAM debate."... innovation will come from those able to link beauty to engineering, humanity to technology." Isaacson is the the author of Steve Jobs and understands the intersections of technology, creativity, art, and design. 

Check out these FREE Teaching Tools. Learning happens through talking. And yet, student talk typically makes up less than 20% of the time spent in science class. - According to a STEM survey 42% of people would have considered an education in STEM if they better understood a potential career path! There's no denying, we face a new digital divide. Our families need help to define STEM and digital careers, courage to insist on STEM programs in their schools, and information to demand computer science and coding courses.