Notes
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THE ROAD TO
STEM SUCCESS
STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
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STEM
Action Plan
Resources
Be What I Want To Be
Be What I Want To Be provides career exploration
information to help students figure out what they want
to be and how to get there.
http://bewhatiwanttobe.com/
Codecademy
Learn to code in JavaScript, HTML/CSS, PHP, Python,
and Ruby.
http://www.codecademy.com
Computer Science Unplugged
Computer Science Unplugged provides learning
activities that teach computer science concepts, such
as binary numbers, algorithms, and data compression,
through engaging games and puzzles.
http://csunplugged.org/
Funmaths.com
Funmaths.com provides printable math worksheets,
tutorials, games, and puzzles for elementary, middle,
and high school students.
http://www.funmaths.com/
HippoCampus
HippoCampus provides free instructional videos
on arithmetic, algebra and geometry, calculus and
advanced math, statistics and probability, biology,
chemistry, physics, earth science, economics, and
history and government for middle and high school
students.
http://www.hippocampus.org/
How-to-Study.com
How-to-Study.com provides math-related study aids,
including math vocabulary and strategies for solving
math word problems.
http://www.how-to-study.com/
Khan Academy
Khan Academy provides a video library of self-paced
learning videos, practice problems, and quizzes.
http://www.khanacademy.org/
Math.com
Math.com provides worksheets and videos that focus
on grade 1–6 math skills. This website includes links
to many resources, from basic math through calculus.
http://www.math.com
MinutePhysics
MinutePhysics offers an energetic and entertaining
view of old and new problems in physics—all in 1
minute!
http://www.youtube.com/user/minutephysics
PhET Interactive Simulations
PhET interactive simulations cover physics, biology,
chemistry, earth science, and math. All simulations
are downloadable and sorted by grade level.
http://phet.colorado.edu
Science Buddies
Science Buddies provides resources for science fairs
for teachers, students, and parents. Handouts, grading
and judging resources, science project kits, and STEM
career information are also offered.
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/
Scratch Programming
Scratch is a programming language that allows
children to program interactive stories, games, and
animations. This software was developed by MIT and
is free to download.
http://www.scratch.mit.edu/
Your journey begins here....
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YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A “MATH OR SCIENCE PERSON” TO HELP YOUR CHILD DO WELL
IN EITHER OF THOSE SUBJECTS.
You are not alone, and you don’t have to do this by yourself. Identify other STEM parents and
then support one another by phone, text, or e-mail, or by using Facebook or Twitter.
It is more likely that your child will become an engineer, mathematician, computer scientist,
or scientist than a professional athlete. The work is a little harder in the beginning but
requires the same amount of dedication and discipline as sports.
Encourage, encourage, encourage! Your child will resist until he or she realizes you are
serious. Teaching is repeating until learning takes place. Remember that the time and energy
you spend are an investment worth making. The movie and book about Ben Carson, “Gifted
Hands,” is a great example of how a little parental determination can go a long way.
It is normal to get tired of keeping up with your child’s progress and assignments. Being tired
simply means that you should take a rest and not give up.
Expect more from your child and reward them with praise when they meet or exceed your
expectations.
Complete the rest of this form (checking off the steps as you go), and make a commitment to
follow your action plan.
Keep a copy of the completed plan in a place where you will see it daily. Review it at least
twice per year.
1
Microsoft Corporation and Harris Interactive (2011) STEM Perceptions: Student & Parent Study.
2
Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress (2012) A Letter on STEM Education to America’s Parents from the Committee on K-12 Education.
Attend PTA
meetings, insist
on Common Core
Curriculum testing
standards.2
Not I’ve always known, 3%
sure,
2%
How can you make up the
difference?
Only 1 in 5 STEM college students feel that
their K–12 education prepared them extremely
well for their college courses in STEM.1
Students who felt less
prepared for STEM college
courses said that having more
challenging courses would
have better prepared them.1
Insist
new teacher
standards be
raised and they are
compensated as
professionals.2
Support
the idea of
recognition
and rewards for
extraordinary
teachers.2
What can you do?
High school, 57%
Encourage
experiential
extracurricular
activities.2
No one, 34%
Parent, 27%
The majority of college students majoring in STEM
fields made the decision to pursue STEM before college.1
Why now?
“Extremely Important.”1
of STEM college students answered
42%
When asked, “How important a factor
‘supportive parents’ was in their success,”
of college students majoring in STEM fields
answered “Parents.”1
27%
When asked, “Who had the MOST
influence on your decision to pursue STEM,”
Encourage
schools
to lengthen
high-quality
classroom
hours.2
Middle/junior
high school, 13%
Elementary school, 5%
Percentage of students who
decided to pursue STEM in...
You can
be a
Foundation.
You can
be an
Inspiration.
You can
prepare
them.
Extremely
important,
42%
Emphasize
to your child
that hard work
in class and STEM
programs will result
in great career
opportunities
and pay.2
College, 20%
Everything
else
58%
Other relative, 2%
Grandparent, 3%
Mentor, 3%
Famous
person, 3%
Sibling, 4%
Friend, 7%
Teacher or guidance
counselor, 14%
As a parent, what role do you play in your child’s success in STEM?
Success in STEM: The Parent Connection
3
ACTION PLAN FOR:_________________________________________________________________________
I
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Discuss the following with your child, develop an achievement plan,
and review it twice a year.
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Make sure your child is completing homework and classroom assignments on time.
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What subjects or activities does your child enjoy or do well in?
If your child needs help with homework or is having trouble understanding difficult concepts, take
advantage of free online and local tutoring services.
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¤¤ Review the resources section of this booklet to find helpful websites.
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What careers might use those subjects or activities?
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Use the Internet or library to find role models in those careers. Which college did each role model attend,
where have they worked, where are they from, and which major(s) did they study?
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Role Model(s):__________________________________________________________________________
College(s): _____________________________ Major(s): ________________________________________
Set yearly goals, such as improving grades or participating in a STEM activity, that will help your child be
ready to pursue his/her career(s) of interest.
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Check with your public libraries and school system to see if tutoring is offered for free or at
a reduced cost.
4
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Provide your child with the resources he or she will need to get on
and stay on the road to STEM success.
Register your child for STEM activities like the Team America Rocketry
Challenge, FIRST Robotics, MATHCOUNTS, MESA, or other science and
math competitions or programs.
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Remember that some competitions offer scholarships, and participating in these kinds of activities will
make your child a stronger candidate when applying for college.
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Determine which STEM programs are offered near you (during the school year and during the summer):
Goal: _________________________________________________________________________________
¤¤ Program option 1: ______________________________________________________________________
Goal: _________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Goal: _________________________________________________________________________________
Contact information:____________________________________________________________________
Review this plan at least twice per year and modify it as necessary.
2
Determine whether your child is on the road to completing Algebra 1
before finishing the 8th grade.
¤¤ Program option 2: ______________________________________________________________________
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Contact information: ___________________________________________________________________
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Determine which programs are a good match for your child’s interests.
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Current math class: ______________________________________________________________________
¤¤ Best match during the school year: ________________________________________________________
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Desired math class for the next school year: __________________________________________________
¤¤ Best match during the summer: ___________________________________________________________
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Work with your child’s guidance counselor and/or STEM (science, math, and computer science) teachers to
determine whether your child is on track to complete Algebra 1 before completing the 8th grade (determine
before January 30th of 7th grade).
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Register your child for a STEM competition or activity and participate.
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These steps are simply guidelines to get your student(s) on the road to STEM success. While we don’t claim
that there is one formula that guarantees success for all students, the data represented in the attached
infographic illustrate how parental involvement positively influences the academic success of students. You
can make a difference!
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Yours in STEM,
Counselor’s recommendations on how to prepare for desired class for the next school year:_____________
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If your child is behind or not on track, ask your guidance counselor or your school district’s Department of
Student and Family Services about programs that can provide assistance. Summer enrichment classes
and summer school programs are examples.
Dwight Carr
APL STEM Program Manager