April is Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month

April marks a time to increase the understanding and appreciation of mathematics and statistics. Why? Both subjects play a significant role in addressing many real-world problems-- internet security, sustainability, disease, climate change, the data deluge, and much more. Research in these and other areas is ongoing, revealing new results and applications every day in fields such as medicine, manufacturing, energy, biotechnology, and business. Mathematics and statistics are important drivers of innovation in our technological world, in which new systems and methodologies continue to become more complex.

Mathematics Awareness Month began in 1986 as Mathematics Awareness Week with a proclamation by President Ronald Regan, who said in part:

"Despite the increasing importance of mathematics to the progress of our economy and society, enrollment in mathematics programs has been declining at all levels of the American educational system. Yet the application of mathematics is indispensable in such diverse fields as medicine, computer sciences, space exploration, the skilled trades, business, defense, and government. To help encourage the study and utilization of mathematics, it is appropriate that all Americans be reminded of the importance of this basic branch of science to our daily lives."

Here are a couple of current day Mathematical Pioneers:

1) Maryam Mirzakhani - She became the first woman to win the Fields Medal, one of
    the most prestigious awards in the mathematics community. She is also the first
    Iranian to receive this honor. "Math is the Aha moment, the excitement of discovery
    and enjoyment of understanding something new - the feeling of being on top of a hill
    and having a clear view."

Maryam Mirzakhani Stanford University Mathematics Professor

2) Katherine Adebola Okikiolu - In 1997, Okikiolubecame the first black recipient of a
    Sloan Research Fellowship. She was also awarded a Presidential Early Career 
    Award for Scientists and Engineers for both her mathematical research and her
    development of mathematics curricula for inner-city school children.

Katherine Adebola Okikiolu Mathematician at Johns Hopkins University. 

Click here for a list of grade level math activities to engage your expanded learning students in.

Now let's take a look and see how many Region 3 Grant Managers, Expanded Learning Program Providers, Expanded Learning community members, and business partners came together to help host year six of the Region 3 Expanded Learning Math Tournament.

Name of Expanded Learning Program Provider(s): City of West Sacramento KidZone, 

Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center, Sacramento START, 

Name of District(s): Elk Grove Unified School District, Sacramento City Unified School 

District, Twin Rivers Unified School District, Washington Unified School District

Name of Business(es): Broderick , Wilson Trophy Company,  Sacramento Riverboats, 

Nugget Markets, Chick-fil-A, Round Table, Leatherby's, Color Me Mine, 

Golf Land Sunsplash, Jamba Juice, Gunther's Ice Cream, In and Out, Vic's Ice Cream,

Starbuck's Coffee, Sacramento Republic, Target, Giants Community Fund, Scandia, 

Walmart, Safeway, Dos Coyotes, Sacramento Kings

Other Expanded Learning Community Partners: California Department of Education / 

Expanded Learning Division, Sacramento County Office of Education / Expanded Learning 

Office

Grade Level of Activity: 4th through 8th Grade

Number of Students who took part in Activity: 110

Type of Activity: Action Math Baseball Tournament

Day of Event: April 1, 2017

Learning Outcomes: Students were able to deepening their understanding of: 

• computing percentages
• comparing ratios
• creating a ranking system
• evaluating formulas
• interpreting data
• using probability to make decisions

A photo of how this was truly a collaborative effort.

A photo of one of our many expanded learning teams deep in thought.

A trophy for the division winners.

Pony Express Elementary for the Win!!!!

STEM / Expanded Learning and Other Pertinent Articles:

1) New science standards raise hopes for narrowing achievement gap
    (EdSource article by Carolyn Jones April 13, 2017)

2) Letters send wave of after school support to Capitol Hill
    (Afterschool Alliance article by Jullian Luchner April 13, 2017)

3) Having Just One Black Teacher Can Keep Black Kids in School
    (NPR article by Anya Kamenetz April 10, 2017)

4) A Surprising Explanation For Why Some Immigrants Excel in Science
    (NPR article by Anya Kamenetz March 30, 2017)

5) Kids Who Suffer Hunger In First Years Lag Behind Their Peers in School 

     (NPR article by Rhitu Chatterjee March 23, 2017)

6) How Empathy Is Important For Parents and Teens When Things Get Stressful
    (Mind/Shift article by Juli Fraga April 16, 2017)

7) How Play is At The Heart of Many World-Changing Inventions

     (Mind/Shift article by Katrina Schwartz April 13, 2017)

8) Why Giving Effective Feedback Is Trickier Than It Seems
    (Mind/Shift article by Katrina Schwartz April 12, 2017)

9) All Students Can Find Power In Thinking Like Computer Scientist
    (Mind/Shift article by Katrina Schwartz April 7, 2017)

10) Five Ways To Shift Teaching Practice So Students Feel Less Math Anxious
      (Mind/Shift article by Katrina Schwartz April 5, 2017)

11) 13 Magic Spells for Quieting a Noisy Class
      (Fusion Yearbooks article February 13, 2017)


STEM (and other interdisciplinary core content) Activities / Videos / Websites:

1) Resources for Advocacy in the Expanded Learning Field
    (VLOG by Bruno Marchesi / Strive)

2) Art Activities for Grades K-12 (SEDL Expanded Learning Activities Page)

3 Literacy Activities for Grades K-12  (SEDL Expanded Learning Activities Page)

4) Science Activities for Grades K-12 (SEDL Expanded Learning Activities Page)

5) Technology Activities for Grades K-12 (SEDL Expanded Learning Activities Page)

6) KQED Lesson Plans for Subject Grade Level Activities (KQED Lesson Plans)

7) Students From Different Cultures Collaborate To Communicate With Each Other
    (NPR Podcast by Katrina Schwartz April 9, 2017)

8) Fighting Hate in Schools (NPR Podcast by Tovia Smith April 5, 2017)

9) Google Hopes To Hire More Black Engineers By Bringing Students To Silicon Valley
    (NPR Podcast by Queena Kim March 28, 2017)

10) Howard University Aims To Build Silicon Valley Pipeline of Black Software
       Engineers
     (NPR Podcast by Queena Kim March 25, 2017)

11) A High School's Lesson For Helping English Language Learners Get To College
      (NPR Podcast by Claire McInerny March 25, 2017)


STEM Educational Grants: 

1) The Big List Of Educational Grants and Resources
   (Edutopia Grant Page Updated April 12, 2017)

2) California After School Network Funding Opportunities (CAN Grant Page)

3) After School Funding Database (Afterschool Alliance Grant Page)

4) Grant Funding Opportunities (The Impact Foundry Grant Page)

5) Bank of The West (Grant Opportunity)

6) Application for Free Computers (RRR Computers)


STEM / Misc. Professional Learning Sessions / Contest / Events:

1) Ali Prose Poetry Contest
    (Deadline: April 28, 2017)

2) SCOE Mindful Educators Round Table Session 
    (Free: May 11, 2017 10:00 am to 12:00 pm)

3) SCOE Kidz Science: Alternative Energy Workshop
     (Free: May 19, 2017 9:00 am to 12:00 pm)

4) SCOE One Day Art Projects Workshop
    (Free: May 23, 2017 9:00 am to 12:00 pm)

5) SCOE College and Career Readiness Workshop
     (Free: May 31, 2017 9:00 am to 12:00 pm)



Thanks again for all that you do in the field. Please keep us posted about STEM 
events / activities in your area. Please feel free to contact us at any time.

Monica Gonzalez-Williams (SCOE: Region 3: After School Regional Lead):
mgonzalez@scoe.net

Phil Romig (SCOE: Science Curriculum Specialist): promig@scoe.net

Mark Drewes (SCOE: Project Specialist II: Expanded Learning) mdrewes@scoe.net