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STEM Programs

Academic Enrichment

Creative thinking and problem solving are the STEM skills that last a lifetime.

We specifically design the length and the availability of the classes to meet the needs of busy students. All classes have different settings, but students will meet a total of eight 50-minute sessions per month.

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It’s hard to think of math class and not be immediately reminded of the long hours spent reviewing multiplication tables, memorizing numbers, and all the other “rules” that go with them. However, few – if any – students have ever been inspired by flashcards and pop quizzes.

Excellerate can help spark your child’s passion for STEM. We take a more innovative, engaging approach to math and technology, going beyond the standard curriculum to help students:

  • Apply critical thinking and creative problem solving skills with practical applications Experiment with their ideas, explore their interests, and excel in the areas they’re passionate about
  • Gain experiences in real-life challenges using robotics and coding
  • Create a roadmap and prepare to pursue regional and national competitions

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CRITICAL MATH THINKING FOR CREATIVE MINDS

By invitation only: for 4th grade and up students who can demonstrate proficiency in 5th-grade level math.

Students often view math as nothing more than a complicated lesson in memorization and that they just need to remember the “right” steps to get to the “right” answer. The true value in learning math, however, is in teaching students to consider problems through different perspectives, to integrate creative ways to find possible solutions, and to persist through challenges and failures.

During Critical Math Thinking for Creative Minds, students will:

  • Work together in small groups of up to six, with each student receiving one-on-one instructor attention as well
  • Use critical thinking skills to approach complex problems creatively
  • Be challenged to think beyond their baseline school curriculum

Through this approach, students strengthen their problem- solving creativity while building skills beyond the typical school math curriculum – including those often used for math contests.

CODING LITERACY & CREATIVE PROJECTS

While coding has become a popular buzzword with
many resources available, the field is still new enough
that it’s not always clear where to start. Schools haven’t
yet standardized their early-learning curriculums
either, so helping your student learn early can be
particularly challenging.

Coding Literacy & Creative Projects provides the
early foundation your student needs, including:

  • Implementing a clear pathway for K-12 students to learn foundational skills such as logic, algorithms, and functions
  • Creating familiarity with popular program languages such as Java, JavaScript, Python, and HTML
  • Creating projects for various applications such as cybersecurity, app development, website design, and game design
  • Teaching families together through multiple events, including Hour of Coding, Family Days, and open houses

By teaching students and families together, your child will not only build the core foundation and enjoyment of coding needed for future success, but parents also leave with a clear understanding of the coding process and how to continue to foster their child’s curiosity and creativity.

JOY OF PROBLEM SOLVING

After completing Critical Math Thinking for Creative Minds, many students want to participate in regional, national, and international math contests, but they are often unsure of how to prepare for the competitions.

Joy of Problem Solving offers:

  • Friendly club-style training with students from all over the United States
  • Organized practice problems and contest information for both individual and team competitions
  • Mental math techniques to help students strengthen their quick-thinking and decision making skills
  • Information for parents

By participating in this structured course, students build their confidence to compete at the regional and national levels. Working through this next level of challenging material further prepares them to achieve the prestigious honors, prizes, and scholarships offered through these contests.

LEGO ROBOTICS

It’s relatively common for kids to grow up playing with LEGOs, building towers and towns. But what if you could harness their creativity into something even more educational – like robotics? Many competitions exist for elementary, middle school, and high school students, but it’s not always clear for parents on how to get started or where to get the resources to start a team.

Through LEGO Robotics, we help students discover the joy and challenge of robotics by:

  • Using LEGO Mindstorm® and Spike® Education sets to help students master the basics of robotics
  • Challenging experienced students to create their own projects, tasks to complete, and missions to accomplish
  • Forming teams to compete regionally and nationally, receiving continued support and coaching to improve

By the end of the course, both students and their families will be prepared and excited to start their first LEGO Robotics competition!

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Learn continually. There’s always “one more thing” to learn.

STEVE JOBS
”