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Have you ever wondered how to make math education better? To make sure there's enough practice and practicality in math lessons?

By as early as first and second grade, nearly half of students report feeling ‘moderately nervous’ or more when doing math, and by grades 7–10, surveys find that 82% of U.S. students describe themselves as fearful of math.

During play, the brain’s prefrontal cortex — the center for reasoning and problem-solving — lights up more than during direct instruction. Play literally strengthens the pathways for persistence and flexible thinking. At MIND Education, they see math as more than a subject. It is a way of thinking, and every student is capable of developing deep mathematical understanding.

Brandon Smith is the President and Lead Mathematician/Product Director at MIND Education, and works to help educators better meet the needs of all their students. He has a bachelor's degree in math and two master's degrees in pure and applied mathematics, and enjoys piloting planes in his spare time.

Thanks for listening, and be sure to connect with Brandon in the links below:

Connect with Brandon & MIND Education:

• Website: mindeducation.org
• Brandon's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brandon-smith-994a38ba/
• Brandon's Blog Posts: https://2024.mindresearch.org/speakers/brandon-smith

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast...Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: @dailystem

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

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Do you need some good ideas for building wonder? Do you want your students to be more creative? Do you just need some new ideas for your classroom?

Stephanie Higgs, best known as @littlemissgifted on Instagram, is an award-winning, Nashville-living gifted educator and differentiation coach in elementary. Stephanie is a quick thinking, fast talking, and passionate international professional development presenter who infuses a little sparkle and shine into educating all learners. Her ideas in this episode will help you be more prepared to get your students ready to learn & go above and "beyonder"

Thanks for listening, and be sure to check out Stephanie on the links below:

Connect with Stephanie:

• Website: stephaniehiggs.net
• Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091830352111
• Instagram: @littlemissgifted
• YouTube: @littlemissgiftedteacher

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast...Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: @dailystem

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

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Do you know who is the father of the nuclear navy and civilian nuclear power? And did you know he had an unrelenting pursuit of perfection?

Our world is in need of people who spark a passion for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) — exactly what Admiral H. G. Rickover devoted his life to. Best known as the “Father of the Nuclear Navy,” he believed America’s strength depended on cultivating young scientific minds.

Joann DiGennaro co‑founded the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) with Rickover in 1983. CEE’s alumni attend top universities and have become trailblazers in programming, engineering, data science, and medical research. You can find them working at places like Google, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Open AI, and SpaceX, among other top companies. Three former Presidents, Nixon, Ford, and Carter, served as Honorary Trustees of CEE's Board of Trustees, the only Board on which the three served together.

Joann has written a new biography, Rickover: Underway, My Way, which reveals how Admiral Rickover's leadership principles and educational vision still shape STEM talent today.

Thanks for listening, and be sure to get Joann's book and learn more about the opportunities for teachers and students through the CEE by clicking the links below:

Connect with Joann & CEE:

• Website: cee.org
• Get a copy of Joann's book: https://amzn.to/42yzVhr

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast...Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: @dailystem

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

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Do you know how to explain to kids what kinds of STEM careers are out there?

Mike McCarthy is passionate about showing young people a type of STEM career that they likely haven’t yet been exposed to. As Vice President at Design Communications Ltd (DCL), an internationally recognized custom manufacturer of architectural specialty products, Mike has been involved in large scale new construction and renovations of sports stadiums, theme parks, shopping malls, movie theaters, hospitals, universities and a variety of other projects. Some of those places include Walt Disney World, SoFi Stadium, TD Garden, Madison Square Garden, Gillette Stadium, Netflix, Linked In, Amazon, Facebook, Coca-Cola, Hasbro, Logan Airport and many others. They engineer, fabricate and install artistic specialty elements and experiential tech (sculptures, signage, and LEDs/Projection mapping, etc).

As part of the Massachusetts STEM Advisory Council, Mike also enjoys showing kids that there are fun careers in STEM that aren’t connected to life sciences or coding. He double majored in Art and Mechanical Engineering, and will explain how you can help kids interested in the intersection between art and engineering.

Thanks for listening, and be sure to check out Mike & DCL's work by clicking the links below:

Connect with Mike:

• DCL Website: designcommunicationsltd.com
• See some of the DCL projects: designcommunicationsltd.com/work
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikemccarthy76/

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast...Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: @dailystem

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

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Keven Rinaman is the Director of Innovation and Educational Technology at Calvert Catholic Schools and an Adjunct Professor at Tiffin University in Ohio. He is also the author of 3DU: A Guide to 3D Printing in Every Classroom (and talked about 3d printing on Ep 218)

He recently wrote the book Tinker Kid & the Case of the Wobbly Desks with his 10 year old son Cooper.

"When the students at St. Michael Elementary start complaining about wobbly desks, Tim Kooper knows it’s time for action. As his superhero alter ego, Tinker Kid, Tim teams up with his friends Sara and John to investigate the problem. Using creativity, problem-solving, and a little 3D printing magic, the trio designs clever solutions that not only fix the desks but also bring the class closer together. Packed with humor, teamwork, and hands-on STEM adventures, this story shows how curiosity and ingenuity can turn even small challenges into big victories."

As a Director of Technology, Keven enjoys facilitating Professional Development for his staff and at conferences. His extensive background in both education and technology has given him an understanding on how to meaningfully integrate technology, while knowing how to present to a group of learners.

Connect with Keven:

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/keven-rinaman-ed-s-7a714666/
• Keven's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keven.rinaman
• 3DU Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582255271581
• Tinker Kid & the Case of the Wobbly Desks: amazon.com/Tinker-Kid-Case-Wobbly-Desks/dp/B0GDKWT4CQ
• 3DU Book: amazon.com/3DU-Printing-Classroom-Affordable-Content/dp/B09HPS7Y23

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: @dailystem

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

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What if a robot for kids was more than just a robot out of a box? mAIk Robotics uses AI together with a camera to be a platform for kids to design their own recycled robot.

Using mAIk, you can write code to create machine learning models for image recognition and robot control, but you can also do all of this using natural-language prompts, with no prior background or complex technical skills. This makes advanced robotics projects accessible to the general public. Anyone can create a living, interactive world from recycled materials.

Tamir Nave, an Electrical Engineer from Israel, created mAIk so that kids can be creative while learning AI and robotics. Their low-cost, DIY robots are simple to start, and they provide numerous tutorials and help for any level of educator or parent who knows that those skills are important for kids to learn.

Connect with Tamir & mAIk Education:

• Website: maik-education.com
• YouTube: @mAIk-education
• Instagram: @maik_education
• Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585412997247
• Tamir's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tamirnave

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: @dailystem

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

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It’s no secret that students’ interest in STEM keeps growing. With an overwhelming number of different fields to pursue and growing opportunities for high schoolers, where do they start? Summer Science Program International (SSPI) helps students develop a deeper love for STEM and research through SSPI’s immersive, rigorous, and collaborative summer program. SSP is a highly competitive (10,000 applicants for about 700 spots this year) 60-year old STEM program (Summer Science Program) that empowers students to follow their passions and more importantly gives them the opportunity to participate in rote experiments and gain hands-on experience, vs. being taught about STEM. Key program study topics include astrophysics, bacterial genomics, biochemistry and cell biology.

These flagship summer programs are a rigorous five-week residential summer research experience designed for highly motivated high school juniors. Participants engage in advanced research in astrophysics, biochemistry, bacterial genomics, and synthetic chemistry while living on a college campus. Summer Science Program has offered participants “the educational experience of a lifetime” for over 66 years, and program alumni have gone on to leading positions in industry, business, innovation, and more.

Amy Hee Kim joined SSP International in 2025 as the Chief Program Officer, bringing 15 years in STEM fields as well as her background as a physical chemist (PhD from University of Chicago). Before joining SSPI, Amy served as the Executive Director of EnCorps helping STEM professionals become teachers in under-resourced community schools.

Connect with Amy & SSP International:

• Website: ssp.org
• YouTube: @sspinternational
• Instagram: @summerscience
• Facebook: @SummerScienceProgram
• Amy's email: amy.kim@ssp.org
• Amy's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amy-hee-kim-b6507b7/

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: @dailystem

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

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Katie Minihan, Chief Impact Officer of Project Lead The Way (PLTW), shares why engagement might be the missing metric in education and how students who solve real-world problems through hands-on, collaborative learning see stronger attendance, achievement, and long-term outcomes.

School and district leaders need a solution that cultivates confidence and career readiness for kids from elementary to high school. As a nonprofit organization founded by educators and driven by education leaders, they've spent more than 28 years equipping students with the technical knowledge, transferable skills, and career confidence they need to thrive—through programs that integrate real-world industry partnerships, and best-in-class teacher training.

PLTW’s partnerships with industry leaders, universities, and other nonprofits ensures the curriculum stays at the cutting edge and mirrors modern workforce realities of today, while also building the lifelong skills needed for tomorrow.

Check out the Success Stories of PLTW alumni in their careers pltw.org/experience-pltw/national-awards/awards

Connect with Katie & PLTW:

• Website: pltw.org
• X/Twitter: @PLTWorg
• YouTube: @TeamPLTW
• Instagram: @pltworg
• Facebook: @pltworg
• Katie's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/catherine-minihan

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: @dailystem

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

Support the show