Sunita Williams uses $3 toothbrush, saves NASA's $100bn space station! - Indian Express

Sunita Williams uses $3 toothbrush, saves NASA's $100bn space station! - Indian Express

In the age of super inventions, a toothbrush  saved the day.

Passing of Historical Heroes of Aerospace

Throughout my childhood and yours, we have seen many advances in science and technology. As I write today, I think specifically about the space program. Two heroes of aerospace have past  in this past month, Sallie Ride, the first woman astronaut to travel on a shuttle  and this week Neil Armstrong, who walked on the moon in  1968.

Students, it is important for you that these people were part of the advances made in science. The future careers many of you will have come from some of the things they did. Not only were they members of the space program, they were instrumental in science studies.

Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon was an aviation pioneer. "As a research pilot at NASA's Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif., he was a project pilot on many pioneering high speed aircraft, including the well known, 4000-mph X-15. He has flown over 200 different models of aircraft, including jets, rockets, helicopters and gliders." http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/bios/neilabio.html

Girls, in particular may note that Sallie Ride was a role model for female scientists in the space program. You may learn more about her and the programs she began for girls in school at https://www.sallyridescience.com/  and http://www.nasa.gov/offices/hsf/members/ride-bio.html

I present this to all of you, boys and girls alike, to encourage you to go forth and excel in careers which will benefit  society and our nation. You have the potential, just unlock the door of knowledge to find it.

pictures courtesy of NASA.gov

About James: James's Top Ten: Sure-Fire Ways to Get Your Kids Reading | The Official James Patterson Website

Parents,
James Patterson, one of America's most prolific modern writers has made it his mission to get kids to read.  He has tips for you  to help them enjoy reading.
About James: James's Top Ten: Sure-Fire Ways to Get Your Kids Reading | The Official James Patterson Website

NASA Offers Condolences on the Passing of Pioneering Astronaut Sally Ride

NASA Offers Condolences on the Passing of Pioneering Astronaut Sally Ride
The passing of Sally Ride is the passing of another generation of  women  who have been  role models for students across the generations.  With Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics as career emphasis for female students,  it is important to note the  pioneers in specific areas. Sally Ride, as the first female  in space,  opened  yet another door for girls  to endeavor in  their  pursuit  of education.

Aviation geeks?

I just read an article on CNN about people who are aviation geeks. These are not necessarily aviation professionals, but music teachers, people who live near aircraft plants, or just ordinary people who wonder about flight. So are you an aviation geek? Are you curious enough about flight to go out of your way tho learn about flight various aircraft, or become a pilot? 

As a teacher of STEM, I want to know just how curious you really are about aviation & aerospace. Please post a response, & don't forget details matter.

Posts for students or anyone else who might benefit

Studying for a Master of Science Teaching has been an exercise in patience and determination. My first Master's Degree, Instructional Technology Ed., did not seem nearly as taxing as this one is. However, it could be that the space of time from 2006 to 2012 and my age have something to do with this. After all, when I finished my M.Ed IT, I was not a grandmother and I was not nearing the end of another decade.

The Master of Science Teaching degree from New Mexico Tech, aka, NM Institute of Mining and Technology will allow me to move further into the fields of science, engineering, technology and mathematics. However, it is the math that is kicking me from behind. 

Math..... as a freshman in high school, my math instructor was puzzled that I was not doing well in math. Mr. Rosson stated, "you are good at music; you should be good at math." Well, he obviously had just read something about the merging research at that time of music and math. What he did not know was that  a person with an excellent voice, did not necessarily, have an established background in music theory. I took Algebra I again in my senior year of high school. It wasn't until my freshman year at ECSU, Ada, OK, that I did well in math, and that only because the math teacher was a woman who understood the workings of the female brain in math. After my first bachelors degree, I could have taught Mr. Rosson something about the relationship of music and mathematics. As a person literate in spreadsheets and other math related software, I have always been able to place formulas in Excel(r) and make multiple calculations. However, many of the calculations that I missed in high school, I am now suffering through. 

Students, what I'm trying to say, it get all the help you can in middle school and high school to build your math skills. Throw the question, "What will I ever use this for?" out the window! Remember, this one fact, you will be using your math skills for the rest of your lives. 

Check out the links I have attached. These are free math, science, etc. help sites, some with video. www.khanacademy.org - Excellent videos for all subjects

http://www.wolframalpha.com/ I use for checking my math, but it is for many subjects