Exciting news! DreamBox Learning will soon be joining Discovery Education’s family of award-winning services.

Back to School ’22 – Help students soar with personalized guided instruction from day one.

Upcoming Events

You have questions. We have answers.

In case you missed it

this is headline

How can ease of use make your technology solutions more effective and faster? 

As school principals navigate the ever-evolving landscape for technology solutions, learning software, and churning priorities, it is crucial to consider the ease of use of implementation. In this resource, you’ll discover five reasons education leaders should prioritize a seamless and effective solution that can support students and staff quickly.

Top 5 Reasons to Prioritize Ease of Use for Technology Learning

We’re excited to introduce Kerry, Manager of Curriculum Design, Reading Plus.  

DreamBox Learning is not only unique for its ability to support educators and drive student learning.  It’s also unique because our team includes diverse, passionate, and bright individuals who care about transforming the way the world learns.  

For us, it’s important to capture their stories and share what makes them special. We celebrate the people at DreamBox who bring ideas to life, make the impossible possible, and empower their teams to do well to do good.  

Please meet our colleague and friend, Kerry.

The DreamBox Difference: Our Team - Kerry

We are thrilled to introduce our special guest writer, Dr. Kristin Gehsmann. Dr. Gehsmann serves on the DreamBox advisory board, is the recent Director of the Virginia Tech School of Education, and is the author of Teaching Reading and Writing: The Developmental Approach (PreK-8). In this insightful article, Dr. Gehsmann discusses how educators can make the most informed decisions about new science of reading research and provides some wonderful tips and resources for finding peer-reviewed research.

Expert Science of Reading Advice from Dr. Kristin Gehsmann, Ed.D.

Subscribe & stay updated

Dreambox guides

Deepening Elementary Teacher's Content Knowledge in Mathematics

Educational Equity: 6 Ways to Open Opportunity 

Formative Assessment Toolkit

6 Strategies to Help Your Students Become Algebra-Ready

How to Use Data-Driven Instruction to Reach Math Achievement Goals

6 Strategies to Close Math Gaps for ELLs

resource_page

<div>DreamBox Learning marketing team.</div>

<h2>Ready, set goals, go!</h2>&nbsp;Keep in mind that good habits formed during the Math Challenge can drive perseverance and growth all year long. Here are five ways you can build excitement over the next few months, and keep the momentum going strong throughout the school year—and beyond.Encourage students to complete 5 lessons per week. It’s important to set goals on DreamBox with your students throughout the year, but the Math Challenge is especially great for reinforcing the DreamBox best practice of completing 5 lessons per week.Show each student how they can contribute to class Math Challenge goals. Use the data you’ve collected in DreamBox and start having one-on-one conferences with your kids. Show them how many lessons per week they’ve completed so far this school year and explain how they could be a key contributor during the Math Challenge.Celebrate individual accomplishments as a class. As students start accomplishing some of their personal goals within the context of the team goal, be sure to celebrate their achievements. If you click on Classroom Motivators under the Resources tab in your Insight Dashboard, you’ll find printable Student of Excellence certificates to recognize individual students. You can also award stickers for various milestones or give students shout-outs in front of the class. Shining the spotlight on kids when they achieve a goal can boost their confidence, inspire their peers, and drive greater participation.Share DreamBox progress data with your students. Log on to your Insight Dashboard regularly to look at individual and classroom data and start framing conversations around that. Again, you could share this data in one-on-one sessions, or you could talk about it together as a classroom—maybe in a weekly team huddle! Showing students how DreamBox tracks their progress can help them to feel more invested in their learning. It may also motivate them to track their own progress and encourage them to challenge themselves.Create and display visuals in your (virtual) classroom to showcase the team’s progress. We suggest finding ways to post goal charts and other visuals in your (virtual) classroom to display progress. This is a great way for students to visualize their growth and see how their personal goals align with larger classroom goals. For example, one DreamBox teacher created a Math Challenge racetrack that went around her classroom walls. Each time students completed a certain number of lessons, they got to move the car with their name on it further toward the finish line! It helped keep everybody excited, engaged, and focused on a common goal. If you’re looking for more ideas for tracking progress in your classroom, there’s no shortage of clever charts on Pinterest.If you’re registered for the Math Challenge, check out the private Math Challenge Channel in DreamBox Nation.To log into DreamBox Nation, log into your Insight Dashboard.<ul><li>Go to Resources</li><li>Scroll down and click ‘DreamBox Nation’</li></ul>

2022 Math Challenge

Keep in mind that good habits formed during the Math Challenge can drive perseverance and growth all year long. Here are five ways you can build excitement over the next few months, and keep the momentum going strong throughout the the school year—and beyond.

5 Ways to Get Students Excited About the Math Challenge

DBL’ers:What you do every day at DreamBox Learning matters.&nbsp; The effort to help unlock learning potential in all kids no matter where they live or who they are promises generational progress and a more tolerant and peaceful society.&nbsp; Yet, recent events are a stark reminder that having an education and working hard in your professional and civic lives do not guarantee personal security, let alone a slice of the American Dream.&nbsp; In the wake of the tragic, criminal and unnecessary loss of George Floyd’s life (one more victim on a long and appalling list of people of color who have been killed at the hands of police) and the social unrest it has inspired, I have received an amazing number of caring and thoughtful notes from family, friends, colleagues and, yes, mere strangers who offer their compassion, support and determination to do more.&nbsp;From Allies I hear “I am appalled and want to help but don’t know what to do”; “I cannot believe this happened again in America”; “Again?!?, I understand the outrage and unrest because nothing else has resulted in meaningful impact and progress”; “I’m a parent and I don’t know how to explain this to my children”; “I’m embarrassed when my kids ask me what we can do to help and I don’t know what to say”; “I want you to know I am with you and want to be more than a mere ally for racial justice in America”. One thoughtful person, seeking to move beyond sadness to proximity, engagement and action sent me this note inspired by readings from author Rachel Cargle:As a white person, I can only imagine the deep and distinct pain that must be endured by Black Americans…How will we address the recent examples of systemic, institutional racism that pervades the structures that govern and rule our citizenry with our employees and with our clients and learning community partners?&nbsp; I ask because I care deeply about the people I work with at DreamBox Learning and the people we serve.&nbsp; I ask because it is not enough to feel sad, to be shocked, or to disregard the way black lives are being discarded across the country…From People Of Color, I hear different things: “I’m terrified to let my teenage son go outside and hang out with his friends”; “Social distancing is not new to my nephew because he’s known for a long time that to venture out alone in the ‘wrong place’ as an African American male is asking for trouble – there are places we should not feel free to walk, jog, shop, be – without putting ourselves at risk for being killed”; “I’m weary of the fight and don’t see the purpose in continuing to fight when there is no consequence for blatant racism even if it results in murder – even at the hands of the police – that is videotaped for all to see.” I also hear “Black Lives Matter” and “No Justice, No Peace”; “If getting an education and working hard still won’t protect an innocent Black man jogging through a white neighborhood, what do we tell our children?”.&nbsp; That person sent me this affecting&nbsp;<a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/keedron-bryant-song-george-floyd_n_5ed0d16fc5b6d7d2585409ac">video</a>:What I am not hearing is national leadership in the cause of racial justice.&nbsp; What I am not hearing is a shared belief that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.&nbsp; We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.&nbsp; Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”&nbsp;What I am not hearing is the voice and legacy of MLK urging white moderates to emerge from their silence to join efforts to establish a more just society that will benefit everyone, not just people of color. Perhaps in 2020 that leadership doesn’t exist; perhaps this is a burden that is too much for any one person to bear.&nbsp; Perhaps this struggle requires uncomfortable proximity to “the other” so that with proximity we can deepen understanding and ultimately empathize with those whom we do not know, as Bryan Stevenson has said.It is impossible for me to separate myself from recent events, especially because I believe improving access to quality education is one of the most important investments we can make in all human beings to improve life outcomes for&nbsp;all&nbsp;kids.&nbsp; We often say at DBL that we believe all kids deserve a high quality and personalized learning experience to unlock their learning and life potential. We all must also accept, however, that access to education is necessary but insufficient to create a just society.So many of you have reached out to ask me what you can do and what we can do together to make things better. I don’t have answers for you, but I invite you to lean into one of our company values:&nbsp;constantly learning&nbsp;so that you can familiarize yourself with any holes in your formal education about our shared American History:<ul><li>Have an authentic conversation leveraging one of DBL’s company values:&nbsp;benevolent friction, with someone who has a different racial background and ask them how recent events are impacting them.&nbsp; Share your story. Engage in courageous conversations about the things weighing on your heart.</li><li><a href="http://okra.stanford.edu/transcription/document_images/undecided/630416-019.pdf">Read MLK’s&nbsp;Letter from a Birmingham Jail.</a></li><li>Listen to Duke University’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sceneonradio.org/">Scene on Radio Podcast</a>&nbsp;to understand what White Privilege is.&nbsp; Assume it’s there and recognize that if you are White that you are a beneficiary from birth.</li><li>Listen to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/1619-america-slavery.html">The 1619 Project Podcast</a>&nbsp;to learn a more thorough history of slavery in America so you can better understand its impact and legacy.</li><li>Do something, anything&nbsp;that aligns to your authentic leadership voice and desires to make this world better for all and future generations, including your own progeny. Do something that results in moving the needle on racial justice and something that combats bigotry, misogyny and intolerance of any kind. Do something to make kids proud and more hopeful about the world we are leaving them.</li><li>Join me in a conversation about MLK’s&nbsp;Letter from a Birmingham Jail.&nbsp;I’ll ask Amissa to set up an hour for anyone who is interested to discuss the impact and implications of this historic writing during the civil rights struggle in American History.</li></ul>I’ll leave you with an<a href="https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-05-30/dont-understand-the-protests-what-youre-seeing-is-people-pushed-to-the-edge">Op-Ed</a>&nbsp;posted today in the LA Times.&nbsp; Its author is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, an NBA star, former center for the LA Lakers, jazz historian and civil rights leader.Onward and upwards as we link our hearts and arms to work for a better tomorrow.-jessie

At DreamBox, our goal is to unlock learning potential in each and every student no matter the race, gender or zip-code, but we must also address the systematic racism and injustices facing students and people of color. In light of recent events, we wanted to share a message our CEO, Jessie Woolley-Wilson...

Onward and upwards as we link our hearts and arms to work for a better tomorrow.

<div>Melissa has a passion for learning and a sincere desire to have an impact on radically transforming the way the world learns. She has her master’s degree in Education with a focus on Educational Technology and Blended Learning together with 11 years of teaching experience at both the elementary and middle school levels. Since 2013, working with Suzhou Learning Power Education Technology Co. Ltd., Melissa has been participating in education reform panels across China, teaching demonstration lessons of Project Based Learning, STEAM, Robotics, and 3-D Printing as well as contributing to grade-level lesson plans using Little Bits and KEVA planks.She has been a Professional Development Specialist with DreamBox Learning since February 2016.</div>

Something the Professional Development Team at DreamBox Learning® has heard requested from both teachers and administrators revolves around using DreamBox to aid students in developing goal setting skills and a growth mindset. Nicky Scyzur and I worked together to develop a form intended to guide these meaningful conversations around productive struggle allowing students to take ownership for their learning overtime. We hope you find the following beneficial for those who want or currently use student conferencing within the classroom.<h4>Educator Instructions</h4><ol><li>Login to the educator dashboard. Select the student’s name who you will be conferencing with.</li><li>On the student ‘Overview’ tab, view the student’s usage over a period (i.e. this week, last 7 days, past 30 days). Discuss usage with student.</li></ol>

<ol><li>Click on the ‘Activity’ Use the symbols below to learn about the student’s performance on specific lessons. Use the symbols as a guide to support your conversation.&nbsp; If you notice any orange alerts, use the guiding questions listed in part A. If you noticed pause icons, use the guiding questions listed in “b”.</li></ol>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; a. “I noticed that you have tried this lesson multiple times. What do you find challenging about the lesson?” (anticipated answers: vocabulary, manipulative/tool, concept in general) Strategies to support the learner: provide vocabulary terms for practice, play the demo lesson with the learner and support with guiding questions (See, Think, Wonder routine), host a small-group session working on the topic, work 1:1 with tactile manipulatives.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; b.“I notice that you exit and pause out of a lot of lessons. Are you feeling overwhelmed? Are you not sure how to approach the lesson? Do you not like the topic?” Provide encouragement and have a discussion with the student about the importance of growth mindset and productive struggle.

&nbsp;4. Discuss next steps.a. Set a lesson completion goal to avoid lesson-hopping tendencies.b.. Discuss perseverance and strategies to support building perseverancec. Allow the student the opportunity to set a DreamBox goal for themselves&nbsp;<h2>DreamBox Student Conference Report</h2><h4>Student Usage</h4>Date: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Time on DreamBox Learning®: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Lessons Completed: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<h4>Activty Report</h4>Standards Proficient: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Standards in Progress: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>How Many?</td><td>Goal:</td><td>Action Plan:</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<h4>Next Steps</h4>Lesson Completion Goal: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Something the Professional Development Team at DreamBox Learning® has heard requested from both teachers and administrators revolves around using DreamBox to aid students in developing goal setting skills and a growth mindset.

DreamBox Student Conferencing Guide

<h2>The role of math over centuries of sailing the seas</h2>&nbsp;Beneath the August sun, lakes and saltwater bays fill with recreational sailboats. Even summer sailors rely on basic geometry to “tack” toward a destination by changing their sail angles in relation to the wind. And this just skims the surface of how math has intersected with sailing since antiquity.Ocean-going vessels today navigate by GPS, which is global positioning by use of satellites. The concept arose in 1973 and was first applied to navigation in 1978.But how did sailors find their way before GPS? Let’s take a look at nautical tools and techniques devised by math ingenuity starting far back in time.BEARING TRIANGULATION The first GPS satellite designs were based on an idea called triangulation. This has ancient origins. In the 6th century B.C., the Greek philosopher Pythagoras discovered a math theorem that became the basis of trigonometry––which enabled substantial advancement in ship navigation. Sailors have long used triangulation to find their location at sea by taking measurements from three remote points, and determining where they are within that triangle.MAGNETIC COMPASS This navigation instrument invented in China around 100 B.C. enabled ships to sail over the horizon without risk of being lost at sea. It has a “travel arrow” that points in the direction you intend to go. A floating metal needle always aligns to the magnetic north pole of the Earth. This type of compass finally found its way to the Mediterranean region of Europe in the late 1200s.CELESTIAL NAVIGATION Polynesians sailing as early as 1200 B.C. were the first to navigate the open ocean––and the first to use celestial navigation. These sailors developed a precise scientific system related to the positions of stars. They navigated as well by observation of ocean currents and swells, wind and cloud patterns, the rise and fall of the sun, daylight colors of the sea and sky, and flight patterns of birds.STAR COMPASS Ancient Polynesians also created a star compass by subdividing the sky into corresponding quadrants. A star rises at a specific point on the horizon. It will then set in the opposite quadrant from where it arose. The early seafarers of the South Pacific were able to measure stellar elevations. They used these measurements to determine their position in relation to distant specific islands.SUN COMPASS The Vikings were medieval master shipbuilders who sailed across the North Atlantic between 900 and 1200 A.D. to oversee their colonies in Iceland and Greenland. They used a highly accurate sundial-like instrument called a sun compass to guide their voyages.DEAD RECKONING When Christopher Columbus sailed from Spain in 1492 he used this process of calculating a ship’s position at sea. Dead reckoning navigation is based on time, direction, distance traveled, and velocity––rather than on celestial bodies.LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE To pinpoint an ocean location, sailors need to know both its latitude and longitude. Latitudes are parallel lines that circle the Earth east/west. Longitude meridians run north/south. Together, they form an invisible grid over the Earth that navigators use as a nautical map.THE SEXTANT In 1730, a British mathematician named Jesse Ramsden invented the sextant, a handheld telescopic instrument that changed the face of European celestial navigation. Mariners used this device to measure the angles of the sun, moon, and horizon. They could then determine latitude. But calculating longitude was more difficult. That required being able to accurately tell time at sea.TIME TELLING AND LONGITUDE In the 17th century, a Dutch mathematician named Christiaan Huygens tried to make a clock navigators could use to find longitude at sea. Toward this end, he invented, amazingly, the first pendulum clock in 1656. Pendulum clocks could indeed keep accurate time on land––but not on a heaving ship’s deck. It would take another hundred years for great math thinkers to finally solve this problem.MARINE CHRONOMETERS In 1761, an English watchmaker named John Harrison invented the marine chronometer. This precision clock kept accurate time on a boat, and sailors could at last determine longitude. They could do this by calculating the difference between the time on their ship and the time at a fixed land position. Navigators today apply spherical trigonometry to measure time and determine longitude.Enjoy this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DlNhbkPiYY">short animation video</a> that summarizes the history of sailing navigation:<a href="https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-does-math-guide-our-ships-at-sea-george-christoph">And here’s one that illustrates logarithms</a>, a calculation method invented in the 1600s that figured powerfully in explorations on the high seas.

Beneath the August sun, lakes and saltwater bays fill with recreational sailboats. Even summer sailors rely on basic geometry to “tack” toward a destination by changing their sail angles in relation to the wind. And this just skims the surface of how math has intersected with sailing since antiquity.

Use Math for Ocean Navigation!

Make&nbsp;sure the technology you adopt is a good fit for students and teachers in your districtSelecting which EdTech program is right for your district is a big decision and investment. After you talk to your stakeholders, complete your research, weigh your&nbsp;options&nbsp;and narrow your choices, the important work of piloting the program(s) begins. Before rolling out new technology districtwide, you’ll&nbsp;want to see&nbsp;whether it&nbsp;effectively integrates into classrooms and assess its long-term potential. For that, you’ll need a carefully crafted pilot program.&nbsp;Here are six key steps you’ll need to address to ensure success:<ol><li>Identify your goals: Have an endgame in sight before you start down the path of piloting programs. Identify what success looks like in one year, two years&nbsp;or even&nbsp;five years.&nbsp;Set your goals to align with your vision.&nbsp;Setting goals&nbsp;is essential&nbsp;to gauge&nbsp;how effective the pilot programs are for your staff and students.</li><li>Create your timelines: Set your pilot programs to align with district timelines, such as your academic calendar, testing periods and budgetary seasons.&nbsp;Doing so&nbsp;will ensure your staff has the timeto use the&nbsp;new program or system&nbsp;without disrupting learning.</li><li>Establish success metrics: Data is essential to making an informed decision.&nbsp;Use the goals you identified to determine reasonable student (and teacher) success metrics. Be sure to track and analyze your data consistently.&nbsp;With data, you can convince district stakeholders&nbsp;of&nbsp;the effectiveness of (and the investment in) the desired solution.</li><li>Make time for&nbsp;professional development&nbsp;(PD): Successful staff&nbsp;=&nbsp;successful students. Including PD as a component of your pilot program prepares your staff to use new programs to their full potential so you can more accurately measure effectiveness.</li><li>Get your tech in check: Don’t let technology scheduling snafus or weak integrations interrupt your pilot. Schedule access to computer labs, computer carts or tablets, and test the programs to make sure they run without a hitch.</li><li>Get feedback on the pilot: Don’t forget the two parties on the front line&nbsp;– students and teachers.&nbsp;Use&nbsp;surveys post–pilot to provide your staff and students a channel to share their feedback on their experience with the&nbsp;pilot&nbsp;program.</li></ol>&nbsp;Download the&nbsp;DreamBoxLearning <a href="https://www.dreambox.com/white-papers/edtech-pilot-success-guide">EdTech Pilot Success Guide</a>&nbsp;for a&nbsp;complete step-by-step framework to ensure smart purchasing decisions.&nbsp;Ready to pilot new tech? Try&nbsp;DreamBox!&nbsp;DreamBoxMath&nbsp;has helped districts across the country improve student outcomes. It’s&nbsp;the only digital&nbsp; K&nbsp;–&nbsp;8 math program rated Strong by Evidence for ESSA.&nbsp;Kids who use&nbsp;DreamBox&nbsp;for just 60 minutes a week increase their test scores by nearly 60%.&nbsp;Now is a great time to try&nbsp;DreamBox&nbsp;in your district. Request a demo&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dreambox.com/request-a-demo">here</a>.&nbsp;

electing which EdTech program is right for your district is a big decision and investment. After you talk to your stakeholders, complete your research, weigh your options and narrow your choices, the important work of piloting the program(s) begins.

6 Steps to Implementing a Successful Pilot Program

<h2>Guide to highest-paying opportunities for STEM-focused students</h2>&nbsp;The U.S. <a href="http://www.bls.gov/">Bureau of Labor Statistics</a> (BLS) forecasts a whopping 22 percent employment growth for mathematicians from 2008 to 2018, which is much faster than the average for all other occupations. The BLS reports that a person with a PhD, a strong background in mathematics and a related field, and the ability to apply mathematical theory to real-world problems will have excellent job prospects.Here’s how the job market breaks down for some popular math-related majors.<h3>Jobs for Computer Science Majors</h3> According to the career consulting firm <a href="http://www.payscale.com/">PayScale</a>, the best graduate degrees in 2015 are in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields, with median, mid-career salaries of $131,700. “The top of the list has consistently been dominated by STEM degrees, especially statistics and computer science in the last five years,” said Katie Bardaro, the director of analytics and lead economist at PayScale, in a recent interview with <a href="http://www.fortune.com/">Fortune Magazine</a>.The BLS projects that the employment of computer and information systems managers will grow 15 percent from 2012 to 2022. As companies in fields across the board expand their wireless and mobile networks, the demand for computer software employees—from technicians to managers—will increase. Cybersecurity is a hot emerging career for computer science majors, as concern about cyber threats is expected to rise over the next decade. According to PayScale, the 15 top-paying jobs that hire computer science majors include:<ul><li>Chief Information Officer</li><li>Vice President, Engineering, Computer Software</li><li><a href="http://www.agileconnection.com/article/role-agile-coach">Agile Coach&nbsp;</a></li><li>Quality Assurance Director, Computer Software</li><li>Enterprise Architect, IT</li><li>Business Intelligence Director</li><li>Software Engineering Manager</li><li>Security Architect, IT</li><li>Program Manager, Computer Software</li><li>Software Architect</li><li>Director of Information Technology Services</li><li>Software Development Manager</li><li>Applications Development Manager, Computer Software</li><li>Data Architect</li><li>Business Intelligence Architect</li></ul>&nbsp;<h3>Research Jobs That Use Applied Mathematics</h3>

Applied mathematicians use theories and techniques to solve economic, scientific, engineering, physics, and business problems. It’s no wonder that research positions are available in fields across the board—from finance, to sports and entertainment, to scientific laboratories and medical institutions. According to the Society for <a href="http://www.siam.org/">Industrial and Applied Mathematics</a>, many organizations, corporations, and research institutions look for candidates with a degree in applied mathematics to fill scientific research positions. Examples include:<ul><li>Government laboratories such as <a href="http://www.lbl.gov/">Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory</a></li><li>Government information agencies such as the <a href="http://www.nist.gov/">National Center for Computing Sciences and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)</a></li><li>The <a href="https://www.nsa.gov/">National Security Agency (NSA)</a> and the <a href="http://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/WarfareCenters.aspx">Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC)</a></li><li>Federally funded contractors such as the <a href="http://www.mitre.org/">Mitre Corporation</a>, <a href="http://www.rand.org/">RAND Corporation</a>, and the <a href="http://www.aerospace.org/">Aerospace Corporation</a></li><li><a href="http://www.corp.att.com/attlabs/">AT&amp;T Laboratories</a></li><li>Energy systems firms such as <a href="http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/what-we-do/emerging/energy.html">Lockheed-Martin Energy Research</a> and the <a href="http://www.schatzlab.org/">Schatz Energy Research Center</a> (SERC)</li><li>Aerospace and transportation equipment manufacturers such as <a href="http://www.boeing.com/">Boeing</a>, Ford, General Motors, Lockheed Martin, and United Technologies</li><li>Chemical or pharmaceutical manufacturers such as <a href="http://dupont.jobs/">DuPont</a>, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck &amp; Co., Inc., and Pfizer</li><li>Producers of petroleum products such as <a href="http://corporate.exxonmobil.com/en/energy/research-and-development">Exxon Research</a> and Chevron</li><li>Academic institutions</li><li>Consumer products companies such as Mars and <a href="http://us.pg.com/">Procter &amp; Gamble</a>.</li></ul><h3>Emerging Field for Math Majors: Operations Research Careers</h3>

The BLS forecasts a 27 percent employment growth from 2012 to 2022 for operations research analysts. These high-level executives use mathematical modeling, data mining, and statistical analysis to assist companies in solving business problems and organizing operations more efficiently and cost-effectively—making better business decisions. A major in applied mathematics, computer science, or a related degree is required for this career. Examples of how companies use operations research analysts:<ul><li><a href="https://www.ups.com/">UPS:</a> Chart the flow of packages, provide real-time route guidance to drivers, manage distribution</li><li><a href="https://www.mskcc.org/">Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center:</a> Design a radiation treatment plan for prostate patients using sophisticated modeling and computation techniques</li><li><a href="http://www.verizonwireless.com/">Verizon Wireless</a>: Oversee supply chain strategy and analytics to ensure that stores have enough product</li><li><a href="http://www.airforce.com/">U.S. Air Force</a>: Develop multibillion-dollar weapons systems that stretch the frontiers of technology</li></ul><h3>Environmental Careers That Use Applied Mathematics</h3>

Sustainability is one of the fastest growing career paths in the U.S., as protecting the environment becomes a growing business concern, as well as a personal philosophy. Careers in sustainability use math, science, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems.Here are eight of the highest paying careers in sustainability:<ul><li>Chief Sustainability Executive: Typically in charge of envisioning, developing, and implementing sustainability initiatives</li><li>Natural Science Manager: Coordinates teams of scientists and researchers focused on sustainability challenges</li><li>Operations Manager: Carries out the directives of the Chief Sustainability Executive</li><li>Atmospheric Scientist: Studies the impact of air pollution and climate on organisms, people, and ecosystems</li><li>Industrial Production Manager: Increases production efficiency and decreases the pollution associated with manufacturing processes while remaining on schedule and within budget</li><li>Environmental Engineer: Involved in water and air pollution control, recycling, waste disposal, and public health issues</li><li>Health and Safety Engineer: Designs processes and systems that ensure the safety of people and the environment</li><li>Campus Sustainability Coordinator/Manager: Works on operational issues, energy efficiency, waste and recycling, and student engagement in sustainability; may also work with faculty to develop the curriculum for a degree in Sustainability</li></ul><h3>Top-Paying Engineering Jobs &nbsp;</h3>Engineering majors consistently lead the pack when it comes to top entry-level salaries, particularly with a master’s degree. According to a new report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, 9 out of 10 of the highest paying careers for college majors are in engineering fields.There are a variety of engineering specialties, from civil engineers who design roadways, to biomedical engineers who help to cure diseases, to chemical engineers. All of these experts are employed in a wide variety of businesses as the go-to person for taking ideas from the drawing board to the real world. All engineers use many methods of numerical analysis, as well as algebra, calculus, probability, and statistics.<h3>Healthcare Jobs for Math Majors &nbsp;</h3>Exciting new discoveries in healthcare are happening, in part because of mathematicians. Engineers are using math to design new diagnostic and surgical tools. Biostatics is a fascinating emerging field that applies statistics to study diseases, genetics, and medicine in general. Biomathematicians solve problems in biology, usually by creating a model of a biological system. Rutgers University reports that mathematical modeling methods have become increasingly important in all branches of biology.The BLS forecasts a 17 percent employment growth from 2010 to 2020 for mathematical science occupations. Jobs that intersect math and medicine include:<ul><li>Statistical programmer</li><li>Biomedical engineer</li><li>Radiology researcher</li><li>Medical lab technician</li><li>Physician</li><li>Pharmacist</li><li>Geneticist</li><li>Bioinformatics specialist</li></ul>No matter what career you’re interested in, it’s clear that math is somewhere in the equation. For more information and inspiration about math jobs and STEM, read <a href="https://www.dreambox.com/white-papers/girls-stem">Closing the STEM Gap for Girls</a> and the companion blog, <a href="https://www.dreambox.com/blog/women-in-tech-today">Women in Tech</a>.

What are some of the highest paying opportunities for STEM-focused students? You'll be surprised!

71 Math-tastic Jobs for Math Majors

Getting more women and girls interested in STEM fields is the unfinished business of the 20th century, according to Hillary Clinton. “We must focus on how we can help women and girls break through ceilings that hold them back,” she said in a recent speech at San Jose University. The good news for girl scientists, engineers and mathematicians: they now have female role models and advocates everywhere from Silicon Valley, to Hollywood, to the White House. These 10 women are rocking careers in STEM and proving that STEM isn’t just a man’s world after all:<h3>1. Chelsea Clinton, Vice Chair, Clinton Foundation</h3>

Like mother, like daughter! The former First Daughter has a mission: make STEM careers cool for girls. Clinton frequently travels around the country to host events aimed at getting girls psyched about closing the STEM gender gap. “We’re going to have more than a million jobs created in STEM fields over the next decade,” Clinton said in a recent interview in Teen Vogue, “and the only way we’re going to fill those jobs with the best and brightest is to not leave a gender behind.”<h3>2. Brittany Wenger, Teen Computer Whiz</h3>

When Brittany Wenger was fifteen, her cousin was diagnosed with breast cancer. Two years later, the girl computer whiz designed an artificial brain to detect signs of this devastating disease that took home first prize in the 2012 <a href="https://www.googlesciencefair.com/en/">Google Science Fair</a>! Today, she is a computer science major at Duke University. Her breast cancer test, which has its own app, is now in beta tests with two cancer research centers.<h3>3. Dr. Jenna Carpenter, Advocate &nbsp;</h3>

Dr. Jenna Carpenter, the&nbsp;Dean for the School of Engineering at <a href="http://www.campbell.edu/engineering/">Campbell University</a> in North Carolina,&nbsp;blows people away with how she&nbsp;encourages&nbsp;girls to study engineering in college! She regularly advises and speaks to schools and businesses about diversity, mentoring, and professional development for women in engineering. Check out Carpenter’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw_9t82qD60">TEDX Talk</a> about how to encourage girls to study math and engineering in college.&nbsp;Girl scientists, engineers and mathematicians now have female role models and advocates everywhere from Silicon Valley, to Hollywood, to the White House.&nbsp;<h3>4. Debbie Sterling, Engineer and Toy Inventor</h3>

<a href="http://www.goldieblox.com/">GoldieBlox</a>, the brainchild of Debbie Sterling, has been called “the lady engineer who hopes to unseat the princesses from their toy-store thrones.” This interactive book series and construction set uses an awesome girl inventor who solves everyday problems—like how to help her dog chase his tail—through building simple machines. The idea came to Sterling as an engineering major at Stanford, where she was struck by the lack of women in her program.<h3>5. Mayim Bialik, Neuroscientist and Actress</h3>

<a href="http://www.mayimbialik.net/">Mayim Bialik</a> doesn’t just play a neuroscientist on “The Big Bang Theory.” She has a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA, taught for several years, wrote a book&nbsp;for parents about the science of hormones, and has given public&nbsp;lectures about the importance of investing in STEM careers and research.&nbsp; “I arrived late to science, actually,” Bialik recently told CNBC. “It wasn’t something I had a natural affinity for, and growing up, I always thought it was for boys.”<h3>6. Dr. Ellen Stofan, Chief Scientist at NASA</h3>

According to this renowned <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/offices/ocs/stofan_bio.html">NASA astrobiologist</a>, we may settling other planets in as little as 10 to 20 years! First stop: Mars. More awesome women in STEM at NASA: Deborah Diaz is NASA’s chief technology officer for IT, and Teresa Vanhooser runs one of NASA’s largest facilities in the U.S. responsible for building rockets. ‘”We are here, we are doing amazing science, and we are the role models for the next generation of STEM girls,” says Stofan.<h3>7. Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo!</h3>

She had 14 job offers after graduating in 1999 with a Masters in Computer Science from Stanford University and chose to originally work at Google during a spring break period in which, she told CNN, she made all the decisions she is most proud of. “Those decisions all had two things in common: I always surrounded myself with the smartest people I could find, because they make you think about things harder… And I always did something I was a little not ready to do. I think that’s how you grow.”<h3>8. Dr. Karen Panetta, Founder of Nerd Girls</h3>

The Tufts University professor of Engineering is known as the “Princess Warrior” of Engineering and Science education. She’s the founder of <a href="http://nerdgirls.com/">Nerd Girls</a>: the global movement which celebrates “smart-girl” individuality in science, technology, engineering and math.<h3>9: Danica McKellar, Mathematician, Actress, Education Advocate</h3>

Who says that math isn’t cool? <a href="http://www.danicamckellar.com/">Danica McKellar</a>, who you may remember from “The Wonder Years” or “The West Wing,” is all about saying loud and proud that she loves math. She’s the author of Kiss my Math, Math Doesn’t Suck, and Girls Get Curves: Geometry Takes Shape, all math-focused books for girls. “I would love to inspire the next generation of mathematicians and scientists,” McKellar said in a recent interview with NPR. “But my main goal is to give girls the confidence that comes from feeling smart… knowing that they can handle challenges. So whether it be a difficult math problem or something else, they can say, wow, I’m not sure if I can do that, and then they work at it, they persevere and they overcome it.”<h3>10. NASA’s Datanauts: STEM Women on a Mission</h3>

Molecular biologist Jennifer Lopez is leading<a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3047618/strong-female-lead/how-nasa-broke-the-gender-barrier-in-stem"> NASA</a> in boldly going where no one at the space agency has gone before: to make sense of the vast amount of data it collects through satellites, telescopes, robots, spacecraft and laboratories, among other means. Lopez spearheaded the founding class of “datanauts,” data scientists who will pioneer new insights from the exponentially growing repository of data that includes technical and scientific datasets, records, reports, simulations, videos, images and other information. The best part: all datanauts are women!

<h2>PLUS! 8 Websites to Inspire Girls to Study STEM</h2>1.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.stemwomen.net/">STEM Women</a> Girl Power Factor: This site is chockfull of articles, opinion pieces, and video interviews aimed at “fixing the leaky pipeline” of getting young women into STEM careers. The site and content managers are all women in STEM—and awesome role models. Just one example: Dr. Buddhini Samarasinghe is a molecular biologist working on cancer research, a community moderator for&nbsp;<a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/101996609942925099701">Science on Google+</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/101996609942925099701">Advances in Medicine and Biology</a>, and she is a&nbsp;co-curator for&nbsp;<a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+sciencesunday/posts">Science Sunday</a>.

2.<a href="http://www.engineergirl.org/">Engineer Girl</a> Girl Power Factor: This eye-popping collection of interviews, articles and contests was designed, in part, by girls into engineering for girls into engineering. There’s currently an advisory board of 135 girls in 28 states that give input to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). Engineer Girl is part of an NAE project to bring national attention to the opportunity that engineering represents to all people at any age, but particularly to women and girls.

3.&nbsp;<a href="http://societyofwomenengineers.swe.org/">Society of Women Engineers</a> Girl Power Factor: This is the place for young women considering careers in STEM to make their dreams come true. Society of Women Engineers&nbsp;magazine keeps women of all ages interested in engineering fields connected. There are opportunities for scholarships, mentoring, and plenty of inspiration for girls studying engineering.

4.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dreambox.com/blog/stemenist.com">Steminist</a> Girl Power Factor:&nbsp;Where else could you find an interview an astrophysics student, career advice from the CEO and Founder of Pink Petro, and the latest tweets from Girls Who Code and Latinas in STEM—all on the same page? Created in 2010 by software developer Ann Hoang, STEMinist has a goal of increasing the visibility of women in Science, Tech, Engineering and Math.

5.<a href="http://www.mathdoesntsuck.com/">Math Doesn’t Suck</a> Girl Power Factor:&nbsp;Actress and math whiz Danica McKeller proves that math is cool! You may know Danica from “The Wonder Years.” She’s also the author of Math Doesn’t Suck, Kiss My Math or Hot X: Algebra Exposed, or Girls Get Curves.

6.&nbsp;<a href="http://girlswhocode.com/">Girls Who Code</a> Girl Power Factor:&nbsp;This site is all about building a sisterhood of girls in grades 6-12 who are all about STEM in general, computer science in specific. Girls Who Code offers a 7-week intensive computer science course at technology companies and universities nationwide, school clubs, and networking opportunities galore.

7.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.millionwomenmentors.org/">Million Women Mentors</a> Girl Power Factor:&nbsp;This inspiring site is all about matching young women in STEM to mentors. MWM has assembled more than 58 partners, 30 sponsors, and 30 state leadership teams that reach more than 30 million girls and women. Over 200,000 pledges to mentor girls and women in STEM have been entered to date!

8.&nbsp;<a href="http://nerdgirls.com/">Nerd Girls</a> Girl Power Factor:&nbsp;We give this website two huge thumbs-up! The mission of Nerd Girl Clubs is “to encourage other girls to change their world through Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, while embracing their feminine power.” The first club was the brain-child of Dr. Karen Panetta, a professor at Tufts University, to empower her female engineering students and challenge the stereotypes and myths about women in engineering. Nerd Girl Clubs nationwide have have conducted outreach events to over 85,000 youth, parents, educators and communities!

Getting more women and girls interested in STEM fields is the unfinished business of the 20th century, according to Hillary Clinton.

Learning Resources

5 Ways to Get Students Excited About the Math Challenge

5 Ways to Get Students Excited About the Math Challenge

Onward and upwards as we link our hearts and arms to work for a better tomorrow.

DreamBox Student Conferencing Guide

Use Math for Ocean Navigation!

6 Steps to Implementing a Successful Pilot Program

71 Math-tastic Jobs for Math Majors

Women in STEM who Rock & 8 Cool Websites to Get Girls Psyched About STEM

Onward and upwards as we link our hearts and arms to work for a better tomorrow.

DreamBox Student Conferencing Guide

Use Math for Ocean Navigation!

6 Steps to Implementing a Successful Pilot Program

71 Math-tastic Jobs for Math Majors

Women in STEM who Rock & 8 Cool Websites to Get Girls Psyched About STEM

Subscribe & stay updated

Quick Links

Company

DreamBox Learning Apps