The start of school for many is an exciting time. Kids get to see their larger groups of friends, there is a lot more structure to their schedule, school sports are back in action and the students get to go shopping for new clothes and sometimes electronics. But the last part of that, shopping, can also cause stress, anxiety and even embarrassment depending on the family’s financial situation. Some families simply cannot afford to get everything needed for their child to succeed in school. One particular area that is often overlooked is the need for a scientific calculator.
Scientific calculators such as the TI-30XS Multiview, TI-30X IIS and the TI-84 Plus CE are the three most popular scientific calculators around. The TI-84 has been in use for decades and is still the only choice for graphing calculators in both high school and college, but it also comes with a hefty price tag, $90 to $130, depending on the color and add-ons chosen.
According to the school district, the three calculators listed above are the ones needed for students.
The TI-30 XS Multiview is acceptable for fifth through eighth grade students to use in their course work. The TI-30X IIS will work for Algebra I and Geometry for grades 9-12, but any other high school class will require the TI-84 Plus. The TI-84 Plus will work for all classes from grade 5-12, so the $100 investment in fifth grade should get your student through graduation, which means it is a $16 per year investment.
There are alternatives to buying new hardware like an expensive calculator. Most students also have a smart phone, and the apps for those have come a long way. In researching this, there were two apps that stood out on the iPhone: Graphing Calculator x84 and Graphing Calculator Pro2. Both do have costs associated with them, Graphing Calculator Pro2 was listed at $4.99 and x84 was listed as free with in-app purchases. Regardless of the cost differences between the two, they are significantly less than buying new hardware. Before choosing the app option, verify with the current teacher that the app will work in place of the TI-84.
What are students to do if they do not have access to the high-end calculator needed for their class? That is where you come in. The school system is currently taking donations of the three needed calculators, so it is time to dig through those old boxes and the junk drawers to see if you have any of the three needed calculators.
If you do and would like to donate them, please drop them off at the Welcome Center of the Hastings Middle School. That is the door on the Pinecrest side of the building. Please put a piece of masking tape on the calculator or place it in a bag that says “Attn: Lori Marsh, Counselling office” and the school will distribute them to those in need.
