About Us

Tinker Club, formerly known as Teach Communication through Science (TCTS), is a woman-owned small business (WOSB) in education, specializing in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education for children between the ages of 4 and 14. The company was established in 2018 with a strong mission to inspire and nurture the innate curiosity of children by providing personalized care and hands-on STEM learning experiences to boost critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills. It served over 7000 families to date. Here are some key points about Tinker Club:

1. Educational Focus: Tinker Club is dedicated to providing STEM education with an emphasis on hands-on learning. They offer classes in coding, 3D design, and robotics to engage young learners and spark their interest in these fields.

2. Lesson Plan Development: The company's lesson plans are developed and overseen by a board of advisors comprising experts in engineering, computer science, and education/teaching. These lessons are carefully designed by reviewing available resources in STEM and engineering courses for children and adapting and creating in-house lesson plans in compliance with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The lesson plans can be polished and adjusted based on the certain needs and goals of the program such as covering GATE students only, providing extra challenges for the advanced and experienced students in coding, or introducing STEM to very young students who did not have any exposure before.

3.  Engagement at Events: Tinker Club actively participates in science fairs and tech events, such as Glendale   Tech Week, Caltech Postdoc Association's summer camp, Glendale College's annual Makerspace event, and STEM Teachers Expo as panelists. They also featured at the STEP conference of IEEE., and ran multiple science events in the local communities such as Glendale Tech Week 2023, with” Little Engineers and Parenting”.

4.  Educational Approach: The core mission of Tinker Club is to nurture children's natural curiosity, build their confidence, and develop strong analytical, scientific, and communication skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. They achieve this by integrating STEM projects with communication development.

5.  Community Engagement: The company is committed to community engagement. They host free live virtual workshops on social media to engage children in STEM and promote family bonding through science-related activities.

6. Partnerships with Schools: Tinker Club collaborates with multiple elementary public schools in the Glendale Unified School District (GUSD) to provide customized, hands-on STEM learning experiences aligned with the school's goals and administration.

7. Support for Non-Profits: Tinker Club actively supports school PTAs, foundations, and non-profit organizations like the Glendale Education Foundation (GEF) by running events and offering science-related workshops. They also contribute their time and profits to support these organizations in their fundraising efforts.

Tinker Club's dedication to STEM education and community involvement is evident through its various programs, partnerships, and initiatives aimed at empowering children and nurturing their curiosity in the fields of science and technology.