You Might Be A Geeky Teacher if You Love Teaching Your Students to Code! #HourofCode

Kindergarten coding on iPads and Computers.!

 This week marks the hour of code!  We decided to join this movement and give every student in our school the opportunity to try an hour of computer programming.  It has been an amazing journey.  The kids took to the coding with ease and are ready to take on more difficult challenges.  Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) is an annual program dedicated to inspiring K-12 students to take interest in computer science.

Originally conceived by the Computing in the Core coalition, Code.org is producing CSEdWeek for the first time this year, held in recognition of the birthday of computing pioneer Admiral Grace Murray Hopper (December 9, 1906).

We identified the coding exercises we wanted each grade to participate in from the Hour of Code website.   Hour of Code K-8 Activities and Apps document   We added these sites to our school Diigo account so that students can access the links from anywhere.  

This is my favorite day so far this year!

Students finished their hour of code and I gave the 4th and 5th graders a challenge to try the Holiday Card with Scratch Coding Activity and email me the completed card.  If the card had all the parts asked for in the tutorials, the student would earn a candybar and a green star.  I think I should have purchased stock in a candy company because I may exhaust my Christmas fund purchasing candy bars!  


We sent this letter out to parents and posted it on our school website to announce the week!  
DID YOU KNOW:

• Software jobs out number students 3-to-1? The gap is 1 million jobs over the next 10 years and these are some of the highest paying jobs out there.
• 90% of schools in the US do not teach computer science.
• In many countries, computer science is required. (China, Vietnam, Estonia. Soon UK, Australia.
• The basics can be learned by anybody beginning in elementary school and even as young as kindergarten. 

Programming literacy is going to be key to your child’s future. Hulstrom will be part of a massive global Hour of Code campaign to prepare students for the 21st century during Computer Science Education Week next week Dec 9-15. Every student K-8 at Hulstrom will participate at school. Here are a few ways you can help support Computer Science literacy at home as well. 

21st Century Learners Coding Angry Birds!

1. Sit down with child, have he/she show you a coding activity  he/she learned at school. 

2. See the Hour of Code K-8 Activities and Apps document and 5 minute video http://youtu.be/nKIu9yen5nc

For additional information visit  code.org or watch one of these short videos.1 minute preview http://youtu.be/qYZF6oIZtfc

What a wonderful idea and an amazing experience for our students.  Thank you Hour of Code!