Adding Coding to the Program
Code.org:
Free... Free... Free...
We have a very tight budget at our school and we have limited funds for additional programs. Technology can be expensive. Finding programs that are rich in content and not expensive to use can be difficult to find. One jewel out there is Code.org.
Many educators have used the Hour of Code with their classrooms. Students get to experience what coding is all about with familiar gaming characters. They can manipulate the characters using Javascript and Blockly coding methods. My students love it and are very engaged. Hour of Code though is only the beginning.
I use Code.org to allow coding opportunities to my students throughout the year. At first, I found the program a bit difficult for my first graders, but the developers have rearranged and added to their curriculum, so there are more structured levels for every grade. The pre-reader program has many "unplugged" lessons and I find that I need to combine them into one or two lessons in order to cover the information. (1-in-6 day, 40 minute class schedule for each classroom). When signed in as a teacher, I am able to create a classroom for all 35- 36 classes that are assigned to me. I can also move students between classrooms (add and delete) as well as push them forward to their new assigned room for the next year (All without losing their progress.).
I use the program as an "if you have completed your work" and as direct class instruction throughout the year. The program also helps to develop common vocabulary (loops, run, etc.). Code.org offers free teacher training throughout the country. I have been to one session about 4 years ago. I plan on attending another session soon, to get tips and exposure to the newer curriculum.
Not so free but worth it:
I attended a MassCue conference this fall and one of the vendors was displaying Code & Go Mice. I was able to get a Donors Choose Grant that covered two Code & Go Mice Kits. I use them with the K-2 students. Each classroom kit had 3 mice, maze board tiles, purple walls, cheese blocks, and coding cards. Note that via Donors Choose the kits were more expensive but came in threes via their supplier. The PTO bought me 3 more Code & Go Mice kits which had a single mouse, maze board tiles, three bridges, coding cards, and activity cards. I divided all of these materials up into 9 sets- (it allows grouping of students from 2-3 versus 3-4 per mouse). I duplicated the cards to fit the amount of maze board tiles that each group actually has to use (example- 4X3 tile board for a total of 12 tiles). I created with them Drawings, and Docs. I also created more activity cards situations for each grade level. The Donors Choose Kits has a student activity book as well as a teacher's guide. I restructured their material to work for my set-up and created planning sheets for the first and second grade students. The engagement for these mice is strong. Sharing can be a problem. I gave the students in each group numbered tile pieces so they could take turns without a lot of issues- it helped! An interesting observation: I have found the hands on aspect allows those students who tend to struggle with reading or math have a lot of success with the Mice and with problem solving. I noted that students who get easily discouraged with academics, being very pleased with their experience. Recently, I have found a game board that I may try to get financed via a grant, that uses the Code & Go Mice: Code & Go Mania Board.
Walking around the same conference, I was able to experience Ozobots and Ozobot Bits. Bits are more in my price range and more manageable for younger students. Ozobots are great for older students and I believe they can be used in water. The same Donors Choose Grant allowed me to get six Ozobot Bits and the PTO gift gave me another three. I also received one more kit from my husband as a gift. The ten allow the amount of students in a group to shrink, and the 3-5 students have more time using them.
The great thing about Ozobot Bits is the students can use regular Crayola Markers Washable (Red, Greed, Blue, and Black) and they can use regular drawing paper. They create the code they want the Ozobot Bit to conduct and test it out. The process is great for trial and error practice and for understanding that code writing requires reviewing your work- a lot!. We used large drawing paper this year. Next year I will be able to spread the students down the main hallway to make large coded paths on art paper. The website has many lessons and pathways to print out and to laminate. The Bits come with a packet of path and code cards. I also laminated all of them. This year I tried the basic lessons on all 3-5 classes. Next year I will tier it better for the students by grade level, so they are learning something new each time.
These kits were bought via a $3000 MassCue Grant that was awarded to me in January. They just arrived the past week, so I will be posting more about them in an upcoming Blog session. Stay Tuned!
I came upon this purely by accident while looking through the Google Training site. Google has created free coding kits that allow for short clubs or lesson sessions based on themes. I will be trying out my first kit this month (I just have to find the same day opened in my calendar for about 5 weeks to begin a Coding Club). I will cover this experience in a new blog to post soon.
Organizational Note- Number everything... robots, tiles, cards, lesson cards, and bins. This is the only way to make sure everything for that robot remains together.
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