Summary: How to Teach Anything Through Code<br> Welcome to episode 2 of Beyond the Hour of Code, a podcast to help teachers do great work. In this episode, we take on a couple of the big ideas we need to use code the best way possible for our elementary students.<br> Code is a Text, and we Teach Through Text<br> If you have been teaching for a while and you don't have a degree in computer programming, no one expects you to stop what you are doing and go become an expert in code, you are an expert in kids. Code is a text, it communicates something, it does something for some reason. With the help of simple apps like <a href="https://www.scratchjr.org/">ScratchJr</a>, my students can compose these meaningful texts, even my pre-readers.<br> If you are a teacher who likes to address standards in multiple contexts (spiraling), coding can become another stop on your instructional tour.<br> Programming is Problem Solving<br> My students have plenty of problems to solve every day, and leveled programming apps give me a chance to teach problem-solving skills. Most of the programming work my kids do is more open-ended, and composing those texts is a problem-rich process. Since you as the teacher are not a code expert, this problem solving can be very genuine. When I teach this part of coding I enjoy being a partner in the process with the kids, helping them find the right information on the screen. So much of this is actually reading strategy instruction. (READ THE SCREEN).<br> Coding the Standards<br> Computer Science Standards<br> Leveled CS experiences<br> <br> * <a href="https://csfirst.withgoogle.com/en/home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CS First</a><br> <br> Google's CS First curriculum is a collection of fun activities like “<a href="https://csfirst.withgoogle.com/c/cs-first/en/create-your-own-google-logo/create-your-own-google-logo/create-your-own-google-logo.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Make your own Google Logo</a>.” Through the activities, students learn about and apply computer science concepts.<br> <br> * <a href="http://blog.kodable.com/2015/10/29/sam-pattersons-5-tips-to-rock-the-hour-of-code/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kodable</a><br> * <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-dpLkp2oOc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Foos</a><br> <br> Beyond Computer Science- Content Area Knowledge<br> <br> * <a href="https://www.teachercast.net/teaching-block-based-coding/">Open Studio Apps</a><br> * <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHoZiaTYBr0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Story Telling</a> (Thanks, Jacob Lee)<br> * <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dgeYGEkm_Y" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dialogues</a><br> <br> Beyond Standards- Student Empowerment<br> <br> * Profound platform for sharing and interacting<br> * Students quickly learn that they can create these texts about the things they care about.<br> <br> Like the Show? Buy the Book!<br> <a class="easyazon-link" href="https://www.teachercast.net/product/1475825447/US/teach00-20/?cart=y" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Programming in the Primary Grades: Beyond the Hour of Code</a> is your guidebook for keeping the focus on your highest goals as you bring coding into your classroom.<br> <br> <br>
