5-6

5-6, 7-8, Robotics, Uncategorized

Robotics Classroom Procedures

f you haven’t already seen the classroom Hummingbird Kit bundles, go take a minute to bask in all its organizational glory. I am determined to keep them beautiful. My overarching strategy is to give the students ownership so they, too, want to keep the kits organized. Though this post will specifically detail the classroom procedures I use with the Hummingbird Kit, the resources are easily adaptable to whatever you’re using!

5-6, 7-8, Robotics, Uncategorized

Introducing Robotics in Middle School

It’s been awhile since I’ve been able to use hardware in my middle school classroom, so I was nervous and excited to break in our new HummingbirdBit Robotics Kits. In the before times, I had used a similar kit, and I knew I wanted to do a better job of isolating the coding and the hardware before combining the two. I also wanted to spend time focusing on input versus output devices as this always seems to be a challenge.

5-6, 7-8, 9-12, Advanced Topics, AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles, Computer Science I, Robotics, Uncategorized

Back to School Night Ideas

With the added pressure of Back to School Night in person (we hosted virtually last year in a modified format), I decided to stick with what I’m most comfortable with and just teach. In each class, I picked out a quick unplugged activity or discussion to give a truer sense of what a period in my classroom is like. Here are some ideas.

5-6, 7-8, 9-12, Professional Development

CSTA 2021: Highlights and Takeaways

If you’re reading this, you better not be sleeping on CSTA Conferences. I’ve attended every year since I started teaching CS and I always walk away reinvigorated for the next school year. Like many early in my CS teaching career, I used to look for ready-to-go curriculum or fun gadgets. Now, I try to find new pedagogical techniques, engaging activities, and ways to go deeper with the material I’m already teaching. Here’s an unordered list of ideas, takeaways, and sites I want to revisit before school starts…