Hour of Code

This week was dedicated to computer science. December 8 to the 12, millions of students experienced the Hour of Code! This is an amazing program that teaches the kids, as young as kindergarten, how to code.

I spent an entire Saturday learning how to teach my students to code. It was an awesome training! You teach coding not only with computers but with activities in the classroom as well. There are kinesthetic activities to teach code!

Am amazing statistic is only 15% of all computer programmers are women or African Americans. One of the focuses of this week was to show these two groups that coding is for everyone and it can be done by everyone!

My kids loved it. They could not get enough of it. On Monday, we talked about binary code. I explained that each letter has a code (pattern) that is read by the computer. I showed them all of the binary codes for the letters of the alphabet.  They found their first initial and made the code using black and yellow beads. We then put their beads on a black pipe cleaner and voila, they went home with a binary code bracelet! They loved it!

They spent time all week coding. I set up a class on code.org and they all had a login card. They all started on playlab. As they finished each puzzle, it became harder and harder. They did not give up. They persevered through the tough puzzles and they loved it. There were no tears or yelling I can't do this!

My kids completed playlab! They went onto Flap Codes and created their own floppy bird games and had their neighbors try to play their games! Some even completed Flap Codes and have begun The Hour of Code! They love tjis because it is Angry Birds! They have to get their birds to the pig!

My kids are first graders! They are 6 years old and they persevered through the difficult puzzles and laughed and chatted with each other throughout. What I loved was there were some kids who are reserved but they jumped right up to help a classmate with a puzzle they were having difficulty with!

The hour of code was truly one of the best experiences for my students!!!!!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year Chat!

Can I just start by saying, I absolutely love this time of year! I love the cookies, the lights, the decorations, spending time with family and the different traditions we have and make each year! I am linking up with Abby of The Inspired Apple for her Christmas Chat Linky!

Here is what I have to share with you all!!!

There are so many awesome conversations taking place on the blogs of other awesome educators! Click on the button below to visit their blogs and see their conversations!

Just a thought to leave you with! You know you have done this at some point!

Elves and Olaf

My kids and I came back from our break in such great moods! They dressed up as rocking elves abd got pictures taken! I must say they are adorable!

In Math, we made a wicked cute hallway display!  They made their heads and a thought cloud with their favorite math tool! Then I made a giant bed and put the heads on it with their thought clouds. The sign states Mrs. Price's kids are nestled all snug in their bed, while visions of Math tools danced in their heads!

This year instead of doing the elf, my class has an Olaf! They absolutely love him. He has brought them special snowflake pencils to make their handwriting snowy good. He also brought them book marks for their favorite books!
I have created and posted my unit on teachers pay teachers if you are interested. It is called Where is Olaf and it is in my store, Mrs prices kindergators.

Here are some photos so far! I will add more as the weeks go by!

December Currently

Oh my, I just realized that it has been forever since I last blogged!!! Well, it is the first of the month and we all know what that means!!!!!! Yep, I am linking up with Oh'Boy 4th Grade for the December Currently!

Here is my Currently:

Listening: I am currently listening to Christmas Music (Snoopy and the Red Baron) as I finish up and post my Where is Olaf unit!!

Loving: Oh, I am loving that it is Holiday Time! I love everything about this time of year! The music, food, traditions and the overall spreading of Good Cheer!!

Thinking: I have a lot to do tomorrow to introduce Olaf to our class! I am doing Olaf instead of Elf on the Shelf with my kids.

Wanting: A stress free week at school and I know that is not going to happen but one can hope!

Needing: To go to sleep so I am chipper and happy when I do the Olaf introduction and scavenger hunt! It is getting later but I keep thinking of things to add to my to do list!

Giving: My goal and hope is to give my kids a wonderful unforgettable Holiday experience at school!

Well there it is my December Currently! Click on the icon below to go read the Currentlys of other awesome educators!!!