#4thchat is a hashtag for teachers or anyone to talk about educational issues relating to 4th grade. Using #4thchat will create a network of 4th grade teachers or teachers working with 9-10 year olds across the world. We welcome anyone who 1. teaches 4th grade 2 .Works with 4th grade students and or 4th grade teachers 3. Likes 4th grade teachers (Groupies are encouraged).
Hi #4thChat .. Sammy from a snowy MI checking in! We had a snow day today - so I'm still in sweatpants! haha - working on Grad School portfolio so I'm gonna be in and out tonight!
Hooray Anne Marie! So glad you decided to join in! When responding to a question answer it with the letter A & the question #. You'll get the hang of it. Don't forget to add the #4thchat at the end of your tweets!
We only got a couple inches but it came late last night/early this morning so the roads were rough for the commute! Nice extended holiday weekend! #4thChat
I am excited! @MACUL which is Michigan's branch of @iste sponsors the event! Student Technology Showcase! I had kids apply to come with me - fun process! #4thChat
#4thchat Snow globe snow. Actually very photo worthy today. The storms were south of us. My students insisted on sledding, it was mostly sliding on grass with a dusting of snow.
Sleep is overrated! ;) haha! We only got a couple inches - I think we were on the very last leg of the big storm. But, enough late to cause some chaos on the roads! #4thChat
The kids actually will present. It's set up like an exhibit hall kind of! So we will have a booth and the kids will just share how we use coding! :) #4thCHat ... I'm excited to watch them grow!
A1: I consider myself pretty well versed in block coding. Anything beyond that, I am probably still a beginner. I am really good at facilitating the students to just give it a try though! #4thChat
Debugging is half the fun! You ARE awesome at both! You need to share the program that you and Anne Marie did last year! (the name escapes me now!) #4thchat
A1 #4thchat Did a lot of visual basic, excel macro programming in my former life as an electrical engineer. Have been having fun learning @scratch with my students #mncodes
A2: I think coding and programming are becoming more and more valuable and important every day. Kids CAN learn coding and programming and it CAN make them talented and marketable. At any age. It’s important to prepare kids for our global future! #4thChat
A2 #4thchat If we broaden coding to computational thinking then yes all should learn. Also all should code at least enough to know about it, lots of career opportunities first gen college Ss wouldn't necessarily know about. @codeorg
A2: It's been said that 1/2 the jobs of the future will involve coding - students should be learning about/have exposure it so they won't be afraid of it! #4thchat
A2 coding is like any other educational component we need to introduce it, put it out there, some Ss will go for it some won’t be as impressed, but that’s ok #4thChat
A2: I think coding and programming are becoming more and more valuable and important every day. Kids CAN learn coding and programming and it CAN make them talented and marketable. At any age. It’s important to prepare kids for our global future! #4thChat
You already lost me...lol How cool is that - the kids must have LOVED it! Is this something you think 4th graders could handle too? https://t.co/PYyLnUP05s#4thchat
Another important thing for me is to remember that nearly everything our kids are touching involves coding in some way - teaching the code and programming skills helps make learning relevant! #4thChat
#4thchat Great free resource if computational thinking is a new resource:
Computational Thinking for Educators - - Unit 1 - Introducing Computational Thinking https://t.co/YV1yjzyIWZ
A3: This article has some great reasons why kids should code - 1 suggests that it helps them to learn to manage frustration and get beyond it with a solution. 6 Reasons for Coding in K-5 Classroom: https://t.co/Ma3pwNqbrJ#4thchat
#4thchat A4 Once you do @codeorg then try this for @scratch. The format is very similar and the Ss get "starter projects. Plus you can order free materials.
Coding Courses & Computer Science Curriculum - CS First https://t.co/bOnPFzjRKp
#4thchat The main thing my Ss do in our coding club are: @codeorg@GoogleCSFirst and @thunkable I set up a coding Google Classroom for the club and give them choices. Almost 80 Ss in our after school club this year again.
A5: We have used both Scratch and Tynker. It depends on the year for me, some students respond better to each. Once I teach both, they can decide which they like best! #4thChat
Just got these at one of my schools. I tried out Dash and kept bumping into things. I can see once the kids get the hang of it it will be awesome. I'd like to also somehow relate this to the content curriculum - any ideas? #4thchat
#4thchat The best tip from a coderdojo organizer is that sometimes Ts are less helpful when Ss code in a club because Ts like curriculum FOLLOWED, but Ss should be able to explore, experiment, and create. Sometimes Ts get in the way, well intended but in the way.
In reply to
@MrsRebandt, @codeorg, @GoogleCSFirst, @thunkable
We have used Dash for Digital Storytelling! #4thChat - I also only have ONE so it usually just becomes a free play and figure it out but the kids love it! #4thChat
Wow - shows there's a desire for it for sure! I know we have some afterschool "lego Wedo" clubs. Robotics/coding go together like.... (key up tune from Grease). #4thchat
In reply to
@MarkNechanicky, @codeorg, @GoogleCSFirst, @thunkable
You certainly need time to explore. In my new role, I'm MAKING myself take the time or how else will we be able to figure it out! #4thchat (We have Dash only)
Is anyone else excited about @codeorg Dance Party? #4thchathttps://t.co/yZGgTz0mj6 I mean what student isn't going to want to make their character 'floss' & 'dab'?
https://t.co/WkrLB8OgP0
You program your robot to light up the lights by using icons. It's very basic but gets more challenging as the levels progress. It is free and easy! #4thChat
A7: #4thchat Between first and second bell (in the building and in the room bells) Ss often can choose to continue work on a coding project. Helps motivate Ss to come to school on time. Plus fun to watch "struggling" Ss who are in the coding club mentor "high" Ss in coding.
I think it's wonderful that you start your day with a choice for students. In the last couple years of my classroom experience, I did that and saw what a tremendous difference it made to the start of the school day! (As opposed to starting with "morning work"!) #4thchat
#4thchat@scratch accounts for teachers are free. This is a different type of acct than Ss which Ts can also sign up for. You want the T acct. But it can take a day or two to get approved. Sign up with this link: Educators https://t.co/qYVlU5T1Hl
#4thchat It's important to find ways to shuffle up the "pecking order" There are so many hidden talents in any classroom--Ss need experiences being at various places in the "pecking order." Classrooms should be complex so that no Ss feels always behind nor unafraid of challenge.
#4thchat In coding, computational thinking, and #makerspace it's often the kids that are used to trying things more than once that excel. These aren't always the students who come to 4th grade fluent in reading and math facts.
As always, Mark - Love your thinking! #4thchat Easy for kids to fall into that pecking order and we have to work at finding ways to make those other talents shine.
A9: I think getting parents involved is important- we ALL need to know about coding. Trying to invite them in to use school devices is one way...teaching Sts unplugged coding to teach parents is another. #4thchat
#4thchat on the flip side had too many "smart" friends make it to college without ever truly struggling to learn something. Being told you are smart your whole life doesn't prepare you for the challenges of life either. We need to prepare students for "real life"
If they struggle and finally get the program to work they feel great. They feel they have accomplished something with hard work. They need to experience that. #4thchat
Lakeview coding club had guests today that spanned 3 generations! Lots of creativity, collaborations, communication, and critical thinking. Awesome to see the productive struggle Ss put into projects. Tech is for creating not consuming. #HourOfCode#CSforALL#4thchat@nicksofio
If they struggle and finally get the program to work they feel great. They feel they have accomplished something with hard work. They need to experience that. #4thchat
Since we are sharing...this video is from Scratch and it is one our our students! His passion for programming started in elementary school - we cannot take credit! https://t.co/WEMZGwTxJ4#4thchat
If they struggle and finally get the program to work they feel great. They feel they have accomplished something with hard work. They need to experience that. #4thchat
