Grant brings computer coding to youngest students

This fall the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) classroom received a grant of $2,000 from a larger Rowland Foundation allocation focused on building more robust and equitable computer science programs in the Champlain Valley School District.

Teacher Steve Flint purchased several Blue Bots for Charlotte Central School’s youngest learners. A Blue Bot is a small smiley-faced robot that moves along a flat surface after being programmed by a student.

Looking like a clear plastic upside-down bowl with forward-backward-right-left arrow buttons on its back, Blue Bot challenges students to create sequential directions and then witness the results of their directions in real time as the robot follows their commands. From there, students can revise their code to better accomplish the task. This type of coding and programming helps develop important thinking skills while having fun.

If the code doesn’t do what the students wanted, they can change the commands and run the program again. Creating a program and revising by students provides an additional conceptual level of understanding that further develops algorithmic thinking skills. Blue Bot blinks and beeps to provide feedback as it follows a program. The clear shell allows its components to be seen, helping to demystify technology.

Online safety, digital citizenship
The annual Digital Citizenship Week was the week of Oct. 21 at Charlotte Central School. Online safety is a priority for the school.

Parents are asked to monitor their child’s online footprint. Where do they spend their time when online? Are they talking with others, and what information do they share about themselves online?

Throughout the year, staff will teach developmentally appropriate lessons that are highlighted on the Common Sense Media website.

Halloween at Charlotte Central
Several years ago, Charlotte Central School moved away from celebrating Halloween during the school day to maintain a calm routine focused on learning and social activities that are accessible and inclusive for all students.

Parents are asked not to send costumes to school. If a family is interested in celebrating Halloween, check out the fantastic festivities happening around town by looking at the Charlotte Library or the Charlotte-Shelburne-Hinesburg Rotary websites.

Library news
Kindergarten-fourth grade library classes are participating in the Global Read Aloud. Millions of students have participated in the program since it began in 2010. The featured picture-book author for this year is Minh Lê, the award-winning author of books including “Drawn Together,” “The Blur,” “Real to Me” and “Lift.”

As explained at theglobalreadaloud.com, a book is picked every year by the organization to read aloud to students during a six-week period. During that time, the school tries to make as many global connections as possible around the book. Some teachers choose to connect with just one class, while others go for as many as possible. The scope and depth of the project is up to teachers.

While there are many platforms commonly used to connect classrooms, teachers choose the tools that make the most sense for them. Teachers get a community of other educators to do a global project in hopes these connections continue through the year. This global collaboration shows students that they are part of something bigger than themselves.