More Coding in Elementary School

Some final thoughts from Homeroom 118 on the computer coding debate.

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I believe young elementary students shouldn’t be taught computer science. Here is one reason why not. “When we spend too much time on computer science, we can't spend time on other activities,” says teacher Melanie Reiser. I agree with Ms. Reiser because other activities are more important than computer science. My opinion is students can go to college and learn about computer science. But some other things in elementary school are more important than computer science. When we get older we need to know how to read. We also would need to know simple math. That is why I don’t think that we should be taught computer science in elementary school.

by Kayle F.

I believe that elementary students should learn computer coding in school.  One reason they should learn coding is that computer experts say that by 2020 U.S. universities will not be able to fill even a third of the country's 1.4 million computing jobs.  Another reason is that some people like Srini Mandyam, cofounder of Tynker say, “Learning how technology works and how to harness it is just as important as learning how to read and write.” I also think this because it won’t even take up that much time.  Some people say that if we spend too much time on coding we won’t have time for other things.  I don’t agree with that because there are sites like Scratch and Tynker for you to use right at home.  My personal opinion on why we should learn computer coding in elementary school is that there are so many jobs that use coding or just use a computer in general.  If you know how to code using computers becomes easier for some people.

by Jacob K.

To Code or Not To Code

Here are some more opinions from students in Room 244 about learning how to code in elementary school.

Photo: codecondo.com

Yes To Coding by Garrett W.

I think it is reasonable to learn technology in elementary school because now we have talking phones. We need to know how to code because soon we could have computers that do an SA for you.There are even programs that listen to your voice and type what you are saying. So we need to know how to fix a problem or get rid of a virus insead of calling someone and loosing $70. We also need to know how to work on computers. If we start teaching kids now, soon each can read binary when they’re older. So I think it is reasonable for elementary schools to learn coding in school.


Cracking The Code by Mashal M. 
I believe that elementary schools shouldn't have technology. Students play on the computer after they come home from school. If they play on the computer too much it won't be good for their eyes. Students in elementary schools come to school for learning and to have friends. They learn how to be respectful, not how to play on the computer. Too much computer is not good for your health, and there are more important things to be learned at school.

Coding by Isabella C.

I think that students should learn coding in elementary school. The earlier they learn coding the better. It will help them along the way. Technology is very important to students. In China, Vietnam and Britain coding classes are available in early elementary school. As a way of introducing coding to schools, people made websites for kids last year so they could practice coding. It is also free for schools. It is a great way for kids to learn coding and to help prepare kids for the future.   

Cracking The Code

The following question was raised in a recent Time For Kids article. Should computer science have a place in the elementary school classroom? Fifth grade students have strong opinions about that question. Here is a particularly thoughtful response by Ryann E. from Room 244.

No Coding in Elementary School by Ryann E.

I believe that elementary students should not learn how to code. We are too young. Our brains still need to develop other knowledge. We also like cursive handwriting. If you teach it to yourself incorrect (which most people will have to do because there are not 22 teachers or more), it is very difficult to relearn it. If technology takes over any more, your dead phone can not read you a very important message or multiply 34,567 by 56 then divide by 7. Coding class would be 45 minutes long so they’d probably cut music, art or recess. I do believe by 2020 there will not be enough people to fill those computing jobs, but we do not have to start in Kindergarten-Grade 6. Grade 7 and up is fine. In the higher grades, we will understand it more and code more efficiently.

Toya the Troll

An original traditional tale by Maggie and Isabella . . .

Hi I’m Toya the Troll. I’m the big old scary troll from the famous tale The Three Billy Goats Gruff. There’s more to me than a hairy armed beast. For example, I’m not a boy, I’m a women. And I have seven children and a husband named Toyvo. My bridge was very nice until three greedy, hungry tricky billy goats came along and destroyed it. 

    One day, my children and I were watching the telly when we heard stomping as loud as trumpets. I went outside to see what was happening and a little billy goat was crossing my bridge, of course. The first thing I thought was that my family was going to have goat for dinner tonight. But then the tiny goat was telling me lies. He was saying that he was too little for me so I believed him. Of course, the goat was scared, but I was terrified. How could this goat go in my yard and eat my crops and disturb my family and still look at me like I was a monster? My children begged me to come back and play with them, so I trudged myself down under the bridge and played. My husband came home and I told him what had happened. He was scared, too. 

The next day there was a bigger billy goat who looked big enough to feed me, Toyvo and some of the kids. So I decided to strike at him. After I got my claws on and told Toyvo that we were having goat tonight, I climbed exitedly to the bridge. I started to circle him and tried to scratch him near the arm but I missed. “Hey, when was the last time you shaved, ugly?” he scoffed. I felt a tear of embarrassment and sadness making its way down my cheek. “Why you crying, ugly?” the goat said again. I felt myself dropping to the ground as if I was melting. Before the medium sized goat left me, he informed me that his bigger brother would come tomorrow. That night I couldn’t sleep. The goat’s words kept coming back to me, and I was wondering what the big goat would do.

When I woke up, I wanted to cry and yell and run away. Run as fast as I can all the way to the other side of the earth, but I didn’t. My kids got my weapons ready. As soon as the biggest billy goat started to “trip trap” on my bridge, I rose. The goat expected it. He was very tall. He also had four earrings, and to top it all off he had dyed his horns red. “My name is big billy goat Roger,” he said in a deep voice. I giggled a little because he was such a big goat with such an ordinary name. “What are you laughing at, hugly? That means hairy and ugly!” he scoffed. It seemed like everyone thought I was a monster. I am a monster, and I’m proud. Three of my babies all named Merlin came to give me a pointy fork. My oldest Merlin tried to stab Roger in the heart but he missed and hit him in the leg.

The big billy goat was so mad that he started to pick me up with his huge horns and threw me to the ground. I could feel my heart almost stopping. My tears were flowing out of my eyes like a river. He stomped on me until I was as flat as a pancake. Then he chucked me up in the air as high as he could. I felt like I was flying, not in a good way! I thought that it was raining because I was crying so much. I could still hear my children whimpering so loudly it shook the mountains.

I landed in another neighborhood all the way across town. The people there were so kind. They showed me where the hospital was. The doctor was a very nice human. I think he like me. It took my family seven days to find me. I was happy until everything went black. I couldn’t feel anything or hear anything and I knew that I was in a coma.

To be continued . . .

  

Happy!

Celebrating the completion of Math MCAS . . .

Andy Bear

Students read an excerpt in our reading text book from a touching story about Andy Bear, a polar bear cub that was born at the Atlanta Zoo in the 1980s. Then they were asked to consider the following question: "A lot of time, money, and care was spent to save Andy's life. Some people might think it wasn't worth it just to save one polar bear. What do you think — and why?" Here are two especially well thought out responses.

There has been some talk about a polar bear cub named Andy Bear. Some people think it was not worth it to save her. I think they’re wrong. I think they should have saved her for many reasons. Here is why. For one thing it is really rare for a polar bear to even live in a zoo. Also, since it is so rare for a zoo to get a polar bear, the zoo might raise even more money than they spent for her, because people would pay to see her. Plus, because of global warming polar bear homes are being destroyed all over the world, so baby polar bears need protection. Another reason is it’s rare for a baby polar bear to survive because often the father polar bear eats the baby cub. Lastly, it is just cruel to let a baby animal just die on purpose. In conclusion, that is why I think it was worth letting Andy Bear live.

— by Jonathan

My opinion is the people who work at the zoo should not have spent all that money and time on Andy Bear. I don’t think they should have because it said that Constance who is in charge of Andy Bear had to take time off from her job and the other animals at the zoo. She should not have to do that for one little polar bear. Also there are a lot of other animals in the world that need lots of help or even just a little help. Why should Andy Bear be more important than all those other animals? Next is that Constance, the zookeeper could have been in danger. The story said that Constance and her friends loved romping with Andy Bear, but they were always careful of the frisky bear’s very sharp teeth. Constance had already lost a finger nail. The bear is also running around destroying her garden. They also went through two different milk formulas just to save him, and he almost died the first time. So I don’t think they should have spent more money on him to change formula. They also have to spend money on his food almost every week. So that’s why I don’t think they should have spent all that time and money on Andy Bear.

— by Owen

Road To Revolution

We're ready for the American Revolution! Previewing some vocabulary, just in time with Patriots' Day right around the corner. April 19 is a day commemorating the Battle of Lexington and Concord which started the war. Students know why it is a holiday celebrated in Massachusetts and Maine.

The Preposition Song

Prepositions can be tricky little parts of speech, but not for these talented fifth grade girls who memorized the Preposition Song!

Who Likes 3D Movies?

What if movie theaters decided to show all movies in 3D?  Here are some of our opinions.

I don’t know about you, but I think 3D movies could be fun for a while but then could get boring. 3D movies might make you dizzy. Things pop out and in your face, and it makes your eyes a little crazy. That could get boring after a while. Think about having ONLY 3D movies. . . you might think that would be cool. But what if it temporarily damages your eyes? You could also get seriously scared! If you see a scary 3D movie then you could get really scared. That’s my opinion about 3D movies. 

by Kate P.

My name is Kaylee A. and I am a 10 year-old who lives in Massachusetts. I think you should always show 3D movies because 3D makes movies pop out and look cool. When kids or adults watch the movie, it grabs their attention to continue watching the movie. It would be good for theaters because 3D will bring in more people and the In-Your-Face Movie theatre will be rich!I I for one am a huge, huge, huge fan of 3D because it makes movies more entertaining, more funny, and more lovable. I hope you take these ideas into consideration.

I think that movie theaters should only show 3D movies.  More customers like to watch 3D movies.  If theaters only showed 3D movies they would get a lot more business.  I like 3D movies, and I think it makes the movie that you are watching look cooler.  The 3D movies could make your eyes a little sore when you take the glasses off, but your eyes would get used to it.  If you are watching a scary 3D movie it could scare you in some parts, but it is just fun and it is all made up.  Other movies are funny, cute, and lovable.  Those movies are fun to watch and they don't make you scared.  The other cool thing about 3D movies is that it feels like everything is coming right at you.  So I think that movie theaters should show 3D movies all the time, or maybe the theaters could switch off and do 3D one week and not 3D the next week.  

by Mia P.      

I think it is an awful idea to have all 3D movie theater, because when I go to see 3D movies it’s hard to tell that it is even 3D. Also it can make you sick. I always get nauseous watching 3D movies. Once I nearly threw up! It’s also a waste of money because nothing ever seems so realistic that it’s 3D. Normally there are only about 2 things that are 3D, so it’s a waste and In-Your-face movie theater will get bad reviews!  

by Abby Olsen

Year-Round School?

Time For Kids has done it again with their article entitled Should Kids Go To School Year-Round? Students in Rooms 244 & 118 are passionate about their opinions on this subject! According to our poll of 42 students in both classrooms, 6 believe year-round school is a good thing and 36 are not fans of the idea. Here are a few student viewpoints.

Kids should not have school all year because it is less time for them to exercise or do sports.  It is also less time for kids to spend time with family or friends.  Kids should have a break from school and work.  Kids need time to be silly without a teacher yelling at them or being told to do schoolwork.  Kids should have fun with friends in the summertime.  They shouldn't have to sit inside learning during the nice summer weather.  Kids should not have to go home everyday and do a lot of homework.   

by Mia, Room 244

I think kids should not go to school year-round.  They need a break to relax.  Also it will help them to not be so stressed.  The kids need time to relax with their family and friends who they don't get to see much.  I also think they need free time to do anything like draw, play sports, and hobbies. Even though they get to see their friends at school, they don't have the opportunity to talk or play. And that's why I think kids should not have to go to school year-round.  

by Katy, Room 244

Kids can still learn in summer without going to school.  We should have a long break to let us sleep in and do things we want to do, not sit in school bored silly instead of going to the beach and relaxing.  We still do summer reading and that's schoolwork.  Kids don’t want to have to stress about getting a 100% on all the social studies, ELA, math, and science tests, etc. We especially don’t want the MCAS in the summer!

by Vanessa J, Room 244 

Kids can still learn things over the summer because they still give us summer reading, and sometimes they give us back our Go Math books so we always have time to do educational things and keep up the habits of doing some work.  And kids need to be free and run around so they don’t have the stress on them of having to do spelling tests or social studies tests and MCAS.  We need to run around and have some time for ourselves or everybody will be absolutely miserable in school. So I think we should still have summer so we can be happy kids!

by Abby, Room 244

I agree with Henry Newell that kids need a break from school!  I believe if kids are loaded with homework all the time, they will crave playtime, and they can’t show their inner kid.  Kids love summer vacation so they can play, go on vacation with no stress, and play with friends. Also if they did go to school year-round they’d have headaches, and the year would go by so much faster.  Bye Bye 2014!!  Hello 2015!! I say don’t take away summer vacation! Kids already read during summer vacation why not just get a math book and do 5 pages a week so they don't forget math and are ahead for the next year?  And don't forget parents.  Summer vacation is important to them too, like… spending time with their kid.  A day isn’t enough to spend time with their child.  So I believe kids need breaks from school including summer vacation.

by Megan, Room 244

I think school shouldn’t go year-round because only kids who need extra help should go in summer.  Summer is the time to go outside and play all day, not a time to sit inside all day. Kids at least need a break for a few months.  You can visit your family on weekdays instead of weekends.  You can go to a camp and see your friends you never see!  Summer is the time for a break to play all day!  Summer school should be for kids whose grades are low and it gives them an advantage.

by Kaylee, Room 244

I do not think kids should have school year-round.  I think it is important to socialize with friends over summer.  Kids also need some time to relax and not worry about school.  We just need some time to be ourselves and jump in the pool or go to the beach with friends.  We need some time to act silly and not get in trouble for being silly in class.  That is why I think kids shouldn’t go to school year-round.  

by Kate, Room 244

I don’t think there should be school year-round because it’s time where kids can actually go over their friends a lot more.  You also get lots more exercise because kids can go outside all day if they want.  If there is school year-round then kids will never have time to do fun things like being with their friends or go swimming.  That's why I think there shouldn’t be school year-round.

by Dakota, Room 244 

 I personally don’t think we should go to school year-round because many kids already work hard in school, but still need a little break to have some down time after the long school year of work. Many kids don’t necessarily like school either and still need an education, but still need a little break off of school.

by Sylvia, Room118

 I think it is a good idea to have a summer vacation in the middle of school. I also think that the way school is now is just fine, and a couple of days off here and there would be just fine with me. Other than that I like having school and seeing my friends. School takes up most of my time, and I still have free time to do activities I like. So therefore, I think school is great.

by Emily, Room118

I think we shouldn't go to school year-round because kids have longer school months than vacation months. Kids should have a summer break to have fun and do all kinds of sports, and get exercise to be healthy. Even though you forget some things from school, you can go over it again when school starts or even in the summer. Also kids get tired from waking up at 6:30am, that is why kids shouldn't go to school year-round.

by Danielle, Room118

 

I think that kids shouldn’t go to school year-round and these are my reasons why. My first reason is kids need a break to relax and let go of all the stress. My second reason is kids need time for themselves and to have the time to do their activities and to see their family. My third reason is kids are going to be bored out of their minds because they have no time for themselves and frankly, they would all be mean. Those are my reasons why we shouldn’t go to school all year-round. 

by Chrissy, Room118 

I don’t think there should be year-round school. Kids need to take a break once in a while. Kids should take a break before switching grades because if you had year round school one day you would be in one grade and then you would be in a different grade. You wouldn't get to hang out with your friends or play sports.

by Andrew, Room118