Page 9 - PPPS Pride & Progress-Spring 2017

Elementary students plug in for an Hour of Code

REPRINTED FROM THE COURIER-LEADER
Intrinsic in the goals of education is that today’s stu-
dents be employable adults. Curricula at all levels are con-
stantly changing to accommodate a trending or evolving
workforce. Computer literacy is becoming increasingly nec-
essary in all careers, and teachers here, across the country,
and around the world, this week, have been plugging in
their young charges.
As a part of Computer Science Education Week,
December 5-11, educators engaged their students in “Hour
of Code” activities. The campaign to expand access to com-
puter science to all children is teacher-driven. Resources are
available and supported online.
“It’s fun, I think!” said Catey Bolton, Instructional
Assistant in the computer lab at Paw Paw Later Elementary
School. “Even more fun to watch the kids work through it.”
This Tuesday morning in December, Michelle Schantz’ computer science, organizes the
third graders started their day “coding” in the computer lab. annual Hour of Code event, now
The students were offered a variety of activities with which in its fourth year, providing K-12
to experiment. For the most part, they are gaming; but, curricula to reach students of all
almost without realizing it, they are coding -- using algo- backgrounds and skill levels. This
rithms, or step-by-step instructions, to make the computer, group of classmates, as any pub-
a machine, accomplish a specific task. The process teaches lic school classroom might, rep-
them the basics of programming, and this generation of stu- resents the children Code.org and its global army of educa-
dents clicks through the lesson “blocks” quickly. These third tors is hoping to engage.
graders each tried and/or completed several activities during “They’re so quiet!” notes Bolton just a few minutes after
their time in the lab. the class has burst through
The Hour of Code experiences are designed to make cod- her door. Each student has
ing accessible to all kinds of learners. Bolton has given Paw taken a seat, plunked on a
Paw students their own URL and “secret words” so that they headset, and plugged in.
may “code” on their own - at home or the public library, on They are quiet; but in the
their tablets or phones. She encourages parents to “play” silence, Bolton can hear the
and be involved. kids’ gears turning, and that
Code.org, a non-profit dedicated to expanding access to - to her - is exciting.

The Community-Wide Reading Program
The goal of the Paw Paw Community-Wide friends, then attend the Community-Wide Read event May
Reading program is to bring the community 16, at 6 p.m. at Paw Paw High School’s Performing Arts
together through a shared reading experi- Center.
ence, promote literacy and build relation- Copies of the book have been donated to the Cedar
ships with adults and students in the com- Street Campus English curriculum in memory of Maureen
munity. Through the efforts of Jeannine Koeneke, Foune, thanks in part to a financial contribution by Foune
Community Education Director-Cedar Street Campus, John Well Drilling, Paw Paw. According to Koeneke, Foune was a
Mohney and the Paw Paw District Library, Paw Paw attorney supporter of the Reading is Fundamental (RIF) program.
Matt Cooper, and Foune Well Drilling, Paw Paw area resi- Copies of the book are available to purchase locally at
dents will have a chance to talk with Cooper about his book, Shampoo Hut, Walt and Marie’s, and Lakes and Country
A Soldier’s Home, which was released in July of 2016. The Realty, all of Paw Paw, and Kazoo Books and Michigan News
book deals with the plight of Bangor soldier, James Hurley. Agency, Kalamazoo. The book may also be purchased on
Starting now, students and adults Amazon (go to books and search, A Soldier’s Home); and
PP are encouraged to read the book, may be checked out at the Paw Paw District Library or at the
Cedar Street Campus.
and discuss it with family and
P S PRIDE IN BUILDING FUTURES 9