academic excellence National Junior Honor Society Inductees Congratulations to the newest members of the BSS National Junior Honor Society (NJHS)!
Kindergarten Programmers
Kindergarten teachers Mrs. Grogan and Mrs. Kent are teaching students to program robots. Using the program Kibo, these young scholars are learning to sequence a code, collaborate, take big chances, and learn from their mistakes. It’s “growth mindset” learning at its best.
blocks, fix the sequence, and try again. The Kibo program offers opportunities for extensions into other subjects as well. Mrs. Grogan and Mrs. Kent look forward to incorporating the robots into literature - where the robot can be programmed to act as a character in a story – as well as math and science.
“They are truly learning from their mistakes,” While many approaches to technology keep said Mrs. Grogan. Mrs. Kent added, “There kids planted in a chair, Kibo does just the is no right and wrong. It’s trial and error.” opposite. On their first day using Kibo, many The program uses scan bar commands (such students scooted around the room with their as “go forward,” “turn,” and “stop”) secured robots, and one student even programmed to blocks students can easily manipulate. her robot to roll under her as she twisted Their task is to place the blocks in the order into a bridge pose! they wish the robot to move. They then scan “Many people think of technology as somethe bar codes with the scanner attached to the robot. If the robot does not do what the thing with a plug and a screen,” noted Mrs. Kent. Kibo has neither; it has so much more! students want it to do, they go back to the 6
foundations
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