Hour of Code is an event celebrated
annually during Computer Science Edu-
cation Week in December. The intent is to
show children that they can be creators.
They learn the tools to build the same
types of games and apps they love to use.
The site includes hundreds of pro-
gramming activities sorted by age and
experience. Hour of Code partnered
with companies like Disney and Nick-
elodeon so your little coders will see
familiar faces in some of the lessons.
Younger students will learn block-based
coding while older students can work
with higher level languages like JavaS-
cript and Python. The only downside to
this collection is that high school stu-
dents may find the content a bit childish.
Khan Academy
https://www.khanacademy.org/
Khan Academy is a unique online
learning platform that covers topics
ranging from world history to advanced
chemistry. A quick search on the site re-
veals an entire computer programming
curriculum. Most of the options covered
so far teach concepts and basic program-
ming. The courses on Khan Academy
are similar to what a student would see
in high school or college, so the content
is more rigorous and quite a bit more
challenging. The courses should be con-
sidered the next step for those students
who have mastered sites like Scratch
and Hour of Code.
Christ the King School
~ Founded in 1929 ~
ST. MARY’S
Elementary School
A Seuss-ical
Adventure
~ OPEN HOUSE ~
Wed, March 27th • 5:30-7pm
For Kindergarten and Pre-K 3 & 4
Christ the King School offers faith
based education in a safe, nurturing and
challenging environment.
In addition to core subjects, we offer art,
Latin, Spanish, music, PE, and technology.
We are a STREAM School and
STREAM Academy.
Enrollment is now OPEN
Private Tours Available
CALL TODAY!
2 Lamarck Drive | Amherst, NY 14226
(716) 839-0473
www.myctkschool.com
Join us for a
fun-filled, in ormationa vening
Kids will enjoy
“Seuss-i al”
hands on acti
,
while parents learn about
SME’s solid foundation.
by
Call to RSVP
!
th
0
2
March
2 St. Mary’s Hill
Lancaster NY 14086
716-683-2112
www.smeschool.com
Coding can empower your child to
be a creator, a designer, and a problem-
solver. Many people believe computer
programming is a skill reserved for tech
nerds and basement geeks. Take a few
minutes to explore the resources listed in
this column. I think you’ll be surprised at
the world of amazement you’ll uncover.
Mike Daugherty is a husband, father of
three young children, author, speaker,
Google Innovator, and possible Star-
bucks addict. He is a certified educa-
tional technology leader who has served
in a variety of roles through his eigh-
teen-year career in public education.
Currently, Mike is the Director of Tech-
nology for the Chagrin Falls Exempted
Village School district in Northeast
Ohio. As an IT director he has developed
creative, well thought out solutions that
positively impact teaching and learning.
March 2019 WNY Family 57