Now in its fifth year, our Tonka<codes> program continues to teach every K-5 student in Minnetonka Public Schools about computer science fundamentals. In kindergarten, teachers use Bee Bots to help students learn the basics. Beginning in first grade, students use the lessons and curriculum on Code.org and work their way through self-paced lessons that teach them about coding and computer science. Students can work collaboratively to help one another figure out what can sometimes be quite complex skills. Code.org even incorporates lessons on pair programming to emphasize the skills for working together when coding. Coding helps our students become better problem solvers and think critically, in addition to teaching them important fundamental skills for their future. Unplugged lessons are taught at all grade levels, which are non tech-based whole group activities that teach students fundamentals of coding, sequencing, computer science and more. Because of our language immersion program, coding lessons are taught in the students’ instructional language (English, Chinese, or Spanish).
Last year Tonka<codes> lead teachers from each elementary school worked with media specialists and Tonka<code> lead Andrea Hoffmann to figure out how to assess students’ coding skills. They used Human Centered Design and small groups of teachers each analyzed the CSTA Standards for grade levels 1-5 and identified the standards that aligned with the Code.org curriculum. Beginning this year, teachers will assign a coding grade on the report card for students in grade 1-5. In Minnetonka, elementary students receive a B (Beginning), D (Developing), or S (Secure) as their letter grades. The fourth grade report card for coding is shown below. Students will receive a grade based upon their successful completion of Code.org lessons for both first and second semester. Lessons that meet the corresponding grade level standards have been identified and teachers follow a scope and sequence to ensure that students progress through the curriculum. 
Semester 1:
Lessons 10-14, including unplugged lesson Dice Race
CSTA Standards:
1B-AP-08 - Compare and refine multiple algorithms for the same task and determine which is the most appropriate.
1B-AP-11 - Decompose (break down) problems into smaller, manageable subproblems to facilitate the program development process.
Semester 2:
Lessons 15-20, including unplugged lesson Songwriting
CSTA Standards:
1B-AP-08 - Compare and refine multiple algorithms for the same task and determine which is the most appropriate.
1B-AP-11 - Decompose (break down) problems into smaller, manageable subproblems to facilitate the program development process.
1B-AP-12 - Modify, remix or incorporate portions of an existing program into one's own work, to develop something new or add more advanced features.
This semester is the first time that teachers will formally identify students’ progress on our coding curriculum. In the past we have had teachers self-report progress teaching the curriculum, but not identified students’ achievement. Now we will be able to look at this data overall as a district and identify successes and points of struggle.
In addition to instruction by classroom teachers, Media Specialists teach the unplugged coding lessons for all students in grades 1-5 which are part of the Common Sense Media’s Digital Citizenship curriculum. First graders learn about going places safely and digital footprints. Second graders learn about cyberbullying. Third graders learn about being a good digital citizen. Fourth graders learn about private and personal information. Fifth graders learn about the power of words (cyberbullying). In addition to these lessons media specialists also support the Hour of Code week in December and teach and support the fundamentals of computer science lesson to grades K-5. Examples of computer science lessons include directional coding, how the internet works, and the parts of a computer.
To help teachers continue to learn about coding, we continue to offer training opportunities offer training opportunities for our teachers to learn more about coding as well as our maker spaces during the summer. This summer was no different and we had both face to face and online training options. Elementary coding offerings included:
Besides using Bee Bots and Code.org, Minnetonka students experience a wide variety of experiences to learn to coed. We continue to use Tynker, Kodable, Scratch, Swift Playgrounds, Finch Robots, Lightbots and more. Each of these experiences are part of the Minnetonka Framework for Teaching and Learning, helping students with critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, the use of technology and more. Some related posts and videos to learn more about coding in Minnetonka Schools are listed below:- Code.org Grades 1-5
- Hub, Deep Dive: Grades K-1, Grade 2-3, or Grades 4-5
- Sphero:The Power of a Sphero
- Sphero: Digging Deeper
- TinkerCAD & 3D Printing
- Why Teach Coding? Same Reasons to Teach Writing Even When Not All Students Will Be Writers
- Behind the Code: Using Spheros in Middle School for Deeper Learning
- Beyond Coding and Computer Science in Schools: The Need for Computer Ethics
- Paperless Hall Passes in School: There's a (Student Made) App For That
- What Are Minnetonka Teachers Learning About This Summer? A Lot--During Our Professional Development Classes!
- Over 20% of Minnetonka Teachers Are Learning Online This Summer
- The Hub: Minnetonka Makerspaces Launch
- Dancing Robots Programmed in Grade 6 STEM Class
- Video Game Design and Computer Coding at High School
- Minnetonka Linear Algebra 8th Graders Use Bootstrap to Code
- More Than an Hour of Code: Tonka Coding & Computer Science Programs Now in Year Three
- 7,843 Hours of Coding this Week @TonkaSchools
- Computer Coding Starting in Kindergarten
- Minnetonka Elementary Coding
- Details about the Curriculum and Program
- What's Cool in Our School
- Minnetonka Summer Coding Camp
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