How did you get into CS?

I’ve always loved technology.  I am the kind of person who always needed the latest gadget - I had to have the newest  iPhone, Apple Watch, video game console, etc.  I was a general education classroom teacher for many years and I always did everything I could to incorporate technology into my classroom.  I tried multiple times to make the switch to a technology position, but it was rare to find an open position in our county.  I finally left HCPSS to get a technology position at a middle school in MCPS.  After two years, I missed Howard County and was happy to be able to come back.  Even better was that I landed an elementary technology teaching position!  I’ve been at Clarksville Elementary for four years now, teaching grades K-5.  I’m the only technology teacher there so I get to teach every student in the building, which I love.

What are some successes and challenges that you've experienced?

I believe the successes I’ve had have been finding ways to engage my students, even if technology is not their favorite thing.  Last year I received a grant from the Bright Minds Foundation to bring more Ozobot robots and accessories to my classroom.  I used them in all grades and everyone LOVED them!  Even the normally pessimistic 5th graders were so excited about using them.  I’m not afraid of change and love trying new things in the classroom to help make it more fun for my students.

One of the challenges I’ve faced is successfully differentiating enough for my students, especially when it comes to coding.  Some students know so much about coding, do programming camps, etc. outside of school, and are ready for text based code - like Python, etc.  But other students struggle with basic coding concepts.  Figuring out ways to reach all students, no matter their ability, is difficult.  Luckily, there are so many coding resources available which helps.  I just need to be sure to plan ahead for these situations.

What do you find compelling about computer science?

I really enjoy the combination of creativity and structure that CS provides.  I’m not the most creative person, but I like the idea of being creative and able to come up with ideas for games, apps, etc.  CS gives me the option of creating things, but it can be within the confines of a pre-conceived project or game to create.  I think this is helpful for students too.  Some students really excel at the creativity aspect of coding, but some really need the structure and specific instructions to go through a project.

What's going well for you? What are you excited about?

Last year, my school was lucky enough to receive materials from the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, which changed my space into a STEM Center.  We received things like SMART trains, a 3D printer, snap circuits, tablets and many other fun STEM activities.  I was able to begin to integrate these materials into my classroom last year, but I really want to dive deeper into them this year.  I’d also like to continue working with Ozobots in the classroom and get into more varied activities with them, including using more Blockly coding and having students use the new tablets to program them.

Any advice?

I think my main advice would be to embrace change and to keep trying different things.  The great thing about teaching CS is that there are always new things to try.  It keeps things fresh for yourself and your students.  I would also suggest to people teaching CS to have fun with it!  Yes, things can get serious in school, but this is an area where you can really have a good time teaching fun concepts and activities that the students will really buy into and enjoy, especially if they see you excited about it and having fun too.