Category Archives: Coding Curriculum

Coding Curriculum, Coding Education, Education, Skills

Empowering Minds: Teaching Critical Thinking Skills in the 21st-Century Classroom

In today’s rapidly evolving world, traditional education is no longer enough. We’re preparing students not just for their future jobs, but for jobs that don’t even exist yet. To navigate this uncertain terrain successfully, students need more than just rote memorization and textbook knowledge. They need to be critical thinkers, problem solvers, and creative innovators. In this blog post, we explore the importance of teaching critical thinking skills and share strategies to foster these essential skills in the 21st-century classroom.

Why Critical Thinking Matters

Critical thinking is not just a buzzword; it’s a fundamental skill that empowers students to analyze, evaluate, and solve problems effectively. In a world inundated with information, the ability to discern fact from fiction, think logically, and make informed decisions is indispensable. Critical thinkers are not just passive consumers of information but active participants in the learning process.

The Three Pillars of 21st-Century Education

  • Critical Thinking: This is the ability to analyze information objectively, evaluate arguments, and make well-informed decisions. Critical thinkers are curious, open-minded, and willing to consider alternative viewpoints.
  • Problem-Solving: Problem-solving involves identifying, defining, and finding solutions to complex issues. It’s about thinking creatively, using available resources, and persevering through challenges.
  • Creativity: Creativity is not confined to the arts; it’s a valuable skill in all aspects of life. Creative thinkers can generate innovative ideas, approach problems from different angles, and adapt to changing circumstances.

Strategies for Teaching Critical Thinking Skills

  • Questioning: Encourage students to ask questions. Engage in Socratic questioning to guide them in exploring issues critically.
  • Problem-Based Learning: Present real-world problems for students to solve. This hands-on approach forces them to apply their critical thinking skills.
  • Collaboration: Group activities foster critical thinking as students share perspectives and solve problems together.
  • Debate: Debates encourage students to analyze and defend their viewpoints logically.
  • Multidisciplinary Learning: Connect various subjects to show students how critical thinking is relevant across disciplines.
Critical Thinking Skills

Assessing Critical Thinking Skills

Assessment is key to ensuring students are developing critical thinking skills. Consider using open-ended questions, essays, or presentations to evaluate their ability to think critically. Rubrics and criteria should emphasize not just the final answer but the thought process, analysis, and creativity applied.

The Role of Teachers

Teachers play a pivotal role in nurturing critical thinking skills. They should be facilitators, creating an environment where students are encouraged to think critically. This involves being open to diverse viewpoints, providing opportunities for exploration, and guiding students through the problem-solving process.

Conclusion: Preparing for an Uncertain Future

As we embrace the 21st century, we must acknowledge that the future is uncertain, but one thing is clear: critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity are non-negotiable skills. They empower students to adapt, innovate, and lead in a world where change is the only constant. As educators, it’s our responsibility to nurture these skills, preparing the next generation to face whatever challenges the future holds.

In the 21st-century classroom, teaching goes beyond facts and figures; it’s about empowering minds to think critically and shape a better world. Are you ready to embark on this exciting journey with your students? Explore the possibilities with CodeREV.

Coding Curriculum, Coding Education

Best coding languages for kids

Since technology has become present in our lives, dominating coding languages has become a need for adults and children. Indeed, programming for youngsters is turning into an undeniably necessary subject. Learning how to code at a young age can genuinely set your kid up for success. They don’t just develop basic coding skills, but skills for the rest of their life.

Today, even kindergartners can start exploring different coding languages that fit their age needs. Learning code abilities at a young age will impact their development in STEM, and so forth, in their future careers. Also, studies have shown that coding reinforces skills like problem solving, logic, creativity and critical thinking. 

A parent’s guide to coding languages

Programming is the language of the future and learning how to effectively use it is easier than it looks. First of all, you should know that there are a huge amount of coding languages for kids to start with. Scratch, Java, Python, some forms of JavaScript, and Lua are probably the best, and most known, coding languages to begin with for kids. 

In any case, each coding language has its own working framework, style and expected use. But in general, these languages show kids how to track down an answer for an issue using an arrangement of steps, activities or directions. 

Generally, children tend to quickly become familiar with coding languages designed for them. Kids learn better through visual boost and this is the reason why graphical programming programs turn out better for beginners. Once children understand fundamental coding concepts, they can move to text-based programming languages  (line coding) and learn the syntax of various programming languages.

But, how to choose the best coding language for your child? 

It might be hard to decide the best way to introduce your child to code. That’s why we made our top 3 of what we consider the best coding languages for kids! Check it out with us, and feel free to ask us any questions you have to help you choose the best coding class for your child.

Scratch

Scratch is a free educational programming language developed by Mitch Resnick and patented by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Learning to code with Scratch is easy for kids because of it’s intuitive, easy-to-use visual block interface. This makes it an amazing starting point for kids to start connecting with code.

Best Coding Languages for Kids: Scratch

The simplification of the process of designing games and creating stories and their big online community makes Scratch the perfect coding language to introduce your child to code from ages 6 to 16.

Lua

Lua is the perfect coding language to introduce children to text-based code since it’s easy to learn, use, and embed into applications. The power of Lua coding is that with a beginner-friendly language, it introduces simple concepts that can turn into greater creations.

Best codinga languages for kids_lua
Best Coding Languages for Kids: Lua

In addition to its simplicity and efficiency, Lua is used by Roblox which is a game platform adored by kids. Learning to code with Lua in Roblox, allows kids to create exciting and fun games that they can share with all their friends. 

Java

Java is one of the most used coding languages in the world. Gmail, by Google, and Twitter, for example, were created in Java, as well as one of the most popular computer games nowadays: Minecraft! If your child is into Minecraft, Java can be a great programming language to create with.

Java gives a richer insight of coding as it’s designed to continue developing over the years. Although it’s harder to learn because of its variables, Java catches children’s excitement as it is widely used to make video games and mobile apps. It is also a great entry level object oriented programming language, typically focused on CS programs later in school. Its scalability makes it perfect for kids from 10 to 16.

These days, learning to code is a priceless and useful skill for kids. Understanding how something works, how to solve problems and being able to create new scenarios has a myriad of benefits for budding young programmers.. Regardless of the age of your child, there’s a perfect coding language they can start exploring to open a world of opportunities. Do you have any questions, comments, or suggestions? If so, we’d love to hear from you! 

Coding Curriculum

3 Ways Your Kids Can Learn About Robots in CodeREV Kids Classes

At CodeREV Kids, we are committed to your children finding the most incredible ways to build their STEM knowledge. We are proud to be able to highly recommend any of our classes but our robotics classes are especially interesting for many of the kids we work with. We know that every child is at a different place in their learning process, which is why we offer three unique robotics classes.

1. Little Bits

Little Bits is what we call an engineering stepping stone class. In these STEM classes, students work together to build dynamic electronic projects. Not only do they learn about the electronic and science aspect of building, but they learn how to work together. They build both creativity and teamwork skills. In this class, you can count on your child learning both simple and complex projects. We believe in building these skills at an early age and Little Bits is a great way to do that.

2. LEGO Mindstorms

Has your child always wanted their own robot that they could learn how to control? In this robotics class, your child will learn how to program their own robot to do some pretty fantastic things. We love all the classes we offer at CodeREV Kids but our LEGO Mindstorms is consistently rated as one of the most educational classes we offer – not to mention the most fun!

3. Arduino

For older kids who want to learn how to code with the big boys, Arduino is a great choice. In this class, your child will learn the beginning build blocks they’ll need to successfully learn C++. They’ll program their Arduinos to light up, make a bunch of noise, move, and process an unbelievable amount of information. This is truly an amazing platform that is a great option for advanced students. If your child is super creative and ready to move on to an advanced class, then this may be the one for them.

Are you not sure where your child falls within these three options? Or do you have other coding classes in mind? Feel free to reach out to us here at CodeREV Kids. Our instructors aren’t just coding experts, they all have experience teaching as well. Our number one goal is for your child to have a great time while learning. We can help you place your child in the perfect class for their skill level.

 

Coding Curriculum

Your Kids Deserve Cutting Edge Curriculum and We Provide It

When you choose CodeREV Kids for your children, we take that trust seriously. We want every student to get an exceptional education, for them to have a great experience, and for you to feel 100% confident that you’re choosing the right option for them. That’s why we put so much time and care into creating a curriculum we can be proud of.

We focus on fun and education

Who says something has to either be fun or be education? We sure don’t! We believe that STEM is important for kids and we believe we can make it fun for them to learn. Of course, we also make sure that our curriculum isn’t just good enough for us. We have actually had it supported by experts in education at both the MIT Media Lab and the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

A low student to teacher ratio is important to us

There are many things that go into creating incredible tech camps for kids, including the ability for students to get as much help as they want. We work to keep the number of students to teachers as low as possible. This gives us the chance to make every learning experience as individualized as possible and to ensure that every student gets what they need. Our ratios are between 5-8 to 1 for every class.

Your students are safe with us

There are a lot of reasons that coding is important for kids, but if you don’t feel confident in who you’re sending your kids to, then you’re not going to send them here. That’s why we are sure to hold our camps at schools. This gives you the peace of mind that they’re in a safe environment. What’s more, we do fingerprint background checks for every single member of our staff. We also ensure that we have several instructors at each of our locations that has CPR certification. Your child is important to us!

Your student will do more than just sit behind a computer

In this day and age, many parents understand that tech is more and more important every year, but they also wish their kids spent more time outside playing. At CodeREV Kids, we’ve found unique ways to accomplish both objectives. We have some great outdoor activities that will help boost their team-building skills and give them a chance to run and play and have fun. For example, during a full camp day, there are four break times each day.

Coding Curriculum

Simple Ways to Help Your Kids Prepare for a Standardized Test

No matter how you may feel about standardized tests, they are currently a part of school curriculums throughout California. While it may seem as though there’s no real way to prepare your children for taking them, CodeREV Kids actually has some tips. It all starts of course with bringing their Number 2 pencil, but there are other things they can do to increase their chances of doing well.

Teach them about the process of elimination

Any time your child doesn’t know the answer, they should simply flip it around and ask themselves what the wrong answers are. For example, if a question has four possible answers and they can see that two of them are definitely wrong, then they can choose from the remaining two and have a 50% chance of getting it right, compared to just a 25% chance if they guessed randomly.

Skip questions and go back to them

Depending on the test, there may be some questions mixed throughout the test that take longer to complete. Teach your child that if they come to one that is taking too much time, simply skip it and move on. If there’s time at the end, they can go back to them. The point is that it’s better to skip a few questions and keep moving than to get stuck on question 15 for 20 minutes and end up leaving the last 30 questions blank.

Make notes if possible

Some tests allow kids a piece of scratch paper. If the test your child is taking does allow this, then teach your kids to work out problems by writing them down and breaking them down to a smaller scale. Not only can this make it easier for children to better visualize the question, but studies have shown that it helps them concentrate and focus as well.

Teach them problem-solving and critical-thinking skills

In addition to specific test prep, you can also encourage your kids to boost their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. In fact, at CodeREV Kids, when we ask parents to show us how coding has helped their children, they generally have numerous answers for us, but improved problem-solving skills are typically among them.

No matter what the test is, no matter how important it is, your child can learn to perform better on it. The above tips are a great way to get started as you think of ways to improve their test taking.

Coding Curriculum

Why Should You Choose CodeREV Kids Camps Over Other Coding Camps?

It wasn’t long ago that there were no coding options for kids at all, let alone camps. Today, more and more school districts are beginning to understand how important coding is, kids are becoming interested in it an earlier age, and there are more and more coding camp options like the ones offered by CodeREV Kids. We welcome the competition because we want kids to have as much access to these technology classes as possible – and because we know we’re the right choice.

Our staff is second to none

One of the things we really pride ourselves on at CodeREV Kids is the fact that we hire only the best. Our hiring process is extremely rigorous and our training process is too. Every mentor we employ has at least two years of experience teaching kids technology, and some of our staff have more than 13 years of experience.

Each mentor must also have at least one year of experience in the real world – specifically in the tech sector. Our mentors come from many different companies, including Riot Games, Microsoft, Google, EA, Sony, Sega, and many others. We stress to our instructors that working as a mentor for us is not just a job they take on for the summer – it’s a great way for them to share what they’ve learned with kids who are eager to learn. Our mentors take this seriously and you’ll see the effect in every classroom.

We have the best curriculum

Not only do we work to find the best instructors in the business, but we have created what we believe is the hands-down best curriculum out there. It can be challenging to make classes like these both fun and education, but we’ve done just that. Our goal is to strengthen STEM skills and our curriculum has been supported by the big wigs, including specialists at MIT Media Lab and the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

While it’s true that we take our jobs seriously and we want to create the best camps out there with the best educational content, don’t worry – that doesn’t mean we forgot to bring the fun! Our camps are project based, which means that kids get hands-on experience and get to create their own projects, ranging from simple coding to robots to digital art.

Are you ready to see the difference that our passion can make? Then reach out to CodeREV Kids

Coding Curriculum

What to Look for in a Successful Coding Class

If you’ve been thinking of sending your kids to a California coding class then you’ve likely wondered how to choose the right option. At CodeREV, we want every parent to know exactly how to determine the best coding classes for their kids. Here are some of the criteria we recommend you consider.

Are the classes designed by teachers?

It takes a special overlap of talents to create a unique program that will keep kids interested and impart the information that’s needed. We have struck the right cord by hiring creative folks, education folks, and educators who have decades of combined experience. We know how kids learn and we know what they need to know about coding.

What’s their reputation?

Before you choose a coding class, take a moment and simply search the company you’re considering. What do reviewers say about them? What have kids have to say about them? It’s likely unreasonable to find a company that’s never had a negative review but if you see the same complaint over and over again then it’s likely the company you’re considering isn’t the right fit.

Do they make learning fun or is it a chore?

One of the great things about teaching kids coding is that most kids are naturally drawn to it. They like technology, they like video games, and they like hands-on learning. All of this combines to create a love of coding pretty easily. However, some coding classes may rely too heavily on instruction rather than hands-on instruction. We always strive to keep kids involved and make it as fun as possible so they’ll look forward to coming to us for coding classes.

Does it offer a good value?

Teaching your kid to code can be one of the best investments you ever make. With most any job now relying on technology, teaching your kids the basics of coding is a great idea in and of itself, but when you consider that it also boosts confidence, improves problem solving, and teachers critical thinking skills, it’s easy to see that the value in coding classes is a long-term value.

If you have any questions about our classes, we encourage you to reach out to us. We offer both group classes and self-paced options. We are here to help your child find their love of coding and we hope you’ll trust us with this important work.

Coding Curriculum

Does Your School Need Help Setting Up Coding Classes for Kids?

At CodeREV Kids, our goal is to help kids learn coding. It’s as simple as that! In some cases, the best way to do that is to incorporate coding into the classroom. We offer several coding programs for schools that can help get these programs up and running.

In-school programs

With the in-school program, we offer a trained instructor who has both coding and teaching experience to your school. The instructor will be at your school for a full day, and it can be anywhere from just one day a week to five days a week. It’s all up to each school’s preferences. The curriculum we provide is designed to be fun and to cover every step kids need to learn robotics, game development, programming, and more. Kids have a great time but our programs also help boost confidence, problem-solving skills, creativity, and more!

After-school program

Our after-school program can stand alone as a new program at your school or it can be implemented within an existing after-school program you have. All we need is a computer lab and we’ll bring the rest! This creative programs we offer encourage collaboration and teach kids about coding through hands-on activities, brainstorming sessions, and group discussions.

For these after-school programs, we’ve partnered with schools all across the state of California for kids everywhere from kindergarten to 10th grade. If you school needs an additional technology curriculum then you should give us a call! We work to utilize common care standards in our classes and can even gear programs toward science and math goals.

Customized curriculum

When it comes to customized curriculum, you call the shots. We can do anything from turnkey customization to an as-needed curriculum. Our technology teachers will come to work onsite at your school weekly and act as the main instructor of a class, or they can work in conjunction with your computer lab instructor. It’s all up to you!

On the other hand, if you’d rather just teach the programs we’ve come up with, then we’ll work with your school to find a subscription basis that works for everyone. We’ll offer our curriculum and our program, along with training with your instructors, for whatever elements of our curriculum you decide to use in your school. This allows for total customization.

If you’re interested in getting your students more involved in technology and / or coding then your next phone call should be to CodeREV Kids.

Coding Curriculum

10 Things for Parents to Love About Minecraft

If you’re a parent of a child who loves to play Minecraft, then here’s some good news for you: It may actually be a great thing that they love the game! At CodeREV Kids, we’re always looking for ways to get kids excited about technology and Minecraft is a great way to do that. In fact, here are then things to love about your kid playing Minecraft.

  • It’s a great way for them to learn. Sure, it’s marketed as a game, but Minecraft has huge potential for education. In fact, it’s used in classrooms across the world to teach language, math, history, and concepts like logic and problem solving.
  • It makes kids think. It’s not just any other video game, where your kid just stares at a screen and pushes buttons once in a while. Think of it instead like an immersive, interactive playground that constantly challenges kids and requires them to come up with solutions for complex problems.
  • It’s safe. There’s nothing adult about this game. No drugs, bad language, guns, blood, etc.
  • It not only inspires creativity; it rewards it. Kids have to be curious to make it in Minecraft, and when their creativity shines, they get instant rewards from the game.
  • It requires deep focus. Kids must keep track of numerous tasks at once when they play Minecraft. It’s easy to see how that’s a skill that could be useful in the real world.
  • It increases computer literacy. Not only can kids play Minecraft, but they can actually modify the game. In fact, that’s where CodeREV Kids can come in. We offer some really unique and interesting Minecraft classes that teach your kids more than they bargained for.
  • It’s customizable. It’s such a flexible game that Minecraft can be tailored to your child’s ability, interests, etc. For example, you can turn off the monsters, you can set goals for your kids, or you could make the challenges easier or more difficult.
  • It’s an inclusive game. No matter what a kid’s interest is, they’re likely to have it met with Minecraft, whether they like building stuff, designing things, or they just want to fight monsters.
  • It encourages teamwork. If you want your kids to be good at collaboration, Minecraft is a great way to get them there.
  • It’s not an expensive game. You do have to pay for the initial game, but after that all the updates are free. This is great news in a world where it seems every video game requires expensive upgrades and mods.

Do you have questions about this game or other options to get your kids excited about STEM fields? Reach out to CodeREV Kids and let us help today!

Coding Curriculum

Book Recommendations for Kid Coders

More and more kids are getting interesting in coding and that interest is spilling out in other areas of their lives. One of the things we get so excited about at CodeREV Kids is that kids don’t just learn to code but they learn to think critically, solve problems, and work independently within a team. We’re excited to see how many books are being released that deal with kid coders. Here are a few that have come across our radar recently.

Ruby Wizardry: An Introduction to Programming for Kids by Erin Weinstein

In this lovely book, the author includes lesson on programming as well as an introduction to it by introducing Ruby, a free, open-source platform. Initially the lessons are pretty basic but they get more challenging as the book continues. As a result, it’s a good choice for both beginning and advanced coders.

So, You Want to Be a Coder? by Jane (J.M.) Bedell

Do you have a kid who’s interested in coding but has a lot of questions about what a job in the industry would really look like? Then this is a great choice for them. It includes short interviews with people currently working in the industry – including a few teenagers who have started businesses of their own. There are also quizzes to help kids decide if coding is a good choice for them, along with ideas for future education and coding camps to increase experience.

Hello Ruby: Adventures in Coding by Linda Liukas

Part picture book and part activity book, this work follows Ruby as she goes through her world and solves problems she encounters. The story itself doesn’t actually teach coding – it reinforces the skills and ideas that are so important in the coding world. For example, Ruby looks for patterns, breaks large problems into smaller, solvable ones, makes plans, and adapts when plans don’t come together as expected. In the second half, there are activities that kids can use to practice the skills Ruby showed in the story. These are thinking, problem-solving activities that don’t require a computer.

Books are great but there’s no substitute for hands-on experience

At CodeREV Kids, we love the idea that books can spark an interest but we believe there’s no substitute for real, hands-on experience. That’s why we offer a number of online classes for kids to code. Contact us to get more information about your options.