I'm excited to teach the founding class of the first new school in Oakland Unified in ten years. The school is located in a low-income neighborhood near the Oakland Coliseum, but its innovative program is attracting students from all over the city.
Some students at SOL come from different dual immersion elementary schools, while others are new arrivals to the US who are relieved to find that their second language is seen as an asset, not a problem.
All of them are innovators who will be key to the success of the new school.
(Note: the photo is of my robotics class at another school last year, since this school is opening on Aug. 21!)
My Project
I am teaching beginning coding and engineering skills through the use of these adorable and easy-to-assemble robot kits.
Sixth grade is the perfect age to get inspired to be an engineer or professional in the world of computers and robots.
They have the motor skills to assemble the kit, and the abstract thinking to be able to create simple programs. These kits are an amazing way to integrate ideas about algorithms, engineering, and the social implications of the robot and information revolutions.
I am so excited to see how much fun they will have learning with these kits! They will work in teams of four: chief of marketing, chief design engineer, chief software engineer, and chief testing analyst - to solve different programming problems and creative challenges such as the Robot Dance-Off.
Please help make this year start off right for these brave 6th grade students!
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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