Pinterest and Teaching Computer Science

Spring is here. I know some of my teaching friends to the north are still getting the occasional snow but for us it has been sunny and in the 80s. 

I love the end of winter, but as a teacher it is a mixed blessing. All the sudden you are fussing about the lengths of their shorts and trying to keep them somewhat focused on whats happening INSIDE the classroom.

So if you are in need of some inspiration here is my Pinterest board where I keep track of ideas that might apply to computer science.

Drawing from our sidewalk chalk last spring.

My favorite idea of the last year was doing sidewalk chalk to do algorithms and pseudocode. Will I ever make homemade sidewalk chalk? Probably not, but the recipe is there if you get the urge.

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Best Diet Ever Teaching my Butt Off

Seriously - crazy year, but good crazy. Great classes, great kids.

But the reality of teaching Computer Science in high school is a lot to expect. I teach 5 different subjects in a total of 7 sections. I have students assigned to me during my planning and lunch. I run a club, I tutor, I nag I cajole. I work evenings, and weekends, and for the record I have never taken a summer off. 

And some days I look down and realize I am dressed like Ms. Frizzle from Magic Schoolbus.

If you find me wearing this please call someone.

There are very few materials genuinely good materials out there for HS kids. Yes, Exploring CS and Codeacademy are changing that landscape, but compare these to what the average Spanish teacher or Algebra teacher has and it is pretty thin.

On the upside all this skipping lunch and running around means I have lost weight, which is great going into the holiday season.

So as I wind down 2012 I am super thankful for the opportunity to teach computer science. Happy to be out there trying to make it easier for the next group of CS teachers. Happy to have met so many great people along the way.

Have a Super New Year folks!

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