Coding! Learning to code has become increasingly prevalent in school curricula. From after-school clubs to dedicated class periods, coding and computer science curriculum are popping up in schools worldwide. There are many benefits of coding for students in Special Education. Coding builds important life skills such as organization, higher order thinking, self-esteem, socialization and teamwork. These skills are intrinsically hard for many children with disabilities such as Attention Deficit Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Autism. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention these disabilities can affect 1 in 68 school aged children. Many students in our classrooms suffer from low self esteem. Coding builds confidence in one’s ability to learn and create, as well as pride from actually creating something. Many learn-to-code platforms are accessible and easy to get started for everyone. Below are some coding programs to implement in your classroom. This summer I will be offering a session that is entirely dedicated to coding resources to use in your room. If you have any questions about implementing coding in your classroom contact me.
- Code.org (free for everyone)
- CodeSpark Academy -(free for teachers to create classes for student use)
- Kodable (free for teachers and students)
- Made w/Code by Google (free and designed specifically for girls)
