Is Tynker For Math And Language Arts Teachers? Absolutely!

Last Updated: January 6, 2017 10:47 am
Is Tynker For Math And Language Arts Teachers? Absolutely!

Is Tynker For Math And Language Arts Teachers? Absolutely!

When we hear “STEM,” we often think of it as separate from everyday subjects like Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, and music. STEM, the acronym, tends to find itself as an outlier. But we’ve seen the “Tynker Effect” transform Math, Language Arts, and Social Studies. Kids can code in Social Studies? Of course! If they can write and draw, they can code!

Coding is a tool, just like the pencil or the paintbrush.

Think of your average 1st or 2nd grader. What are the typical tools for this student? A pencil? Crayons? Markers? What if coding was right next to those tools as an everyday option? With Tynker, it absolutely can be.

Starting coding at the Kindergarten and 1st grade level is like planting some of the most powerful seeds of math.

With Tynker, students have an additional tool that they can use to write, create stories, create presentations, learn complex math, and show off their understanding of complex subject matter like the Bill of Rights or Ancient Civilizations. Coding is a 21st century skill that every student should learn. Here are some questions to think about when it comes to coding, Tynker, and core subjects:

  • Can coding improve student test scores and math proficiency?
  • Can coding help students synthesize complex text like science and social studies material?
  • Can coding help students improve their language arts synthesis and understanding of books and complex ideas?

When kids are coding, you’ll see students improve in their other courses. That’s the Tynker Effect.  

Tynker is for… Math Teachers

When you see Kindergartners and 1st graders doing complex math like angles, degrees, and plot and line graphs, bells and whistles start going off immediately. You think, “Wouldn’t this be beneficial for our 2nd grade teachers? 3rd grade teachers? How could this this help prepare students for those complex subjects in later grades?”

Starting coding at the Kindergarten and 1st grade level is like planting some of the most powerful seeds of math. When kids use Tynker, they’re using math authentically. Students see the need and purpose for math when they’re solving Tynker puzzles like this one:

Screenshot 2017-01-06 09.54.57

 

See the Tynker math curriculum for younger students here. Choose the Squares, Triangles, and Staircases lesson to see what concepts they’ll master at this early age.

Tynker is for… Language Arts Teachers

Coding in Language Arts? Of course! When you want students to provide evidence of story concepts or of writing concepts, the 20th century method for showing mastery of the material might have been to have them:

  1. Write an essay or report
  2. Write a “new chapter” of a book or sequel
  3. Create a book trailer, showing their mastery of dramatic structure or storytelling tropes

Instead of doing the same-old, why not have them “code” a story? Now we’re using Tynker to integrate storytelling concepts, but instead of just writing the story, they’re taking it to the next level and writing, directing, and programming all the actors and scenes. Check out this example story, and watch the whole thing here:

Screenshot 2017-01-06 09.51.53

 

Doesn’t this take storytelling to a new level? Where would you take it from here? 

Tynker is for… Social Studies Teachers.

In Social Studies, often we’re trying to have students understand difficult or challenging concepts, as well as trying to understand texts that can be hard to swallow. Social Studies and Civics are also the art of knowing how important dates and events relate to current situations.

To show their mastery of historical concepts, we might try some of the usual methods like:

  1. Do a slideshow presentation
  2. Write an essay
  3. Make a poster

Why not use programming to have students code their own timelines, synthesizing the knowledge they gained while also using their newest 21st century skill? See the timeline below, created by a student in Palatine, IL. View the entire presentation here.

Screenshot 2017-01-06 09.49.09

As you can see, Tynker is way more than a Computer Science program. The great thing is that it’s easy for teachers to learn and integrate coding into their own classrooms.

See All STEM Courses

Interested in learning more about how Tynker can help you integrate coding into your core curriculum? Sign up for a free demo to see what Tynker offers.

Photo Credit: Quest Tree Frogs Blog

About Daniel Rezac

Daniel Rezac is the Head of Education Partnerships at Tynker. He's been a science teacher, a technology coach, STEAM Coordinator, and school Tech Director working with students from Pre-K to adults. Feel free to reach out to him at daniel [at] tynker.com.