{"id":17074,"date":"2019-04-26T21:32:48","date_gmt":"2019-04-27T04:32:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/?p=17074"},"modified":"2023-03-07T17:52:49","modified_gmt":"2023-03-08T01:52:49","slug":"laura-smiths-mission-to-ignite-learning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/laura-smiths-mission-to-ignite-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"Laura Smith\u2019s Mission to Ignite Learning"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Laura Smith\u2019s Mission to Ignite Learning<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201c[Tynker] meets [students] where they are and gives them something they can be proud of accomplishing!\u201d – Laura Smith<\/em>
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Connect<\/strong><\/em><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\"<\/a>@agentlaurasmith<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
  \"\"<\/a>    Agent Smith<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
  \"\"<\/a>     Trinity Lutheran Christian School <\/a>
             Joppa, MD<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n

\u201cAgent Laura Smith,\u201d as her website and Twitter handle are both called, is \u2018challenging the matrix of traditional, boring education\u2019 (as her Twitter bio declares<\/a>) through technology! As the technology specialist at Trinity Lutheran School in Joppa, Maryland, Laura is a Jane-of-all-trades: In addition to teaching all of the K-8 computer classes, Laura is the first line of teacher tech support, manages audiovisual tools for events, and so much more! That\u2019s one reason Laura appreciates Tynker: \u201cIt\u2019s really nice to have a program where I can tell the kids, \u2018Ok, just log in, click on this.\u2019 My time can be spent circulating in my classroom and helping students solve the programming challenges.\u201d Read on to learn more about this fantastic Tynker Blue Ribbon Educator! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image Source: Trinity Lutheran Christian School Website<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Laura\u2019s discovered that Tynker helps students who may struggle academically to get excited about learning: \u201cWe have some students with IEPs or other various special needs. I find that they actually enjoy it more because it\u2019s something that they can get their hands on. It meets them where they are and gives them something they can be successful at and feel confident and proud of themselves for accomplishing.\u201d Laura told us about a particular instance to illustrate this very point: She has a student who struggles with emotional issues and doesn\u2019t like to do typical classwork. Laura recalls: \u201cBut when I introduced Tynker to [the students]…he was just so excited to get in there and start. I love to see him so motivated and excited about learning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n