# data[].attributes.body
Benefits:

-It builds good problem-solving skills and computational thinking skills. When learning and using code, students learn how to break down problems into smaller parts and how to take things step-by-step. They learn how to test different solutions and revise their work to get to the correct solution. These are skills that can be beneficial for every subject.

-Another reason learning code is good is that it promotes creativity and gives people a platform to use their imagination and design their own products. This skill can build a career for those who are passionate about it. It can open a lot of doors for students.

Concerns:

-A concern about kids learning code is that it can add to screen time and become excessive. It’s time spent sitting and working on a computer and is mostly not interactive with peers, so if it's not balanced well, it could become unhealthy.

-Another concern about kids learning code is that teachers may not have enough training with code and may not be able to provide the proper support for children. It can be a confusing and overwhelming process that can easily become frustrating.

# data[].attributes.body
Hi, I am Sonja. I am a first grade teacher, and this week I have been thinking about how coding can be introduced even to young learners.

Why teach coding?

First, coding builds computational thinking.  Kids learn to break big problems into smaller parts, test ideas, and fix mistakes. These habits carry into reading, math, and even daily problem-solving.

Second, it boosts creativity and voice. Coding lets students design and express their ideas in unique ways, from storytelling to simple games.

For example, I was thinking about having my first graders use a “Bee-Bot” or online block game to code a path for a story character, like “Little Red Riding Hood”, through the forest to Grandma’s house. They would have to plan the sequence, test it, and debug if she runs into a tree! It is a fun way to connect coding with literacy and critical thinking.   The book How to Code a Sandcastle showed this perfectly breaking a big task into steps and loops, showing that mistakes as part of learning.

Concerns?

One concern is screen time and age-fit. Young students still need play, movement, and social interaction, so I would use short, hands-on or unplugged coding lessons.

Another concern is access and teacher training. Not all families or teachers have equal tech experience. Schools need easy, kid-friendly tools and training so everyone can join in.

My takeaway:

coding does not have to mean computers all day, it is about thinking, planning, and problem-solving in ways that kids already love. Start small, keep it playful, and build confidence one command at a time.

Thanks for watching!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
[Untitled Sat Nov 08 2025 18_39_44 GMT-0500 (Eastern Standard Time)]

# data[].attributes.body
Some reasons why students should learn coding is because it enhances their logical and critical thinking. For coding you need to be very specific with the details involved and can be very complicated. But it can be very rewarding. It can enhance knowledge, help make new discoveries, and although the process is difficult it can make life easier. Another reason is because we are now in the age of technology. More and more businesses and organizations are relying on the internet and coding. It just makes sense to teach students that so they will be right along or ahead of the game. So that when they become adults will be able to do more and learn more. Although some arguments against it is that since we are in the age of technology there are also some downsides. One of them is that kids are relying on technology too much. There are multiple studies that say it harms their mental health and physical health especially in their eyes. It is very concerning where they are not getting enough sunlight or having face to face interactions that they need. Another concern is that although we are in the age of higher technology not everyone has the proper forms of technology to even have basic internet. Let alone to do coding, so that might be difficult for students to learn any type of coding.

# data[].attributes.body
What are some arguments for students learning to code? I think that the main first one is that students will learn how to think computationally and solve bigger problems by taking small steps. Coding knowledge is one that requires you to be able to think of each specific step in a task and solution and I think that would help students to improve their problem solving skills from a young age. The other benefit to students learning code is that this is another way that students can express themselves in this generation. With this world moving so heavily in the direction of being ran by technology, it is good that this is another outlet the students can be themselves, and learn more about. My two concerns kind of relate to the world being so close to being ran by technology. I think it could be negative to teach coding for it to increase any childs screentime. It is already so unavoidable in our world, and having the knowledge of code might increase it. I also think if students learn to think so computationally then a lack of empathy and connection could form.

# data[].attributes.body
What are some arguments for students to learn to code?

Some arguments for students learning to code can be things like enhancing problem-solving and critical thinking skills. They can learn to code, involving planning and testing, which increases their abilities in school and for future careers. It also helps promote creativity and imagination, allowing students to design their own things like games and stories, which allows them to express their imagination freely.

What are some concerns about kids learning coding?

Some concerns about children learning coding can be the time restrictions. Schools have a limited amount of time for subjects, and some worry that incorporating coding into the curriculum might give the idea that other essential subjects like reading, writing, and play aren't as important. Access to technology is another concern. Not all schools or families have equal access to computers or the internet, which can create an imbalance in learning opportunities for all kids.

# data[].attributes.body
Now more than ever, technology is an integral part of everyday life, including our education, which is why coding is being introduced at a younger and younger age. Students need to understand how and where their computers work, as well as the apps that accompany them. Knowing why something works for you, especially something you use every day, is valuable knowledge. Additionally, coding teaches computational thinking skills that align with the problem-solving process, which is vital for young learners.

However, when students are young, there are complications if they cannot understand and comprehend directions. If students are not paying attention and refuse to listen, then they will become frustrated in the learning process, which could deter them from wanting to learn. In the grand scheme of things, younger students do not need to learn how to code if they are starting out on their learning journey. They first need to grasp simple concepts, before they know how to code.

# data[].attributes.body
When it comes to the topic of if students should learn coding in school there are both pros and cons regarding the topic. One of the pros is that coding teaches problem solving and logical thinking. Learning to program a computer genuinely helps you learn to think. We live in a society now where we depend so heavily on computers to do the thinking for us that this is a way that we can reverse that and it makes our brains have to do all the thinking. While coding you have to break down problems into logical steps, find the errors, and find solutions which really builds your computational thinking skills and can set you up for success in many areas of life. Another pro of teaching coding is the creativity and self-expression that it encourages. It is not just a technical thing, but rather a creative outlet that students can use to express themselves. It allows them to turn their ideas into reality and helps their imagination come to life. Coding to some students can be comparable to art or music and can be looked at as just another way that students can express their unique personalities. Although there are many pros to teaching coding, there are also significant cons that need to be discussed. For starters, screen time. Screentime is already a problem in young kids today because they look at screens all day, so teaching coding in school will only enhance this. Looking at a screen all day can not only have effects on someone mentally but also physically, such as eye damage, so it is important to be careful when you are in front of a screen all day. Another con is the lack of qualified teachers there are to teach this subject. Since this is one of the newer subjects, there is not a never-ending supply of teachers that can genuinely teach this well. Teachers may lack the knowledge or experience to teach coding effectively which will lead to the students not getting anything out of the class. All in all, there are both positives and negatives to teaching coding and the real question is what side will outweigh the other.

# data[].attributes.body
As I read through the material for this week, I realized that I had been taught basic coding skills in grade school, and I didn’t even know it. During any class where we had work in the computer labs, if we finished early, we could get on CoolMathGames and play. At the time, they were just mindless, fun little games but as I dove into Code.org (from the first article on common sense education) I realized that many of those games taught the beginning steps to coding.

I did look around on Code.org for K-12 lesson plans in coding to get an idea of what teaching coding might look like and I found myself enjoying the challenges in the games. I played one game with characters form Star Wars. I had to help Rey and BB-8 find all the spare parts lying around by coding BB-8 to formulate a path on a grid to pick up the pieces. Through a bit of trial and error I figured out how to code BB-8 around the grid with ease, mind you this game was made for ages 5 and up. I learned a lot about creating loops and making sure the code was step-by-step and not difficult for BB-8 to follow. Playing this game gave me first-hand knowledge into the pros of learning to code at a young age, the problem solving, attention to detail, and creativity behind it.

However, even considering the pros to learning to code, children so young will need to be taught how to manage their screen time. With our world being primarily digital, adding coding into curriculum would increase time in front of screens which could lead to eye strain or physical inactivity. Children need the social- emotional and physical development provided by recess, hands-on play learning, and interacting with peers.

I could also see the increased pressure behind enhancing your future by learning to code could also cause issues with young children. I know when something frustrates me, I tend lose interest in the project and with children and teens in this digital age, attention span and patience tend to run thin. This can be helped by these fun game lesson plans, such as the BB-8 game from before, but at the end of the day, it is important to remember that kids are still kids. We don’t need to pressure them into overachieving but teach them valuable skills to grow up as computational thinkers.

# data[].attributes.body
To honestly sum up this video...

Pro- Technology is not going away and everything children can learn in regards to coding will help build their futures

Cons- If children do not know how to give directions, they will struggle with coding. So first children need to learn how to describe what they want to achieve, then say how they can achieve their goal with small steps.

Con- screen time is a concern. if it is productive screen time such as coding practices, it is better.

# data[].attributes.body
The pros of why coding is great because it helps with problem solving skills. When the students code they have to think logically and break things down also how to figure out how to fix errors. It teaches them how to think. Another reason why is because it opens up a lot of opportunities. Technology is everywhere so understanding how coding works can help students in their future careers.

Like anything there are always some cons. One big one that I think would be one is screen time because kids already spend a lot of time on different devices so that means teaching the children to code would mean even more hours in front of a screen. My second concern would be that not every student needs to learn coding. Some children are more interested in art or anything else that doesn’t use coding. So schools should make sure they are balancing coding with other creative critical thinking skills

# data[].attributes.body
What are some arguments for students to learn to code?

“Everyone should learn how to program a computer, because it teaches you how to think.”

Aat its simplest, learning to code is simply learning to tell machines what to do. This is important because we use machines in our everyday life such as our computers, phones, and cars.

What are some concerns about kids learning coding? Give two points for each question.

It does not come naturally to most people.

And those who are less talented can be confused and not know how to work their de