My day started off the best possible way it could have when I received an email from a student:
So im stuck in a hotel and bored and wondering what I can do with internet thats not online games compatible, and I figured hey Maybe I can code something fun in python.
I was wondering if you could send me the graphics library and instructions on how to install that, and possibly my calculator and game project? Any time you get a chance over the summer is fine, I'd really appreciate it.And he signed it 'future code monkey.'
If that isn't invigorating, add to that, the time stamp on the email was 12:23 am and two more emails followed this one with further findings of Python goodies that he plans to explore this summer, the last email coming at 12:53.
That 'future code monkey' made my day. This particular code monkey (which I am totally stealing that phrase and will forever call my programming students code monkeys) just took his first programming course during 4th quarter with me. It was 2nd block, my favorite class of the overloaded day and I am so thrilled that I have brought at least one more little code monkey into the world of code.
Last summer I had a student emailing me all summer long about his programming that I got him started on and now I have another for this summer. I love it. And that is exactly how I responded to him. I am so thrilled that I have helped a couple students find a new interest, something they have never done before, but deep down were programmed to do...pun intended.
Emails like that inspire me to do what I do. I am excited to continue to improve upon my programming course in hopes that more code monkeys will be discovered and inspired to spend their summers playing with code.
Now my goal for the summer is to continue to work on the awesomeness that is my intro to coding class, but also start creating curriculum and fun for my advanced coding course. I also plan to work on improving my algebra 2 course so that it can be as inspiring and exciting for students as the programming course is...so much so that they want to study more algebra 2 over the summer when they are bored.
Between this fun and potty training my youngest daughter, I'm not sure how much more exciting my summer can get!
(That sounded sarcastic, but it's really not meant to be...both are very exciting endeavors.)
