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What is the Amazon Future Engineer + BootUp Sponsorship?

We are thrilled to announce our district's participation in the Amazon Future Engineer + BootUp Elementary Computer Science Sponsorship! This incredible opportunity brings comprehensive computer science education to our elementary schools, ensuring our students gain essential skills in coding, creativity, and problem-solving from an early age.

Program Highlights

• Professional Development for Teachers: Our teachers will receive ongoing professional development on computer science content and pedagogy. This includes workshops, coaching, and access to an online Instructional Coach Course to ensure the sustainability of the program.

• Sustainable District-Wide Initiative: The sponsorship provides everything needed to implement a sustainable computer science initiative across our district. This includes curricula, teacher lesson plans, and continued support for three years and beyond.

• Hands-On Learning with Scratch and ScratchJr: Students will engage in open-ended coding projects using the free platforms Scratch and ScratchJr. These projects are not only educational but also personally meaningful, allowing students to explore their interests through design, music, art, animation, games, or stories.

Commitment to Excellence

Our district is dedicated to providing the best educational opportunities for our students. Through this sponsorship, we commit to:

• Designating a Computer Science Champion: This individual will serve as the main contact between BootUp and our teachers, ensuring smooth communication and progress throughout the program.

• Supporting Our Instructional Coaches: At least one instructional coach will attend all professional development workshops, complete the online course, and eventually lead workshops and support in the later years of the program.

• Engaging Teachers and Students: Teachers will participate in professional development, model teaching, and coaching. We aim to multiple cohorts of teachers per grade band (K-2, 3rd+) over three years, ensuring that our students receive quality computer science education during the school day.

• Setting Classroom Expectations: We will set clear expectations for classroom implementation and ensure that computer science education is integrated seamlessly into the school day.

Why Computer Science?

In today’s digital world, computer science skills are more important than ever. By introducing our students to coding and problem-solving at an early age, we are preparing them for a future full of opportunities in technology and beyond. The skills they learn will help them in every aspect of their education and future careers, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and resilience.

Get Involved and Stay Informed

We invite parents and guardians to stay involved and informed about this exciting initiative. Together, we can support our students as they embark on this journey into the world of computer science.

For more information about the program please visit BootUp Professional Development .

Contact Us
For any questions or further information, please reach out to:

Dr. Yvonne Spinner
Email: E-mail Yvonne Spinner

Scratch is a free, interactive programming language and online community where children can create their own interactive stories, games, and animations. Developed by the MIT Media Lab, Scratch is designed specifically for ages 8 to 16, but it is used by people of all ages.

Key Features of Scratch:

• Visual Coding: Scratch uses a simple visual interface that allows users to drag and drop code blocks to create their projects. This makes it easy for beginners to understand the basics of coding without needing to write complex code.

• Creativity and Expression: Scratch encourages creativity and self-expression. Users can design their own characters, backgrounds, and sounds, making each project unique and personal.

• Problem-Solving Skills: By working on Scratch projects, children develop important problem-solving skills. They learn how to break down tasks, think logically, and debug their code when things don't work as expected.

• Collaboration and Sharing: The Scratch online community allows users to share their projects, receive feedback, and collaborate with others from around the world. This fosters a sense of community and encourages learning from peers.

• Educational Integration: Scratch is widely used in educational settings to teach computer science concepts. It integrates easily with various subjects, allowing students to apply coding skills to different areas of study.

Scratch provides a fun and engaging way for children to learn coding, and develop a wide range of skills that are essential in today's digital world.