This week around the world, tens of millions of students are doing an Hour of Code. For many this will be their very first taste of programming and the beginning of a lifelong journey. Why is the Hour of Code this week and not some other time? …
Are You Doing Everything You Can to Support Your Son or Daughter’s Interest in Coding?
I talk to many parents of young coders through free avenues and events - mainly the Breakout Mentors 15 minute phone consultation and CoderDojo Silicon Valley. Everyone wants to support their kid's interest in programming and give them the …
Check Out the Impressive Projects Shared by Kids at Our 2015 Student Showcase
Our students working with 1-on-1 programming mentors have made some fun projects over the course of the year. In early June we had our second annual Student Showcase event, where they had the opportunity to share a project and see what other kids …
How Non-Coder Parents Can Learn to Engage their Young Programmer
As a busy parent, you have no interest in learning how to code. After a long day, the last thing you want to do is to spend many hours learning computer programming you won't use. But your young son or daughter loves coding and you want to be able to …
Continue Reading about How Non-Coder Parents Can Learn to Engage their Young Programmer →
It’s Already 2015! Let’s Support Kids that Want to Learn to Code
Can you believe it is already 2015? With the new year comes New Year's resolutions. Do you have one to support your kid's interests? There are thousands of kids in the Bay Area that want to learn to code. Some just love Minecraft and think it …
Continue Reading about It’s Already 2015! Let’s Support Kids that Want to Learn to Code →
1-on-1 Mentoring Allows Us to Challenge, Not Just Teach
Breakout Mentors has a unique approach to helping kids learn to code - we primarily do 1-on-1 mentoring and occasionally small groups capped at 4 kids. Our goal is to provide a depth in kids programming education that isn't available anywhere else. …
Continue Reading about 1-on-1 Mentoring Allows Us to Challenge, Not Just Teach →
President Obama Asks Kids to Learn to Code
Yesterday kicked off Code.org's Hour of Code. It is a big push by Code.org to promote millions of kids across the country try programming for just one hour this week. President Obama kicked things off with a personal message to inspire kids to …
Continue Reading about President Obama Asks Kids to Learn to Code →
Don’t Let Your Kid’s Excitement in Programming Slip Away
Summer is drawing to a close this week and everyone is going back to school. There are hundreds of kids around Palo Alto that received their first introduction to programming this summer, many at summer camps. Don't let that excitement slip away! …
Continue Reading about Don’t Let Your Kid’s Excitement in Programming Slip Away →
The United Kingdom Rethinks Their Computer Science Education
It's happened again. Countries the world over are making radical changes to their elementary and secondary school curriculum, putting far more emphasis on computer science. The United Kingdom already paid more attention to kids programming education …
Continue Reading about The United Kingdom Rethinks Their Computer Science Education →
Programming Should Be a Year-Round Activity But Summer is a Great Time to Start
Now that it is officially summer, Breakout Mentors is fielding a lot of questions from parents that are looking for summer activities for their kids. Our message remains the same: programming should be a year-round activity for your student if they …