Ever wonder how a six-year-old learns to think like a programmer? We sit down with Barbie Day of Pratt Elementary to explore what early computer science looks like when it’s playful, structured, and genuinely empowering. From color-matching commands to first steps in debugging, Barbie shares a classroom approach that builds problem-solving skills long before students write their first line of text-based code.
Website: spotlight4success.com
Episode Transcript
Welcome to Spotlight for Success by American Book
Company.
I am Devin Pintozi, your host.
We are here in wonderful Tulsa,Oklahoma, at the uh OKSTE
conference, and we are soexcited to be here with our
special guest, Barbie Day.
SPEAKER_00 (00:21):
Hi.
SPEAKER_02 (00:22):
Barbie Day joins us.
She is coming to us from SandSprings Public Schools at Pratt
Elementary School.
That's correct.
That's great.
And can you tell me a bit aboutyour work?
I understand you're aninstructor.
SPEAKER_00 (00:34):
Yes, I teach kindergarten through fifth
grade, um, uh computer scienceand STEM, and uh we have a lot
of fun in class, and I'm reallyexcited about it.
I've been teaching for about atleast five years.
SPEAKER_02 (00:50):
Oh, that's great.
Wonderful.
What got you into teaching?
SPEAKER_00 (00:54):
Um, I come from a long line of educators.
My mom was a teacher, mygreat-grandparents were
teachers.
It's just in the DNA.
SPEAKER_02 (01:02):
Oh, that's wonderful.
My mother is a teacher too.
SPEAKER_00 (01:04):
Yes.
And it was a long journey to gethere, too.
Oh, really?
Yes, uh-huh.
I've done many other things.
Oh this it led me straight backinto education.
SPEAKER_02 (01:13):
That is great.
Uh I understand you're workingwith the kids to really do some
really kind of vanguard kind ofthings in the classroom.
SPEAKER_00 (01:21):
Uh yes, we have a new curriculum.
It's called Code Hop, and it isthe elementary version of Code
HS for the older students.
And they um it's turning out tobe a very good thing, and it we
can also use AI using thiscurriculum too.
(01:43):
I can integrate it in that.
SPEAKER_02 (01:45):
Oh, that's great.
You've given them a lot ofexposure, and what and what age
group are you working with?
SPEAKER_00 (01:50):
Well, kindergarten through fifth grade.
SPEAKER_02 (01:52):
Okay.
SPEAKER_00 (01:52):
So it's gonna be like six-year-olds,
twelve-year-olds, yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (01:58):
So you're teaching kids as young as six things
about coding and yes, we startout very simple.
SPEAKER_00 (02:04):
Um we start out with a program-based learning, uh,
project lead the way, and itteaches it teaches the little
ones um they match like colorswith what they want their
computer to do or their mouse orwhatever.
SPEAKER_02 (02:21):
Wow.
SPEAKER_00 (02:21):
Yes.
They have fun doing that.
SPEAKER_02 (02:24):
That is great.
That's um wow.
Yeah, I I've I've uh uh you knowit's amazing how fast things
have come and and how young umyou know can go with really
exposing uh the next generationwith where things are going with
technology.
Planting seeds planting seeds.
SPEAKER_00 (02:41):
Yes, and technology's here, and it's in
our face, and we have to beflexible and um work out the
bugs on the way.
SPEAKER_01 (02:51):
Oh, that's great.
Thank you for watching Spotlightfor Success.
I am David Pentosi, the chiefoperating officer of American
Book Company.
We are located here in ourheadquarters in Woodside,
Georgia.
All of our materials are in theUSA.
(03:33):
You can get three samples of ourmaterials either in print or in
electronic format at ABCK12.com.
We look forward to hearing fromyou.
SPEAKER_02 (03:45):
Do you have any special moments in the classroom
you can share that that happen?
You're like, wow, this is why Igot into teaching.
SPEAKER_00 (03:51):
Um, yes, my payment is the the children's the
expression on their face and howthey feel and expressing
themselves when they learnsomething.
Okay.
That is my payment.
And it's very exciting.
Um, and like I said, I've beendoing this for at least five
years in the classroom.
SPEAKER_02 (04:10):
Wonderful.
And you say in the classroom,were you doing this outside the
classroom, similar kind ofactivity?
SPEAKER_00 (04:16):
No, I had um I went through training.
SPEAKER_02 (04:20):
Okay.
SPEAKER_00 (04:20):
Uh a boot camp training.
Oh to become a teacher.
I am screening.
Oh, it's all right.
No, we're fine.
I got lost.
SPEAKER_02 (04:32):
Oh, that's okay.
So yeah, you're a boot camptrainer, or you got a boot camp
training prior to starting inthe school?
SPEAKER_00 (04:38):
Through Tulsa Public Schools.
Yes, okay.
So I was thrown in running headfirst.
SPEAKER_02 (04:44):
Oh, that is so great.
Yes.
And you're in a high need area.
SPEAKER_00 (04:47):
Yes.
SPEAKER_02 (04:48):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (04:48):
Well, I'm in Sand Springs now, so yes, children
are very important to us, andthe younger we can get them
learning, the more successfulthey can be.
SPEAKER_02 (05:00):
That's great.
Did you have any uh specialclasses or things that you
wanted to explore while you'rehere?
SPEAKER_00 (05:06):
Well, I came here to get some fresh ideas.
I like to keep like on the pulseof what's happening.
So because technology changes sofast, and I want my children to
have the most currentinformation as possible.
Even though it goes out, yougotta bring it back in, bring
(05:28):
additional things in becauselife is changing fast.
All you gotta do is blink youreye, and time goes by.
SPEAKER_02 (05:34):
It sure does, Barbie.
That is so true.
Um, do you have anything you'dlike to share with the OKSTE
community?
SPEAKER_00 (05:40):
Uh yes, I really appreciate the OKSTE.
They have done so much for me,um, and they're very supportive
of teachers, and I've gotten todo a lot of a lot of um
education, um, professionaldevelopment uh through OKSTE.
(06:02):
So I am I am very grateful forthem.
SPEAKER_02 (06:06):
Oh wonderful.
So happy to hear that.
Well, thank you so much, uhBarbie Day, for joining us
today, and uh we look forward touh hearing more about uh good
things happening in yourclassroom when you come back
next year.
SPEAKER_00 (06:18):
Great, thank you.
Thank you.
Look forward to it.
SPEAKER_02 (06:20):
Bye bye.
Bye bye.
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