Hour of Code 2025-2026

Howe Manning students participated in the Hour of Code this month. The Hour of Code is an initiative designed to introduce elementary students to the world of computer programming in a fun and accessible way. Typically held during Computer Science Education Week, this global movement encourages students to spend at least one hour engaging in coding activities, fostering a foundational understanding of computational thinking and problem-solving skills. The activities are designed to be age-appropriate and engaging, utilizing games, puzzles, and interactive platforms to make coding accessible even to those with no prior experience. The goal is to demystify coding and inspire an early interest in technology, encouraging students to see the creative and problem-solving aspects of programming. The Hour of Code aims to equip elementary students with the skills and confidence to navigate an increasingly digital world and consider future pathways in STEM-related fields.

💡 Digital Habits for a New Year: Setting Healthy Tech Boundaries at Home

As we dive into the new year, it’s the perfect time to review and reset our family's routines—especially when it comes to technology! Establishing clear and consistent boundaries helps your elementary student focus on school, build essential social skills, and get plenty of sleep and physical activity. Three Simple Steps to Set Boundaries -

1. Create a "Tech-Free Zone": Designate certain areas or times as completely tech-free. The dinner table and bedrooms are excellent places to start. This promotes face-to-face conversations and ensures better sleep quality.

2. Establish a "Digital Bedtime": Just like a regular bedtime, set a specific time when all screens (including phones, tablets, and gaming consoles) are turned off and put away. We recommend at least 60 minutes before lights-out to allow minds to wind down.

3. Use Tech Together: Technology can be a wonderful tool! Plan times to engage with educational apps, watch documentaries, or play interactive games with your child. This helps model responsible use and keeps you aware of what they are consuming.

Tip: Involve your child in the process! Discuss why these rules are important for their health and happiness. Post the rules somewhere visible as a helpful reminder for the whole family.

Wishing you a happy and balanced year ahead!

The Great Turkey Takeover

This week, I had the opportunity to work with our 2nd grade students and staff as we dove into the three-hour "Great Turkey Takeover," a festive and engaging unit that covered essential academic skills while celebrating the spirit of the holiday. We started in the cafeteria as a whole grade for an introduction to the day.

The highlight was a thrilling STEM challenge: students worked collaboratively to design and engineer protective structures on the farm, using critical thinking and problem-solving to ensure Tom the Turkey would be safe from an upcoming storm.

The students also practiced real-world financial literacy with "Turkey Math," tackling budgeting and money counting as they "shopped" for Thanksgiving feast items. Tying everything together, the students demonstrated true appreciation through a dedicated gratitude practice, crafting personalized thank you notes to show our deep thanks for the hard work of our school staff, including our custodians, office team, nurse, and curriculum coordinators.

Parent's Guide to Roblox

We are discussing Digital Safety and Digital Citizenship in our classes and are finding that most of our students are playing the game "Roblox". To guide your child on Roblox, use the platform's parental controls to manage chat, spending, and content restrictions, while also establishing clear boundaries, like time limits and keeping gaming devices out of bedrooms. It is also essential to have open conversations about online safety, including cyberbullying and the risks of interacting with strangers, and to periodically play with your child to stay informed about their experience.

Set up parental controls
Use a Parent PIN: Secure your child's account by setting a PIN to prevent them from changing safety settings.

Limit communication: Block chat or restrict it to friends only to prevent interactions with strangers. You can also disable the inbox.

Filter mature content: Set content maturity levels to "mild" or "minimal" and restrict access to age-inappropriate games.

Control spending: Set monthly limits on in-game purchases (Robux) or disable spending altogether.


Establish clear boundaries
Create a "rules" document: Discuss and agree on rules for when and how long your child can play.

Keep gaming out of bedrooms: Play in common areas of the house to make supervision easier and to prevent kids from playing late at night.

Take screen breaks: Encourage breaks to avoid overuse.


Foster open communication Talk about safety: Educate your child on the importance of not sharing personal information and how to handle cyberbullying.

Play together: Join your child in playing some games to understand their experience firsthand.

Stay informed: Keep up with Roblox's updates and features to better understand the platform's current environment.

Cross School Collaboration

In Ms. Nasser's Artovation class, sixth grade students conducted virtual interviews with kindergarten students using Google Meet to gather authentic data about their animal interests and prior experiences visiting zoos and petting zoos. During the interviews, the sixth graders asked questions to learn each kindergartener’s favorite animal and the reasons behind their preference, including the animal’s characteristics, behaviors, and habitat. The sixth graders will now apply STEM design practices to engineer a three-dimensional representation of the selected animal using cardboard, simple electronics, and creative construction materials. This collaborative project promotes real-world communication, research, and problem-solving skills, while strengthening cross-grade community connections.

MassCUE 2025

This week, I joined several educators from Tritown School Union attended MassCUE at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA.

MassCUE, the Massachusetts Computer Using Educators conference, is a premier event for educators, technology specialists, and leaders in K-12 education. It offers a dynamic platform for professional development, collaboration, and sharing best practices in educational technology. With hands-on workshops, innovative presentations, and the latest tools in edtech, attendees can explore strategies to enhance teaching and learning through technology. MassCUE 2024 provides an invaluable opportunity to network with like-minded professionals, discover new digital resources, and stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving landscape of education.

Virtual Reality in Artovation Class for 6th Graders

Our 6th grade students in Ms. Nasser's Artovation classes are using the WildXR app with VR headsets to explore wild animals up close, learning about their unique characteristics and the environments where they live. After completing their research, each student will bring their animal to life by building a model from cardboard and adding coding features to make it interactive. The final creations will be brought together in a hands-on “Petting Zoo” experience designed especially for our preschool students. This project combines science, technology, engineering, art, and empathy—allowing our older students to apply their learning in a creative way while inspiring curiosity in our youngest learners.