| Example #1: A child tries to program two characters to play tag in ScratchJr but keeps programming one of the characters to take too few steps. Rather than giving up or getting frustrated, he tries using the Grid Tool to measure out steps. |
| Example #2: A child tries to draw fine details in the paint editor but keeps missing the small shapes and lines with the paint bucket tool. She presses undo and tries again 4 times before accurately tapping the shapes she was aiming for. |
| Example #3: Two children discuss ways to improve the program they built together. |
Teacher Insights on Practicing Perseverance
The following excerpts were taken from interviews with teachers who were asked to describe instances in which their students practiced perseverance, as well as times in which the teacher personally practiced perseverance while implementing the Coding as Another Language-ScratchJr curriculum.
Perseverance, I think I use that word a lot with the kids. If they were getting frustrated with something or they felt like they had completed their project. It was like persevere, and try to add more, or come up with another skill that maybe wasn’t in their project the first time.
— Christian, First Grade Teacher
Perseverance is a big word in my classroom. I call it the golden rule of our classroom. It’s nice that perseverance was on [the palette], because I’ve been using perseverance for years. In this sense I’m like, “no, you have to persevere. I can’t fix it for you. You have to fix it yourself. I can guide you, but I can’t do it for you.”
— Gianna, Kindergarten Teacher
Watch Perseverance in Practice
Debugging a Multi-Page Story
A child fixes the ‘Go to Page’ blocks in their program when it doesn’t work as intended.
Say “Debug!”
A pair of children persevere and work together to fix the sound recording block on their program.
Keep Trying
A teacher encourages her student to not give up despite the challenges of programming.