CSTANJ CSPDWeek 2026: Full Schedule

CSPDWeek 2026

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

10:00am EDT

CS in the PreK-3 Classroom

FULL

Monday August 3, 2026 10:00am - 10:55am EDT

TCNJ, SSB 131 @ 2000 Pennington Rd, Ewing Township, NJ 08618, USA

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Bring Computer Science to Life: Fun & Easy CS for PreK-3
Ready to demystify computer science? Join us for an energetic, hands-on workshop designed specifically for early childhood and elementary educators! You don’t need to be a "tech expert" to build a strong foundation for your students in problem-solving, logical thinking, and creativity.

Grounded in active learning and constructivist theory, this session shows you how to seamlessly weave CS into the subjects you already teach, like Math, Literacy, and Science. We’ll explore a mix of "unplugged" activities—using movement and storytelling—and "plugged" experiences with kid-friendly robots and platforms.

What we’ll cover:
Foundational Skills: Simple ways to teach algorithms, loops, and events.
Device-Free Magic: Playful lessons from Barefoot Computing and CompuTales that work even when the Wi-Fi doesn't!
Standards-Aligned: See how these activities map directly to New Jersey’s CS standards.
Ready-to-Go Tools: Walk away with practical lesson plans and the confidence to foster digital citizenship and computational thinking from day one.

Whether you have a full lab or zero devices, you’ll leave with the tools to make CS the most exciting part of your students' day!

Speakers

Jahaira Ortiz

Teacher, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

Jahaira Ortiz is an accomplished educator and the founder of Coding the Future, a specialized firm providing STEM, coding, and robotics programs for early childhood learners. With over a decade of experience in the public education sector, she has successfully integrated advanced... Read More →

Alicia Somers

Teacher/Special Education Teacher

My name is Alicia Somers. I am an educator with 29 years of experience teaching both special education and general education students, ranging from preschool through second grade. I hold a P-3 license, K-5 license and Teacher of the Handicapped N-12. I have a Master's in Education... Read More →

Joann Case

K-4 Technology & PLTW Teacher, North Hanover Twp

Joann is an experienced K–4 Technology and PLTW (Project Lead The Way) teacher with 27 years in education. A certified PLTW Launch teacher, Raspberry Pi Ambassador, and BrainPop and Seesaw Certified Educator, she is dedicated to empowering the next generation of innovators and problem... Read More →

Monday August 3, 2026 10:00am - 10:55am EDT
TCNJ, SSB 131

Algorithms and Programming, PreK-3, Admin | Digital Citizenship, PreK-3, Admin | Digital Tools, PreK-3, Admin

Company In-person

1:00pm EDT

Unplugged Activities for PreK-3

FULL

Monday August 3, 2026 1:00pm - 1:55pm EDT

TCNJ, SSB 131 @ 2000 Pennington Rd, Ewing Township, NJ 08618, USA

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

This hands-on session introduces early‑elementary teachers to engaging, device‑free technology activities perfect for young learners. Explore playful lessons that build coding foundations, computational thinking, problem‑solving, and digital citizenship through movement, storytelling, and simple classroom materials. You’ll see how these unplugged activities align with New Jersey’s proposed technology standards and can be woven seamlessly into everyday instruction. These ready‑to‑use lessons are especially helpful during tech glitches or low‑device days, ensuring students stay active, creative, and learning.

Speakers

Unplugged Activities, PreK-3 | Digital Citizenship, PreK-3 | Algorithms and Programming, PreK-3 | Computing Systems, PreK-3 | Technology and Society/Interaction of Technology and Humans, PreK-3

Company In-person

CSTANJ CSPDWeek 2026

10:00am EDT

Jahaira Ortiz

Alicia Somers

Joann Case

1:00pm EDT

Jahaira Ortiz

Alicia Somers

Joann Case

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