Teach2Code
Practical Coding Training for Ontario Teachers
Teach2Code gives you straightforward, hands-on training designed for real classrooms, real challenges, and the Ontario Math curriculum.Â
Teach2Code
Practical Coding Training for Ontario Teachers
Teach2Code gives you straightforward, hands-on training designed for real classrooms, real challenges, and the Ontario Math curriculum.Â
Professional Development that bridges Math & Coding
Teach2Code is an 8-hour, hands-on professional development program designed to help Ontario elementary school teachers like yourself confidently teach coding and computational thinking in alignment with the Ontario Mathematics curriculum for grades 5 to 7.
Through five hands-on, collaborative training modules, you will learn core concepts in computer programming, see clear curriculum links between coding and Math, experience activities as a learner, and leave with adaptable lesson plans and rubrics
Why did we create Teach2Code?
Ontario’s new Math curriculum includes coding expectations at every grade level, but many teachers report feeling underprepared or unsure about how to integrate coding meaningfully into their lessons. Since 2020, Mathstronauts has been supporting teachers in the classroom by offering our free hands-on STEAM Engine program, which teaches coding to students. Now, we have a bigger goal —to help teachers gain the skills and confidence to deliver the curriculum.
In 2025, we partnered with the McMaster Research Shop to conduct a Needs Assessment that identified key gaps in teacher readiness for coding instruction. Needs assessments and teacher interviews showed two consistent pain points: low confidence and resource overload.
Teach2Code was developed to address these findings. The program provides practical coding training that is simple, structured, and easy to deliver within a busy school year.
What did we learn from teachers?
When Ontario introduced coding into the math curriculum, many teachers were excited—but also unsure where to begin. To better understand their experiences, we conducted a needs assessment study with teachers across Hamilton. Here are some of the things we learned:
43%
Indicated lack of coding knowledge as the top challenge.
65%
Rated their comfort with coding between poor and moderate.
43%
Indicated lack of coding knowledge as the top challenge.
65%
Rated their comfort with coding between poor and moderate.
71%
Mentioned they require support in understanding basic coding logic (e.g., loops, variables).
72%
Found that pre-developed curriculum, lesson plans, and ready-to-use resources would be most beneficial.
71%
Mentioned they Require support with understanding basic coding logic (e.g., loops, variables).
72%
Found that pre-developed curriculum, lesson plans, and ready-to-use resources would be most beneficial.
Why choose Teach2Code?
Build Confidence
You already know the math—this program helps bridge that knowledge into coding. You’ll try activities hands-on, ask questions in a low pressure setting, and leave with a clear sense of what to do next in your classroom.
Align with Ontario Math
Each module is built around the grade 5-7 coding expectations. You will see exactly how coding fits into lessons you already teach like Numbers, Algebra, and Data.
Learn by Doing
You experience the activities as a student first, then unpack them together from a teacher perspective. Together, we walk through prompts, discussion questions, and supports that help students at all levels succeed.
Access Streamlined Support
You leave with a small, organized set of sample tasks. Lesson outlines, rubrics, and checklists—all the practical tools you can use right away without sorting through endless links.
Build Confidence
You already know the math—this program helps bridge that knowledge into coding. You’ll try activities hands-on, ask questions in a low pressure setting, and leave with a clear sense of what to do next in your classroom
Align with Ontario Math
Each module is built around the grade 5-7 coding expectations. You will see exactly how coding fits into lessons you already teach like Numbers, Algebra, and Data.
Learn by Doing
You experience the activities as a student first, then unpack them together from a teacher perspective. Together, we walk through prompts, discussion questions, and supports that help students at all levels succeed.
Access Streamlined Support
You leave with a small, organized set of sample tasks. Lesson outlines, rubrics, and checklists—all the practical tools you can use right away without sorting through endless links.
Program Details
In this five–module hybrid program, elementary school teachers, particularly those teaching grades 5 to 7, build coding confidence step by step —learning, debugging, designing, facilitating, and reflecting. In just eight hours, educators gain practical coding skills and create classroom-ready activities aligned with Ontario Math expectations.
The program is designed to help teachers build coding confidence and classroom readiness through a clear, step-by-step structure.
Structure:
Learn → Debug → Design → Facilitate → Reflect
Teachers progress from developing their own coding skills to planning, delivering, and reflecting on classroom activities.
Strands:
Upskilling (Teachers as Learners): Focus on Learn and Debug phases to strengthen understanding of coding concepts and problem-solving strategies.
Teaching Practice (Teachers as Instructors): Focus on Design, Facilitate, and Reflect phases to apply coding in real classroom contexts and refine instructional approaches.
Your growth in Teach2Code is meant to be visible, practical, and confidence-building. Throughout the program, you’ll track your progress not by tests or grades, but by what you can do in your classroom.
Success Measures:
â—Š Completion of program modules
â—Š Development of classroom-ready coding activities
â—Š Increased confidence in teaching coding
Designed for elementary school teachers and educators new to coding who want to build confidence and practical classroom skills.
Approximately 8 hours total, completed across multiple flexible modules.
A hybrid format consisting of synchronous live sessions with Mathstronauts facilitators, as well as asynchronous learning and delivery (details provided in the Modules section).Â
The program includes 5 modules that guide teachers through each phase of the learning journey.
See module details below
In this five–module hybrid program, elementary school teachers, particularly those teaching grades 5 to 7, build coding confidence step by step —learning, debugging, designing, facilitating, and reflecting. In just eight hours, educators gain practical coding skills and create classroom-ready activities aligned with Ontario Math expectations.
The program is designed to help teachers build coding confidence and classroom readiness through a clear, step-by-step structure.
Structure:
Learn → Debug → Design → Facilitate → Reflect
Teachers progress from developing their own coding skills to planning, delivering, and reflecting on classroom activities.
Strands:
Upskilling (Teachers as Learners): Focus on Learn and Debug phases to strengthen understanding of coding concepts and problem-solving strategies.
Teaching Practice (Teachers as Instructors): Focus on Design, Facilitate, and Reflect phases to apply coding in real classroom contexts and refine instructional approaches.
Your growth in Teach2Code is meant to be visible, practical, and confidence-building. Throughout the program, you’ll track your progress not by tests or grades, but by what you can do in your classroom.
Success Measures:
â—Š Completion of program modules
â—Š Development of classroom-ready coding activities
â—Š Increased confidence in teaching coding
Designed for elementary school teachers and educators new to coding who want to build confidence and practical classroom skills.
Approximately 8 hours total, completed across multiple flexible modules.
A hybrid format consisting of synchronous live sessions with Mathstronauts facilitators, as well as asynchronous learning and delivery (details provided in the Modules section)
The program includes 5 modules that guide teachers through each phase of the learning journey.
See module details below
Modules
Teach2Code’s modules are designed specifically for teachers who are new to coding, and need a practical, hands-on approach to both learning how to code, and learning how to implement coding in the classroom. Navigate the modules below to learn more.
Delivery: In-Person (Sync)  |  Time: 90 min  |  Strand: Upskilling
Goal: Develop confidence in introducing fundamental coding concepts to students and understand how these concepts connect to mathematical thinking and problem-solving.
Learning Outcomes:
- Apply loops (repeat actions) and conditionals (“if… then” decisions) to simple, real‑world math problems.
- Recognize common areas of student confusion and use effective strategies to guide them.
Topics & Skills:
- Sequencing: Breaking problems into logical steps.
- Loops: Repeating actions efficiently.
- Variables: Storing values that can change.
- Events: Linking cause and effect (“when this happens, do that”).
- Lesson Pacing & Exit Tickets: Keeping lessons engaging and checking for understanding.
Delivery: In-Person (Sync)  |  Time: 60 min  |  Strand: Upskilling
Goal:Â Strengthen your ability to model problem solving and teach students to approach coding (and math) challenges with persistence and curiosity by using a simple, step-by-step routine to find and fix mistakes.
Learning Outcomes:
- Identify and fix common issues (debugging) like: Repeats forever (a loop that never stops), wrong box (used the wrong value), steps in the wrong order, one step too many or too few.
- Explain your fix in short, clear steps that students can follow.
Topics & Skills:
- What’s A Bug?: Notice and name the problem.
- Debugging Strategies: A “Pause • Predict • Test • Fix” routine that helps students self-correct.
- Think Out Loud Trace Steps: Follow the code line by line.
- Small Tests: Change one thing at a time and check.
- Quick Checks: Fast ways to see who needs help.
Delivery: Hybrid  |  Time: 180 min  |  Strand: Teaching Practice
Goal:Â
Create a complete, curriculum-aligned coding lesson that matches one math topic with one coding idea, supported by clear success criteria and assessment tools you can use in your classroom.
Learning Outcomes:
- Link one math idea to one coding idea (e.g., variables with unknowns, loops with patterns).
- Write a clear lesson plan with title, goals, timing, and materials.
- Build success criteria and/or a rubric/checklist aligned to your learning goals.
- Adjust the lesson for different levels (works for Grade 5–7 splits).
Finalize a lesson plan and activity that is ready to teach.
Topics & Skills:
- Math–Coding Match: Choosing one math idea and one coding idea that fit together in a simple lesson.
- Lesson Flow: Structuring a coding activity from warm up to reflection/evaluation
- Timing & Pacing: Planning how to spend time on each part of the lesson so it fits your period.
- Success Criteria: Building in support for different learners and making “what success looks like” clear.
- Curriculum Alignment: Checking that your activity connects to the Ontario Grade 5–8 curriculum expectations.
Delivery: In-person (Sync)  |  Time: 60 min  |  Strand: Teaching Practice
Goal:Â
Build confidence in leading coding activities in your classroom, managing different ability levels, and keeping students engaged.
Learning Outcomes:
- Explain coding ideas in plain language at a grade appropriate level.
- Lead a short class code-along or simple stations and keep on schedule.
- Use helpful prompts so students try first before you step in.
- Spot who needs help using quick checks.
Topics & Skills:
- Timeboxing (using short timers): Set simple time limits for each activity so students know how long they have and the lesson keeps moving.
- Talk Moves: Use easy questions like “Can you explain that?” or “What block will we need to use?” to help students share their thoughts.
- Classroom Set-Ups: Try the lesson in a structure that works best for your class - individual work, partners, or simple stations.
Delivery: Online (Sync)  |  Time: 60 min  |  Strand: Teaching Practice
Goal: Create a space where you, as teachers, can reflect on how your coding–math lesson went, share experiences with fellow educators, and identify simple next steps to strengthen future lessons.
Learning Outcomes:
- Describe how your coding–math lesson went, using concrete examples of wins, challenges, and student reactions.
- Compare experiences with peers to surface common patterns and helpful strategies.
- Identify 1–2 practical adjustments or next steps you want to try in future coding–math lessons.
Topics & Skills:
- Experience Share: Roundtable style “How did the lesson go?” stories, wins, and challenges.
- Reflection Prompts: Guided questions to help unpack what worked and what felt difficult.
- Peer Learning: Noticing themes across classrooms and borrowing ideas.
- Next Steps: Light planning for how to build on this first implementation (what to keep, tweak, or try next time).
Teach2Code’s modules are designed specifically for teachers who are new to coding, and need a practical, hands-on approach to both learning how to code, and learning how to implement coding in the classroom. Navigate the modules below to learn more.
Our Experience
With over 3,300 students reached through 130+ classrooms and more than 770 workshops in Hamilton and Durham, Mathstronauts brings deep, hands-on experience in delivering coding education directly in classrooms.
Through our flagship STEAM Engine program, we’ve seen firsthand how classrooms operate —the challenges teachers face, the time constraints they manage, and the diverse learning needs of students.
This firsthand experience, combined with our research-backed approach, helped us design teacher training that’s realistic, supportive, and built for real classrooms.
Delivery: In-Person (Sync)Â Â
Time: 90 minÂ
Strand: Upskilling
Goal: Develop confidence in introducing fundamental coding concepts to students and understand how these concepts connect to mathematical thinking and problem-solving.
Learning Outcomes:
- Apply loops (repeat actions) and conditionals (“if… then” decisions) to simple, real‑world math problems.
- Recognize common areas of student confusion and use effective strategies to guide them.
Topics & Skills:
- Sequencing: Breaking problems into logical steps.
- Loops: Repeating actions efficiently.
- Variables: Storing values that can change.
- Events: Linking cause and effect (“when this happens, do that”).
- Lesson Pacing & Exit Tickets: Keeping lessons engaging and checking for understanding.
Delivery: In-Person (Sync)
Time: 60 min Â
Strand: Upskilling
Goal:Â Strengthen your ability to model problem solving and teach students to approach coding (and math) challenges with persistence and curiosity by using a simple, step-by-step routine to find and fix mistakes.
Learning Outcomes:
- Identify and fix common issues (debugging) like: Repeats forever (a loop that never stops), wrong box (used the wrong value), steps in the wrong order, one step too many or too few.
- Explain your fix in short, clear steps that students can follow.
Topics & Skills:
- What’s A Bug?: Notice and name the problem.
- Debugging Strategies: A “Pause • Predict • Test • Fix” routine that helps students self-correct.
- Think Out Loud & Trace Steps: Follow the code line by line.
- Small Tests: Change one thing at a time and check.
- Quick Checks: Fast ways to see who needs help.
Delivery: Hybrid
Time: 180 min
Strand: Teaching Practice
Goal:Â
Create a complete, curriculum-aligned coding lesson that matches one math topic with one coding idea, supported by clear success criteria and assessment tools you can use in your classroom.
Learning Outcomes:
- Link one math idea to one coding idea (e.g., variables with unknowns, loops with patterns).
- Write a clear lesson plan with title, goals, timing, and materials.
- Build success criteria and/or a rubric/checklist aligned to your learning goals.
- Adjust the lesson for different levels (works for Grade 5–7 splits).
Finalize a lesson plan and activity that is ready to teach.
Topics & Skills:
- Math–Coding Match: Choosing one math idea and one coding idea that fit together in a simple lesson.
- Lesson Flow: Structuring a coding activity from warm up to reflection/evaluation
- Timing & Pacing: Planning how to spend time on each part of the lesson so it fits your period.
- Success Criteria: Building in support for different learners and making “what success looks like” clear.
- Curriculum Alignment: Checking that your activity connects to the Ontario Grade 5–8 curriculum expectations.
Delivery: In-person (Sync)
Time: 60 min
Strand: Teaching Practice
Goal:Â
Build confidence in leading coding activities in your classroom, managing different ability levels, and keeping students engaged.
Learning Outcomes:
- Explain coding ideas in plain language at a grade appropriate level.
- Lead a short class code-along or simple stations and keep on schedule.
- Use helpful prompts so students try first before you step in.
- Spot who needs help using quick checks.
Topics & skills:
- Timeboxing (using short timers): Set simple time limits for each activity so students know how long they have and the lesson keeps moving.
- Talk Moves: Use easy questions like “Can you explain that?” or “What block will we need to use?” to help students share their thoughts.
- Classroom Set-Ups: Try the lesson in a structure that works best for your class - individual work, partners, or simple stations.
Delivery: Online (Sync)
Time: 60 min
Strand: Teaching Practice
Goal: Create a space where you, as teachers, can reflect on how your coding–math lesson went, share experiences with fellow educators, and identify simple next steps to strengthen future lessons.
Learning Outcomes:
- Describe how your coding–math lesson went, using concrete examples of wins, challenges, and student reactions.
- Compare experiences with peers to surface common patterns and helpful strategies.
- Identify 1–2 practical adjustments or next steps you want to try in future coding–math lessons.
Topics & Skills:
- Experience Share: Roundtable style “How did the lesson go?” stories, wins, and challenges.
- Reflection Prompts: Guided questions to help unpack what worked and what felt difficult.
- Peer Learning: Noticing themes across classrooms and borrowing ideas.
- Next Steps: Light planning for how to build on this first implementation (what to keep, tweak, or try next time).
Funders
Teach2Code is proudly funded by:
and is developed in collaboration with:
