STANDARDS

CCSS: 6.EE.A.2.C, MP2, MP3, MP6

TEKS: 6.7A

Creative Coder

Sasha A. Alston works to get kids excited about coding

October 2022

By Dani Leviss

When Sasha A. Alston was 16 years old, she interned at Microsoft and fell in love with coding. Her team built gaming apps, and she made social media accounts to promote them. “I like that you need to add creativity to coding to bring projects to life,” she says.

But in her computer science classes and at coding events, Alston didn’t see many people who looked like her. Very few women or Black students were learning to code. That’s why, at 19 years old, Alston self-published her first book, Sasha Savvy Loves to Code, in 2017. The book’s main character, 10-year-old Sasha Savvy, goes to coding camp with her friends and learns how to create cool computer programs.

Sasha A. Alston fell in love with coding at age 16. She was an intern at Microsoft at the time. Her team built gaming apps. Alston made social media accounts to promote them. “I like that you need to add creativity to coding to bring projects to life,” she says.

Alston took computer science classes and attended coding events. But she didn’t see many people who looked like her. Very few women or Black students were learning to code. Alston decided she wanted to change that. In 2017, at age 19, Alston self-published her first book. It’s called Sasha Savvy Loves to Code. The book’s main character is 10-year-old Sasha Savvy. Sasha goes to coding camp with her friends and learns how to create cool computer programs.

Meet STEM activist Sasha Alston

Watch a video about STEM activist and computer coder Sasha Ariel Alston.

Courtesy of Sasha Alston

Alston hopes her book will inspire kids to become coders!

Before writing the chapter book, Alston visited her local library. “I read things like the Junie B. Jones books to help me get inside the minds of my audience, 7- to-10-year-olds,” says Alston. She also drew on her own experience of going to coding camp when she was in high school.

Alston submitted her book to agents, but they rejected it. “I was discouraged, but I didn’t give up,” she says. At her mom’s suggestion, Alston wrote a list of reasons she believed the book was needed. “That gave me the motivation to keep going,” she says.

Eventually, Alston decided to publish the book herself. She raised $18,000 through an online fundraiser. “It was amazing,” says Alston. “It showed me that this book was truly needed and that people were inspired by my story.”

Before writing the chapter book, Alston visited her local library. “I read things like the Junie B. Jones books to help me get inside the minds of my audience,” she says. She also remembered her own experience of going to coding camp in high school.

Alston submitted her book to agents. But they rejected it. “I was discouraged, but I didn’t give up,” she says. Alston’s mom suggested she write a list of reasons the book was important. “That gave me the motivation to keep going,” says Alston.

Eventually, Alston decided to publish the book herself. She raised $18,000 through an online fundraiser. “It was amazing,” she says. “It showed me that this book was truly needed and that people were inspired by my story.”

Today, Alston continues to promote STEM by visiting schools and inspiring students to learn how to code. In doing so, she’s building a coding community of friends and mentors. “TV shows and movies make it seem like people create coding projects alone, but that’s not the case,” says Alston. “I hope my books will inspire kids to be creative and tackle problems they care about together.”

Today, Alston visits schools and encourages students to learn how to code. She hopes to create a coding community. “TV shows and movies make it seem like people create coding projects alone, but that’s not the case,” says Alston. “I hope my books will inspire kids to be creative and tackle problems they care about together.”

What You Need to Know About Coding

Watch a video about computer coding.

CODE WORDS

These terms are used to describe different parts of code.

Input: A value or series of values given to a computer to use in a program

Output: A value given by a computer as a result of running a computer program

Command: Instructions that a computer follows

Variable: A placeholder that represents a value. A variable can also be used as an input.

Conditional Statement: An “if, then” statement that tells a computer how to react to different inputs

CODE WORDS

These terms are used to describe different parts of code.

Input: A value or series of values given to a computer to use in a program

Output: A value given by a computer as a result of running a computer program

Command: Instructions that a computer follows

Variable: A placeholder that represents a value. A variable can also be used as an input.

Conditional Statement: An “if, then” statement that tells a computer how to react to different inputs

Meet MATH++

Scholastic MATH’s editors invented this programming language called MATH++. It has five commands and one variable.

SUM+(x, y, z)
This command adds the inputs (up to three terms), from left to right.

MIN-(x, y, z)
This command subtracts the inputs (up to three terms), from left to right.

DIV/(x, y)
This command divides the first input by the second input.

MULx(x, y, z)
This command multiplies the inputs (up to three terms), from left to right.

SOLVE=
This command outputs the final answer for all previous commands.

RES#
This variable is used to input the result from the previous command’s output.

Meet MATH++

Scholastic MATH’s editors invented this programming language called MATH++. It has five commands and one variable.

SUM+(x, y, z)
This command adds the inputs (up to three terms), from left to right.

MIN-(x, y, z)
This command subtracts the inputs (up to three terms), from left to right.

DIV/(x, y)
This command divides the first input by the second input.

MULx(x, y, z)
This command multiplies the inputs (up to three terms), from left to right.

SOLVE=
This command outputs the final answer for all previous commands.

RES#
This variable is used to input the result from the previous command’s output.

PROGRAMMING EXPRESSIONS

When you write code, you’re writing instructions for the computer to follow. Each line of code gives a different order, or command. Use the commands and variable defined in “Meet MATH++” to turn expressions into lines of code that perform one operation per line of code. You will need to follow the order of operations, which states: First perform operations in parentheses, then compute exponents and roots, followed by multiplication and division from left to right, and finally addition and subtraction from left to right.

EXAMPLE

Write a program in MATH++ to evaluate 4 + 2 × 5 × 3

STEP 1

Determine the first command using the order of operations, Since multiplication is the first step, MULx is the first command. Separate each number with a comma.

Command 1: MULx (2, 5, 3)

What it does: 2 × 5 × 3 = 30

STEP 2

Determine the next command using the order of operations.

Command 2: SUM+ (4, RES#)

What it does: 4 + 30 = 34

STEP 3

Once your program is finished, use SOLVE= to output the final answer.

Command 3: SOLVE=

What it does: Outputs the number 34

So this program in MATH++ would be:

MULx (2, 5, 3)

SUM+ (4, RES#)

SOLVE=