Breakout Mentors

Sharing a recap from one of our dedicated mentors, Brian, as he highlights the progress of Eric. At Breakout Mentors, our personalized tutoring helps students achieve their full potential by tailoring learning to their interests and pace!

Schedule a free consultation today: https://calendly.com/breakout-mentors/kids-coding-consultation?month=2024-02

ACSL vs USACO: Competition Structure and Levels

ACSL and USACO offer unique paths for students to grow in computer science. Here’s a friendly comparison:

ACSL: From Elementary to Advanced
ACSL is perfect for beginners, starting with non-coding divisions for elementary students. Middle schoolers can dive into the Junior division, their first taste of competitive programming. High schoolers can then progress to the Intermediate and Advanced divisions.

USACO: From Bronze to US Team
USACO challenges students with its Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum divisions, aiming to form a US team for international competitions. Even the Bronze level is tough, so having strong coding skills is essential.

Learn more: https://breakoutmentors.com/acsl-vs-usaco-comparing-the.../

Liftoff Coders League is finally live!

Liftoff Coders League is a platform and community for middle schoolers to master Python. Many kids coders do well in a tutorial that gives step-by-step instructions, but are they independently able to code? It takes more practice.

Liftoff Coders League is a platform for consistent Python practice + a fun community that comes together for contests!

How it works
This platform is about consistent practice, so each week you'll have 20-30 minutes of problems to solve. Your division and problem difficulty will increase automatically based on how you do.

Coming soon
One exciting and pivotal part of LCL is our live contests, which we plan to hold monthly. We plan to have the first one in 3-5 weeks, so be on the lookout for that!

Feedback?
We would love to have any and all feedback. Please reach out if you see anything that should be working differently.

This is a very exciting step forward in providing an all-round coding education experience for your child, allowing them to gradually learn to code independently. We hope you become a part of this exciting experience!

Check it out: https://liftoffcoders.com/

Product Hunt: https://www.producthunt.com/posts/liftoff-coders-league

Sharing a recap from one of our bright mentors, Arnav, as he highlights the progress of Pranav, who has excelled under his guidance. Pranav has mastered simulation problems and improved his debugging skills using print statements.

At Breakout Mentors, we believe in the power of personalized learning. Our 1:1 teaching approach ensures that each student receives the individual attention and customized support they need to thrive!

Connect with the perfect mentor and transform your educational journey with a tailored, engaging, and effective learning experience!

The American Computer Science League (ACSL) offers computer science competitions for students from elementary to high school, with contests tailored to various skill levels.

These cover topics like algorithmic strategies, number systems, and programming languages. Many competitors use ACSL as the reason to learn more advanced material and may lead to a career in engineering.

Find out if your child is a good fit for ACSL in our latest blog. Link in bio

🚀 The American Computer Science League (ACSL) offers computer science competitions for students from elementary to high school, with contests tailored to various skill levels.

👉 These cover topics like algorithmic strategies, number systems, and programming languages. Many competitors use ACSL as the reason to learn more advanced material and may lead to a career in engineering.

💡 Find out if your child is a good fit for ACSL in our latest blog: https://breakoutmentors.com/acsl-competition-a-comprehensive-breakdown/

Question of the day 🤔

What is the biggest challenge your child faces in preparing for USACO?

Let us know in the comments below 👇

Thanks to the guidance of our expert mentor Brian, his student Daniella has made remarkable strides in her coding journey! This demonstrates the importance of personalized guidance in achieving success.

🤝 Join our USACO Group, a supportive community of parents navigating the USACO journey to provide support to their kids: https://bit.ly/4aerZUd

📲 Book a FREE consultation: https://bit.ly/3wTDxxM

How do you know if your son or daughter is actually learning in their kids coding class?

Yes, they might do well on the exercises and projects with support, but can they handle it on their own? Can they take a simple request and write code 100% independently?

Our new Python coding platform for middle schoolers delivers exactly that. Today we are excited to reveal the features that will unlock consistent learning growth.

Read our latest blog to learn more: https://breakoutmentors.com/first-look-the-innovative-features-of-liftoff-coders-leagues-python-coding-platform/

🌟 Exclusive Webinar: Ask-an-Expert Series: The USA Computing Olympiad (USACO)

💡 What: All about the USA Computing Olympiad (USACO)
🗓️ When: Tuesday, May 14th, 2024 at 8:30pm Eastern
🌐 Where: Online | Via Zoom

Join us for an exciting installment of our Ask-an-Expert Series: The USA Computing Olympiad (USACO) - a free webinar offering an exclusive dive into one of the most esteemed coding competitions in the United States.

Find out how mastering USACO can give your child's college applications a significant boost and help them stand out from the crowd. Whether your child is new to coding and eager to learn or already experienced and looking to enhance their skills, this webinar is their chance to uncover the intricacies of the competition, learn key strategies for success, and understand how participating can shape their coding journey.

Don't miss this chance to interact with seasoned USACO experts in an engaging Q&A format!

📚 What You'll Learn:
What is competitive programming and the USA Computing Olympiad?
How do college admissions view students involved in USACO?
Valuable insights from an experienced USACO coach

Join now for an enlightening experience. Reserve your spot here: https://go.ingeniusprep.com/ug-webinar-registration-5.14.24

Coding Tip for Parents 🚀

For beginners, three common coding languages are Scratch, Python, and Javascript, each with its unique features:

Python: Clean syntax for easy understanding.
JavaScript: More complex syntax, widely used for web development.
Scratch: Ideal for beginners with a drag-and-drop interface.

For younger kids, starting with Scratch is recommended due to its beginner-friendly approach. It will build a strong foundation before delving into the complexities of Python or other advanced languages.

Happy coding! 🌟💻

We’re thrilled to announce our newest initiative: Liftoff Coders League, the launchpad for tomorrow's competitive programming champions!

Liftoff coders is a platform that aims to enhance kids coding education through consistent growth in coding independently and creating an exciting community with live contests.

What you will gain from Liftoff Coders:

👉 Consistent Growth through Weekly Personalized Problems
Each week Liftoff Coders League students will receive one interesting problem to solve with Python. At the end of the week students can view the solution and their next problem difficulty will adjust based on how they performed.

👉Exciting Community with Thrilling Monthly Contests
Meet new friends with similar interests. Our monthly contests bring everyone together online to compete live on a weekend. There are leaderboards that will make learning motivating and fun, instead of isolating.

👉Your Measuring Stick For USACO Bronze
Too often students interested in USACO make the mistake of diving in before their coding fundamentals are mastered. The top division of Liftoff Coders shows that you are ready to start training for the problem solving insights necessary in USACO Bronze.

Liftoff Coders League is launching June 2024 — early sign ups will receive access to exclusive "Founding Member" stickers. Plus, the first 20 receive a free USACO Bronze video course. To sign up and more information, please visit this link: https://liftoffcoders.com/

Follow our Liftoff Coders page for exclusive content and announcements: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557060164185

Happy coding!

🌐 Shaping Future Leaders: 3 Essential Skills for Kids

Parents, your influence goes beyond the classroom! 🏫 Equip your children with these vital skills early on:

1️⃣ Financial Literacy: Instill personal responsibility over money.
2️⃣ Coding and Technology: Foster problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork.
3️⃣ Household Responsibilities: Build practical life skills for independent living.

For a more in-depth exploration, check out our blog: https://breakoutmentors.com/the-top-3-skills-to-teach-your-kids/

As shared by our expert mentor, SJ, his student, Felix learns quickly and with enthusiasm! This highlights how crucial it is to have a mentor who understands you and suits you well!

🤝 Join our USACO Group, a supportive community of parents navigating the USACO journey to provide support to their kids: https://bit.ly/4aerZUd

📲 Book a FREE consultation: https://bit.ly/3wTDxxM

Here is a recap from one of our teenager coding students in San Diego. Ayan is learning AI and Machine Learning through Breakout Mentor's personalized approach. 🔥

🤝 Join our USACO Group, a supportive community of parents navigating the USACO journey to provide support to their kids: https://bit.ly/4aerZUd

📲 Book a FREE consultation: https://bit.ly/3wTDxxM

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🚀 Diving into competitive programming?

USACO Bronze marks the initial step into competitive programming for many computer science students.

It's a promising beginning to the world of challenging puzzle-solving, but it can also be quite frustrating.

Our article aims to equip you with all the essentials to excel in this contest. Read it here: https://breakoutmentors.com/mastering-usaco-bronze-everything-you-must-know-to-ace-the-contest/

Join our USACO Group, a supportive community of parents navigating the USACO journey to provide support to their kids: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aceusaco

Today's post in our Parents of Teens Exploring AI — ChatGPT, Midjourney, Open-Source, Projects group is about a word we always hear - DATA. 📊📈

So, AI is possible thanks to data. But what is data? 🤔

When we think of data, our minds often picture it as numbers neatly arranged in rows and columns—a 2D table. This concept can extend to 3 dimensions (x, y, z) and even a fourth when we include time. But what about data with 20 dimensions?

It's hard to grasp intuitively, yet the same statistical principles, like finding a best-fit line, still apply.

However, not all data fits into neat, tabular formats.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) frequently deals with non-tabular data: images, audio clips, videos. These types of data don't conform to the simplicity of rows and columns, which makes it also hard to intuitively grasp.

But here's the twist: once you step beyond the comfort zone of 2D to 4D data, it doesn't matter how many dimensions there are.

Embracing the discomfort of non-tabular data is the first step.

With AI, the principles and tools of data analysis remain consistent, but the data changes.

Diving into AI means expanding our data horizons beyond the confines of traditional tables, exploring the rich, complex world of non-tabular data with the same analytical curiosity.

________________________________________________________

Join Parents of Teens Exploring AI — ChatGPT, Midjourney, Open-Source, Projects for more AI Trivia!

🚀 Dive into the latest post in Ace USACO: Getting Started and Perfect Score Secrets for Ambitious Parents!

"What does a student need to know to pass the USACO Bronze division?"

👉 MASTERING ARRAYS IS THE KEY:

To shine in the Bronze division, contestants must wield arrays proficiently – a fundamental data structure in programming. From efficient manipulation to seamless traversal, this skill set is vital. Understanding runtime is equally crucial; avoid the pitfalls of unnecessary loops to ace those challenging test cases and secure full points.

👉 PROBLEM-SOLVING PROWESS MATTERS:

Success at this level demands strong problem-solving insights. Learn to tackle problems from various angles. Embrace strategies like fixing a value and validating it as a solution – a common USACO approach. This calls for not just technical know-how but also creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.

👉 THE RIGHT PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE:

For Bronze, use the language you're most comfortable with; Python is speedy enough. You can use Java or C++ for Silver and beyond.

________________________________________________________

🏆 ACHIEVE BEYOND AP CS A:

Scoring in the USACO Bronze division signifies programming prowess far beyond an AP CS A score of 5. It places you in an exclusive group, approximately 10 times more selective than AP CS A achievers alone. The prestige of excelling in USACO competitions makes the journey through its ranks exceptionally rewarding.

Join Ace USACO: Getting Started and Perfect Score Secrets for Ambitious Parents for more insider tips!

Some exciting new posts in our AI FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentsofteensexploringai

AI Tool Highlight: PIKA 1.0 🚀

Here's a tool your child can explore! Pika – a platform for creating videos from text prompts, images, or videos. It was created by Stanford PhD students with advanced AI algorithms to create stunning visual content. You can now make your own movie without a special effects budget!

Try it out here: https://pika.art/

Pika The idea-to-video platform that sets your creativity in motion.

👋 Hello everyone!

Exciting news! We've just launched new Facebook groups under the Breakout Mentors umbrella, all with the aim of fostering a supportive community for parents navigating various aspects of their children's educational journey.

Introducing you to:

Ace USACO: Getting Started and Perfect Score Secrets for Ambitious Parents
This group is for parents guiding their child through the USACO competitive programming journey, offering tips for Bronze and Silver levels.

Parents of Talented Coders — Kids + Preteens Advancing in Computer Science
This group is for parents supporting their child in coding and computer science, fostering pathways from beginner to advanced levels.

Parents of Teens Exploring AI — ChatGPT, Midjourney, Open-Source, Projects
This group is for parents supporting their teen in exploring AI, ChatGPT, Midjourney, Open-Source, and transformative projects for college applications and beyond.

We’d like to invite you to be a part of these communities. Your insights matter, and we look forward to seeing you actively participating! Your presence will contribute to the creation of a supportive network, shared knowledge, and valuable connections.

See you in the groups!
-Brian

Are you going to try USACO Bronze this year? Learn all the implementation tips and tricks, plus how to practice:

USACO Bronze: Implementation Tips, Tricks, and How to Practice Welcome to the exciting world of competitive programming! Are you considering training for USACO Bronze? If so, you've come to the right place.In order to solve a USACO problem, you will need the right problem-solving techniques. You will also need to be able to code a working solution under time pr...

Teenagers can build their own AI powered apps and our mentors will show them how in this fun workshop. Come learn how to create your own unique AI chatbot - perhaps you want the perfect brainstorming partner for starting a non-profit. Or a motivational speaker who draws from Harry Potter storylines. The personalized options are endless.

You will learn how to use modern tools in Python like Google Colab, Gradio, and the HuggingFace Inference API to access pretrained large language models. Some coding experience required, but no previous AI experience necessary.

Small Group Workshops - Breakout Mentors Breakout Mentors offers the most hands-on way to learn coding fundamentals through advanced computer science for late elementary, middle, and high school students. Through consistent challenges your son or daughter will build independence and grit while having fun. For nearly 15 years we provided ex...

AI is blowing up right now and only going to be bigger in the future. It is vital to harness the superpowers that AI can provide, but did you consider you can also make your own AI tools and applications? This is within reach for sharp middle and high schoolers like your child.

Learn how to make your own unique AI chatbot in this workshop. Perhaps you want the perfect brainstorming partner for starting a non-profit. Or a motivational speaker who draws from Harry Potter storylines. The personalized options are endless. You will learn how to use modern tools in Python like Google Colab, Gradio, and the HuggingFace Inference API to access pretrained large language models. No previous AI experience necessary.

The workshop is intended for 8th to 10th graders, but welcome to all. The only prerequisite is 3 months or more programming in a language like Python, JavaScript, or Java. The content won’t be easy, however you’ll have the support necessary to learn a ton and create an impressive finished app!

Small Group Workshops - Breakout Mentors Breakout Mentors offers the most hands-on way to learn coding fundamentals through advanced computer science for late elementary, middle, and high school students. Through consistent challenges your son or daughter will build independence and grit while having fun. For nearly 15 years we provided ex...