When technology takes over

Sometimes I feel like I should show my students 2001 A Space Odyssey. For the life of me, I cannot understand their complete obsession and absorption in technology. I had an incident with a student today in which she argued with me over the use of her phone in class. It's extremely clear what the rule is in my classroom, and probably every other one she's in: no phones in class. Period. If I see a phone, I give a student one verbal warning. After that, I take it. And it's not as if that's even that bad. I will give it back to them at the end of class. So here I was, arguing with a 15 year old about the fact that she could live without her phone for 30 minutes. And she absolutely refused. She hasn't been the only one, either. I really wish I understood what the obsession was. Any free second a student has, I see them with their phones out. I use mine for maybe an hour a day. Also, a student can be living below the poverty line -- and a lot of mine are -- and still have a smartphone. I don't understand it. What is the big deal...

Ok, now I'm starting to rant, but it drives me crazy that I cannot understand why a smartphone is essentially like breathing for these kids. And I cannot understand why they are so disrespectful with regard to these gadgets, which they feel they are entitled to. This article, in fact, articulates well the effect cell phone usage has on these kids with regards to creativity and problem solving. Judging from the work I get from these kids, I would say that's accurate.

One down, 35 more to go!

I would say the first week of school went well. It seems like I have a pretty great group of kids. And I can already weed out the trouble-makers. I feel prepared, for the most part, and excited, and energetic (we'll see how long that lasts...). I'm looking forward to this year.

But apparently some teachers aren't...

Send 'em in!

The students, that is. School starts tomorrow for realz and I'm so excited. I'm like a 5 year old on Christmas morning. Sure, I don't feel 100% ready -- there are a couple more things I wanted to put up in my room but didn't have time; I'm still working out the kinks in a few lesson plans -- but overall I'm looking really forward to the school year. I have all sophomores this year, which is a great age group, and I don't have to deal with any senioritis or the bureaucracy of senior discipline. I'm also teaching one advance class, which I'm really looking forward to.

And about those goals I had earlier... The first two didn't really happen and I'm pretty close to the last one (lesson planning months in advance), but I quickly realized that so much of lesson planning depends on the specific personalities and pacing of each class. So I kind of stopped when I got to Thanksgiving, which gives me a good background and a strong cache to build upon. Hopefully all my planning endeavors won't go completely out the window. Here's hoping!