Why Kids Need LESS TECH not MORE!

Tonight I was on Twitter watching some of the discussion on a new program that the Office of Ed Tech is endorsing called #GoOpen.  The main thrust of the program is that schools would openly share curriculum resources and get rid of basal textbooks as a cost saving measure.  I presume that the money would then be freed up for other things that districts typically don't have the funds to purchase...such as additional tech resources.  On the surface, it sounds good.  To a primary teacher...it's like nails on a chalkboard.

My kids don't need another tablet.

They can't cut paper.

They can't hold a pencil correctly.

They can't walk in a line without bumping into people.

No, it's not because I didn't teach them.  It's not because Kinder teachers didn't teach them.

It's because they don't spend enough time playing outside!  They need to climb on jungle gyms.  They need to tip on see saws.  They need to hang upside down.

The facts are out there. I just came across this article on Facebook and shared it...because it really was just so appropriate to how I've been feeling lately.  This other article is about the decline of play and the rise of mental health issues.  

They are so fixated on technology: IPhones, IPads, televisions, gaming systems, that they don't know how to move their bodies correctly.

Now, we're going to have a government endorsed program that says let's get rid of all the basal textbooks?

For some of our kids, that offers them the opportunity to have actual contact with a physical BOOK with SHARED TEXT.

There are so many K and 1 standards that require an actual physical book to teach. 

How does one teach where the SPINE of a book is on a Kindle?  Tell me that?

Don't worry...I'll wait!
SMH.

I am in a basal county.  Because we use a basal series, my students have access to the same texts.  We can analyze to our hearts content!  Students can take ownership of that because it is theirs for the year.

I don't use every story in our basal, but the fact that all of my students have access to the exact same texts to embrace and internalize is HUGE in early literacy.
I realize that we're trying to make all of our kids college and career ready...but, I'm just trying to get mine ready read a sentence.  Instead of getting rid of basal textbooks, here are some things you could do right now that would help me teach my kids.

1.) Trust me to know what is best for my kids.  I am with them more than you are, Mr. Government Entity.

2.) Understand that there is more to making a primary aged student college and career ready than manipulating a piece of technology.

3.) Encourage parents to find ways to help their kids stay active and off of a couch.

4.) Stop changing the goal posts on the standards and expectations.  Get it right the first time...it's what you expect of me too, isn't it?

5.) Remember that primary aged kids are not the same as high school kids.  If I wanted to teach high school, I'd be doing it.

Teachers, we need to find a way to get our primary littles out of the classroom and into the great outdoors.  Take them to art galleries.  Give them REAL recess where they get to make up whatever games they want!  Teach them the value of building relationships that are physical and not just with people who they are playing games with on their computers.  I wish that those who were in charge of things would just let my kids be KIDS...instead of forcing them into this zombie culture where kids only know how to swipe on a phone, but they can't give a firm handshake or write their names legibly.

When you can help me do THAT...

You can take all the basals you want.


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