Join the Two Writing Teachers blog for the Slice of Life Challenge.
On Saturday night, storms ravaged through our area. I was up for at least an hour comforting my dog Charlie who is afraid of thunderstorms. I admit, though, I wasn’t sleeping anyway. Word has it we had some tornado activity. One school had a small electric fire that caused some smoke damage in their library.
When we arrived at school Monday morning, the internet was out. For my first group, it was back to the basics of paper and pencil writing. We read together at school two. But at school #3, where I am teaching 4th grade science, I had planned a video about roller coasters to show force and motion. When the internet was still not up and running, I had to think creatively. I grabbed some Jenga blocks and Dominoes.
We reviewed the idea of force and motion. I sent them off to work on a chain reaction while I worked with a second grader on writing a story. The two 4th graders were speaking in whispers and didn’t want me to see what they were building. I promised not to look. When they were ready, I found that they had been creative themselves and built the blocks in the shape of my name. Of course, I had to smile and take a video.
This experience made me realize how dependent I have become on technology. I expect it to work. I plan for it to work. I think I should plan for at least one day a week that we unplug and get back to the basics of writing with pencils, reading with each other, and playing with blocks.
Reflections on the Teche 
It is funny how reliant we have become. This is the second year we are a one-to-one school and the first that the math teacher next to me has an online textbook. It is all great when everything works, but when it doesn’t we get to be creative.
It was a gift to you and your students! Perhaps we need to institute no tech days.
Sounds like a great idea to me! Kids love hands-on learning, but we’ve almost forgotten how to do it. You could start a national movement: No tech today!
Such a timely message – a Google presentation that I co-facilitated today had connectivity issues. I’d saved it on a flash … but I am always thinking of Plan B and really love going low-tech from time to time, anyway. It absolutely forces us to be more creative!
You were definitely a quick thinker – kudos! Last year, our internet service was interrupted frequently. I thought it was so frustrating at first, but then realized that if I accepted it as a gift – my students would benefit. They did! We had some of the best engineering challenges ever! I have a lot of work to do with my current class as service has been flowing smoothly so far! Great reminder and post!
Hooray for your students’ creativity! I completely agree with you that we should unplug more often and play with blocks!
Way to think quick on your feet, Margaret! It’s great to hear how engaged and productive the kids were. Your idea to unplug more consistently is a great idea – not sure I’d be that brave!