TURNING THE TABLES ON STUDENT TEXTING

ROMEO C. GUEVARRA

It is now a reality that cellular phones and texting have become a part of our lives, in and out of the classroom. But teachers like us, “can turn the tables and even use texting as an instructional aide.” Teachers can easily allow students and parents to text them with questions about homework assignments, and students are likely to take them up on the offer. The key there is to make sure that there are clear boundaries from the get-go so that things don’t get out of hand.

Many schools have set boundaries and in the classroom, it’s the teacher job to be on alert for texting during class- just as they would if there were notes being passed. If a student is “addicted” to texting, and he or she is texting while there’s a lesson going on, sit down and set some clear guidelines with her so that you’re both on the same page. Texting may be a part of our everyday lives, but that doesn’t mean it should get in the way of children’s education.

So while text-messaging is the preferred form of communicating right now for the young and the old as well and there’s the need to communicate all the time. It must be regulated and put it in the right perspective, much that teachers like us translate it to good use.

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The author is Teacher III at Mandasig Elementary School, Candaba West District