Mrs. Suomi, can I call my mom?
I forgot my iPad.
I forgot I have musical practice after school.
I need my basketball jersey.
My lunch is still in the car.
I left my permission slip on the counter.
Immediately following their request the words spill out of my mouth without even thinking.
Do you know your phone number?
Sometimes they do. Most times they don't. While looking up their number on our management system my co-teacher and I always explain the importance of knowing the phone number of a parent just in case of an emergency. The kids nod, but wait patiently to get the phone number written on a post it. They make the call, then throw the post it away.
Yesterday, a student approached my co-teacher, Kim. Kim had the same conversation we always do, but then added one of our across the classroom talks.
Mrs. Suomi?
Yes Ms. Van Wyk?
Do you still remember phone numbers from when you were a little girl?
I do. I memorized all of my friend's phone numbers In fact, I can remember my father's work phone number and he RETIRED when I was in 5th grade. And THAT was a long time ago.
I can even remember the sounds that the keys made when I dialed. My best friend Kathleen's number went... Boop boop booop - boop boop boooop boop.
Just hearing those boops brought me back to running to the phone to call my best friend, or my dad, or my uncle, or ANYONE that could possibly answer.
I don't think of myself as old, or at least I don't try to... but there are some moments where I can't help but notice how different kids have it today than it was even 10-15 years ago. It's crazy to think that "kids these days" may not have those same types of memories but a whole different experience. I can't help but wonder what they will notice is different with "kids these days" as they become old like me.
So true! I don't even know my children's phone numbers! I wonder if this lack of memorizing phone numbers impacts our "memory" for math facts and other number sequences?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment! I think it definitely does! My students seem to be less confident when reading long strings of numbers aloud. They don't seem to realize that they can pause between numbers to make it more manageable to read.
DeleteVery true, I recently called a friend I have not spoken to in about 15 years and I did not have to look up her number. It was right there in my head. Automatic..... But I myself don't know the numbers of people I call now frequently because they are just the tap of a hand away.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I prefer the tap of the hand or remembering those numbers. I like the convenience of just clicking, but there's something nice about being able to just recall someone's phone number.
DeleteThanks for your comment!
I remember how having someones digits in your head and at your fingertips was a sign of your commitment to them. I also remember knowing which radio stations played what kind of music at what time so that I could tape it :)
ReplyDeleteAh, the recorded tapes. I did the same thing. Now they can just open Spotify and find the songs they want when they want them. Thanks for your comment!
DeleteYes! I still remember all my best friends's phone numbers. I also remember my old house phone number that my parents gave up when they sold my childhood home :( It is crazy how no one knows any phone numbers anymore.
ReplyDeleteSame! I'm still on the fence on whether it's a good thing or a bad thing. Thanks for your comment!
DeleteYou made me ponder how many phone numbers I know by heart..not very many.I was also intrigued by your last name and just had to check out your slice! Happy slicing!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I force myself to type the number just to make sure that I can still remember some of the phone numbers that I should just know, but there are so many that I definitely don't know!
DeleteI married a Finnish man. Not many people where I live recognize Suomi as being from Finland. :)
I could hear Kim's voice saying the boops. :D What will they say about "kids these days" when they are older? I've never thought about that before.
ReplyDeleteThe boops were my favorite part. When I read this aloud to the class she corrected the tone of my boops.
DeleteIt seriously worries me when they don't know their phone numbers. We even took time with many of our 3rd graders to practice and memorize their numbers, especially those that always had to call...
ReplyDeleteBut I have also realized since then that many parents change their numbers frequently, so it is the kids that don't know or that the number is never consistent? Either way, I miss those days of running to consistent, landlines to call my bffs. :)
Thanks for sharing the post! :)
I think it's a little of both. WIth cell phones the need to have those numbers in their heads is not as essential. I think it's great that you took the time to help them learn that important information. Thanks for your comment!
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ReplyDeleteKarnataka Text Book Society (KTBS) is the primary publisher involved in publishing books for the state board students from classes 1-10.Aiming to provide good quality education to every student and encouraging self-study,easy accessibility of the books to students has been made a priority by the board. Karnataka 2nd Class Books This has led to the availability of textbooks online that can be easily downloaded as ebooks.Karnataka textbook download option is available for all subjects across classes 1-10 in Kannada, English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Marathi to cater to the varied linguistic needs of students.