It was a typical day when I walked toward our lower school office. Our school is set outdoors with large trees, gardens, squirrels running around and birds chirping. Being a teacher, I take this walk often, as it is a great time to reflect on the day while the children are at specials. However, on this particular day I noticed something different. There was a woman on the bench under one of the oak trees feeding her newborn baby. A flood of memories rushed into my head from the days when my girls were growing up. I couldn't help but think how lucky she is to have these cherished moments with her baby. I remember all the times I fed my girls and told them stories or just gazed at them thinking how lucky I was to be their mom. As I got closer to the bench, I noticed that as this woman was feeding her baby she was also texting! There was no eye to eye contact with the baby, no talking to her, just the clicking of the phone keys.

This moment made me truly realize how much times have changed. When my girls were little, if the phone rang while I was feeding the baby I never answered it. As a result, I did not even know who called me! If the person I was calling was unavailable, it rang and rang or I got a busy signal. There was no machine to let them know I called, no caller id, and no call waiting, just an annoying continuous busy signal. I kept walking and thinking "wow, it's really nice that now we have no busy signals!" When I got back into the classroom, the children were just coming in from specials and it was time to dismiss them. As I walked my class outside to go home, I noticed how many parents had video games and movies for the children in the car to keep them busy while they were chatting on their Bluetooths. At that moment I realized the annoying "busy signal" of the past is not really gone, you just can't hear it anymore. Our lives have become rife with other kinds of "busy signals." I also realized one of my goals as a teacher just became clearer; I want to try and keep "busy signals" out of the classroom.

I believe my students need and deserve my full attention. My job is to teach them creatively, inspire them, and connect not just with my students' minds but their hearts as well. I want to continue to provide the devotion these children deserve. Even though I embrace and appreciate the conveniences of modern technology, I made a pact with myself that day to not allow technology or the many other school or personal distractions take the place of eye contact, a pat on the shoulder, a conversation or even a hug. Time in the classroom is my time to teach my students, care for them and learn from them. Technology is a great tool but my goal is that the children in my charge never feel that infamous "busy signal" in the classroom, whatever it may be! We'd like to welcome Lisa as this week's writer! Lisa was born and raised in Riverdale, New York and her students remind her everyday she still has the NY accent! In 1985 Lisa moved with her husband to Florida where they raised two beautiful girls. In 2000 she began an amazing career as a second grade teacher in North Palm Springs. It was her second grade teacher who inspired Lisa to go into teaching. Her teacher taught Lisa at a young age that you can make a difference in a child's life!

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