Thing 22 Where have all the Trapper Keepers gone?

Elementary Education

http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=855003

Oh, my how things have come such a long way since my days of carrying a Trapper-Keeper.  Now, come on, …. I know that those of us who were in school in the 1970’s and 1980’s had them, and decorated them with puffy stickers or gel stickers.  I loved mine so much that I put it in my memory box so when I am 90 years old I can show my great grandchildren.  By that time though, it will be a relic and the kids will have no clue what it is. 

            Considering that teachers have so much stuff to keep track of, Livebinders seem like a great alternative to filing hard copies of everything.  I think the biggest advantage is that it is available online, and can be accessed from any place that has internet access.  Teachers do not have to schlepp their wheeled suitcases home anymore.  They can create lessons, look at projects, and review material while sitting poolside soaking in the warm sun.  In all seriousness though, Livebinders are excellent because teachers can keep everything organized by tabs and sub-tabs, and streamline the resources that they access on a regular basis.  Not only is the Livebinder a place for websites, but teachers can also upload their own documents.  They can make an education Livebinder for personal use or they can create one for students to access when completing a larger project.  The nice thing is that teachers can do some of the legwork and choose specific websites to link on the Livebinder.  This way students do not just click on random websites that they find.  This will ensure that the information and websites they access are reliable and appropriate for their age.  Students can also produce their own Livebinders.  Teachers can assign a Livebinder project that the students must complete.  Students can research all the necessary information and then compile by tabs and sub-tabs.  Because projects like these are not restrictive, students can shine in their strengths and show what they can accomplish.  Teachers can then use these Livebinders as documentation for their progress throughout the year. 

Below is a Livebinder that I created.  I had such a great time compiling useful sites for students to use.  Since I am in the elementary field, I wanted to make a binder geared toward that age range.  For this specific activity, I concentrated on three tabs – Math, Language Arts, and General Use.  I chose Math because my son excels at it and I am constantly trying to challenge his math skills.  There is only so much he can do on the Math App that my husband has on his iPad, and he is getting bored with it.  I chose Language Arts because my daughter loves to write her own stories.  She has a notebook filled with imaginative stories, and I really want to foster that creativity.  The last tab entitled, General, I intended for the ‘all-encompassing’ material that the kids like to do.

Out of curiosity, I checked out some of the other binders that other teachers have already constructs.  Most of them are really outstanding.  In looking at the binders, it is obvious that teachers think Livebinders are valuable tools.  Why else would they spend so much time creating them.  I was impressed with the thought and skill that went into constructing them.  I hope that with some time and practice, I can make one just as good.  I definitely plan to use the Livebinder application when I start teaching.  I have already set up a few others so I can start compiling websites and documents that I feel are important.  … Now, if only I could find a way to put some cool 1970 stickers on the virtual cover …