During my 6th grade year, there was an organizational tool that took my school (and the world?) by storm. It was known as a Trapper Keeper, and it was essentially a colorful, fancy three-ring binder with lots of pockets, accessories, and a velcro flap that promised to keep all of your school needs in one compact, portable portfolio. Perhaps more importantly for an 11 year-old, a Trapper Keeper was a status symbol. If one had a Trapper Keeper, there was a chance to be somebody. Without one, well… life would be tough.
I remember hounding my parents for one until they finally gave in. (I’m sure you students know exactly how that works.) My Trapper Keeper was blue, and moments after returning from the store I proudly organized my pens, pencils, and erasers in the zipper pouch, and I dutifully labelled each folder. I practiced walking around the house holding my Trapper Keeper, and imagined my friends and teachers complimenting my good taste and responsibility at school the next day. It was a magical moment in my life. I had the latest fad, and it was actually going to be useful.
And for one brief, shining moment, I was in Organizational Heaven.
So, I was reminded of this moment last week as I watched my beaming 6th grade students get handed their own new tool, a laptop computer. During a “Laptop Bootcamp”, they were taught how to organize their school life by using such tools as digital “drop” folders, Google Drive, and Google Calendar, to name but three. As I watched them effortlessly navigate these complex, computerized systems, I realized that the way these digital natives will organize themselves in class makes my old Trapper Keeper seem pretty stone-aged. They will be able to store a vast majority of their 6th grade work on Drive, and they will be able to share this work with others at a click of a button. And the beautiful thing is that there will be very little paper to have to deal with.
Google calendar will be a place they can go to check their daily schedule, note their homework, pick up documents from their teachers and organize their busy lives outside of class.
I imagine that these organizational tools my students learned about during Bootcamp was just the tip of the iceberg. Over the coming weeks and months they will no doubt learn many more ways to make their lives here at school more efficient.
There were a lot of smiles during Bootcamp. And while I can’t be sure if the smiles were due to their newfound organizational possibilities or their newfound gaming possibilities, I’m am sure that their newfound tool beats a Trapper Keeper.
Photo of Trapper Keeper from beyondtheclassroomjtfs.blogspot.com
Awesome Mr.Z! I love the vocabulary and I learned some new vocabulary too! This reminds me of bootcamp and setting up the laptops! I think you should simplify your blog post because it is very hard to understand the complicated words you used.
ReplyDeleteI like how you used very discriptive words. I really connected with the way you wanted to get the fad, because that is what happened to me when I wanted a Rainbow Loom organizer that everyone else had.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to the method you used a long time ago, but maybe you could talk a bit less about the trapper keeper because it seems like the whole post is about that.
ReplyDeleteI really like the phrases you used ,i also think all the statements were described really well
ReplyDeleteMr.Z
ReplyDeleteI think that your story is very interesting and very helpful.You also taught me what a trapper keeper is! Thanks! : D
I like how you described how you organised it. Maybe it will help others be organised as well.
ReplyDeleteI really love laptops since they are a very useful resource.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about trapper keepers before this! This made me think about how staying organised can make you feel good. I like how you related your life to ours!
ReplyDeleteIt's so cool how different organization was back then compared to now!
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you wrote a interesting blog and how you staid on topic and it was very interesting
ReplyDeleteI think that you are right, I think kids are more excited about the gaming then the organization. Not that i'm not :), but I see your point. I think kids don't realize the responsibility of having laptops and all they want to do is buy their games. So I understand kind of.
ReplyDeleteNice Post! ;D How do you think everyone else should stay organised? btw we also have a similar red folder.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right, Mr Z!
ReplyDeleteWe must know how to organise things to learn many more ways to make our lives at school more efficient!
Your story is great and your not off topic but you should help the reader to understand a little bit better
ReplyDeleteThis makes me think that I'm fortunate to be able to have a laptop. I love this blogpost because it really is clear and detailed about what you think.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you wanted to stay organised, and it was also nice that your spelling was correct.
ReplyDeleteI like how you connected to your childhood to right now. I didn't know that a trapper keeper existed but I thought of my red big folder. Good job!
ReplyDelete-Suzu
I think you did very good at the writing part but I think you should add more pictures.
ReplyDeleteI think you did very good at the writing part but I think you should add more pictures.
ReplyDelete1.The Trapper keeper reminds me of the red folder we use.
ReplyDelete2. Maybe you could tell the difference between other folders and the trapper keeper.
Hi Mr. Z you write very well. You use great vocabulary like fad, hounding and dutifully etc. Your transitions were good. I think you should keep on posting posts like this. Brilliant work.
ReplyDeleteI think the Trapper Keeper is unique and good for organising, I think they are also cool but do you sometimes get lost with all the folders?
ReplyDeleteI think that the Trapper Keeper is a very interesting device! I'd love to know more about it. Also, I think that you had great description in your blog post.
ReplyDelete-Rosy
Nice blog post, I like the drop folder, and I thought the calendars are much more efficient.
ReplyDeleteI think that the Trapper Keeper is a very interesting device! I'd love to know more about it. Also, I think that you had great description in your blog post.
ReplyDelete-Rosy
you did great on your writing! You used a lot of details and you didn't get of topic. But you could put some more photos.
ReplyDeleteMr. Z,
ReplyDeleteGreat job! you added a lot of meaningful detail. I like how you brought up the trapper keeper. It really reminds me of our laptop cases. Do you still have the trapper keeper?
Great Job Mr.Z I like how you added a photo and a whole bunch of detail about getting 6th graders organised.
ReplyDeleteI like how you used lots of detail to describe what a Trapper Keeper is and how you made a connection with a laptop and a Trapper Keeper.
ReplyDeleteDo you like the Trapper Keeper more, or do you like the accordion folders more. I personally like the Trapper Keeper more because you explained it really well. Keep Blogging!
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ReplyDeleteI like the humor! It's also very well made and looked over! Good Job! ( ͡° ͜Ê– ͡°)
ReplyDeleteI really liked your blog post, especially the part about the trapper keepers. They seen like a good organization tool to use for a person like me! I'd like to know how the inside of the trapper keeper looks though. Could you show me?
ReplyDeleteI learned that the Trapper Keeper is very useful and that it helps a lot in organization. Your grammar and spelling was really good. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI think your past is quite interesting, and the Trapper Keeper you were talking about actually looks like the red folder in SAS.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you added photos and put lots of details. You also taught me what trapper keeper is! :D GOOD JOB MR.Z!
ReplyDeleteI like how how you used complex vocabulary and how you related our computers to your trapper keeper
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ReplyDeleteVery nice blog post, good use of grammar and vocabulary and also very interactive.
ReplyDeleteHi Mr.Z, I think your post was very detailed and specific. I liked how you said that our Laptops make your trapper keeper look like it's from the stone age. You should keep doing this on your other posts.
ReplyDelete-Michael
Hi Mr. Z, I really like how you put humor into your blogpost. I like your transitions and your blogpost is very well written. I like how you use vocabulary words to "hook" your reader into your blogpost! I like your spelling, grammar, and how you relate your blogpost to organization. Now, I know that I should be thankful to have a to have a laptop in Middle School. Keep up the brilliant work!
ReplyDeleteThis is really interesting I never knew there was such a thing as a trapper-keeper.
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ReplyDeleteI like how you explained a lot about the Trapper Keeper and how it was really popular. Then when you got it how much you liked and wanted to take it to school. Also a question is what did the people at school say about you Trapper Keeper?
ReplyDeleteGreat Job!!! I like how you connected the conclusion to the introduction. I never realized how efficient computers are. The trapper keeper reminds me of our red folders. You used really great word choices. You did a really great job on this. Great work.
ReplyDeleteHi Mr.Z I really like how you made the connection from when you were in 6th grade, it really helped me understand your post. Also I think you did a great job on keeping it interesting. I was sucked in the whole time. Great job!
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ReplyDeleteI like how you compared the old times to the present days, also I like how you are describing the laptops, like is was new to you.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you stayed on topic and I like how you related to your life with 6 grader's
ReplyDeletei like how you made connections to 6th grade. I also like how you like how you compared the folder to the computer! does that folder really exist?
ReplyDeleteI like the way you wrote your story i liked your story about the finder keper.
ReplyDeleteI learned that the school you went to when you were in 6th grade didn't provide binders! What a shame!
ReplyDeleteI really like how you connected your story to our story. Its like some sort of connection.
ReplyDeleteGreat job I like the detail in the story and also how you made connections
ReplyDeleteI really liked the way you added detail and feelings!
ReplyDeleteYou should make it more engaging for the readers; what gave you the ida to be neat?
ReplyDeleteI like how Mr.Z relates us getting our laptops to him getting his Trapper Keeper.
ReplyDeleteI also like how Mr. Z show us how times have changed.
I love the writing and how you organised yourself, to add to that I also have a laptop for organization.
ReplyDeleteI like how you added a lot of detail. You also had a clear beginning middle and end.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you had a lot of pictures which made your post even better. :) There were a lot of good details too.
ReplyDeleteDo you still have your trapper keeper?
Great blog post! How did your tracker keeper get you organised?
ReplyDeleteDid it change your school life?
I like the way you organised you post, with paragraphs. It helped me not get lost while reading your post. You did a great job!
ReplyDeleteGreat job! I liked how you compared the trapper keeper with the laptop. The post was very interesting! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGreat job, the introduction really hooked me in, like when you said "During my 6th grade year, there was an organiser tool that took my school (and the world by storm.) You gave me some ideas of being more organize in school.
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