Signs of the Apocalypse

I've recently noted that the instant text lifestyle has had a huge affect on my students' daily lexicon. Things that used to be full sentences have been reduced to phonetic tri-syllable statements. It's seeped into their writing as well; "IDK [I don't know]" is a common answer in test blanks. Students have even started to use emoticons [using symbols on the keyboard to create faces and pictures, such as :-) representing a smiley face] in their writing. It's as if they've forgotten how to write longhand and think only through the context of the keyboard (or keypad as is the cases with chronic texters). Overall effect - annoying to the teacher in me. Side effect - as a young adult observing a significant shift in the culture of the up and coming generation, it's a friggin' riot!

Exhibit A: The Introduction. I came into my room one morning to see that a student had left a message on the board for me. Centered on my white board was the note seen above in red. "Oh how interesting! Someone thinks that peace is less than three and then forgot to finish the rest of the equation ... [it's actually peace, love, and happiness]" I smirked and noted that in the back of my mind to use this to make fun of my kids later.

Exhibit B: The Epidemic. "Come up to the board and write one of the possible answers!" Following the traditional groans, I look to the class as they feign weakness that inhibits their movements. "Common, or we'll go run around outside in the snow!" A chorus of 'Okay, okay!', 'what are we supposed to do again?', and 'can we use the book?' fills the awkward silence. Then I look up and see it: my board has been polluted with emoticons!! Every single answer written on the board is proceeded or preceded by some variation of a happy face. Not just any happy face though, a sideways happy face - an emoticon happy face. There are colons, parentheses, p's, and dashes as far as the eye could see. "At least you guys can write them so I don't get a crick in my neck!"

Exhibit C: The Aftermath. "Mrs. G, look - I can text a rocker dude!" Next thing I know \m/-_-\m/ is written up on my board. Not to be shown-up as technologically illiterate by the whippersnapper, I replied, "Check out my dude listening to music [said in a more hip and modern manner, of course]!" I draw the following on my board: d-_-b Pretty proud of myself and my bilingual nature, I look to her only to see confusion etched on her face. Thinking that I've realized my error, I start to explain that back in my day (God, I'm getting old), we had headphones that went around your head - not just "ear buds". She stopped me mid-rant and responded in a way which proves that we are all doomed: "Yeah, I know about those things, but I don't get how you would make the backwards d." Yep, definitely doomed.