Wednesday marked the first day of school for many Flathead schools.
MTN met with Lori Adkins who’s been teaching for over two decades and currently teaches fourth grade at Edgerton Elementary School.
Adkins says that the classrooms and students have changed in her 28 years of teaching. Academics are harder and technology is more advanced.
“What I learned in the fourth grade, is not what they were learning in the fourth grade. And that’s a good thing. We’ve upped our game, we’ve honed in on the skills they need to have and that’s a good thing," Adkins said.
"But along with that comes pressure. We felt pressure when we were in school too. It was probably a different kind of pressure,” explained Adkins," she added.
Edgerton ensures all students are supported and that new skills are taught for students success. Each student in Adkins’ classroom gets a Chrome book, which Adkins says really enhances the classroom.
“Every student has access to a Chrome Book, that’s in the classroom that we get to use, whenever necessary. And that’s a great way to adapt to the changing world,” said Adkins.
Adapting to this technological world is crucial. The US Department of Labor anticipates jobs like software developers will have a 31% growth rate by 2026.
This brings an entirely new set of technology jobs to the work force.
“I can’t even imagine by the time these fourth graders are out in the work force, what kinds of jobs those will be,” said Adkins.
Adkins says along with new technology, students will tackle long division and critical reading skills.
