Digital or paper resources, is the question you ask yourself in today’s times, right? In today’s world, it seems that everyone is pushing for more and more to be available online. When it comes to shopping, banking, and groceries, I’m not entirely against the convenience it brings to my life. When it comes to students, classrooms, and our TpT resources, I think a healthy balance needs to be struck between digital and paper resources.
Digital Resources
“Paperless” resources seem to be the latest craze. With the pandemic and distance learning, it was a necessity. Now, some people have decided that digital resources and online learning are the way of the future, and as you know, the future is now.
In the early days of the pandemic, when everyone was digitally connecting to the classroom, TpT resources needed to be digital. We focused on Boom cards, Google Slides presentations, and we even created some fun scavenger hunts and escape rooms to keep our kids engaged in the material. It was necessary when we couldn’t be in the same room.
Some digital resources have stuck, and we still need to use some of those more fun resources for review and for students to stay interested in classroom material if they travel or have to be quarantined. I’m sure you’ve also noticed that some students thrive with the addition of more digital resources.
The downsides to digital resources are that your students need to have some technology to access them. Many classrooms are equipped with tablets or Chromebooks for students to use, but some are not. Teachers also need to be careful with screen time; monitoring how much screen time students are having, even educational screen time, is essential in today’s world. Eye strain and being sedentary are two things to watch out for in our students. Take frequent breaks for their eyes, brains, and bodies!
Besides our TpT resources, we are using more and more digital resources in the classrooms. Research options available through the internet and school-approved library resources are increasing every day. The best thing about reading and researching online is that your students have access to up-to-date information. Printed materials can be obsolete quickly, especially those concerning current events.
Here are my top 2 digital categories in my TpT store:
Paper Resources
Good old-fashioned paper TpT resources are still essential. There will always be a need for worksheets and material to be printed and handed out to students. Digital resources have their place, but they will never provide the satisfaction of hearing a classroom of pencils scratching away on paper.
Digital resources may be flashy and provide fun and excitement for students, but some things need to be done on paper. For instance, writing things down has been proven to improve memory retention. Writing on paper is helpful when your students are working on spelling words, math equations, or a writers’ workshop.
TpT resources that you can download and print or those you can edit to be what you need and print are amazing. You can take an idea and make it fit the material you are working on in your classroom with ease.
Besides our TpT resources, paper and printed materials can be helpful in your classroom. A classroom library is essential to promote the love of reading. Books can be a great tool to teach your students to sit quietly and enjoy a good book. Using your textbooks and curriculum-provided materials is excellent for learning all about text features and how to use a book’s glossary, index, and understand page and chapter numbers. While many resources are available online, not everything is better as a digital resource.
Here are my top 3 paper resources in my TpT store:
- Monthly Themed Word Work Activities For ANY Word List
- Monthly No Prep Literacy Worksheets Bundle
- Monthly No Prep Math Worksheets Bundle
So, Digital or Paper Resources?
Both! There is a need for digital and paper resources in your classroom and your TpT store. With the addition of more digital resources these past couple of years to accommodate digital classrooms, digital resources are more critical than ever. There are many options to incorporate digital media and give your students and TpT store shoppers more options for fun learning.
Don’t discount those paper resources, though. Teachers still need to print and use paper in their classrooms! There is a balance that needs to be struck between digital and print resources in the classroom and your TpT store. Now, I know you have a resource in mind that you want to create, have created, or see available for your classroom. Get to work!
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