My name is Warren Wong, and I am an intermediate teacher in my fourth year teaching in District 41. Born and raised in the beautiful city of Vancouver, I am currently taking my seventh course in the MET program. I took a short hiatus last term to welcome our second daughter, Eliana, into the world. Now that she is a couple of months old and with summer break approaching, I am jumping back into the program and plan to finish by the end of this year.
The items in my bag can be considered “texts” that convey various aspects of my identity, the places I inhabit, the cultures I engage with, and the activities I participate in. These items reflect the two significant parts of my life: my role as an educator and my role as a parent. Both roles began simultaneously in 2020, marking the start of an incredible journey as both a father and an educator.
As an educator, certain items are indispensable to my daily routine. My wallet, containing my ID and credit/debit cards, represents my integration into professional and social systems. The keys, which include a FOB for work, the photocopying machine, and keys to my classroom, symbolize my professional responsibilities and the importance of security and organization in my role. My MacBook is central to my work, representing my reliance on digital tools for teaching, planning, and communication, and underscoring the significance of technology in modern education—one reason why I am in this program.
In my role as a parent, other items in my bag speak to my readiness to care for my children and the lessons I’ve learned from past mishaps. Tissues are mainly for my oldest daughter’s allergies. Hair ties are kept handy because my daughter frequently loses hers, and as someone who has always had short hair, I’ve realized how easy it is for food to get into long hair if not tied back. I learned the hard way to never leave home without an emergency diaper. I try to have a proactive approach to parenting; therefore, I always keep snacks with me because a hungry child is a cranky child. A water bottle reminds me to drink more water as I try to model healthy habits for my children.
Considering the title of the course, the “text technologies” in my bag include my MacBook, phone, and pen. These items reveal significant insights into how I engage with language and communication in both my professional and personal life.
As a teacher, the MacBook is my primary tool for communication and is central to my teaching practice. It allows me to create lesson plans, communicate with students and colleagues via email and presentations, and access resources.
My phone serves as a versatile communication tool, allowing me to text with my wife and receive updates and photos of my children. It also provides quick access to information and resources. The phone’s role in my daily life highlights the importance of real-time, portable communication and my engagement with various digital platforms to stay informed and connected.
The pen is a fundamental text technology that supports traditional forms of written communication. It is indispensable for taking notes, grading assignments, and facilitating creative activities with my students.