Teacher lists nine classroom practices removed over the years

A child once waited for Friday with a stack of words to memorize, knowing a perfect score would earn a bright sticker on the returned paper. An elementary teacher who posts as mommy_n_zachy described this scene and eight others in a TikTok video that caught wide attention. She noted how schools have shifted away from certain routines as testing priorities and technology changed daily lessons. Spelling tests on Fridays gave students a clear target and a moment of pride when results came back. School-wide spelling bees let classes send their strongest spellers forward to compete against peers from other rooms and then the whole building. Pocket dictionaries sat in desks and traveled home each night so children could look up unfamiliar words without waiting for help. Penmanship practice once filled part of the schedule, producing pages that were easy for others to read. Show and tell let younger students stand before classmates and present something they made or received. Talent shows gave performers a stage to sing, dance or act in front of the school community. Creative writing time allowed students to shape stories without strict exam formats. Hands-on science experiments included dyeing flowers to show water movement and using potatoes to generate small amounts of electricity. Cooking projects taught basic nutrition and meal preparation at a time when many children arrive with packaged snacks and sugary drinks. The teacher observed that these activities have grown scarce in many city classrooms over the past decade. She connected the absence of these practices to broader difficulties students face with focus, creativity and basic skills. The video ended with a direct call to restore the missing elements so children can build stronger foundations before moving ahead.