In my first year, I had a student call like their mom

right in front of me to complain about what I was doing in class.

Like, can you believe this teacher is trying to take my phone away?

Welcome to Orlando Ramirez's World, where things are already a...

Let's call it a joyful challenge, trying to teach math

to sixth and seventh graders in Florida's Miami-Dade Public Schools.

Mr. Ramirez tells his kids to keep their smartphones on silent and out of sight,

sometimes even in their backpacks at the front of the class, but...

Yeah, teaching multi-step word problems gets a lot harder

when the pull of doing other kinds of steps is just so strong.

It could be very sneaky, like in their lap,

or it could be really a front and bowl,

especially during independent practice when the students are sort of let go

to do the work on their own and try it.

I would have students come out of their seat and do a TikTok,

just like straight up put their phone on the floor and just start dancing.

And I'm like, yo, you need to put that phone away.

Remember we're doing our independent practice right now.

Okay, so spontaneous dancing.

Let's admit it might bring a bit of much need and joy to a classroom.

But Orlando says smartphones in classrooms bring more problems than happiness.

He's seeing how the phones are changing,

...