Unpopular Opinion: We Need to Bring Back the 90s (and Not Just for the Nostalgia)

Embrace the 90s nostalgia with a classic boombox, vibrant windbreaker, and retro flair, celebrating the nostalgic era beyond just the music.

Listen, I know I’m about to sound like that person, but I don’t care—somebody has to say it. We need to get kids OFF the devices and bring back the good ol’ days of the 90s. Ah yes, the sweet era of slap bracelets, Tamagotchis, and knowing how to survive an entire afternoon without an iPad glued to your face.

Now, before you roll your eyes and accuse me of being a dinosaur, hear me out. I’m not saying technology is the villain here. (I mean, I basically live on Google Classroom, Canva, and about a dozen other apps that make my teacher life easier.) But somewhere along the way, we stopped using technology as a tool and started using it as a crutch—and our kids are paying the price.

What Made the 90s Prime for Learning?

Back then, we had to think critically because there was no YouTube tutorial to show us how. We problem-solved without a Reddit thread walking us through the answer. We collaborated face-to-face because "group chat" meant three kids huddled around a giant piece of chart paper with smelly markers.

We learned how to process information and pay attention because, frankly, we didn’t have 17 apps buzzing and pinging at us every two minutes.

And don’t even get me started on play. Remember when "screen time" was whatever happened when you sat too close to the TV and your mom yelled at you? We spent hours outside, negotiating playground politics, solving problems, and learning social skills without a "like" button in sight.

So What’s the Point?

My hot take is this: We need to stop swinging the pendulum so far into tech land that we forget the basics. There is no reason we can’t take the advanced, innovative teaching methodologies we’ve developed over the last few decades and use them to enhance the foundational skills that the 90s gave us.

Rigor and basics can live in the same classroom. You can run a high-level academic discussion and teach kids how to collaborate without a Chromebook in front of them. You can promote inquiry, creativity, and independence without turning every assignment into a Google Form.

What Can We Do?

• Bring back real collaboration—group projects where kids actually talk to each other without typing.

• Encourage critical thinking—ask kids to problem-solve without instantly Googling.

• Create more face-to-face opportunities—whether it’s partner discussions, Socratic seminars, or good ol’ fashioned debates.

• Prioritize attention and processing—slow down, allow reflection time, and teach students how to actually listen.

• Build in play, creativity, and human connection—those soft skills matter just as much as test scores.

  
  

The 90s gave us grit, conversation skills, and the ability to figure stuff out without needing a pop-up notification to remind us. Let’s bring that energy back.

Our students deserve a balance. Let’s give them the best of both worlds: all the new teaching strategies, paired with the old-school skills that actually prepare them for life.

Your turn!

What’s your favorite "back in my day" memory from the classroom or your own school days? Drop your 90s nostalgia in the comments—I’d love to hear how you survived without a smartphone!

90s Classroom Throwback Essentials (Because Who Doesn’t Love a Good Nostalgia Moment?)

1. Lisa Frank Stickers & Stationery

• Because nothing says "I'm ready to learn" like neon dolphins and rainbow tigers.

2. Smelly Markers (Mr. Sketch)

• The only reason any of us wanted to make a poster in the 90s. Let the cherry and watermelon scent wars begin!

3. Overhead Projector & Transparency Sheets

• Okay, maybe not practical... but imagine the look on your students’ faces when you bust this bad boy out. Bonus points if you still remember how to write backwards.

4. Rainbow Gel Pens

• The original weapon of choice for every middle schooler’s notebook margins and love notes. P.S. can we teach kids how to fold notes again? That was a real skill.

5. Trapper Keeper (They still sell them!)

• Keep your life together in velcro-closing, vinyl-covered glory. Add that slap bracelet to complete the look. I actually think I might rock one of these again-- so many meting agendas.

6. Handheld Pencil Sharpeners (with shavings catcher)

• Because the sound of a mechanical sharpener will never compare to the satisfaction of twisting your own.

7. Kickball & Playground Balls

• Bring back recess the way it was meant to be—dodging rubber balls and negotiating kickball rules like mini-lawyers.

8. Jenga or Connect Four (Wooden Versions)

• Classic indoor recess games that double as problem-solving and fine motor skill activities.

9. Dry Erase Boards with Markers

• Mini whiteboards = 90s version of Kahoot, but with actual thinking time and zero distractions.

10. Hopscotch & Four Square Playground Kits

• Take it all the way back and encourage some real face-to-face collaboration (aka learning how to lose gracefully).

11. Puzzle Books (Crosswords, Word Searches, Mazes)

• 90s brain breaks before "brain breaks" were even a thing.

12. CD Player & Kidz Bop Throwback CDs

• Dust off the CD player and cue up some safe 90s jams for brain breaks or classroom dance parties.

13. Classic Board Games: Guess Who, Candy Land, and Chutes & Ladders

• Perfect for teaching turn-taking, strategy, and how to win/lose like a champ.

14. Pop Beads & Friendship Bracelet Kits

• Fine motor skills + social bonding = classroom management gold.

15. Retro Wall Posters & 90s Classroom Decor

• Those classic motivational posters—"Shoot for the Moon, Even If You Miss You’ll Land Among the Stars" vibes.

Let’s be real—your students won’t even know what half of these things are. But that’s the fun of it! Bring back a little magic, teach them how to socialize face-to-face, and remind them (and yourself) that the basics still work.

Bonus: These make for great classroom rewards, brain break bins, or even throwback day activities.