I have an update on yesterday's post. My blue marker (dry erase, Mr. Fischer, not a Sharpie :) ) has been reclaimed.
When my afternoon class came in and before we graded our first activity, I stood in front of everyone and said that I wanted my markers back. I told them that if someone just admitted they had taken it and returned it right away, I wouldn't sign their conduct folders, I wouldn't tell their parents, I wouldn't do anything.
Nobody said a word.
So I went on about the virtues of trustworthiness and honesty and how I was so sad that I would now have to watch them all with an eagle eye since I couldn't trust them.
Still no one broke.
Finally, after another minute or so of fillibustering, and just when I was about to give up, one boy raised his hand and said he took the marker. I asked him why, and he said, "Because I liked that marker."
So I got my blue marker back. Still don't know what happened to the black one from a few weeks ago though.
This week's Mr. Teacher column on education.com is titled "Those Pesky, Irritating, Obtrusive Adjectives." I kind of think the title speaks for itself.
Lastly, here's a link to a Yahoo story I just saw that is very uplifting.
My wife sells jewelry! Treat yourself to some bling!
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4 comments:
Just found your blog. Entertaining and informative reading!
I find myself in the same situation. First year of teaching technology in K-5 coming from a technical support background. Challenging but worthwhile. Experience will make things easier obviously.
No edu blog yet but it's in the works.
Cheers,
Colin.
yay! The blue ones have the best visibility against the whiteboard, I think. Even the verification word is blue on white space for this comment. Happy B-day, you're still mid-30s, the rules of rounding don't apply unless your age is contiguous to the next ten. (as I see it, anyway)
Bonkers, thanks for reading!
Margaret, you're right, I won't be rounding to 40 anytime soon. (Though if I round like some of my kids, 36 goes to 30!!)
Another way I have gotten many things returned is by saying, "I think someone accidentally took ___ yesterday by mistake. Can y'all check to see if it might have fallen off your desk into your bookbag or somewhere. If you find it, I would really appreciate it. It means a lot to me and you will be my hero forever!!!!" Someone usually finds whatever I have lost and I have given them an "out" rather than accusing anyone of stealing.
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