Marquis held up a fragment of paper. By fragment, picture that corner of a paper that gets torn off and is only a speck on the floor. It wasn't more than a half inch long in any direction.
"Evidence," he intoned.
Daniel, his seat partner, burst into laughter.
I didn't think that was very funny. But, I did recognize what it was--an inside joke. I didn't need the particulars explained. I probably wouldn't get it. That didn't mean that it wasn't insanely funny to Daniel.
Unfortunately, this happened in a 7th grade world history class. While the rest of the students were working in near silence.
Now, everyone wanted to know what was so funny.
How do you explain an inside joke to a room full of 12 (or by now, 13)-year-olds?
You don't.
It would take way too long to explain, and the nice working atmosphere would have been lost. Besides, most of them wouldn't get it either.
(And no, I didn't seek to punish the boys for this. They're allowed a bit of fun every now and then.)
I bet a few asked after class though.
ReplyDeleteI wish we could hold on to the ability to giggle over absolutely nothing.
ReplyDeleteWe can. I think it's dependent on who we're laughing with, though.
DeleteYeah, that didn't seem to disrupt things too much.
ReplyDeleteInside jokes with friends are fun, though, Especially at that age.
It kinda did. They were... interesting. But I couldn't fault them for something that wasn't meant as a disruption.
DeleteSee, that is exactly why there needs to be a little bit more fear in the classroom :) Back in our days we'd be scared to death to even look at our teacher directly let alone speak out of turn, laugh, use phones or who knows what else today's brats don't do....
ReplyDeleteI'm sure even if they explained it, it probably wouldn't have been funny. Seventh grader humor is, well, seventh grader humor. Only they get it!
ReplyDeleteFunny what kids find funny when most think it is just stupid
ReplyDeleteNice that you do give a bit of leeway now and then and let them have a bit of fun :)
ReplyDeletebetty
Within reason
DeleteAll those lovely endorphins from the giggling. Hope they thanked you.
ReplyDelete12-year-olds? Nah...
DeleteI love these moments with kids, the sheer absurdity of their lives (and mine to be honest :D )
ReplyDeleteAnd I hate that you feel the need to add a "no i didn't need to discipline them" disclaimer. Kids are kids and they are pretty awesome, they don't need to fear us :D I have worked in some schools that I am pretty sure would put The Continuation High to shame, and ok, "Ed" threw a chair at me and called me the Cword (that rhymes with hunt) for daring to ask him to do work. But the fact that he is still alive, AND finished high school, what a massive success (and I was a teacher he liked!). He wasn't a pain in the rear end for shits and giggles, his life outside of school was something unfathomable to most people. And yeah, flying chair and Cword, but I respect that kid for surviving (and succeeding)!
The disclaimer is because I get comments about how students should have no fun at school whatsoever.
DeleteI know what you mean about some troubled individuals. When you learn their stories, you tend to be more sympathetic to the behaviors.
Sometimes you just can't help but giggle. lol
ReplyDelete(I think I'm all caught up and done comment bombing ya for the day. :D )