Eighth grade math. The assignment: a shut up sheet. (Same teacher as the link. Although, I don't think the kiddos have learned the term yet.)
The lesson plan warned that the students should not be out of their seats. They were not to go anywhere near the front of the room. And for the most part the classes remained seated and on task.
But, they needed a lot of help. The kiddos were having issues with rounding, of all things.
Fourth period. There was this one kid. His desk "magically" slid forward. And his stuff wasn't where he left it, supposedly.
At one of the pauses, when none of the kiddos needed me at the moment, I happened to glance at the teacher's podium, and I found one of my supplies was missing. My eraser.
Before assuming one of the kiddos was a klepto (but these are eighth graders, so I was pretty sure it was theft), I took a look around the podium (that they weren't supposed to get near) to make sure it hadn't fallen somehow.
Luckily, it was mid way through the period. It wasn't too late. And as this sort of thing has happened before, I know how to get my stuff back.
I asked for it.
Now, no one admitted that they took it. And I didn't accuse anyone. I just announced to the class that I wanted my eraser back, and whoever took it needed to return it. I didn't even resort to threats. (Although, I totally would have called security if it had come to it.)
Another student needed help. Before I got back up front, someone "found" my eraser on the floor next to the podium. Imagine that.
Eraser returned. I was good. I said no more of it.
Well, not to the class. To the teacher... Yeah, that went in the note. I may have also pointed out who I suspected was the culprit. Because the teacher totally needs to know he has a klepto in his class.
Very effective technique. and yes, telling the teacher what happened is a good call.
ReplyDeleteI've honed this technique over several thefts (mine and others').
DeleteI guess its "good" that they have a "conscience" to return the item. Now if they would have the conscience not to steal it in the first place.
ReplyDeletebetty
Glad they returned it, naughty kiddo
ReplyDeleteMe too.
DeleteAn eraser? ~shakes head~ At least my one time shoplifting was for eye makeup. ~cringe~ I was about that age, too. Be well!
ReplyDeleteAt least it wasn't my clock.
DeleteBet he thought he was being sneaky.
ReplyDeleteOh, brother.
ReplyDelete*eye roll*
DeleteEveryone in the class knew who had done this, which made it important that he/she return the eraser. Doesn't he know by now?
ReplyDeleteApparently not. Well, maybe.
DeleteThey think they're so clever, don't they? Except when it comes to doing actual work.
ReplyDeleteThere are folks in life who enjoy creating lots of problems. Its fun for them so you have to catch them early.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed you got the eraser back.
ReplyDeletenice try to get eraser back
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteGlad you got it back. They sound pretty obnoxious, though.
ReplyDeleteMost of them weren't bad. That one boy, though...
DeleteOh boy...just for an eraser. Why would he steal something so dumb to be honest. I guess thinking he was cool and thought he could get away with it. you handled it beautifully and I so agree that it went in your notes to the teacher
ReplyDeleteThey take at that age just to take, I think.
DeleteActually, I'm surprised they returned it after only asking.
ReplyDeleteYou run into a lot of klepto kids, don't you? I don't remember my teachers ever having that problem in school. (Then again, why would I? It wasn't my stuff that was being stolen.)
ReplyDeleteI've had a run of these of late. I didn't used to have the problem. But it does crop up from time to time.
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