It was the Friday before Thanksgiving break, seventh period. (I saved all my subbing stories for when I was back at work.) Cross country.
Cross country is running, long distance. Generally for class time they change into running clothes, and then they go and run a few miles. How many? I'm not sure. But at one point a couple of them were discussing an upcoming 10K and a half marathon.
But cross country season is over, and the team didn't make the end of season CIF championships. So, they just had to sit in the room for the period with the sub.
(They asked if I could just dismiss them to go home. I would have loved to have done that, but they're enrolled in the class so they have to be in the class even if they have nothing to do. I explained that if they could get a parent to pick them up early they could leave. Only one student followed through on that.)
I sat back and watched the room. Several boys got into a group. They had a pad of post its, and they were folding them into triangles. And then one boy tossed it towards the ceiling...
Oh crap! Not this again.
I have noticed students doing this again. Ceiling darts. They toss these things towards the ceiling, hoping they'll stick.
Normally I put a stop to this as soon as I see it. But seventh period cross country the day before a vacation, and they didn't have an assignment. Considering that there were worse things they could be doing to entertain themselves, I went a different route.
I asked. Apparently it's currently popular on TikTok.
Naturally.
I told them fine, they just had to not leave the things in the ceiling when class was over. No mess, and it was okay.
It kept them busy for a while...
(Yeah, I blanked out any faces you could see. They are minors.)
They got quite a few up there:
Some used spin to get them to stick. One boy made a straw contraption out of paper. (I commented on spit balls. They weren't going that route.) I don't think that actually worked at all.
This only kept their attention for a while. Then they went outside and started racing each other. Sprinting. (Reminder: they usually are long distance runners.)
They did clean up before the end of the period. No ceiling darts left behind.
That was an easy class for you.
ReplyDeleteI didn't have to fight them on things, which was nice.
DeleteThey are used to running, they probably had lots of pent-up energy!
ReplyDeleteExactly.
DeleteI'm sure you were considered the cool teacher that day, and I'm glad they actually cleaned up after class. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteMy granddaughter told me about kids doing this (and she doesn't even have TicToc!). Interesting how these little fads spread like wildfire amongst kids across the country!
ReplyDeleteToo bad there wasn’t running related things they could do to burn off their energy, but at least this worked on aim and coordination, and they kept their promise to clean up the darts from the ceiling. I agree, a win.
ReplyDeleteI need a game or something for these days. They really have interesting ideas on how to fill the time.
DeleteI never would have imagined they'd stick!
ReplyDeleteI know, right?
DeleteYour post reminded me of the foolishness of elementary school. We would get bit of paper towels and wet and wad them. Then we would throw them up to the ceiling. I only remember doing it once, because we were told they would call our parents. I did not want to face the wrath of my mom!
ReplyDeleteI was afraid they'd do something like that, but they didn't even contemplate it.
DeleteKilling time is not easy.
ReplyDeleteIt is not.
DeleteLOL...quite colorful; but how did they get up there to get them down? Did they climb on the desks? All that unused energy I guess they needed to do something. Thanks for the visit.
ReplyDeleteTall kid with a sweatshirt. He swung the sweatshirt at them and knocked them all down.
DeleteI played soccer when I was in high school. Not very well, but that's another story. We had tee shirts which read: "Cross Country. Your sport is our sport's punishment."
ReplyDeleteI don't recall ceiling darts when I was in school.
ReplyDeleteMy grandson did cross country for a while. He decided he didn't like it.
ReplyDeleteWell,you can really feel that “day before vacation” energy where no one wants to do anything. The ceiling dart trend made the class chaotic but harmless, and you handled it well by just setting simple rules. I think the kids finding their own games, then racing outside, shows how bored students can get creative fast.
ReplyDeleteIt didn't help that they literally had nothing to do. At least his Spanish classes had wordsearches to keep them occupied.
DeleteOh my! That's quite a hell. You could have asked them to write something on those pages - a poem, for example - instead of shooting them to the ceiling.
ReplyDeleteYeah, but it was a sports team. They don't write. They run. I would not have been able to get them to do bookwork no matter what I tried.
DeleteSounds like a combination of boredom and too much energy!
ReplyDeleteWell, before a big holiday, I remember as students we were restless. I don't think I was paying any attention on the last days before a break. Lol
ReplyDeleteThere was nothing for me to teach, anyway.
DeleteI love how you went with the flow and let them have a little harmless fun. Ceiling darts and sprinting—perfect way to burn off that extra energy before break!
ReplyDeleteBOYS will be BOYS!!! Because I was a tad older than you students, more mature (haha), so when I worked for Printing and then took it to photo service, we made spit balls without the spit, and we shot them across the room with rubber bands. LOL.....So, lets say, "grown kids will be grown kids!
ReplyDeleteDon't let anyone show that on TikTok!
DeleteI'm glad things didn't turn out worse. And I'm reminded why my high school self never entered a classroom without something to read. lol Best wishes!
ReplyDeleteI wish more of them would bring books along. At various points teachers have tried to encourage this, but cell phones... Most would rather be entertained by those.
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