Hello, Every once in a while, students will throw paper planes at me while my back is turned at the board. I get bothered by this a lot. I cannot find the culprit. Any suggestions? Do I just ignore it?
Make fun of their crappy airplane design, then fold a super awesome one and throw it across the room. When you get hit by one, make a painful noise and drop to the floor.
They pretend to look like they're engaged/ they start looking serious. Some are smiling when I turn back to look at them.
That you say they are pretending to look engaged is indicative of the bigger problem from which the paper airplanes are sprouting.
I've experienced this. I typically will say something sarcastic like "really, are you five or fifteen?" and we move on. It was never a serious problem for me, but I've found in situations like this, getting mad makes it a game, and ignoring it completely is like permission. Making a non-interested but chiding remark usually works best.
It would not happen twice in my room. Get an overhead or ELMO or whatever, so that you don't have to turn your back on them again. This is not going to get better on its own. At some point, they'll be bored with paper airplanes, and something else is going to be thrown at you or at each other. I think you need to take a look at your classroom management. They won't learn anything at all from you without basic common courtesy and respect.
Thanks all! I think I do need to review my CM with my students. I quiz them on it at the beginning of the year! Should I reestablish it with them again? We are eight weeks in to the year and I feel that I have had a great rapport with them until now. Maybe they are bored of my style? I've been changing things up while recycling other activities. I wish I knew what I was doing wrong... Does one attain self-reflecting wisdom as the years go on? However, this year has been WAY better than last year!
There's a difference between them knowing your rules and expectations and you following up, reinforcing them and implementing consequences. Review your guidelines, then be more vigilant and follow up when infractions occur.
Thanks again for your guidance, Czacza! These are things I'm still piecing together as a second year teaching. I hope to get it all together soon. Again, I truly appreciate your help!
