I had a box of 18 smelly markers from the states. The Mr.Sketch brand that smell good (or sometimes bad). I used them almost daily with my students to make posters or do daily equations. Then I noticed they started to disappear.
At first there were only one or two missing and I didn't think much of it. Maybe I had misplaced them or I had one or two on my desk. No big deal. But then I was down to only 8 markers and the students mentioned how my markers were missing. I also had the yellow marker on my desk because I used it for agendas. When that one went missing, I got a little curious!
I asked my students if they knew anything about them and to please return them if they had any. I explained that I really didn't care who took them, as long as I got them back so we could keep using them. I reminded them about the markers for a day or two and then it got personal!
I had 8 markers and after asking them to return them, three more went missing! They all claimed to have no idea. They suggested putting security cameras on the markers. They also accused the wonderful cleaning lady. To her face. Yeah, that was fun!
After a discussion on why it is NOT okay to accuse people and why we should be honest instead, I informed them I would be taking away part of their recess until the markers were returned. So we would go to recess, sit on the line, and watch the other 2nd graders play. Then I would give them 5-10 minutes to play.
After four days of this I figured someone would confess. Instead, the entire box went missing! The last few markers and box included! My kids are brave, if nothing less. Many of them opened their bags to show them they were not the thief. I peeked into a few of the bags and I did ask a few of them to show me. (I wasn't accusing, just using logical reasoning!) I knew it was a student now I just wasn't sure who!
The next day at school I told them they wouldn't have any recess since I didn't have any markers! They felt this was very unfair (and I hated taking away their recess) but I wanted to see it through. So after lunch we walked down to the playground and I had them walk laps around the track because I did want (and need) them to move. The next day, we did the same thing.
I was getting nervous because I didn't really want to continue robbing them of recess, but I couldn't cave either! Wednesday was Parent-Teacher Conferences though...can you say perfect timing!
I wrote a little slip for the parents with a few notes and reminders as well as a blip about the markers. I had a set of parents (whose child I did kind of suspect) tell me they had the markers and thought they were a gift. I told them they were not and that the students had been missing out on recess because of the marker mystery. The parents were quite embarrassed and promised to have the markers returned the next day! I had many parents after that asking about the markers and assuring me they had checked and their child didn't have them. I was glad most of the students took this seriously.
The student's older sister brought the markers back to me the next afternoon. The student and I had a conversation about honesty, forgiveness, what a reputation is, and what they wanted their reputation to be. The student also missed out on some more recess-- which apparently doesn't bother them too much. After the parent conference I have a feeling they had a pretty fierce punishment at home. I figured some forgiveness might speak louder.
And, the markers are pretty awesome!!!
And also locked away in my cabinet now ;)
At first there were only one or two missing and I didn't think much of it. Maybe I had misplaced them or I had one or two on my desk. No big deal. But then I was down to only 8 markers and the students mentioned how my markers were missing. I also had the yellow marker on my desk because I used it for agendas. When that one went missing, I got a little curious!
I asked my students if they knew anything about them and to please return them if they had any. I explained that I really didn't care who took them, as long as I got them back so we could keep using them. I reminded them about the markers for a day or two and then it got personal!
I had 8 markers and after asking them to return them, three more went missing! They all claimed to have no idea. They suggested putting security cameras on the markers. They also accused the wonderful cleaning lady. To her face. Yeah, that was fun!
After a discussion on why it is NOT okay to accuse people and why we should be honest instead, I informed them I would be taking away part of their recess until the markers were returned. So we would go to recess, sit on the line, and watch the other 2nd graders play. Then I would give them 5-10 minutes to play.
After four days of this I figured someone would confess. Instead, the entire box went missing! The last few markers and box included! My kids are brave, if nothing less. Many of them opened their bags to show them they were not the thief. I peeked into a few of the bags and I did ask a few of them to show me. (I wasn't accusing, just using logical reasoning!) I knew it was a student now I just wasn't sure who!
The next day at school I told them they wouldn't have any recess since I didn't have any markers! They felt this was very unfair (and I hated taking away their recess) but I wanted to see it through. So after lunch we walked down to the playground and I had them walk laps around the track because I did want (and need) them to move. The next day, we did the same thing.
I was getting nervous because I didn't really want to continue robbing them of recess, but I couldn't cave either! Wednesday was Parent-Teacher Conferences though...can you say perfect timing!
I wrote a little slip for the parents with a few notes and reminders as well as a blip about the markers. I had a set of parents (whose child I did kind of suspect) tell me they had the markers and thought they were a gift. I told them they were not and that the students had been missing out on recess because of the marker mystery. The parents were quite embarrassed and promised to have the markers returned the next day! I had many parents after that asking about the markers and assuring me they had checked and their child didn't have them. I was glad most of the students took this seriously.
The student's older sister brought the markers back to me the next afternoon. The student and I had a conversation about honesty, forgiveness, what a reputation is, and what they wanted their reputation to be. The student also missed out on some more recess-- which apparently doesn't bother them too much. After the parent conference I have a feeling they had a pretty fierce punishment at home. I figured some forgiveness might speak louder.
And, the markers are pretty awesome!!!
And also locked away in my cabinet now ;)
