insanity as classroom management mechanism

Today I had to do an "activity" with the kids that they're doing in every single one of their classes. Yup, same exact thing. And one of the kids in 4th period asked, "So, what if I refuse to do it again?"

Haha. And that's what I did. A laugh. "You?! Want to not work in MY class?! hahahahahaha" which quickly became a movie evil laugh.

Of course he did it. And several of the kids asked all period if I'm feeling ok.

I think I will regularly show signs of insanity - it seems to make the kids act better. I had recently started saying things like, "Well, I'm hearing voices. And either that means that I'm going crazy, which is not good news for you, or that somebody is talking while I'm giving directions, which is really not good news for you. Which do you vote for?"

It's good when one teaches at the secondary level to not take oneself too seriously. If I thought I was all that, then I would be in for a rude awakening every day. Instead, I find small comforts in the moments when I don't think they're actively planning an armed insurrection.