Doing things differently going forward

"Of everything I did this week in my teaching, what would I do differently if I had the chance to do it again, and why?"

My example has to do with teaching indirectly....

I was caught off guard when a couple of students asked me for paper to do a poster. I am always so helpful. I rarely let students in my office because I keep my personal items in their and do not want to tempt anyone. I also keep construction paper, paint, extra supplies, etc. in my office.

I allowed the students to come into my office and select the color of paper. Once I turned my back to get the paper, the students decided to steal my phone. I had texted my sister before the class started and while I was eating my lunch, so the phone was out on my desk. Afterwards, I had that class, then I left the school. So, by process of elimination, the 2 students were the last ones I had in the office before I left.

I was furious and embarrassed at the same time. Did they really try to play me? After I was being so helpful? Well, I also thought of that irritating statement that "no good deed goes unpunished"
When I saw the girls first thing that next morning, which was extremely unusal, I wanted them to know that I was not accusing them of stealing, I wanted to know if they seen the phone while they were in my office. They both answered yes, it was on my desk. That confirmed everything for me. They both seen the phone and 15 minutes later it was not there???

Going forward, I will not allow anyone in my office. I will impose tighter restriction on entering the lab. The students are breaking and tearing up the keys to the keyboard and destroying the mouse for the computers. I was out done!!

I am trying to instill responsibility, accountability, ownership, dependability, honesty, and committment to the students.