I was a long-term sub for a Biology class this year and doing a Kahoot Quiz for a graded assessment. I had flexible options to work on it as a class or they could do it on their own as an assignment. 7th period was my disrespectful period since day 1 when I was a day-to-day sub. During the nickname phase, a couple of students wrote "Robert Fat Hog". Remember that students have access to my first and last name on Google Classroom and that I was the only Robert in the period.
I just immediately closed the tab and the entire kahoot game. I told the students to complete the Kahoot quiz on their own. I stated, "Please do not disrespect me or any other person". A student asked not everyone did it. I just responded to them "It is important to hold your peers accountable at times, but playing the game as a class was a privilege as long as everyone was respectful and worked collaboratively".
Thinking about this moment, I felt bad for canceling the class game and punishing everyone (not like they all got zeroes, they just needed to do the work individually). I handled the situation well I didn't yell at the kids, but I was hurt and disappointed that day.
I never thought growing up teaching and education was a career that is the highest respect and making a difference in the world. Man, I had a couple of students tell me, "Mr. G, how does it feel going to school for a degree to just be bullied by these badass kids?" Those kids did have a point even I try to deny it. At the end of the day, disrespect this fat hog, no kahoot for you! Haha.
