I Can't Believe this Actually Worked

A couple of weeks ago I was subbing for Art when I had a kid who just wouldn't leave his table alone.  He knocked over markers, wouldn't stop talking, and generally just continued to goof off, even after he was asked not to.

Then I had an idea.

Time. Out.

I didn't call it that, but I did move him to the table next to me, facing the wall.  And I made a deal; if he could sit and do his work for 15 minutes, then he could go back to his table.

I'm not lying when I say it almost killed this kid.  Scenario. 5 minutes into time out.

Girl: "May I use the restroom?"
Me: "Yes you may."
Unruly Boy: "Can I go to the bathroom!?"
Me: "No."
Unruly Boy: "Can I go get a drink?!"
Me: "No."
Unruly Boy: "Why not?!"
Me: "You can go when your 15 minutes are over."
Unruly Boy: "Ok......"

10 minutes in.
Unruly Boy: "Can I just go back now?"
Me: "Nope, your time isn't up yet.  You're doing really good though so keep it up."
Unruly Boy: "Pleaseeeee!!!"
Me: "When your time is up."

15 minutes complete.
Me: "Ok, can you handle being back at your table...?"
Unruly Boy: "Yes yes yes!"
Me: "You need to behave...."
Unruly Boy: "I know, I know!  And if I'm bad then you can give me detention."
Me: "That's right."

And I'm happy to report that the boy was well behaved for the entire rest of the class period.  And I was shocked that time out actually worked, but I'm happy to know that it did.  A nice trick to know for substitute teaching in the future.