I have to assign seats in several classes this year. I know I am delaying the inevitable - but I really hate assigning seats. It is more work for me, etc. But what I really worry about is moving someone who is trying away from the only thing that is getting through the class - because I don't see that.
Now, it is not one or two that are bugging me - but about 1/2 the class.
Do you put the talkers/disrupters up front so that maybe they will hush and learn? Do you put the people up front who have been choosing to sit up front and work, and split up the party animals in the back - they'll still talk but they won't be with their good buddies. Maybe it'll make 'em miserable.
Or do you just go for alphabetical or some other random that splits them up?
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I know I am OCD about this, but I can't make it without assigned seats. It sends clear message to class the first day that I am in charge. I keep them alpha order for 3 weeks until I learn
names. This week (4th week) I gave new seating chart and all those with 504's or sped accomadations got preferential seating. I then split up some of the groups that were getting a little too chatty. I will now change the seating chart every 6 weeks or so just to keep mixing them up.
I use my seating charts to take roll so I'd be lost without them.
If I were you, I'd sit the people who want to be up front close, and then try to mix in your talkers with quiet people. I do put the really tall boys in back because my room is kind of long and narrow.
Expect a lot of grumbling if you haven't been using assigned seats before now, but they'll get used to it and your life will be easier!
I have assigned seats before but usually one or so in a class.
I think mixing the talkers with their non-friends will help.
I usually like a free, easy, sit where you are comfortable atmosphere but after last year's wild bunch, I went with assigned alphabetical seat this year. The first day I was able to pick out a few trouble makers and made sure they were far apart, even when the alphabet draws them together. So far it is working. One of the worst offenders is looking for a program change. Too bad he probably won't get it. Anyway, things seem to be working well, but it is only 3 days.
I've done seating charts, especially in classes where I didn't know the students and wanted to get to know their names immediately. However the last few years of teaching I quit doing that and just let kids sit where they wanted, and then if it didn't work, I moved one or two at a time. No use making the whole class unhappy. In almost all cases, the arrangements the kids made worked very well.
I do a seating chart because we have to (building policy....I guess for subs? I don't know, but I didn't have one once and was scolded) but I do it based on student requests. They pretty much get to sit with their friends unless they demonstrate that they can't. I know that when I go to meetings and stuff, I'm happier if I get to sit with people I like, so I try to do the same for my students. For those who demonstrate that they can't, then I move them around as needed, but it's usually not a huge deal.
7 years of alphabetical seating charts and going strong. And I never move them, unless it is requested (for vision or what not). If I have talkers, I call home and tell the students any time they talk, they will be kicked out. I actually had a student ask to be moved because he was talking to his friend. I told him that he would need to be mature and not talk. And you know what...he stopped talking.
Before I move kids, every time I remind them of why I'm doing this. I say that it's not fair that some are ALWAYS in the front (or back), so I like to give everyone an opportunity to sit in a variety of "useful" learning areas. I also mention that this is one of their only opportunities in HS to sit with people they wouldn't normally sit with and to potentially WORK with and meet new friends and learn to work with a variety of people.
When school starts I let them sit where they want, so I can see who does NOT work well together. Then they never sit together again.
Ms. Cookie
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