Easy First Day Seating Plan for Secondary

One thing I realized when I went from elementary to secondary, and especially a secondary elective, is that I DO need a seating chart to maximize class time but it can be a huge hassle to get kids in their seats! I wanted to show you a quick method I have been using, which has been very successful for getting kids in the classroom and into a seat on the first day of class or any time I change a seating chart where it doesn't have to be too exact.

First, I drew out a diagram of my room. I labeled each table with a number, then put in line for the number of chairs I have at each table. 

Then, I look at each class and the number of students I will have. I cross out any seats I would like to remain empty. In the seating chart above, I only have 26 students in that class. I have 31 seats, so I crossed out an entire table and one seat on a table that can become crowded.

Then, I made note cards for that class. The class is period 1 on A-days. I made 26 note cards, labeling them for each table. So, for example, since I have just 4 seats I'm using for table 7 in this class, I have four note cards with table 7 assigned to them.

Last, I made table tents on each table with the table number. This way when students walk into the classroom, they can easily find their table.

On the first day of class, as students come in, I will greet them at the door and hand them a notecard at random. Then, they can quickly find their seat with directions that will be on the board!

I have each student write their preferred name (and last name) on the note card. Then, I collect them at the end of class and can use them to put the seating chart on paper! It's a great way to easily get their preferred name. I can also take a look at who is where and move students accordingly if certain students need preferential seating via IEPs or 504 plans. When they come in next class, I can quietly move those couple students that might need it without much fuss.

I know not everyone has tables in their classroom, but you could easily use the same method for groups of desks or rows by labeling the groups or the rows similarly to how I named my tables.

Some of you may wonder why I even have a seating chart, but it is my style. I teach an every other day class that is 42 minutes long. I see over 300 students over the course of two days, so it works for me.

What do you think? What have you tried that works for you?

Thoughts on Wikipedia

Today I introduced my students to their next research project for communications class. Each were assigned a social media site and asked to answer some questions about its history, purpose, and use by individuals and businesses. We have quite a locked down web filter in our school at the present, so most of the sights they wanted to research about are blocked.

I told them flat out, other teachers may tell you to avoid Wikipedia, but I want you to use it. It might be your best source of information.

Yep. That's what I believe.

---------

I told them..

Yes, pages get changed. Yes anyone can edit it. But, most pages that get messed with are the controversial ones.

If you're unsure if the page is correct, check another source like you should be doing anyways.

The footnotes of most Wikipedia pages are treasure troves of other resources you could check out.

 

People adopt and edit Wikipedia pages to make sure they stay clean. 

These pages may be the most up to date information you can find.

Use it.

Be critical of it.

Wikipedia is not bad.

It's good.

Struggles

image used from flickr

It's nearing Spring Break...which means it's getting closer to the end of the year...which means my fifth graders are preparing to become sixth graders/middle schoolers. Lately we've been struggling as a class to put learning time ahead of socializing time. I know it's something so many teachers struggle with and this time of year seems to be prime time for it.

Teachers have a variety of different strategies they try to get kids to stop talking and focus on learning. From taking away recess minutes to erasing letters of a random word on the board to having them put visual reminders on their desks to who knows what else.

My biggest struggle has been how to get the students to intrinsically monitor themselves instead of me being the external reminder voice that feels like a broken record at the end of the day.

I'm going to be experimenting with something over the next few weeks in an attempt to turn it over to them. It's something I've talked over with some colleagues, and I'm going to give it a whirl. Students at this age are very aware of what appropriate behaviors look like in the classroom, but sometimes just become oblivious to what they're doing in the moment. I hope to come back here to share how it went, and maybe it can be something you can try! So, come back in a few weeks and I'll post about it then.

How do you help your students internalize the importance of the work they need to do? I know socializing is necessary. I know it's important, but how do you balance it with the learning priorities in your classroom? I'd love to hear some things you have tried. What has worked? What has flopped?

 

Posted with Blogsy

Workin on the Chain Gang

Building community continues to be important in our classroom.  A few years back, I came across the chain gang activity.  I really like it because it leads to conversations about how we are one as a class but all have our unique strengths.  Try it with your class and hang the chain proudly so students can see how their individuality is important to our classroom.

Building Community

 

I love how quickly community can be built in a classroom if one makes the effort.  I'm at a new school this year and the teachers I work with in my grade level have made it a tradition that students bring a grocery bag with a few items about themselves to share.  It's really a simple thing, but it has turned out to be a wonderful community builder.  We just finished our second day of school, but it is amazing to me how quickly community has been built.  Sure, by the 27th bag that had been shared, kids were getting a little weary, but I spread it out over the two days not listening to more than 4 students share in a row.  The 27th sharer did get a huge round of applause when she was finished sharing!

I already know that I have a student who collects elephants, a few aspiring gymnasts, some avid readers, some painters, some crafters, a couple aspiring bakers, some sports enthusiasts, one who has 500 silly bands, and that family is very important to many of my students.

I also shared a bag about me.  If you've seen very many of my photos of the day, you will know that I'm a crafter/sewer/baker.  Today as I left, a couple students asked when I was going to wear one of the dresses I've made soon.  After the second day.

We're building community, and I can't wait to see where it goes!

How do you build community in your classroom?  How do you show your students that you want to know them as a whole person?

I need Hans and Franz...

I'm trying to get pumped up for the school year, but it isn't quite happening!

One thing I've been pondering lately is the thought of getting to know my students.  Last year I had two classrooms of students I had to get to know, and this year there will be three classrooms. I feel like the starting activities I use aren't exciting.  How do you get to know your students?  There's always the ice breaker questions, the glyphs, the little write-ups to put on the bulletin board, even digital formats.  What formats have you used most successfully?  I really have no computer access with 2 out of the 3 classrooms of kids I will be working with.  

Something else I have been dwelling on is my IWB.  I will have a Promethan board this year complete with clickers and slate.  I know there are so many people that bash IWBs, and maybe that's part of what is hindering me getting pumped up for the school year.  I need to hear some good things about IWBs.  It's how my district chose to use some tech money, it's installed in my room, and I want to use it to it's fullest.  People with IWBs, how to you use them?

Share your experiences here.  Converse with me.  Pump me up!




P.S. If you don't get the Hans and Franz mention, you're missing some classic SNL!