Change Seats
Hello seat changes! Changing students’ seats every quarter keeps the classroom fresh and functions like a computer reset. Things sometimes get stale in the classroom and students can get too comfortable sitting in their seats. To avoid this situation, change seats every quarter to help curtail unwanted behaviors and to freshen up the classroom. Each new quarter functions like a restart and this is a great time to move students into better placements. I like to look at my students individually and at their grades when placing students. Also, considering social needs may be a factor when assigning seats. Placing struggling students closer to the teacher is an excellent strategy, but maybe placing struggling students into a heterogeneous learning group instead. This may help them more than sitting closer to you. You never want to reveal your rationale or reasoning when directing students to assigned seats for obvious reasons. I like to mix the classroom seating by varying abilities to help support groups and turn-and-talk procedures. Make sure you have a seating chart! First day of school procedure!
Seat changes function to support both academic and behavioral expectations in the classroom. Students can get too comfortable in their seats like when they start: winking at a neighbor, talking with a friend, or leaving notes in school textbooks or on their desks. Changing seats allows for the class community building and helps learners develop and tolerate others. You will experience student objection and potential whining when you announce seat changes. To prevent behavior and objections with moving seats, make the announcement at the beginning of the year that seat changes will occur each quarter. Tell students calmly if student objections occur, to speak with you after class for a conference. I consider student opinions for some of the following reasons: seeing the board, students with an IEP, and student working relationships (if they work well with a neighbor). Unless the child is new to the country or needs a social need met to function best academically, I say no to having them sit near their friends. During special class days, I allow students to change seats and work with a friend. If students abuse the privilege, then suspend it. Seating changes depends entirely on your understanding of your students’ needs. Consider academic, social, behavioral, and disability factors when arranging your seating chart. Besides, most students with an IEP will need to sit in the room’s front or closer to the instructor, anyway.
Overall, change their seats every quarter or semester. Alphabetizing students might work in the first quarter to help you learn student names (you must consider those with IEPs, though). Still, learning about your students that first quarter is super critical to finding out where they function best in your class. Tinker around with seating arrangements as well. I like to begin the year with traditional rows. Quarter 2 and 3, I move my seats into a theater arrangement where the center of the class is free. For Quarter 4, I place my students into groups of 4-5. Consider your students, their abilities and needs, and decide based on observations and data received in the classroom what works best for them. For me as a teacher, seat changes are a recharge and a reset that brings fresh energies and vibes. It keeps students a little more on their toes.