I have individual desks and flexible seating in my classroom. I have recently "retired" my red IKEA stools and only use them as rewards because students were leaning back in them too much, and I foresee them breaking. I lowered some desks for crate and floor seating. Desk sliding drove me crazy, as well... I didn't want to zip tie because I like to move them around, so I put masking tape on the floor. Even when we move them, students know to always put the desks on "the lines" at the end of class! 🙂
Some of my students HAVE to work at a desk...it's just where they function the best. I also have stools at my small group table, carpet squares, and a futon in my classroom. During reading workshop we have assigned reading spots (which they chose on their own) and many kids actually prefer to stay at their assigned seat. I do allow them to sit under their desks and even on TOP of their desks (as long as their feet remain on the chair for balance) and they think it's the greatest thing ever! We've even taken tests in these spots before. Novelty and change keeps them engaged!
Please keep making videos! You are such an inspiration. I was miserable my second year in college and was not happy in my major, I was only doing it because it would make me a lot of money when I graduated. I found your channel and started watching your videos seeing how happy you were being a teacher and it made me rethink my major. I decided to change my major four weeks before the end of my second year of college. I was half way done with college at this point. It was the best change for me. I'm working hard to graduate on time and then go to grad school for elementary education. Your videos inspire me and I learn a lot about the classroom. I will be spending time in the elementary school next semester and I can't wait. Your videos are so helpful and fun to watch.
A Tale Dark and Grimm! I loved the way the narrator popped in and out of the story and addressed the readers directly. Parts of the story were a little gruesome for me, but on the whole I liked it. The author's aunt sings in chorus with me, and she had him sign a copy of his second book for me. :) I'm glad that you pulled back from flexible seating when it wasn't working for your classes. I know that my current group of fourth graders isn't ready for ready for full flexibility, so my goal is flexibility during certain times of day. It's reassuring to know that other teachers are in the same boat!
I also had to change the seating in my classroom. I always like to experiment with the students every year, and they start the year sitting in groups of four. As time goes, we make arrangements to fit their personnalities and ways of studying... some prefer to sit alone, other prefer sitting in small groups, others prefer to sit near the window, others near my desk... I try to make this decision discussing with them. It is a process...
Thank you for being a channel that is always posting and being awesome. One question. Can you do a tour of your new room with all of the stiff in it? Thanks
+Ethan Hoffman - I look forward to doing another classroom tour but I don't feel like I have my room exactly how I want it yet. At some point I will 👍 Thank you for watching !
Students do need a sense of order...so you might try the u-shape or the traditional style. They sometimes like to be in teams of four...they can choose the team name and have competiton for projects etc...just some ideas for you.
Love the new set up. looks great and sounds like it's working better for you and your kids. Yay! I, too, love Book Creator. It is such a great app. We use it a ton in my class, too. Have you heard of the book, The Land of Stories? Perfect for your fairy tale study. A similar concept to the Grimm book you're reading!
I will change my seating, too. At the beginning of first grade I always put them in front of the smart board. After a while I will put the tables into groups or in form of an U or an O ... we will see ;)
I've changed my seating a few times. I know flexible seating would not work for me so that wasn't an option, and I teach fifth grade. Anyway, I love Status of the Class. This is my first year implementing it and my students have read so many books so far. I take SOTC everyday but when I'm late getting to it, they remind me. haha. And, some have told me. I've never read a chapter book in my whole life. Now they're on book 8, 9, some even 10.
If I want to start a vlog for my classroom but wouldn't include students. Would there be anything I need to do ahead of time as far as covering my bottom?
I would put together a plan and talk to your principal about it. My principal knew I had a channel when I was hired. In fact, I put it in my file ;) Good luck and let me know when you get started!
The Lettered Classroom do you think they looked at your blog and your channel prior to you getting hired? Do you think that if they did that that's what sealed the deal? I think knowing the whole you is very important. Some people interview very well but you never know who they really are..
They absolutely knew about my UA-cam page and other social media. I also believe that it did help me land the interview. I'm not sure how much it affected my hiring, but it didn't hurt. :) UA-cam is a wonderful place to share, but it is also a lot of work ;)
I recently assigned seats as well. It's like having a whole new class! Love the new layout. I'm bummed that the flexible seating didn't work out. It seemed like an awesome idea! Would you recommend trying it?
Have you ever tried doing book rotations? I know some teachers do it by putting out books and then students have 10 minutes to read a bit of it, before switching to a different book.
Yes...it's like a book tasting. I do book trailers where I have a number of books set out and we read the back cover followed by UA-cam trailers for the books if available. It is a great interactive session to introduce new books!
Thank you for all of the great videos! I would like to ask for some advice, or suggestions from you or any of your wonderful followers. I too jumped into the flexible seating bandwagon and although it seemed to work at the beginning of the year with my very active first graders, the past few weeks have been very difficult. Behaviors that normally increase during this time of the year (Halloween, holidays) is normal but when you add stability balls and wobble stools it seems worse? So I'm wondering if anyone has done flexible seating long term and has any ideas on how to make it work? Or does it? I'm finding that most students behave better when they are sitting on chairs? I would love any tips, ideas? Thank you 😊
Okay, I have to say I love your classroom! It is so cozy. I do have a question though, do the kids argue or pout over who gets to sit on the yoga balls? lol.
Hi if you're reading this well I love you and you are the best and I'm actually not a teacher I just want to be a teacher when I grow up I'm actually only eight
Aww. Thank you so much! Glad to hear you have a focus! Remember how you feel in your classes today. Use it to guide how you will become a teacher and reach your future students :) What motivates the students to do their best? Good luck!
The Lettered Classroom I know you weren't asking me but I'm 11 and I think what gets me motivated to work and do my is that our teacher give tickets to us for doing good and at the end of the week we get to have a drawing of 5 people who get to pick a prize (pencils, dollar store slim, Chinese handcuffs , ect.)
I have individual desks and flexible seating in my classroom. I have recently "retired" my red IKEA stools and only use them as rewards because students were leaning back in them too much, and I foresee them breaking. I lowered some desks for crate and floor seating. Desk sliding drove me crazy, as well... I didn't want to zip tie because I like to move them around, so I put masking tape on the floor. Even when we move them, students know to always put the desks on "the lines" at the end of class! 🙂
Some of my students HAVE to work at a desk...it's just where they function the best. I also have stools at my small group table, carpet squares, and a futon in my classroom. During reading workshop we have assigned reading spots (which they chose on their own) and many kids actually prefer to stay at their assigned seat. I do allow them to sit under their desks and even on TOP of their desks (as long as their feet remain on the chair for balance) and they think it's the greatest thing ever! We've even taken tests in these spots before. Novelty and change keeps them engaged!
Please keep making videos! You are such an inspiration. I was miserable my second year in college and was not happy in my major, I was only doing it because it would make me a lot of money when I graduated. I found your channel and started watching your videos seeing how happy you were being a teacher and it made me rethink my major. I decided to change my major four weeks before the end of my second year of college. I was half way done with college at this point. It was the best change for me. I'm working hard to graduate on time and then go to grad school for elementary education. Your videos inspire me and I learn a lot about the classroom. I will be spending time in the elementary school next semester and I can't wait. Your videos are so helpful and fun to watch.
Great new classroom layout. The classroom looks amazing and it is so well thought out. Great job.
A Tale Dark and Grimm! I loved the way the narrator popped in and out of the story and addressed the readers directly. Parts of the story were a little gruesome for me, but on the whole I liked it. The author's aunt sings in chorus with me, and she had him sign a copy of his second book for me. :)
I'm glad that you pulled back from flexible seating when it wasn't working for your classes. I know that my current group of fourth graders isn't ready for ready for full flexibility, so my goal is flexibility during certain times of day. It's reassuring to know that other teachers are in the same boat!
I also had to change the seating in my classroom. I always like to experiment with the students every year, and they start the year sitting in groups of four. As time goes, we make arrangements to fit their personnalities and ways of studying... some prefer to sit alone, other prefer sitting in small groups, others prefer to sit near the window, others near my desk... I try to make this decision discussing with them. It is a process...
This ^^^^^
I bought the status of the class in December. I am excited to start that when I go back.
I've had to change the seating in my classroom already this year too to make it work for the kids! We learn along with them 😊
Yes! I can already tell that I will have upcoming changes. I look forward to them earning true Flexible Seating! Thanks for watching!
Thank you for being a channel that is always posting and being awesome. One question. Can you do a tour of your new room with all of the stiff in it? Thanks
+Ethan Hoffman - I look forward to doing another classroom tour but I don't feel like I have my room exactly how I want it yet. At some point I will 👍 Thank you for watching !
Students do need a sense of order...so you might try the u-shape or the traditional style. They sometimes like to be in teams of four...they can choose the team name and have competiton for projects etc...just some ideas for you.
Love the desks!
I am always so excited to see a new video. I think it is awesome that you are doing a study on fairy tales.
:) Fairy Tales are so fun! I always enjoy a twist as well! Thanks for watching and always having kind comments!
Amy
Love the new set up. looks great and sounds like it's working better for you and your kids. Yay!
I, too, love Book Creator. It is such a great app. We use it a ton in my class, too.
Have you heard of the book, The Land of Stories? Perfect for your fairy tale study. A similar concept to the Grimm book you're reading!
I have not heard of it! Added to my list....which is too long! But this is perfect timing. Thanks!
What do you guys think of they new layout? Have you had to make changes to your room this year?
I will change my seating, too. At the beginning of first grade I always put them in front of the smart board. After a while I will put the tables into groups or in form of an U or an O ... we will see ;)
I've changed my seating a few times. I know flexible seating would not work for me so that wasn't an option, and I teach fifth grade. Anyway, I love Status of the Class. This is my first year implementing it and my students have read so many books so far. I take SOTC everyday but when I'm late getting to it, they remind me. haha. And, some have told me. I've never read a chapter book in my whole life. Now they're on book 8, 9, some even 10.
It's beautiful
If I want to start a vlog for my classroom but wouldn't include students. Would there be anything I need to do ahead of time as far as covering my bottom?
I would put together a plan and talk to your principal about it. My principal knew I had a channel when I was hired. In fact, I put it in my file ;) Good luck and let me know when you get started!
The Lettered Classroom do you think they looked at your blog and your channel prior to you getting hired? Do you think that if they did that that's what sealed the deal?
I think knowing the whole you is very important. Some people interview very well but you never know who they really are..
They absolutely knew about my UA-cam page and other social media. I also believe that it did help me land the interview. I'm not sure how much it affected my hiring, but it didn't hurt. :) UA-cam is a wonderful place to share, but it is also a lot of work ;)
I recently assigned seats as well. It's like having a whole new class!
Love the new layout. I'm bummed that the flexible seating didn't work out. It seemed like an awesome idea! Would you recommend trying it?
Have you ever tried doing book rotations? I know some teachers do it by putting out books and then students have 10 minutes to read a bit of it, before switching to a different book.
Yes...it's like a book tasting. I do book trailers where I have a number of books set out and we read the back cover followed by UA-cam trailers for the books if available. It is a great interactive session to introduce new books!
Thank you for all of the great videos! I would like to ask for some advice, or suggestions from you or any of your wonderful followers. I too jumped into the flexible seating bandwagon and although it seemed to work at the beginning of the year with my very active first graders, the past few weeks have been very difficult. Behaviors that normally increase during this time of the year (Halloween, holidays) is normal but when you add stability balls and wobble stools it seems worse? So I'm wondering if anyone has done flexible seating long term and has any ideas on how to make it work? Or does it? I'm finding that most students behave better when they are sitting on chairs? I would love any tips, ideas? Thank you 😊
i also live in pennsylvania closer to philadelphia, just wondering how you like it?
I really enjoy it! Lots of differences though. I would have never imagined :)
Should offer to pop corn for the forested areas. Friday walk to put out popcorn
Okay, I have to say I love your classroom! It is so cozy. I do have a question though, do the kids argue or pout over who gets to sit on the yoga balls? lol.
What camera do you use for vlogging??
What I use -- and What I would get if I purchased today :)astore.amazon.com/thelettclas-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=10
thank you! :)
Do you use class dojo?
I do use it in my room, but not as much as some teachers.
I really wanna become a teacher and u make it look so easy , do u have any advice for me xx
I hope your zip ties work. I tried it before and no success lol. They fell off eventually even though I made them extra tight.
Oh my! They are going to drive me crazy.
Thank you
What grade
+Brittny bowman - 4th grade :)
are you going for a harry potter themed classroom??
+HarryPotterDork - It is definitely Harry Potter inspired 👍But not everything is Harry Potter
The Lettered Classroom I didn't think you were gonna reply. I'm hoping to become a teacher and was wondering what sort of things you used
The Lettered Classroom to make a harry potter themed classroom
Can you do another day in life
Yes I will.
Hi if you're reading this well I love you and you are the best and I'm actually not a teacher I just want to be a teacher when I grow up I'm actually only eight
Aww. Thank you so much! Glad to hear you have a focus! Remember how you feel in your classes today. Use it to guide how you will become a teacher and reach your future students :) What motivates the students to do their best? Good luck!
The Lettered Classroom I know you weren't asking me but I'm 11 and I think what gets me motivated to work and do my is that our teacher give tickets to us for doing good and at the end of the week we get to have a drawing of 5 people who get to pick a prize (pencils, dollar store slim, Chinese handcuffs , ect.)
I hate seat arrangements so bad 😭
Never shown class makeover
You mean 5 years