Re: ? using desks vs. tables, and buying students' supplies.
Posted by Cherie on 5/08/08
On 5/08/08, Finishing Year One, Prepping for Year Two wrote:
> I don't have any real answers, but I do have children at
desks now and I hate it. They are k-2nd graders. First of
all, I have the problem of the height of the desks. The
Kindergardeners have a real hard time sitting at a desk that
is suitable for a 2nd grader. This means they are on their
knees and are constantly pushing the desks around. I have
them in groups of six so they can share supplies. How would
you organize supplies for your desks? I don't have 30
baskets for each desk. I can identify with your problem,
just some things to think about.
Cherie I teach at a small private school - 17 elementary classes
> once per week, and three secondary elective classes daily.
> Most classes have between 17-20 kids, whom I seat at four
> tables. This works all right for elem classes, but not well
> with secondary. Most of my secondary students do not like
> art. They never want to do any kind of art. They elected it
> because it's supposedly an easy A. =oP They talk, talk,
> talk, which is fine with me as long as they talk quietly
> and do some kind of art while they talk. @@ But some of
> them also like to just destroy materials, make messes...
> Also several elementary kids are careless with the
> supplies, too - leaving caps off of markers and glue
> sticks...
>
> Our principal does not want the students to have to bring
> their supplies with them from their classroom. We spend so
> much on a very limited budget - just buying pencils and
> crayons, etc. that get horribly abused. I know it sounds
> like I have poor classroom management skills, but I'm
> actually extremely organized and love Harry Wong, etc. I
> planned out careful rules and taught procedures, and use
> consequences for abusing materials, etc. It doesn't help! I
> walk around and monitor closely, but I still can't prevent
> them from breaking the crayons, etc. They don't care about
> the crayons. "It's just a crayon." And they don't care
> about grades. And detentions don't phase them, either,
> smirk smirk. I've had many days where I've sworn I won't
> teach art next year! My degree is in middle school English,
> Soc Stud.
>
> ANYWAY - sorry for my vent. If I do teach art next year, I
> would like to use desks. Is this crazy? I'd like to arrange
> them in rows, so everyone is facing the front of room, and
> has their own defined work space. And I want everyone to
> have and use their OWN supplies, so that if they break
> things or leave caps off, I can send a note to Mom and ask
> for replacements for them. And my "good kids" won't have to
> endure broken, used-up supplies. =o(
>
> I'm hoping my principal will let me add a $15 "art
> supplies" fee, and I can save everyone a LOT of money and
> time by ordering 300 sets of supplies for elementary
> students. I'm afraid she won't want me to use desks, but
> it's so hard to use the same set-up with kindergartners
> that I use with seniors every day. The seniors would be so
> much easier to manage/teach in desks, since we study art
> history, etc. as much as hands-on art.
>
> Am I just venting here? Does anyone have
> thoughts/experience to share? Or would you like to join my
> vent?? ;o)
Posts on this thread, including this one
- ? using desks vs. tables, and buying students' supplies..., 5/08/08, by Finishing Year One, Prepping for Year Two.
- Re: ? using desks vs. tables, and buying students' supplies., 5/08/08, by Cherie.
- Re: ? using desks vs. tables, and buying students' supplies., 5/09/08, by wadel.
- Re: ? using desks vs. tables, and buying students' supplies., 5/09/08, by khric.
- Re: ? using desks vs. tables, and buying students' supplies., 5/09/08, by an art teacher.
- Re: ? using desks vs. tables, and buying students' supplies., 5/09/08, by Joy Jordan.
- Re: ? using desks vs. tables, and buying students' supplies., 5/11/08, by dt in tn.
- Re: ? using desks vs. tables, and buying students' supplies., 5/14/08, by aquarose.
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