When kids can move around

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Classroom Management Chatboard

When kids can move around

by Daniel Hanson

Oct 8, 2011

Hello, everyone!

I feel embarrassed admitting this, but several years of teacher, I still don¡¦t know when I should be letting students move around and when not to. I teach high school Spanish and my class does a lot of written work with the textbook. So, some students want to move around to work with others (their friends and buddies, sometimes their very close friends ƒº). Some do it for the social element mainly. I remember in high school and I subbed in classrooms where teachers were okay with students moving around (like in math classes) and sitting with classmates to work on stuff. On the one hand, I can see how students like moving around because they want to socialize while they work. However, some students aren¡¦t mature enough to work while they socialize and just end up socialize and sometimes getting rowdy. These same individuals usually take longer to finish and are usually waiting for their classmates to finish the work so they can copy. Should I just flat ...See More

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Tom Daniel,

Here are my two cents:

*You are the one who decides who moves where and when.

*I recommend you build reasons for moving INTO the lesson. Lots of ways to do this, including their rotating to work at different "stations" (which have different tasks).

*Occasionally having them "move wherever you'd like as yo...See MoreDaniel,

Here are my two cents:

*You are the one who decides who moves where and when.

*I recommend you build reasons for moving INTO the lesson. Lots of ways to do this, including their rotating to work at different "stations" (which have different tasks).

*Occasionally having them "move wherever you'd like as you work on this exercise" is fine.

I've got a few more cents if you have more questions.

:-)

All my best,

Tom

On 10/08/11, Daniel Hanson wrote: > Hello, everyone! > > I feel embarrassed admitting this, but several > years of teacher, I still don¡¦t know when I should be > letting students move around and when not to. I teach high > school Spanish and my class does a lot of written work with > the textbook. So, some students want to move around to work > with others (their friends and buddies, sometimes their > very close friends ƒº). Some do it for the social element > mainly. I remember in high school and I subbed in > classrooms where teachers were okay with students moving > around (like in math classes) and sitting with classmates > to work on stuff. On the one hand, I can see how students > like moving around because they want to socialize while > they work. However, some students aren¡¦t mature enough to > work while they socialize and just end up socialize and > sometimes getting rowdy. These same individuals usually > take longer to finish and are usually waiting for their > classmates to finish the work so they can copy. Should I > just flat out tell them they can¡¦t move around during the > class period? Do I just deny moving privileges from certain > students, causing some to complain that that¡¦s not far that > some students get to move around and they don¡¦t? > > I seriously cannot make up my mind on what my stance should > be. Right now, I feel like some students feel like they > have control over where they can sit in class during class > work when ultimately, I should be the one with the last say > as to where people can and cannot sit during class. > (Obviously, I will have to give out detentions for students > talking across the classroom because they can¡¦t go sit by > their buddies.) > > Please share your thoughts. > > Confused, > Daniel Hanson > Public High School Spanish Teacher > Atwater, California, USA

Oct 10, 2011

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Sara On 10/08/11, Daniel Hanson wrote: > Hello, everyone!

What works? Each class has its own personality as do each of the kids. I will tell some kids - 'no way can you work together, you won't work!'

I do find it interesting in a high school Spanish class that they are working often from a textbook - do you allow them to speak in ...See MoreOn 10/08/11, Daniel Hanson wrote: > Hello, everyone!

What works? Each class has its own personality as do each of the kids. I will tell some kids - 'no way can you work together, you won't work!'

I do find it interesting in a high school Spanish class that they are working often from a textbook - do you allow them to speak in English in class? I'm actually not a fan of immersion teaching but if you want to cut down on the chatter, have 'Spanish speaking only' times...

If they can work and talk, I don't mind that - so long as the talk doesn't become loud or distracting. I will always be found sitting with kids - not behind the desk - and most often sitting with the kids who struggle or who are inclined to talk too much.

Of course they want to be social and that's ok so long as it doesn't become distracting to other groups. But you have to do what works for you and you will only find that out by experimenting. Some teachers can say to a class - "this group can move but the the rest of you can't" and not get eaten alive by the class for that seeming favoritism. Other teachers need to be totally consistent on their class will eat them alive.

There's no exact right and wrong on this. Different police have different approaches, my mother and father parented very differently - you have to find what works for you as a person, a personality and a classroom manager.

The ones who wait so they can copy - do they basically understand the material or not? Do they actually learn by copying? Some do. But if come test time, any of the copyers clearly don't get the material and do poorly, then you can't let them sit and socialize and you do have a very good reason for telling them no.

And you can ask them - "Josh, will this work for you? Really? Will you learn from this? Will your buddies help you to learn Spanish or will you just talk with them and miss the learning opportunity?"

School is about rising to responsibility - so is life. Can they handle the privilege of moving around responsibly?? I say things like - "If I am unfair in my judgment, I am sorry but am I? Let's talk accurate here. Am I accurate in my call that if you sit next to Ben all you two will do is talk and not softly and distract others?"

I'd add too that I find detentions and the assignment of them to be very ineffective in terms of changing any student's behavior but perhaps your experience is different.

> > On the one hand, I can see how students > like moving around because they want to socialize while > they work. However, some students arenï¿½ï¿½t mature enough to > work while they socialize and just end up socialize and > sometimes getting rowdy. These same individuals usually > take longer to finish and are usually waiting for their > classmates to finish the work so they can copy. Should I > just flat out tell them they canï¿½ï¿½t move around during the > class period? Do I just deny moving privileges from certain > students, causing some to complain that thatï¿½ï¿½s not far that > some students get to move around and they donï¿½ï¿½t? > > I seriously cannot make up my mind on what my stance should > be. Right now, I feel like some students feel like they > have control over where they can sit in class during class > work when ultimately, I should be the one with the last say > as to where people can and cannot sit during class. > (Obviously, I will have to give out detentions for students > talking across the classroom because they canï¿½ï¿½t go sit by > their buddies.) > > Please share your thoughts. > > Confused, > Daniel Hanson > Public High School Spanish Teacher > Atwater, California, USA

Oct 12, 2011

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