It's crunch time (T minus fourteen days and counting) and I need some advice from my bloggy friends! Here's the issue:
See that table in the left corner? That's my small group table. As you can see, it is scrunched into that tiny space beside my closet doors. There is a book shelf behind it that houses math and reading manipulatives.
The problems:
- It doesn't work. When all of my kiddies and I are there, its difficult to get to the manips. Or have enough room for books/supplies. Or move.
- There is not another place I can find to put it in my classroom. I have connected desks, and they take up tons of space. The only other places are in front of shelves, built in cabinetry or high traffic areas. (Middle of the room?!)
- Please forgive the blurry picture, but here's a shot of the back of the room:
Ideas?
- Get rid of the table and meet with groups on the floor, at my Jack's booth, or at desk groups...?
- Keep the table and make crate seats so there's a LITTLE more room to move...?
- Suggestions, please!
What about putting it in front of your SmartBoard, unless you use that area for shared readings. I use to have a table right in front of my board, that I loved and used often. I would use it for small groups and also as reward for students to sit at when presenting material using the Smartboard. They loved sitting at the table in front of the room. Now, a rug occupies that space where I facilitate my Shared Readings.
ReplyDeleteCan you fit everyone at the booth? I would use it if it's not being used for something else.
ReplyDeleteLeslie
Miss R's Room
I would suggest moving the table out a bit and using crate seats or buckets seats. I like the crate seats better personally, more storage space. You could also move your manipulatives to the area behind the desk where the kids can still access them but you have better access.
ReplyDeleteI would suggest moving the table out a bit and using crate seats or buckets seats. I like the crate seats better personally, more storage space. You could also move your manipulatives to the area behind the desk where the kids can still access them but you have better access.
ReplyDeleteHi, I have similar problem as you but I have a huge kidney table.
ReplyDeleteAn option that I use is placing the kids desks in a horseshoe shape and then my kidney table in the middle of the horseshoe. I make it work some how every year :) The manipulatives can be under the smartboard or leave them in the same spot.
I teach kinder so my kids desk are doubles and big like yours! My desk is in the same corner as yours but it's perpendular to the wall. Good luck!
I had similar issues last year and just ditched the small group table and just worked on the floor, but I would have prefered the table. Another teacher who's room was only slightly larger than mine, but had more bookshelves crammed in, put her group table in the middle of the room (as you mentioned). She was also able to use that space to make piles of papers/books for marking. She could fit about 6-8 kids around that table. The student desks were then situated all around it in a square formation for most of the year. When we did our term of science, she was able to group the desks into seating of 4-6 students and still keep her table in the middle. It seemed to work nicely, but there was no 'mat/carpet area' in her room (which was fine for a Grade 5 & 6 primary classroom).
ReplyDelete