Seating Charts and the Powers of Observation

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To use seating charts or not use seating charts during the first week of school is always a questions. I want to learn my students names AND I like control especially in the beginning of the year. Yet, as a middle school teacher, I need to know who can handle sitting together and who can't handle it. If I make seating charts to early and my combinations don't work, then I'm left explaining all the moving around. If I don't make seating charts things can quickly get out of hand, especially in the beginning.


So the solution is to give the students the sense that there is freedom while still keeping some control. Here are some ideas for "assigning seats" without actually committing until you have figured out who can handle what.

The important thing here is to use a few different strategies and your Powers of Observation ... as you watch students seat themselves you will soon be able to figure out if your students can choose their seats, need assign seats, or need to be separated from chatty friends. Watch for who is a leader, who is shy, who is difficult.  I like to use these activities for a few days and then have a few more for some "Friday Fun".

Greet students as they enter and make them feel welcome.  
Post the directions on the board.

1.  Birthday 
When students arrive on the first day have them take and index card, write their name on it and the date of their birth, then have the students sit by the date of their birth. Collect the cards and file them so that you can post them on your calendar or blackboard each month.

2.  Height
Have students line up by height and sit shortest to tallest.  Make this a silent seating. Have your directions posted outside of the room and tell students they may ask questions before entering but not once they have entered.

3.  Alphabetical
You can do this by first name, last name, or their preferred name.  


4.  Groups
Use things your students have in common such as people who are playing a fall sport, people who are not playing a fall sport, people who prefer to be outside, people who prefer to be inside. Then have those groups split into subgroups.

Remember ... this is about observing your class! Who are your leaders, who are your followers, who is loud, who is shy. 
 
Enjoy! Jackie