Flexible seating

There’s so much in the teaching world about flexible seating - allowing choices and providing comfort.

The pictures are so cute, bright, happy, and fun!

For me, they cause stress - appearing pricey, overwhelming, and not doable. Besides not having the money, I may change rooms or schools each year. I don’t have a lot of space. How do I give a test when they are laying down or sharing a sofa? I also have a limited amount of energy and I put that into lesson planning and activities. Currently, I have 6-foot tables in a tiny room with wired computers that doesn’t allow any rearranging of the tables and only has room to walk around them.

My solution for flexible seating with regular desks has been to move the desks around - often and in many different patterns. Sometimes a circle or square. Sometimes in groups of four or six. My favorite is to put them in varying groups - some 2’s, 3’s, and 4’s.

AND ALWAYS have some individual desks by themselves.

I allow the students to rearrange them as they need. Some students pull six or seven together and some pull them apart. There are no assigned seats, so they can move around every day, but most students have a favorite spot.

I allow them to move the desks to the front or back of the room. I had one student who used my stool and a clipboard for most classes, while another stood in the back of the room using a file cabinet as the desk.

Currently, with the non-moving tables, I allow them to choose their own seats, move the chairs to either side of the tables and sit on the floor. There are few options in the current set-up.

Back to those individual desks. Individual desks (as well as the ability to move their own desk) allow my students to practice self-control and self-regulating. I can suggest or require them to move to a desk (or move the one they are in). Or they can choose a desk away from the others. And they do. Some prefer to sit alone, but others will move on a bad day or when they realize they are too loud. They desks are not punishment or timeout. They have no negative connotation. They are positive desks - to keep someone out of trouble, to keep someone from being rude, to give someone some space.

I had one student who always sat with a group, but one day he came in and picked an individual desk. As his friends came and started to pull desks near him, he said, “Don’t you dare. I picked this desk.” They all slid the desks back. He got his work done and the next day went back to his friends.

One of my talkative students moved his desk up to the board everyday of second semester. After explanations were given, he moved back to his group for the assignment.

This is my version of flexible seating. It doesn’t cost anything, but giving up a little bit of control. It gives them choices and allows them to practice self-control and responsibility.

Hands-on Reading Activities with High Schoolers

My challenge with at-risk high schoolers or struggling readers is that all the suggestions I find for "hands-on" and "engaging" activities still require a bunch of reading, such as research projects.  Not even my idea of "hands-on" and I love reading.

How do I get them to wrestle with and engage with the text, if they won't read all of the words.  They just sorta skim and guess and hope for the best.

Cut and paste!

Cut and paste was PART of the answer for me. 

Cut and paste the main idea and supporting details.  

Cut and paste the claim and evidence.

Cut and paste examples of figurative language.

Now they have to read them to identify them.  They can actually engage with the words.  We are working on arguments.  So, they have a claim and 3-4 pieces of evidence all mixed up.  They can rearrange them, read them, rearrange them, read them - until they find the claim and evidence to support it.

I often check it before they glue it down.  "Do these three really support that one?"

They laugh the first time, but they look forward to it and their understanding improves.  It's not so hard and difficult when they can actually touch the words.

Reading Relay Races

Reading passages and answering questions is BORING!

Reading passages and answering questions you found in Easter eggs while competing against other teams is A LOT LESS BORING!

In contemplating how to handle energetic students, who are kinesthetic learners, I kept coming around to outdoor recess and the need to run.  This is not an option - because it's high school, because of our room location, because of many risk factors, because....., because......  

So, what would be close to outdoor (not in desks) recess (activeness)? A relay race!

Can't run - 2nd floor & injury risks - so they walk on their knees.

And egg relays have just as much tension, but less running anyway.

And so was born the Reading Relay: 

Students are divided into teams with 4-5 students per team.

You will need 6-8 eggs of the same color for each team.  So, if you have 5 teams, you will need 6-8 plastic Easter eggs in 5 five different colors. 

You will need to print a set of numbered questions and the text for each team and an answer sheet for each team.  The answer sheet should just be numbered.  If you print the questions, they will answer them there without going for the eggs.

Each egg within a color set will contain one of the questions. 

The day of, put all of the eggs together in a location equidistant from all the teams. (I put the eggs in the middle of the room.) Divide into teams. Give each team a copy of the text and an answer sheet.  Assign each team a color.  Explain the rules.  I also give each team a spoon on which they have to carry the egg and they can only hold it at the back of the spoon, not up by the egg. 

For my classes students have to walk on their knees with the spoon to the egg basket (or box).  Place an egg of their color on the spoon.  Holding the spoon at the tip away from the egg, they walk on their knees back to the group.  As a group they read and answer the question making sure they answer next to the correct number, since the eggs are out of order (Stress this point).  Then they go back for another egg.  I allow them to trade out walkers on each turn.

I give an extra 5 points to the first team finished so that if everyone gets 100% correct, the first team to finish wins 1st place.  Otherwise, 1 point per correct answer and the highest points win.  Sometimes they win bragging rights and sometimes jolly ranchers.

Sometimes there's resistance and "it's childish and stupid", but it's not optional and it's a grade (mostly participation).  Enforce the rules and build the excitement.  "No, on your knees.  Go back."  Now, the team will enforce the rules, because the others are ahead of them.

It's loud and animated, so if you like quiet and calm, this is not for you.

But suddenly passages and questions aren't so bad.

Have fun and let the games begin!

Gibbs' Rules

I'm an NCIS fan.  And I have noticed that some of Gibbs' rules apply quite well to the classroom.

Rule 3:  Don't believe what you're told. Double check.

Always - no matter who told you.

Rule 5:  You don't waste good.

Your students are good.  Don't waste that.

Rule 8:  Never take anything for granted.

Rule 14:  Bend the line, don't break it.

Sometimes you have to in order to teach.

Rule 15:  Always work as a team.

Rule 18:  It's better to ask forgiveness than ask permission.

Rule 20:  Always look under.

For lost papers.  For the real reason they aren't working or are angry.

Rule 28:  If you need help, ask!

You and them

Rule 36:  If it feels like you're being played, you probably are.

You don't have to explain why you think you're being played.  You can just call them on it.  I took away bathroom privileges from a class because when two students returned to class, they made me suspicious and I couldn't tell you why.

Rule 39:  There is no such thing as coincidence.

Rule 45:  Clean up your messes.

Rule 51:  Sometimes - you're wrong

Apologize to students - in front of others, if possible.

Didn't vs Can't

Didn't means "I can, but decided not to."

Didn't means irresponsible.

Didn't means lazy.

Can't mean unable.

Can't means "I don't know how."

Can't means stupid.

They will choose Didn't over Can't every time.

They will be lazy and irresponsible over stupid and unable.

Most of my students don't complete all the assignments.  This was hard to grasp at first.  All those zeros!  After a few weeks I realized those students were in two groups:  1.) Maintain a B or C average and only complete what's necessary to do that, and 2.) Didn't over Can't.

Didn't over Can't will fail the class by doing nothing, so they don't have to confirm that they are stupid.  Always.  Every time.

It's hard to overcome dozens of people and many years reinforcing this idea they are stupid.  It takes weeks or months or all year to convince them they can.  It takes patience and repetition.  Lots of patience and repetition.

I start with things they cannot fail.  For each new skill, we do the first practice assignment together with me reading the passage, marking the text, and answering the questions - modeling what I expect of them and how to find the answers.  The grade is based on them copying what I do.  (Warning:  don't expect all 100s on this.)  With the second practice assignment, I read the passage, they tell me how to mark the text, and they tell me the answers to the questions.  Either they or I explain how they got the answers.  Again, the grade is mostly based on them copying what we did as a class. 

Then the third and fourth practice assignments they work individually or together.  I walk around, ask questions, and ask them for their answers.  I ask Why they got the answer they got, for both right and wrong answers.  Talk them through the thinking process with questions leading to the answer.  Make them read all or part aloud, as needed.  

Always start with the non-struggling students to model what the process looks like.  The non-struggling students, or at least the less struggling or most confident students, will appreciate the help.  They won't be embarrassed by the questions or the attention.  They will model what help looks like and how to ask and answer questions.

NEVER EVER START WITH THE MOST STRUGGLING STUDENTS!  NEVER EVER EVER!

Praise right answers: Good!  Perfect! Excellent! You got it.

Even the simplest answer.  Don't be overly excited like you're surprised.  Just confirmation that they got the right answer.  

As the year goes forward, many of the Didn't over Can't will start to Do.  It's very exciting!  However, don't show your excitement until they do.  Don't make a big deal over it, unless they are "asking" for a big deal over it. 

There will still be some that Don't and won't.  Sometimes you will find that they have learned a lot, but still won't Do.  Sometimes you will find that they have learned other skills, which are as or more important, but can't really be graded for class.  There is only so much you can do.  They are still responsible for their actions.

Always greet them and expect work from them.  Never show exasperation or frustration with them.  Always reinforce that they can and that you know they can.

It's the most difficult time of the year!

It's the holidays!  For many of us that means fun, family, excitement, and some stress.

For many of my students that just means stress - more alcohol and drug use by them or others, how to get presents for younger siblings when money's tight, uncomfortable family times, more violence at home, more being home alone, more people in the house, more unpredictable behaviors, more guilt for not being happy, more tears and sadness and loneliness.

Mary came in one day very panicked and upset:  Dad had announced she would bake the Thanksgiving turkey this year.  She was on her own to figure it out.  We did a lesson on text structure, including sequence and cause/effect and reviewed cooking turkeys and other traditional foods. 

In his "What I did over break" paper, Tarrell said that he was crying Christmas morning, because he missed his brother who had died two years ago.  His dad came to his room and told him "cut it out and get dressed."

One year I had five students who were spending their first holiday season without significant loved ones and they weren't suppose to talk about it, because it might make Mom cry.

Julie hates the holidays because her uncle always visits.  He is creepy and tries to be alone with her.  She spends most of her holiday at a friend's house or right next to her parents.

I don't ignore the holidays.  We always do holiday related stories and articles.  Among those are articles on dealing with stress and what causes stress at the holidays.  Challenging behaviors can increase, because there are too many emotions going on and they spill out. Acknowledge the hard parts and the emotions.  Use stories to talk about it and let them write about it.  Be compassionate when they have a hard day.

Be sensitive.  The best advice I ever got for the holidays was "find a rut and stay in it".  Have fun, but don't do too much that's new and different.  Stability is very calming and reassuring.

Classroom Management

The biggest question asked about teaching, particularly those students who can be challenging in the classroom, is what about classroom management. 

Classroom management is really about behaviors and relationships, most of the time.  There are exceptions.  My suggestions apply to teens and young adults.  They are based on my experience and my personality, so they may not work the same for you and may need to be adapted to your style.

I have 4 rules:  Be safe.  Be polite.  Ask questions.  Be here.

For me everything hinges on a relationship between me and each individual student, as well as the class as whole.  Yes, those are all different relationships.

Typically, my students respond to respect.  I AM RESPECTFUL TO THEM.  I EXPECT POLITENESS FROM THEM.  I do not look down on them.  I expect to learn from them.  I could be a peer, co-worker, or subordinate to them at another place of business.  When I worked at the bookstore, I had co-workers who were 17 and sometimes they trained me when I covered a department.  So, my view of them is not as underlings, but as someone who needs to learn what I am teaching.  At some point I may need to learn what they are teaching.

I give them respect first.  Many of my students are accustomed to being talked down to,  picked on, and harassed by teachers and staff.  That cannot happen in my room.  I will correct them and I have been corrected by them.  I speak to them as I do to other adults.  I expect them to act like adults.  Sometimes we have lessons on tone of voice and they restate what they are telling me more politely.

I ask politeness from them.  Many adults want and demand respect.  Respect is earned.  When I earn it, I will get it.  Politeness is just a behavior, not contingent on the feelings.  The student can be polite to me, while despising me.  This is ok.

I also focus on what I really want and need from each student.  Do I need them to sit quietly, feet on the floor, reading silently?  Or do I need them to read?  Why is it bad if they correct me, if I made a mistake?  Can he pace the back of the room or stand while he reads?  Why can't he?  Why is it cute when she does it, but rude when he does it?

Honesty with myself is extremely important.  The WHY is enormously important.  So, yes, sometimes she stands when she reads.  And he paces when he reads (and on bad days, when he's listening to me read.)  Yes, he can tell me that I only point out when he is talking and not when others are talking. (Yes, he had to restate it without the attitude, but the message was important for me to hear.)  I need them to read.  I need them to not hate reading.  And with that goes some leeway on how they read.  

There are lots of hallway conversations, because some of them have crappy lives outside of school.  I keep peanut butter and crackers on hand, because some don't get breakfast or can't handle the crowds for lunch.  Everyone gets to have a bad day once or twice a year.  The work still has to be done, but maybe it can be done as homework or tomorrow.  Maybe the student just needs down time right now, because they are overwhelmed.  My students can move their desks to the side and tell me they need me to not bother them right now.  (Sometimes I make the suggestion to them.)  It gives them power, control, and choice.  

I let them have the last word.  I control their grade and dean referral - I have the ultimate last word.  She needs to mutter under her breath as she sits down and starts working - OK.  He needs to move slowly getting his stuff out "to show me" - OK.  They are done with the problem and back to work.  That is my goal.

Can they tell me it's stupid?  Of course.  If I can make it more interesting, great!  If not, all jobs have stupid stuff, so it's just practice for life.

Does it work?  Yes.  Do I still have issues sometimes? Yes.  Do I always get it right?  No.  But when it works, it's beautiful!  

I had a group of six young men in one class that did nothing.  They weren't loud or disruptive, just did nothing.  Their grade averages on report cards were in the 20s and 30s.  The principal popped in one day during silent reading.  I noticed that the whole group of six had books out and were turning pages appropriately.  When the principal left, one of them called me over.  "You gotta tell us when he's coming. You shouldn't get in trouble cuz we don't wanna do anything."  

Had one student who did ok, but didn't always follow along during group activities and readings.  I noticed he had his book open (He was seated where he could see out the door.) and was looking at it.  A group from the district office came in and he showed them where we were and answered questions.

I had a student who came and spent his lunch in my class.  He wasn't that fond of reading, but it kept him out of trouble during lunch. 

Why tell you about these guys?  Because respect goes a very long ways and they will repay it.  Maybe with work, but maybe with their behaviors.  These three spent much of their time suspended, skipping, and mouthing off to staff.  I didn't see much of that behavior after the first 2-3 weeks.  Why are the examples only guys?  Because unfortunately, most of my students are young men. 

Most classroom management hinges on the relationships.  Take the time.  Get to know them.  Give respect.  Expect politeness.  Teach politeness.