First week over, how did it go?

[Anonymous]

i don't love this table differentiation -- it is so easy for first impressions to get solidified -- "the smart group", slow group, middle group. meanwhile, the slow or middle group might be working the hardest, the smart group might be lazy or talky or bored. the group dynamics reinforces any labeling (which every kid knows right away) and reinforces whatever negative behavior is actually common that that 'group' (being done early and talking, or taking too long and complaining -- lots of different examples).

for all the years i've taught, i've much preferred the separate desks (despite the pressure for "collaborative" tables).

[Anonymous]

When I taught first grade, I made tables only for space issues. I did not "group" by ability. Actually, I liked them mixed so that when some were in reading group they were able to work without too much noise.

[Anonymous]

My kid with ADHD talked all last year about how she wished the desks could be in rows every day like they did on the "special testing day". (I think she means the day they took the NNAT in FCPS.) "It was so much easier for me to do my work when we sat like that."

[Anonymous]

12:09 here.

I group the desks, but the students aren't grouped by performance or ability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid with ADHD talked all last year about how she wished the desks could be in rows every day like they did on the "special testing day". (I think she means the day they took the NNAT in FCPS.) "It was so much easier for me to do my work when we sat like that."

Agree. It is less distraction for kids like ours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My kid with ADHD talked all last year about how she wished the desks could be in rows every day like they did on the "special testing day". (I think she means the day they took the NNAT in FCPS.) "It was so much easier for me to do my work when we sat like that."

Agree. It is less distraction for kids like ours.

Most kids do not have ADHD. Teachers need to seat the students in a way that benefits the majority, not the minority.
You could always request a seating accommodation for your student in a 504, but then your student would have to sit all alone. I personally do not think this would be in your student's best interest.

[Anonymous]

Not a teacher and not really familiar with the latest in elementary education best practices, but would any teachers reading this thread be willing to either link to some research or post a short explanation regarding why the desk groups/tables configuration is beneficial? I'm sure there's a reason it's used since this seems to be the current seating trend in most classrooms, I'm just a bit surprised that it is better than having the kids seated in rows and I would be interested to learn why this is. I would have thought rows would make it easier for students to focus and avoid talking out of turn while simultaneously helping teachers maximize space in their classrooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a teacher and not really familiar with the latest in elementary education best practices, but would any teachers reading this thread be willing to either link to some research or post a short explanation regarding why the desk groups/tables configuration is beneficial? I'm sure there's a reason it's used since this seems to be the current seating trend in most classrooms, I'm just a bit surprised that it is better than having the kids seated in rows and I would be interested to learn why this is. I would have thought rows would make it easier for students to focus and avoid talking out of turn while simultaneously helping teachers maximize space in their classrooms.

I gave my reasons at 09:44 on page 1.

It's not like this is a new practice. In my 22 year career, most elementary teachers I have known have grouped desks. A few in my building are getting rid of desks and going with tables. I don't have any research, but I can say that my students aren't misbehaved when not in rows. Elementary students aren't taught in a lecture type setting and I don't think they should be.