The CAD class continues...
One day I decided to make a seating chart. It's really easy to do in the attendance software. (It's just drag and drop.) And I learn names and faces more quickly when I have a seating chart to refer to.
The reason why this is silly is because the teacher doesn't have assigned seating. While in some classes this would result in pandemonium, in this class it works. At least, I haven't had any of those kinds of issues.
Besides, teens are creatures of habit. They tend to claim a seat and return to said seat each and every day.
It was kind of an experiment. Could I make a seating chart for a class where they had no assigned seating?
The answer to that question is "kind of".
In a couple of the classes, I made the seating chart, and I haven't changed it since. In the others, I have had to adjust the chart every day. (But it's just drag and drop, so it isn't hard.) Now, I say "adjust". Because, most of the chart remains accurate. It's just one or two students who move. And usually, they don't move by much.
Teens are creatures of habit. Even in classes where they're not required to remain in the same seat.
But the charts have been a success for me. I've managed to learn the students' names. (For me, that's huge. I'm terrible at remembering names.)
And the trial continues on. Late in the week we got official notification that the teacher would not be back for the next week. As that Monday (my posts appear a week after the incidents described, so I mean this past Monday) was the first day of school, summer, for me, is officially over. More stories from this class next week.
I said it before, but that is a heck of a trial! I hope the teacher shares it with people when he is off it and he can talk about it.
ReplyDeleteI think we are all creatures of habit. We tend to sit the same place at church weekly or when we go to the movies and we almost get a bit insulted if someone is sitting there first, LOL :)
betty
Whether young or grown up, we sit in the same seats. I will be a brat and change it up and you should see the confused look on some of the people:)
ReplyDeleteI do the same thing! I will deliberately sit in a different spot sometimes just to change things up.
DeleteI do this as well! It makes other people uncomfortable.
DeleteI can see how that wouldn't be a big issue. I remember in HS sitting in the same spot every day no matter what.
ReplyDeleteYeah, they are creatures of habit.
DeleteGrown ups are creatures of habit, too. My husband always jokes that I was the initiator in our relationship because I changed where I was sitting in Sunday school so I could be closer to him. Ever week I moved one seat closer. I was especially tricky because I made sure to get there before he did so that I could claim my seat first. I knew he would always sit in the same spot so it was easy to predict. Eventually, we were at the same table and he asked me out.
ReplyDeleteKudos to the nonconformists who change up where we sit.
DeleteI think I sat in the same seats all through college. Even when it was the same room, but different classes. So it's not just teenagers who are creatures of habit :)
ReplyDeleteAdults are, too, creatures of habit when it comes to seating. Once I served on a grand jury and almost every week people sat in the same seat. After the third meeting I decided to sit on the other side of the room. I don't know if it threw people off, but I felt awkward about changing seats. lol
ReplyDeleteHi Liz - I can see it'd make sense to make a chart if you remember names better that way ... glad you've still got a teaching spot though ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteIt strange all our creature of habits
ReplyDeleteMy granddaughter has told me that before....she sits in the same seat everyday. Isn't it crazy what creatures of habit we all are!
ReplyDeleteWe are.
DeleteWhen my husband taught in a Chinese public school, he had each class once a week. Over 500 students. He never even tried to learn names. A few stuck with him because there were always certain kids who stood out, but not because he put effort into it!
ReplyDeleteI don't normally try to remember names. Usually I'm one and done, and I can have 175 students in that day. But it's been a month, so I should try to remember them, I think ;)
DeleteThat's very clever of you. I'm an intense creature of habit. Be well!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how many people are.
DeleteI think we're all creatures of habit. Even when you go to church, people tend to sit in the same seat.
ReplyDeleteSeems that way.
DeleteAll my teachers always had seating charts. It's interesting that you've been able to create a seating chart based on where they typically sit. I know I like to have a seat and stick to it even outside of class (like at Starbucks where I regularly wait out traffic for the drive home or at my dining room table).
ReplyDeleteMost teachers do have seating charts and assigned seats. It's just this school... They do things differently there.
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