Monday. Third period.
It was my prep period. And while I had believed that the new teacher was due to start, I had just learned that no, she wasn't getting clearance probably this week. I looked at the room, the little tables of four that I had created for seating as it was an art class, and I couldn't face seventh period in that configuration anymore.
Seventh period was my large class. 35 students. And it was my least mature group. Too many of them had chosen this as play time, and I was sick of fighting them.
So, I decided to rearrange the seating. Not that I had time to rearrange the desks and create a new seating chart (because there was no way I was letting them pick their own seats). But it had to be done. For my sanity.
Changing routines for middle schoolers is not a great idea. And yet, that's what I did. Rather than collecting everything from them, I set up a turn in box. Rather than collecting everything daily, I created a packet thing. And rather than keeping them in tables, I put them in rows.
I needed to make things easier on me.
Did it? Well, it settled the other classes a bit. The classes that weren't really that big an issue. As for seventh period, that's still a work in progress.
I couldn't comment using my iPhone a little earlier but now I can on my computer. Settling the other classes is a win. Appears the problem class will take more strategies but you have an extensive toolbox with your experience. 35 students weren't unusual in the New York City schools I went to. Hopefully the new teacher will really be there next week.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got it set, it was worth the initial work. Good luck with 7th period. ;)
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