It was the Friday before Labor Day, and during my prep period (the last period of the day), I was finishing a bunch of things up before going home. One of my priorities was to create a new seating chart for period five (because of issues the previous day).
As I was doing this, I went through the add/drop list. This is how we see which students are being moved in and out of various classes.
(It's been crazy these first few weeks of school. Every day students are moved about for various reasons.)
That's when I learned that I was getting two new students into fifth period.
The problem? The class already had 35 students. And I only had 35 desks.
It was late in the day on a Friday. I figured it was a next week problem.
The following Tuesday (Monday was a holiday) I had everything set up for the seating chart change. Except for the two new students. (Who weren't "new". One transferred in from sixth period and one transferred in from second.) I had a table in the back of the room and had them sit there.
I took roll, then I had the two students take the seats of absent students.
I was going to need more desks.
I asked around. My co-teacher gave me the name of the custodian who I should email. I sent the email.
As I was getting ready to leave Tuesday, I ran into the department chair and mentioned the problem. She noted that another teacher had left four desks outside her classroom.
I went to investigate.
It turned out that that teacher was getting rid of the desks as she didn't need them. They were outside for a custodian to dispose of. Free game. I absconded with them. (Well, not really. It's not absconding if you have permission.)
I left the desks in the back of the room and went home. (We're on block schedule, so I wouldn't see fifth period on Wednesday.)
Wednesday, prep period, I did a little furniture rearranging. I knew where the desks would fit, but it took some maneuvering to get them into place.
Thursday, the two students waited in the back of the room when they arrived. I motioned to them and indicated that there were two new desks. Just for them.
Mission accomplished.
(Why they keep moving students into fifth period is a mystery. I have 15 students in fourth period. Second and sixth period each have 25. And seventh period has 30. It's ridiculous to have that one huge period.)
