Description: During the lesson we were talking cooperative learning and how to get into groups and I had a new idea about seating arrangement. My room arrangement already allows for group work but what if i already had the students grouped correctly by the seating chart. It would be a little different but i think i could some up with enough combonations to cover all types of groups. My desks are kind of set in groups of 4, and by placing and advanced, two moderate, and a struggling student together i think i could use the arrangement to help with all kinds of cooperative learning activities.
Analysis: If an activity requires partners there are three possible combonations. If it requires groups of four then i already have a heterogeneous mix and can just state the directions. Also i Would need to have alternate seating plans to adapt for other combinations of students for different projects. But I think this is a great way to get a good mixture in the class room and try to seperate problem areas such as friends sitting to close together.
Reflection: I think this is a good idea and it would take alot of prep time to analyze students and then place them into these groups but in the long school year i think this will help facilitate a comfortable classroom environment, and turn out better projects and group work.
John, good comments. In Mr. M’s class, he has his students arranged in pairs, right? Another idea would be to group two pairs together to make small groups of four. Then, you could arrange the students as you suggested – - with two stronger students and two struggling students.
When I taught middle school and high school, I used to change the seating arrangement each six weeks. By doing so, everyone had a chance to sit with different people. What you ultimately want to do is create a classroom environment in which everyone feels comfortable with everyone else. As I observe at Awesome High, I wonder if students feel this way, even at this point in the school year. I’m a big believer in creating that classroom community. I also believe that we teachers have a responsibility to teach students socialization skills. Good posting. NB