5 Quick Seating Chart Hacks for the Middle School ELA Classroom
A few weeks ago, I shared my seating-chart-creation process on my Instagram stories, and I was surprised by the amount of feedback I received. Clearly, the delicate art of creating non-combustible seating charts is one many of us are familiar with. I don’t always get it perfect, but somewhere during my ten years of teaching, I figured out a few ways to arrange my students without our classroom imploding. Here are a few tricks that have made a HUGE difference in my classroom management.
Place an enthusiastic student directly in your line of sight.
Positivity is contagious (as are other, less savory dispositions), so this one makes a world of difference. Picture that student who always makes eye contact, who nods as you speak, or who laughs at your jokes. That’s the kid you want directly in your line of vision. Regardless of how the rest of the day is going, you and that kid are going to have a marvelous time. And don’t be surprised if your positivity party spreads to the rest of the classroom too!
Keep introverted students nearby.
As a major introvert myself, I can attest to the power of this simple adjustment. Some students are much too shy to ask questions in front of an entire class, but if you seat them close enough to you, they might feel comfortable enough to quietly ask you for clarification. This helps them succeed academically, and it also helps you to get better acquainted with students you may not otherwise know well.
Try arranging desks in a circle or square.
When I was in college, I was told that the only way to maintain effective classroom management while reading was to walk throughout the classroom as I read. I get where this advice comes from, but it simply does not work for me! Listen. I gave it a fair chance. For years, I walked around my room as I read, bumping into chairs, bruising my thighs on desks, tripping over backpacks, losing my place on the page . . . I really tried. And if it had truly increased student engagement, I might have put up with the bruises and frustration. But it didn’t. In fact, student engagement totally tanked when I was tripping around the room because kids only paid attention when they saw that I was coming toward them. Finally, I arranged my desks in a circle/square with every student facing the center of the classroom. This allows me to sit on my stool and read with a clear view of each student in my room. At any time, I can lift my eyes and make eye contact with a distracted student, and this has made all the difference.
Put students who need extra accountability close to you—but not too close.
I have found that if I put these students right next to me on the seating chart, they see it as a punishment or a source of shame, so I try to put the introverted students right next to me and then place struggling students on the other side of them so I can easily help them or keep them accountable.
Remember to include YOU in the seating chart!
I have specific places in our circle reserved for me to sit as I read or talk with my students. I am not on the outside of the circle or in the center of the circle. I am part of the circle. This is super important to me as I build a culture of collaboration in my classroom.
If you try any of these hacks in your own classroom, tag me on Instagram @distinguishedenglish to let me know how it goes! Best of luck!
