Image Map

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Desks arrangements linky party

How appropriate that I can join Ladybug Teachers Files' linky party. I have always moved desks arrangements frequently. One of the things that I enjoy about desks is that I can arrange them into groups and have them into different setups. (My kids knew that I would move them even during the day while they were in specials. Last year I had them in basic arrangements of three or four groups.

I often arranged them at an angle so that when I was demonstrating from the whiteboard it would be easier for the kids to see.

I had the desks more on one side of the room with the classroom library/meeting area on the other.
 With the kid's having their own personal book baskets to house their independent reading books I then decided to put an empty desk in the center of the groups. After that worked pretty well I was inspired by a fellow teacher who had added a "shelf" to her groups. Her desks were a different style and this didn't work well. So my husband and I built little bench shelves to go between the desks to house their baskets, kleenex, and hand sanitizer.

 Toward the end of the school year I was able to get a ceiling mounted projector and SMARTslate. Then...changes again! With the ability to project many things to the whiteboard for teaching purposes, we were using that area more than the meeting area. I could now do all my calendar math on the whiteboard using SMARTslate. Now that I am teaching summer school I am trying a new arrangement. I moved our square tiles for the meeting area right in front of the whiteboard. The desks are around the meeting area. So we can now meet using SMARTboard programs and also project lessons. If they need to be at their desks I have tried to configure them so the kids can just turn and look.


 Summer school begins next week so I have a 19 day
"trial" to see how this configuration works.

17 comments:

  1. I absolutely LOVE the shelves you and your husband built to put in the center of your desk groups. Did you purchase those? If so, where and what did you get? I think it's so convenient to have everything they need (ie: book boxes, tissues, etc.) where they can easily get to them with minimal distractions to others.

    I also like the way you put your meeting area in the center of your room up by the whiteboard and your desks around that. This has definitely given me an idea as I set up my classroom next year.

    Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I just found your blog from the "desk linky party" and I love it! I love the desk/bench idea & can't wait to get my poor hubby busy! Thank you for the time to post pictures and share your ideas! I am so excited to try this! You will love & adore your new technology too!
    ~Fern
    Fern-Smith.Blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. The bench ideas is so cool and wow original!! Thanks for all the awesome pics!!
    Julie
    Thoughts of a Third Grade Teacher

    ReplyDelete
  4. I just love this, what a creative idea! Everything is so organized and accessible--it's a teacher's dream! Thanks so much for linking up :)
    Kristen

    ReplyDelete
  5. Those desk shelves are AMAZING! What a brilliant idea! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Tell me about your seatsacks. I made some from hand towels, but love what I could see of yours.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love the bench idea between the desks! When I taught 2nd I used an extra desk to hold tissues, crayons, etc but i would have loved to have had this! Great thinking!
    Lindsey
    http://whytewater.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great idea! How far below the desk did you drop the shelf? Do you remember the dimensions for the whole shelf? I would love to make some for my room.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Love all of your ideas! I would also love to know how you made your desk shelves.
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  10. Found this wonderful idea on Pinterest. So glad I found your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I would really like the dimensions of these bench/shelves s I have talked my husband into making them. How have they been working for you?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great information. Lucky me I found your blog by chance (stumbleupon).

    I have book-marked it for later!
    My site - elitecigarettestore.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am really grateful to the holder of this site who has shared this wonderful
    article at at this time.
    Look into my webpage - free iphone

    ReplyDelete
  14. No matter if some one searches for his necessary thing, therefore he/she desires to be available that in detail, so
    that thing is maintained over here.
    Have a look at my web blog : Www.Youtube.Com

    ReplyDelete
  15. This information is priceless. When can I find out more?
    Feel free to surf my web-site ; adult acne

    ReplyDelete
  16. Excellent post however I was wanting to know
    if you could write a litte more on this topic? I'd be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Many thanks!
    Review my homepage ... acne treatments

    ReplyDelete

  17. Thank you so much for your comments. I am so pleased you find my information and service helpful.

    Classroom Desks & Classroom Furniture & Classroom Tables



    ReplyDelete