Through a process that has taken nearly a year, we came to a momentous event Monday. Two of the kindergarten classes changed from tables to desks. However, because of some scheduling issues I didn't change my classroom. You should have heard my class!! LOL "Mrs. Maurer, Mrs. Maurer, did you see Mrs. C's class? They have desks!!" "Mrs. Maurer, Mrs. Maurer, why didn't we get desks?" It was pandemonium for a few minutes until I showed my class our desks in the storage room down the hall and assured them that by Tuesday we would have our own desks. I worked late Monday to keep my promise!
I kept my reading table and my art table and put sixteen desks into my room. This is the first time in my teaching career that I've been in a classroom with more desk seating than table seating. The most I've ever had before was four desks. I used them for students who willingly, or for my sanity, needed to sit alone. One year I had a student who cried if anyone touched anything that belonged to him. I kept him in his own desk until he was comfortable enough to ask to be at a table.
I can tell, after only one day, that this is going to be a love-hate situation. Most of the desks are close enough so that the students are essentially in the same places as before, but with more personal storage space. Others are far enough away from the rest of the group to hopefully be less distracted. I moved our "abundance" of supplies to the art table so that concept still works. However, I've had to slightly change our table center and reading group procedures.
Some of the students have already learned how to be annoying by scooting or shaking their desks. Two have figured out how to raise their desks up and balance two of the legs on the tops of their shoes! One has discovered the joy of writing inside his desk. Another has already tried to hide his unfinished work in his desk.
Desks! It's a whole new world...
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