Before the last three weeks of school, I spent almost an entire weekend in my classroom… with a plan.
The plan was to be brave, be bold and try something different. The last two years, I really hadn’t changed much in layout with my classroom because it was working well and in general, very smoothly.
This year.. it wasn’t bad, but with change comes sometimes the need to optimize. Since I began teaching math in small groups, I really found myself spending a lot of energy being creative in the placement of my materials. I really had to have everything from math put away in order to make guided reading groups function without manipulatives around. I shared the same instructional space for both times of the day.
Time For a Change – Ditching My Teacher Desk
Having told you this, know that this draining creativity squeeze was just the beginning of the thinking, “There has to be a better way to do this everyday.”
Enter the thought, thanks to reading wonderful teacher articles on organizing, rearranging and classroom decor, “What if I got rid of my teacher desk?” {Silent scream!}
I wanted to. I wanted to give more space to what we really do – which is learn all day long.
My desk is the place for me to plan, prepare, answer notes and keep it all together… but I am only ever there during specials or before and after school.
I wanted to… but I had no idea what it would look like and what patterns of habit I’d have to change in order to accept what else would take its place. I thought and thought and drew sketches. I began to feel energizing creative juices flow and began to design… I could create more alternative seating placements and get rid of having one traditional “seat” for every child.
A Fresh Classroom
Moving things around with a few weeks left of school gave me the opportunity to see if my sketches could come to life.
The results? I love it! Love it, love it, love it!
My favorite aspect of the new room layout, which was brought on by having additional space now that my traditional desk is gone, is that there are more open spaces. I used to think that open spaces were terrifying {insert picture of kinders wrestling} but that doesn’t hold true for me any more.
I will tell you, that because I have a teacher computer on a shelf, I am using space next to it to hold my “teachery” things. But everything that was in my desk either found a new home, or it got pitched.
{Throwing things away felt soooo good}
So, I’m not without a teacher space that I will still use for planning and prepping.
There was nothing wrong with my teacher desk. My room now looks at least 1/3 bigger since, visually, the big black box of my desk was cutting it off. It feels more spacious, relaxed and inviting. And, having tried it for three weeks with kinders… its fully functional and very kinder friendly.
And you can see that, I can easily turn around and use my guided reading space for spreading out to do projects if needed during my plan times. The organized part of me likes that that I can’t leave teacher stuff out since we use it daily for student use.
So, my new rule for what stays in my teacher area? If I use it on a daily or weekly basis, it can stay. If not… it finds a new home in a cupboard, filing cabinet, closet, gets trashed or digitized.
It lends itself to whole group, small group and independent work. Remember I said this desire for change was brought on by the thought that I needed to change something since I now teach math in small groups?
We found a kidney shaped table to bring in, and had plenty of room since two large rectangle tables went out.
My guided reading will now happen at a regular height kidney table and guided math will be at the floor height kidney table. We now have just 2 traditional rectangle tables with chairs/seats.
Alternative Seating Became a Thing in Our Room
All tables, chairs, floor spaces {minus the sunken area and closet}, and shelves will be used as student spaces. I will have limits of how many kinders can be at a table during independent work to limit the noise levels. And I have clipboards and lapboards for students who choose to work on the floor.
These are just some of the snapshots to give you a glimpse of how our room feels and looks now.
A Bouncy Ball Chair
How did I make the ball chair? Would you believe a Walmart bouncy ball {yes – it held up!} and a yoga ring to keep it in place. One of my readers suggested a frisbee as a less expensive alternative to keep a ball in place.
The new seat was very successful – so I added a second (and then a third). Not sure what size ball chair? Check out this (affiliate) ball chair for kindergarten with feet for size information.
I also have a few crate seats for use with our computers to offer variety.
A lot came from the idea, but I hope sharing some photos can give you some ideas too!
If you like what I do here on KindergartenWorks, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly.
So what’s next?
You may want to get this tip and 5 others sent directly to your email over the next week with my free Alternative Seating Bootcamp course. You’ll get my best on making the most of your classroom and be on your way to making it happen!
More on Alternative Seating
- How to Roll Out Student Work Spaces {alternative seating}
- Alternative Seating in Kindergarten – 6 Frequently Asked Questions
- Your kinders are under the tables! {alternative seating}
- Student Work Spaces Instead of Student Name Tags
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Ladybug Teacher says
June 11, 2012 at 6:10 PMI loved reading this Leslie, you are always so thoughtful about how you will carry things out. I’ve been trying out a few new things during the end of our year too…I moved the tables and library around and have been ditching things like crazy! Your room has undergone such an incredible transformation, I hope to achieve that soon!
I LOVE how you lowered that table. Did you just take the bottom parts of the legs off completely? I’m thinking it would be really neat to try out. I kind of go with what my students like for invented seating and I have a lot who love sitting on the floor–I bet they would love this. Thanks for giving me so much to think about for the end of this year and a very happy summer vacation to you!
Kristen 🙂
Leslie @KindergartenWorks says
June 11, 2012 at 7:32 PMKristen,
Thanks for your kind compliments! Thanks for sharing that throwing things away makes you happy too! The tables did have their bottom leg removed with the pads stuck in the opening. My wonderful custodians put up with my requests for lowered tables when I promise not to want to change them 😉 Happy countdown til summer for you dear friend!
Yolanda Arnold says
June 11, 2012 at 5:59 PMLove the new layout…but going from 4 to 2 student tables scares me to death:) I know I would have tons more space if I got rid of my student desk pods…but unfortunately my room isn’t carpeted. But I would love to try something like this. Would you consider posting about how your students handle that, how you explain that to them on the first day of school…just how it all works in your classroom? I know clear as mud right.
Ms.A
Oceans of First Grade Fun
Leslie @KindergartenWorks says
June 11, 2012 at 6:04 PMThanks Ms. A – I was scared too, really! I’m not sure how I’ll explain it all on the first few days of school… I’ve got more planning ahead of me! But, I’ll see if I can remember to share about how it all goes! 😉 I most likely will assign “spaces” and rotate them until we’ve all explored a variety and understand all of the right ways to use the spaces. I can also use that for student who can’t handle it, will have to earn choosing their own spaces during independent time. (Learned that one within the three trial weeks 😉
Pam Lusk says
June 11, 2012 at 5:28 PMYou will love not having a teacher’s desk. I gave mine up about 16 years ago. Everyone thought I wa crazy. Now very few teachers in our building have teacher desks.
Leslie @KindergartenWorks says
June 11, 2012 at 5:37 PMLove hearing about that – thanks Pam! What do you like to use to hold your plan book and such?
ljstarnes says
June 11, 2012 at 5:22 PMLove this! I’ve really been thinking about the kids not having chairs/tables, but making their own space. I love the independence of it (and the space!!!) I’m even looking at getting rid of my teacher desk. Thanks for the pictures. I’m glad it worked well for you!
Laura
Kinder Kraziness
Leslie @KindergartenWorks says
June 11, 2012 at 5:38 PMThanks Laura! I am already a fan of the independence factor. I’ll have to do some planning on how to execute it at the beginning of the year… but I have all summer to figure that out 😉
Catherine says
June 11, 2012 at 5:21 PMI haven’t had a teacher-desk in two years. I switched schools and told them “no thanks.” I fear, with my new change (my district has 144 elementary schools alone) that I’ll be stuck with the big boxed demon. I LOVE the fact that you’ve varied your seating heights. This has given me some ideas. At the same time, my district demands every child have a seat/table space. I love the idea of working in various locations within the room, but my space is “tied” down to requirements. LOVE your room!
Leslie @KindergartenWorks says
June 11, 2012 at 5:27 PMThanks for sharing Catherine. Your district is HUGE! I appreciate your comments and they make me thankful that I was able to get permission to move forward with not having a traditional space for each child. With change always come newness – I hope you find some newness that you love as much as I do mine!
Michelle Rist says
June 11, 2012 at 4:36 PMThanks for sharing those pics! You’ve inspired me to make some changes to my room as well!
Leslie @KindergartenWorks says
June 11, 2012 at 4:42 PMThanks Michelle! Are you already done for the year?
Leslie @KindergartenWorks says
June 11, 2012 at 4:30 PMI may have 2 people in my classroom this year. They will have to have some closet space for their personal things and shelf space for student needs. Sometimes, we have to take it one step at a time! I had two desks before and felt the same as you! I’d love to read about it if you give it a try!
Ramblingaboureading says
June 11, 2012 at 4:28 PMThis looks awesome and it’s exactly what I needed to see/hear! I have been wanting to get rid of my teacher’s desk and then I was told I was moving rooms and the para professional that is moving in is going to have a desk. So I couldn’t imagine having 2 desks in the room! I immediately knew I would get rid of my desk but have my reservations. Now I know it’ll be fine and probably work out even better for me. Now if I could just get rid of her big bulky desk too…one at a time..
[email protected]
Lisa R. says
June 11, 2012 at 4:05 PMYour layout looks great! I haven’t had a teacher desk for 3 years now & it usually works out great. I have limited classroom space as it is so it really adds to the space you have. Thanks for sharing all of your pics! You gave me some new ideas for my layout!
Lisa
Learning Is Something to Treasure
Leslie @KindergartenWorks says
June 11, 2012 at 4:28 PMThanks Lisa! I’m sure it helps other to read about those who have done it and had success – then they know they can do it too! I’m glad to hear how you’ve done it for 3 years and still going!
Do you still claim a teacher space?
Laura says
June 11, 2012 at 3:18 PMI love this! I have been toying with the idea of getting rid of my desk this school year too. My only fear is I will do it, then I will regret it. You make it look so easy though! Still thinking things through… 🙂
Laura
http://www.tattlingtotheteacher.blogspot.com
Leslie @KindergartenWorks says
June 11, 2012 at 3:23 PMThanks Laura! I definitely was fearing it too – big time! Planning and thinking things through really helped. I am still working out developing some new habits 😉 I made sure to ask my principal that if I hated it, could I have my desk back! That’s something that made me decide to give it a try – but I’m not asking for it back!