Submitted by Pamela Rezach, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Idea posted August 4, 2003
Concerning letting students lie down: I do not let the students lie down on the floor, not even for a movie. If we want an educational, classroom setting, then we need to provide rules that support learning. Good posture supports learning. Lying down on the floor is great for home relaxation, but not brain edification.
Concerning seating in alpha order: I always use alpha order, but I don't always have the "first" student sit in the same location each year. I use short tables. (They are 8" off the floor.) I can sit three students per table. My students sit on the floor and use the tables for writing or holding the books. I number the tables by using colored tags. The first three students sit at table one, but table one is not always in the same spot in the room, nor is table two, three, etc. It makes it fun for the students, they always sit by the same fellow students - which helps me - and every time they come in the room, they have the excitement of finding out where their table is.
Concerning name tags: I've tried it, but I don't like for the students to wear name tags. All they do is play with the tag. And beware if one of the tags breaks! They lose all focus when this happens. (I've tried everything that anybody has suggested and still find names one of the hardest parts of teaching.)
I found one kind of name tag to work better than others: The kindergarten teacher made name tags out of bulletin board border strips. She staples them to fit their heads. The rule is that the band stays on their heads. These have been the most successful tags I've run across.
I've also tried "place setting" tags. They sit their name on the table so that I can see the name. It's O.K., but creates a problem when I want them to move the tables around for a movement activity.