Secondary Teachers: Desk Arrangements

Just trying to get some ideas

A) What subject/grade do you teach? (because I can never remember)

B) What is your classroom desk set up? Pairs/groups/rows/Horseshoe/etc?

C) Where is your desk? Front/back/side of room?

Message edited 8/15/2007 8:11:41 PM.

Re: Secondary Teachers: Desk Arrangements

I student taught in a middle school, so I will give some input, if you don't mind. Pretty much every room (english, math, social studies) had the desks in rows, not tables and no groupings. Just straight forward old school rows. As for the teacher desks, they were either against a side wall and on a diagonal corner in the back. I student taught in 3 village, so if I were to go back to secondary ed, I would follow their suit.

Re: Secondary Teachers: Desk Arrangements

I student taught and taught in both MS and HS and I have seen all of the above.

I am trying to figure out what I want to do.

I know a lot of english classes uses the horseshoe.

Re: Secondary Teachers: Desk Arrangements

High school English...

I taught in two different classrooms. My main one was arranged in classic rows, with my desk in the front. If we needed to break up into groups, we would move the desks. The other one had tables--4 students each.

This is a new job, yes? I think if I were you, I would go for the "old school" rows. New teachers in a school (esp. HS, I think...you know, because the students have BTDT ) sometimes find it difficult to establish discipline at the start and then it's really difficult to get it back. With some of the other arrangements--pairs, groups--talking among students is easier and therefore, could be a big disruption. Plus, you don't want to switch *back* to rows because then it looks like you've been defeated.

So, my advice, rows and then once you've established rapport, etc...then feel free to mix it up!

Sorry for rambling and good luck!!!

Message edited 8/15/2007 9:07:06 PM.

Re: Secondary Teachers: Desk Arrangements

I teach middle school english. I have the desks in sort of a horseshoe. The two sides face each other the the ones in the back middle face front. I like to sit in the front of the horseshoe when we read in class and I can see and hear everyone very easily.

MY DESK

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Message edited 8/15/2007 9:40:39 PM.

Re: Secondary Teachers: Desk Arrangements

a)math HS
b) classic rows
c) right in front of the room (b/c there is no where else to put my desk my room stinks

Re: Secondary Teachers: Desk Arrangements

My desk is in the back corner. I plan to start the year in regular rows. If the classes I have are mature enough, I'd like to do horseshoe for later in the year, because we do a lot of discussion.

What I can't decide is assigned seating or not... it's more for me than for them, because I am TERRIBLE with putting names & faces together....

Re: Secondary Teachers: Desk Arrangements

Im at the HS... most teachers are not lucky enough to have their own classroom- everyone shares... so most of the desks are all in rows... if a teacher wants to change them for a period, they just have the students move into whatever formation they want, but they are put back into the rows at the end of the period... since I teach art, we have tables in my classroom... sometimes I push them all together, but to start with they are separate...

Re: Secondary Teachers: Desk Arrangements

I have to do rows with the types of desks that I have. They don't work in tables or pushed together because no one would be able to get in and out of them then.

Re: Secondary Teachers: Desk Arrangements

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

I won't be sharing a room which is a plus and I was just trying to get some ideas. I am definitely starting wth assigned seating so I can learn the names first.

Re: Secondary Teachers: Desk Arrangements

I teach in a MS. I usually have them set up in pairs or triples. I teach Sp Ed and this seems to work well especially since I like to do a lot of cooperative assignments and the kids always seem to help each other out when they're paired.
My desk is usually caddy-cornered in the front corner.

Re: Secondary Teachers: Desk Arrangements

Just trying to get some ideas

A) What subject/grade do you teach? (because I can never remember)

B) What is your classroom desk set up? Pairs/groups/rows/Horseshoe/etc?

C) Where is your desk? Front/back/side of room?

At my school last year, I taught 10th grade science and 12th grade science. I shared a room with three other teachers. The desks were in rows and I hated it! This year I will hopefully share the room with less people and will be able to change them up. I remember my teachers used to change the room around all the time.

As for my desk, I teach science, so I can not move the lab counter. It is in the front.

Re: Secondary Teachers: Desk Arrangements

Re: Secondary Teachers: Desk Arrangements

I teach LOTE 7th and 8th grade and I have been using groups for 12 years. Last year the district finally bought me tables so the kids would stop hurting themselves getting into the tables with the bars-it was a pain.

My desk though I am NEVER in it is in the front right corner by the window on a diaginal.