Put the seating plan in the bin. (Yes, I would do this for ALL year groups)
Updated: Aug 30
Furniture…
I have had hundreds of messages asking about tables and chairs! So here goes…
If you are running full CP in your KS1 classroom you do not need a ‘formal’ classroom table and chair for every child. That is because whole class inputs will be done on the carpet and then everything else in groups. And if you need them all sitting at same time they can sit on other furniture or the floor with a clipboard.
One of the comments most teachers make when they visit my classroom and watch the room and children over a period of time is how they notice the children hardly ever choose to sit at the formal classroom tables and chairs. And this is so true. The children choose the other places to sit or stand.
My classroom runs all day with CP and group work happening. The children are given the freedom to choose where to sit or stand (or lie on their tummies!) when they are learning in provision. Lots of children choose to take their shoes off and lots choose to stand. This is because movement is an important element of children learning. We hand the responsibility over to the children and say things like ‘you choose someone you can work well next to.’ Or ‘you choose a space you feel you can do your best.’
Even during group work they choose their chair. And these choices change daily! Which is a wonderful thing. The children learn how others learn. The children learn what isn’t helpful for someone else when they are trying to concentrate. They learn that they don’t have to sit next to someone who isn’t helping them to do their best. They learn how to be a good role model for other and that they can make decisions for themselves.
Of course, sometimes their choices end up not being good ones. But just like adults, these mistakes can be learned from. These mistakes are extremely important and what they do next time is learning in action. And we can help them to make better choices next time. For some this can take many weeks, but all, eventually learn to make the right decisions.
In my classroom in September I create two group tables. That is all we need while we are settling in! I might add one or even two more groups as they become more independent as the year goes on, especially as I have Yr2 as well. For Yr1 only I perhaps wouldn’t need to.
Then I provide a whole host of other options for the children. I have logs around my low playdough table, small IKEA tables and chairs, my own children’s child size rocking chairs, a wooden picnic bench (outside) , a dog bed and pillows (in book corner - and yes, it is by far the most popular area for snuggling up with a book!) There are also lots of sides and Tuff Trays for standing at. I provide loads of clipboards because lots of children like lying on the floor or sitting on the floor.
Clever ways to use furniture to make ‘areas’
- IKEA kallax are fab for storage but also for creating areas in your room. They are a perfect height for Yr1/Yr2 size children to access things but also the perfect height for teachers to still be able to see into areas.
- putting two formal tables together but sitting 6 children around them.
- you can put two formal tables together and a display board in between them to create one area either side. So both sides of the display board becomes a display for two different areas and also the tables create a work surface. You can add chairs or leave it for standing.
- small IKEA Lack tables area much smaller than formal tables but the perfect size for little people and two or three together can create a nice little corner. They also lend themselves to fitting a hundred square perfectly on the top for the math corner!
- logs are always a favourite for mine to sit on. You can make circles with them or put them around circular coffee tables etc
- cable drums - I tend to cover mine in hessian , just to make extra surfaces for things. They are usually a good height from the floor and take up less room than a square table.
The stress move.
Every so often my amazing TA arrives at work and I will be half way through pulling the bookshelf across the room . 😂
I move the furniture quite often. This is because after a few weeks you might sense a little ‘lull’. Areas might seem to go a bit stale and children don’t seem to be excited about them anymore. That’s when you know a little move is due. I also seem to do this in quite stressful weeks for some reason! So we call it ‘the stress move!’
You will be amazed how moving the book corner (not changing it AT ALL) just simply moving it can suddenly reignite the excitement in the area and children will once again all be flocking there! Here here to a stress move! Keep everyone on their toes!
