Having a seating chart is incredibly helpful during a teacher's first year. It is great tool for helping new teachers take control in the classroom. One of the most important things a teacher can do is to get to know the students' names in a short time as possible.In the first year, a new teacher should sit the students as traditionally as possible in order to avoid discipline problems with "too friendly" classroom desk arrangements.

A Seating Chart Can Be a New Teacher's Best Friend
By Dorit Sasson

Seating charts helps monitor and even offset discipline problems as the teacher gets to know the students' names. The quicker the teacher knows the students' names, the more efficient the lesson plan will be.

Types of Seating Charts

The traditional classroom desk arrangement is to sit students according to rows with as much room as possible like a simple row chart. Students are used to this classroom arrangement, which is preferable for the new teacher. Once a new teacher gets used to his/her role, demands, responsibilities, as well as the school climate and policies, he or she can always change from rows to more creative arrangements such as a semi circle or in groups with two desks head on together.

Preparing a Seating Chart

Some schools usually prepare a classroom desk arrangement according to homeroom classes However, if you do need to come up with your own classroom seating plan, use the open space of a blank page to draw your own seating charts with boxes for each students. Some teacher planners have a few pages of seating charts already in them, so it is just a matter of turning to the appropriate class page.

Seating students in a way that will give you maximum efficiency and control to teach can be difficult. You may find you have to separate certain students or small groups of students early on. (It is wise to use a pencil for writing in the names)

Give the new seating arrangement time to take its course. See where the problems lie. Do you need to change the seating plan of a few students? Is one student having problems sitting far in the back? Announce to your class that you will be making a few changes in the classroom seating plan, so they know what to expect.

Use Seating Charts for Different Classroom Situations

Make a quick copy of your seating charts for substitutes and attach the seating charts to your lesson plans for the days when you know in advance you will be absent. Use several charts to accommodate your changing rooms or multiple class schedules.

Knowing how to use a seating chart can help you take control in the classroom. Try it! You'll be glad you did.

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Don't miss out also on my one day workshops on "Succeeding with Mixed Ability Classes." To find a workshop near you, go to: http://newteacherresourcecenter.blogspot.com/2008/09/attend-my-one-day-workshops-on-mixed.html

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