I Want That Spot!

It is inevitable at some point in the year. You release students to work independently or collaboratively, and multiple students direct their attention toward the same work spot. They all believe it is their “good-fit” spot and don’t want to give it up. What do you do? How do you solve the problem of children wanting the same seat so it doesn’t become a management problem and waste of time? We have a few ideas that may help.

1. Teach the behaviors of what to do when someone is sitting in the work space you want. Often we teach children to have two or three places they could work from and that if the first one is taken, they should quietly move on to their second or third choice.
    
2. Release students to begin their work by name, starting with a different child each time. That way not all students are released at the same time.
    
3. If one or more spaces in the room are especially coveted, have a chart that says who is able to sit in those spaces on a particular day. The child (or children) whose names are on the chart for the day do not have to sit there, but they get first dibs if they wish.