When I had the idea to implement flexible seating in my classroom, I knew classroom management was going to be huge. I was so excited to have yoga balls, lawn chairs, stools, and cushions as options for students to use as seats. However, when giving students the chance to choose their own seats, I knew there was a huge chance that classroom management would be an issue. I needed to start strong and put a system in place that was built on consistency. I had the perfect presentation with all of my expectations laid out for each type of seat, and I had a schedule of how I wanted to present flexible seating to my class. After doing research on how other teachers implemented flexible seating, I decided to add one more component to my management plan: a classroom contract.
Classroom contracts not only provide clear, visible expectations for students, but they also give students ownership. I printed out five large posters (one for each class), and laminated them so I could write on them in transparency marker. Each poster had my three non-negotiable rules about the flexible seats. Underneath, I created two columns, one that said "I Will", and another that said "I Will Not". Then, I let the kids brainstorm what they will and will not do with the seats. I was blown away by their own rules (see an example below). Not only did they show me they understood the expectations, but they now took ownership of the seats. Each student signed the contract, and they are now hanging on my wall. If a student breaks the rules, I can easily point to the contract to remind him/her of what (s)he agreed to.
I would definitely recommend classroom contracts for any new changes in the classroom!
Classroom contracts not only provide clear, visible expectations for students, but they also give students ownership. I printed out five large posters (one for each class), and laminated them so I could write on them in transparency marker. Each poster had my three non-negotiable rules about the flexible seats. Underneath, I created two columns, one that said "I Will", and another that said "I Will Not". Then, I let the kids brainstorm what they will and will not do with the seats. I was blown away by their own rules (see an example below). Not only did they show me they understood the expectations, but they now took ownership of the seats. Each student signed the contract, and they are now hanging on my wall. If a student breaks the rules, I can easily point to the contract to remind him/her of what (s)he agreed to.
I would definitely recommend classroom contracts for any new changes in the classroom!