Sitting here, very bundled up on my couch, while a Christmas movie plays in the background. It is, to put it politely, frigid outside! Brrr!! I think we got up to 18 degrees today - that's the highest it's been since Wednesday. Brr! Brr! Brr!
This kind of cold weather of course means indoor recess. Really, the only thing worse than recess duty is indoor recess. Because they just don't get rid of any of their extra energy! I draw sticks and 6 of them can get on the desktop computers, than everybody else can go do something - draw on scrap paper, draw on the whiteboard, play with my pitiful set of Legos. And just to make me laugh - Friday afternoon, when I drew sticks - only 3 kids wanted on the computer. Keep me guessing kids!
So, I have just been thinking about this. I read a blog post {so special, I can't remember where from} {{wait, wait - here it is!}} and the gal talked about - why don't you consider giving up your desk.
Yes, I want to! Yes, I probably need to - but, but, but. So then I sorta thought to myself - I just Will Not sit there when I have kids in the room. Well, all that did is make me conscious of the times that I do sit there. Like real quick after they get in the room first thing in the morning, because I haven't made time to check my email until then. Or real quick before they leave for lunch so I can see if anything exciting is happening in school world. Or to quick run off a form I need for guided reading. Etc., etc., etc.
If I got rid of my desk - I would LOVE to move my guided reading table back where it is. It really needs to go to the back of the room. But, but, but. I use the white board beside my guided reading table All The Time. And I don't have a white board in the back of my room.
So you see my problems?? Any thoughts? Suggestions? How to get rid of your teacher desk ideas? Would love to hear/ read your comments.
Isn't it frustrating trying to figure out the classroom? Or for me, it is trying to magically make it bigger! My desk is in the back corner and it sort of blocks off my "stuff"- my filing cabinets and my books that I don't want the kids to get in to. I like having my "space" even though I am never really in it- and it has gotten to be a smaller and smaller area. It is sort of my "catch-all" spot, too- and some kind of comfort for me just to know it is there. I don't think I could go deskless. :) I do sometimes just stand in the room and spin around trying to figure out how to make more space in there, though! Let me know if you figure out how to do that! Stay COZY!!!
ReplyDeleteCarolyn
Kindergarten: Holding Hands and Sticking Together
Carolyn - I guess I like having my space, too. That may be part of my problem. If only we could close our eyes and blink to have all the stuff we "need!"
DeleteSeveral years ago, I traded in my larger desk for a tiny one and moved it to spot where it was least in the way. It's cold here too, by the way. :)
ReplyDelete❀ Tammy
Forever in First
I had thought of trying a smaller desk. I don't know if our district has those available. Well, I think they do at the high school.
DeleteIt's suppose to warm up here, starting Wednesday. Hope it does for you, too!
Sara
I traded in my teacher desk at the beginning of last year. Best decision I've made in terms of classroom arrangement. My desk was HUGE and L-shaped. My guided reading table now doubles as my desk. Yes, my area around my guided reading table is a mess (and that is an understatement as organization is not my forte) but the space that not having a desk has created is amazing. My computer is on the other side of the room, and I do not miss having access to it all day long.
ReplyDeleteWhen I decided to get rid of my desk, it was simply because I wanted more floor space in my room. I knew that I no longer wanted it to be there as a dumping ground. I have less piles on my guided reading table, but more things scattered around the area. The thing I miss most about my desk was the hidden storage under my desk (because my desk was so big, I had tons of hidden storage under there).
If given the choice, I would not go back to having a desk simply because it gives us more room to do the business of kindergarten learning!
Good luck! :)
Amanda
A Very Curious Class
Good thoughts, Amanda. I try hard to not let my desk become a dumping ground - and then I spend the first 15 minutes this morning digging through. Yuck!
DeleteSara
Sara, I gave up my desk the first year I taught. I had a very small room and I was teaching kdg. I wanted to make more room. I wasn't using it for anything so I used a couple of 2-drawer file cabinets to hold my stuff and then put them behind my teacher table. I have never even once thought about going back to having a desk in my room. BTW we are out of school again Tuesday, 3 snow days.
ReplyDeleteKeep Warm!
Kelly
I'm Not Your Grandpa, I'm Your Teacher
To me you are so brave. I'm not sure I'm ready to give it up.
DeleteI would say lucky you for 3 snow days - but I know it just makes it hard for the rest of the time until break. This week is supposed to be nice until Friday. Yeah! Sara