Me on the Map
Creating a classroom map is a great tool to help manage classroom procedures throughout the day.
I'm sure that your students buddy up during workshops, math and have independent reading book nooks. Use this classroom management strategy in order to avoid any confusion, and debates as to whose spot is whose. You know the struggle! When this happens, send your students to the classroom map and voila! The students have solved their own dilemna instead of arguing with one another. This also frees up your instruction time to manage their learning instead of their disputes!
As you can see from the classroom map, our labels are color-coded. I like to use post-its because this allows me the freedom to change their assigned "spots" if they are easily distracted or if they need a new buddy.
It is also helpful for you to display your classroom map out of your students' reach. I have had children move the post-its! Can you believe it? ;).
There is another great benefit to having a classroom map. I always make note of the classroom map in my emergency sub plans. This provides the substitute with the ease of avoiding similar disputes regarding whose spot is whose!
