Think back to your days as a student. Where did you have to sit? What do you recall about your learning groups? In retrospect, where would you have preferred to sit for your academic success? What are some qualities you would have appreciated as a partner?
When I was a student in secondary school, I would sit in the back. However, when I was a college student, I always sat in the front. I never liked working in groups, but I did get practice sporadically and do just fine in group projects. I tend to be pushed into the leader position, which is fine by me. For my academic success, I like to be closer to the teacher so I can hear and ask questions more easily. In my partner/team, I appreciate working with people who work fast and fulfill their role/task.
ReplyDeleteYour group experience sounds like my group experience.
DeleteMs. Duff,
DeleteI too, realized I liked working on my own but when need to be working in groups I did just fine too. I think that in our classrooms today, it is important to give students opportunity for both individual time and collaborative time. That way we cater to those students who like individual work and to those students who like working with others.
Both are good skills to have.
~Jeraldy Vega
I, like you, always chose to sit in the back in secondary school.. but moved closer when in college. I found that I was able to get more bang for my buck when I was closer to the teacher. It makes me wonder what it's like for my students who I have sat in the back. I realize that I should "freshen up" my seating arrangement soon and mix up groups to make sure that students don't get stuck.
DeleteWhen working as a team/partner, my preference was my best friend because we always challenge each other to do the best in everything. We exchanged roles so as to fulfill our academically thirsty minds or egos?
DeleteI always sat in the back, from time to time there were learning groups, but I would have preferred to have sat by my self. In math class I sat in the front near the teacher so that I could ask and answer as much as I could.
ReplyDeleteI agree! Alone is better than with bad company!
DeleteI'm noticing that we liked to sit in the front in classes we liked and in the back for classes we didn't.
DeleteMaybe because of the pure energies and wanting to be close to or involved in what we enjoy -
or maybe because we thought we wouldn't get called on as much if we "hid" from the teacher in classes we felt inferior in.
Good answer , I sat way in the back also during my jr. High days
DeleteWe sat in rows. It was alphabetical. I would have been most successful surrounded by like-minded nerds.
ReplyDeleteSomeone who was a hard worker - I'm competitive. I would've wanted to do better then my partner.
Do you mean "Better *than your partner?" ;)
DeleteI also sat in rows and I can see why my teachers did that... Kids are much quieter, but there is also less dialogue and discussion.
DeleteWhen I was a student I remember that I was always seated in the back. Whether I chose this seat or it was assigned to me, I was always sent to the back. Part of me enjoyed being seated towards the back because I thought it provided less of an opportunity to be called on by the teacher, but I also know that I was easily distracted by classmates.
ReplyDeleteI was usually grouped with students that had a hard time finishing their work because I was diligent with my classwork. I would have appreciated a partner who contributed more and brought fresh ideas, so I could be more creative.. rather than just working to complete a task.
I completely understand. It is so easy to hide in the back. Back when I was in middle school all classes had rows, and if you were in the back you could get through the class without ever having to speak publicly.
DeleteThats fine to hang out, but not good to learn.
When I was a student I basically sat where the teacher wanted me to sit. If my teachers ever gave me a choice, I would sit next to my friends no matter where it was. In hindsight I would sit in a place with clear visibility and access to resources.
ReplyDeleteOur learning groups consisted of groups of four. We would gather in them to complete special projects. Sometimes everyone in the group had a responsibility, and sometimes one or two people did all the work. The qualities I would have appreciated would have been flexibility, teamwork and patience.
I remember the groups, and sometimes you got to work with people you wanted to work with, and most of the times it was with people you were trying to avoid due to many reasons, one of them lack of effort etc. But I do recall the teacher saying ok everyone remember who was in your group last time and sit with your group.
DeleteSeat Location: I remember sitting on the sides or back
ReplyDeleteLearning Groups: We rarely worked in groups. Our classes were in rows.
Seat Preference: I would have preferred to sit in groups with students who were either open to learning or were already one of the more successful students.
Partner Qualities : The person does not have ago be one of the top students. I would prefer if the person was open-minded to learning - had a positive attitude.
In high school I remember sitting mid to front section of the classroom because of my poor eyesight. We very rarely worked in groups; instead we sat in the traditional individual desks, assembly line style facing the front of the classroom. I probably would have appreciated to sit on the periphery but in a position where I could see the majority of students. Eye contact was important to me, it enabled me to be more engaged with what was going on with the students and teacher. I think the most appreciated quality in a partner is collaboration- a willingness to work with others to make sense of a task and try to complete it.
ReplyDeleteI had the same situation - rarely working in groups. Up until my teacher prep program, I did not even realize that there were schools that had students sit in purposeful groups. Now I would not imagine a classroom any other way.
DeleteI remember most of my teachers seating us in alphabetical order by last name...so i was always near the front. As far as learning groups, most of my classes were gate classes, so most all students were "high achieving." Honestly, this worked perfectly fine for me, so i wouldn't change my seating. I would have appreciated a partner that could get me to talk and discuss more, as i was always fairly quiet as a kid.
ReplyDeleteI'm completely the opposite of quiet. I've been reasonably argumentative but appreciative. Working with highly achieving groups paved way for me to for a degree w/c involved all math levels.
DeleteIf I enjoyed the class I sat in the front, otherwise I sat in the middle of any row.
ReplyDeleteLearning groups were really unproductive...it usually involved one or two people (I was one) doing most of the work. Teachers would pair the low achievers with the high achievers...this dragged my education.
It doesn't matter where I would have sat, my teachers usually gave us the choice of where to sit, only in rare circumstances would they have assigned seats (usually involved moving the trouble makers around).
Everyone needs to pull their own weight!
I agree! Being a high achiever paired with a low-achiever is incredibly frustrating! This is why as a learner I've always hated group work. Particularly if you are a high achiever who rarely complains, teachers would take advantage of that and stick you with the worst kid in the class in the hope that you'd "help" him/her when in reality, you end up doing all the work,
DeleteTHANK YOU!!!!
DeleteI do recall that when working in groups, one student did most of the group work, especially in classes where people were mixed in abilities. That one students did not want to get the bad grade.
DeleteI agree with this as well. I really enjoyed when I finally got tracked into honors classes, because i could finally enjoy and feel rewarded for being a good student.
DeleteI remember back in middle school, I ALWAYS sat towards the end of the class because my last name was Vega. Also, most of my classrooms had the seats in rows . We rarely got a chance to work in groups.
ReplyDeleteI would have liked to sit closer to the front so that I could see better. I do remember I had opportunities to help my peers but I would have liked work with them more collaboratively with my classmates.
Good partner qualities:
- be responsible
- have your materials
- pay attention
- care about the material and doing well in the class.
~J. Vega
I agree with the qualities of a good partner that you listed!
DeleteIn Elementary School I remember we had table groups. Our table would be rewarded for good behavior and lose points for negative behaviors. A lot of good teambuilding and cooperation came from sitting this way. Some years, the teacher would rearrange seating per semester. This was always exciting. You'd stand against the wall and wait for your name to be called and your new seat was always a surprise.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the team tables in elementary school.
DeleteI don't remember having to sit in a particular place. I remember preferring to sit in the back of the room as I hated being called on to answer any questions. I don't remember being put into learning groups very often when I was a student. However, whenever we were put into learning groups, I remember dreading it because it usually meant I would be doing all the work. I would have appreciated a partner who did the work. I remember being assigned to read a novel in middle school and for some reason, my partner and I decided it would be most effective if I read the first half and she read the second half. When it came time to take the test, she had not read her half. So, we had to do our best with just the info from the first half.
ReplyDeleteThe classrooms were mainly setup with individual tables and in rows. I usually sat in the front because I had glasses and needed to see. I remember when working in groups that having roles for each person was helpful to include all members in the activity.
ReplyDeleteI had to sit in the back because I was the tallest student and the rest of students couldn't see the board. For my academic success, I would have preferred to sit in the front where the most productive groups were. I would have appreciated differentiated roles and group assignments that supported individual growth in general.
ReplyDeleteOpposite problem - It was always frustrating for me to have tall people sit in front of me, so I would have to move my head from side to side just so I could see the board. Usually, the classes were in rows too.
DeleteI remember sitting in rows when I was student and we would move desks around with people around around to work in groups. I like the tables arranged Into quads in my classroom and I think I would've liked this as a student also. I also remember sitting next to an EL student that I had to translate for all the time. It was annoying, but I'm thankful now for being able to practice my Korean.
ReplyDeleteI remember sitting next to an EL student. It was difficult, but I also enjoyed it.
DeleteDesks were usually in rows, and we were required to sit at our personal desk. From time to time we would rearrange the furniture to make pairings, groups of 4, or larger circles. In retrospect I wouldn't of changed much. The separate desks discouraged the talking we get so much of today in cooperative groups with numbers in the 40's. When we needed to work in groups or pairs we simply moved our desks as needed.
ReplyDeleteI agree that having separate desks would discourage talking but allow for moving into groups when needed.
DeleteI preferred that way better; moving the desks when needed.
DeleteWhen i think back of my sitting days in school, i always remember being sat according to my last name. I usually had the same students around me. I really don't remember having "learning groups," except maybe in one english class. I think I would have appreciated having someone who would have helped me out when i was confused or needed the help.
ReplyDeleteI remember from my learning that it was stimulating only when it was in reference to my community. I don't remember the seating arrangements, for all classes, only History. In that class we were in rows in individual desks. Some days the teacher would have us move the desks into groups of four.
ReplyDeleteMost of my classes were sat in rows too, and the one class I remember that required the most movement was in history as well to work on projects.
DeleteI sat where ever I was assigned to sit. I don't really remember working in groups. I had group projects, but that was usually done outside of school. I would've preferred to sit in front for my academic success. I would've appreciated someone who's responsible, diligent, and funny.
ReplyDeleteI really do not remember where I sat. I remember sitting around students, and do not really recall sitting in the way front or way back.
ReplyDeleteA couple of learning groups memories comes from my math classes. One time in 7th grade I was placed in the reviewing group instead of the extension group and I felt embarrassed and sad. The other memory was in 8th grade where we did this program called accelerated math, and we worked at our pace so we sat around people who were at our own level and the teachers would just walk around.
In the few partner work memories I have, I would appreciate someone who is patient, hard worker, and compassionate.
We all had assigned seats. Seats were based on academic level. We sat with a partner. I usually sat in the middle. I enjoyed the middle because I had the opportunity to talk to all my friends. ☺
ReplyDeleteI can't quite remember where I sat, or how I ended up in the seats that I did, but I do recall sitting in rows (single seats), or simply with a shoulder partner.
ReplyDeleteIf I had a preference, I probably would have liked to sit with another student of a similar academic ability or slightly better. This way, I could share like ideas and/or receive ideas to build upon, and not have to worry about being stymied by another. Otherwise, I probably would have liked to work alone.
If I cared about the class I preferred to sit in the front and if I didn't like the class I would go to the back.
ReplyDeleteI sat in an individual assigned seat arranged in rows all facing the front of the class. No group learning. The arrangement worked well for me. The qualities I would have liked to see in a partner would have been a striking resemblance to Tuesday Weld or Farah Faucet, but I attended an all-boy high school. I guess I would have settled for Carl Sagan or Kurt Vonnegut.
ReplyDeleteI AGREE!
DeleteI went to a Catholic University in the Philippines 1995-2000, High School Department since we didn't have Middle School back then... I don't think I had a choice but it wash't bad at all...Our chairs were in rows and I remember sitting at the back or middle sometimes. I remember working in groups and Cooperation and Teamwork were strongly encouraged. I guess I tried my best to be a "good" student. :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a student I sat in different locations in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteWe did not have any learning groups per se...most of the work was independent and when we did work together, we just got into groups with the people that were next to us.
I think that if you sit in the front of the class would be the ideal location to sit.
If you would sit at another location, then you would want a student that was helpful and that would care about his/her education.
When I was a student in middle school my dad told me to sit in the front, but my teacher always put me behind Davis. If I could go back, I would have sat in the front like Dad said to do. I don't believe I ever was put into a collaborative group until the teacher credentialing courses. What I would prefer in a group mate is that they understand their particular role and do it.
ReplyDeleteI sat in the back of the room. We did not have learning groups. I was quite happy to sit in the back of the room because I was better able to focus.
ReplyDeleteI sat in rows of two. Very traditional way of teaching. Teacher expectations were for students to be quiet and learned .
ReplyDeleteI preferred the seat @ the middle part of the front row to really get the gist of the lesson & avoid distractions from the other girls. Being in an exclusive girls' school felt like there's a great competition among us in the honors' class.
ReplyDelete