Collaboration, Community and Cooperation! (Writing on Tables)

10/13/2012

One of our painted round tables

So, last year we decided to toss out our desks in favour of round tables.

Why?

Collaboration, community and cooperation!

After many talks with my principal, Antonio Vendramin, and my teaching partner, Hugh McDonald, we all decided to give this experiment a try! Sitting at round tables (just like the Kindergarteners) seems to be the perfect way to get students to work on projects together, and to to get rid of the mentality that school work is to be done in isolation, alone, without copying. I don't want to give them the type of work where they can copy the correct answer from their neighbour...I am striving to give them projects where they have to work together with their neighbour, not in isolation from them!

We are all enjoying the round tables and our next goal is to paint them all with white board paint. Thus far we have two tables done, one regular round table that students sit at daily and one coffee table that is used in our couch area (one of many alternative work spaces that Hugh and I have in our room). The kids love them and write/draw on them daily. Sometimes just for fun...but lately more and more for educational purposes! Here are some ways we use them...

Trying out different ways to use the white board painted tables...word games!

Modelling Inquiry: Student Teacher Mr. Reynolds draws what he wonders about.

On this day we used the table for students to tell us about how they felt after taking a math quiz.

Students were using flyers to add and subtract decimals. Their total bill had to be $100. Students were using the white board table to quickly add numbers to see if they should 'buy' that item or not.

Overall, we are pleased with how the tables are being used. During the first few weeks of school the students used them only to draw on, and not really as a learning tool and I was feeling discouraged. But over time, they have started to use them in the way that we had envisioned. Like with any new manipulative or tool, they just need some play time first!

I would love to hear from any teachers that have also painted their desks/tables/furniture with white board paint. How does it work in your classroom? What do the students use them for?

Has anyone else switched to tables recently? How else do you promote collaboration, community and cooperation?

(check with your school district policy before modifying and of their furniture)

9 Comments

Joy Kirr link

10/13/2012 12:10:00 pm

Gallit,
I remember you tweeting out your progress on your tables - sanding, then getting them ready, and finally painting! Did you blog about the process? (I'll have to look back!) I'm sure your readers would want to know step-by-step how you did it! Plus, is that fancy duct tape on the edge I see?

I do not have paint, but I think I might like it... I do have tables, though. They are rectangular, and seat 2 kids comfortably, but many times they like to squeeze another in there. ;-) I have wheels (new addition this year) on them, though, and we have six different seating arrangements. I love how the kids move them! They're called - board room, debate, pairs, small groups, large groups, and floor time (all are pushed off to the sides, and we sit on the floor). I love how it takes the kids all of 3 min. to move them into a new configuration, as long as I project the pdf on the screen.

I truly hope you get many comments regarding ways they are used in the classroom. Everyone could benefit from this! Also, I have a feeling they'll be drawing on them for years to come - wouldn't you? ;-)

Gallit Zvi

10/13/2012 12:30:34 pm

Hi Joy,

Thanks for the comment :)
So...wheels on your tables! That is SO fantastic! I love it! And I love the idea of rectangular tables so that you can build different shapes...that is so smart! You have such great ideas!

And...I should have worded my thoughts on drawing differently...I have no problem with the drawing (love to see them getting creative), I was just really happy when they finally started using them in the way that I had thought they would (to work out quick problems, to brainstorm ideas, etc).

Have you posted pictures of your classroom set up with different table arrangements? I would love to see it...I wish we worked closer to each other so I could visit your classroom...I have a feeling it is an amazing place!

~Gallit

Kat

10/13/2012 06:53:13 pm

Gallit,

I switched to tables last year, well switched my whole room really. I wanted it to be more homey and to provide more alternative places to work. So many kids do not learn best not being able to move around. I have 4 round tables, a rectangular one, a hexagonal one that splits in half that is end to end, and a book shelf L shaping a rectanguar table. The kids like them, I like them most of the time. I really wanted it to be easy to switch up groups. I found I was moving desks every week cuz they had all their stuff in them so you couldn't just move the kid. I want the kids in my room to be able to work with ANYONE in my room, not just their friends. I wanted to create a climate of caring where they would look out for each other. To do this you really need them to become comfortable with everyone, to get to know everyone.

Sometimes I would have them choose table groups, sometimes I would assign them, sometimes I would say to find groups of a specific type giving them some choice. My class last year thrived under this. They got good at working together, helping each other, looking out for each other. My favourite time was when my autistic student was left without any EA time for about 3 months and my boys told me not to worry during math as they were all working together and helping each other. This was just one of the moments when I knew things were working.

This year we haven't quite gotten to the point where we're a cohesive unit, but we're getting closer every day! I love having pillows along the window, and rugs they can lie on, a furry bench, tables. My kids think our room is special.

Sometimes I do ask for quiet, like during parts of writer's workshop, but maybe I need to structure this differently so it doesn't have to be silent, just more constructive work time. Maybe have one table that is working on their drafts silently, one that is conferencing, one that is peer editing.. hmm.. this might actually be a good idea. I just thought of it now after reading your post.

Kim Chapman

10/18/2012 03:08:47 pm

Hi Galit,

I really love the idea of using tables instead of desks. I have tried it with the big double desks I have in the classroom (flipping them inward so the desk part is facing in and not used and joining them together). One frustration the kids expressed was not having the desk to put their stuff in. I bought bins and obtained shelving, but found the bins were not quite big enough. This year I decided to go back to using them as desks for a while so I could spend more time figuring out how to store their materials. I am very curious to know how you manage to organize all of the students supplies, text books, binders etc. with your tables. (I teach grade 7 so they seem to have a ton of stuff and I found that not having a desk of their own resulted in a lot more lost work etc.) I really want to go back to the idea of tables and alternate seating arrangements so I would love to hear your ideas.

Also, I LOVE the idea of painting them with whiteboard paint! That is really fantastic!

Cheers,
Kim

Gallit Zvi link

10/21/2012 11:39:49 am

Hi Kim,

We use plastic bins. We gave each of the students one white plastic bin at the start of the year and they store all of their notebooks duotangs, textbooks in there. Then we put a pencil cup on the centre of each round table for the kids to store their pens/pencils. They share those types of things. Other supplies that go back and forth from school/home (pencil crayons, etc. ) stay in their school bags until they need them. This works well for us so far! It takes up a lot of shelf space (less space for my stuff) but that is okay! It is worth it :)

Sounds like you did it this way too...I can take pictures if you want. The system isn't perfect, but it is pretty good!

Kim Chapman

10/30/2012 12:22:54 pm

Hi Galit,

Thanks for your response! I also want to send a HUGE thanks your way for the inspiring idea for whiteboard tables. I decided to give it a try, but before committing to the painting of all the desks (maybe a spring project), I wanted to test it out by putting a whiteboard surface on the tables. I went to Rona and bought some flexible acrylic paneling used in shower surfaces, has them cut it down, and stuck it onto our table tops with zebra duct tape. It's not perfect and does leave some minor staining, but it is perfect for collaborating and cleans off easily. The kids love it and we have been having an awesome time using the whiteboard tables for group work, jotting down ideas, etc. Thanks again for such a fantastic idea. It's been three days and I feel like a whole new energy has come into our classroom and that group work is even more engaging and productive. Thank you for sharing!

Kim

Gallit Zvi

11/2/2012 01:51:40 pm

Hi Kim,

I was so excited to read your comment! What a fantastic alternative! I actually just found out I will not be able to paint the newer tables in my room, so I will be doing exactly what you did and have sheets cut!

Thank YOU for sharing :)
Gallit

Jayesh Patel

1/9/2013 01:49:34 am

Hi Gallit,

Oddly enough, I'm using this idea in a secondary (high) school in Yorkshire, England from KS3 to KS5 (age 11-18) as an alternative to using mini whiteboards. I am a high school English teacher.

I came across your blog while trying to do research to write about what I'm doing for our school's teaching and learning newsletter.

I use all of the tables in my room - i.e. every student can write on their bit of table. The tables in my room are not painted with whiteboard paint, rather, I can wet-wipe the marker off them adding a little extra feeling of breaking the rules for the children I teach - the taboo element works really well for older kids.

So far I've used them for: massive spider diagrams for ideas both in the analysis of a text and creative writing, spelling, storyboards / comic strips to aid in narrative structure, and also teaching a girl in my form / tutor group Pythagoras Theory. All of these ideas (like you are doing) can be shared by asking students to simply walk around the room.

What I wanted to know is, did you come to the conclusion to write on tables through any particular research or did you try it by chance?

Keep up the good work!

Jayesh

Gallit Zvi

2/3/2013 11:52:57 pm

Hi Jayesh,

I didn't do any research. The idea came out f conversation I had with my principal. I'm pretty sure he was the one who first said, wouldn't it be cool if they could write on the tables? From there, we just talked a lot about what an ideal classroom would look like and then this year we started to make some of the changes!!

Though instead of painting all of the tables (we did a few), we ended up putting huge white boards on top instead. They tend to erase better than the paint!!

Hope all is going well with your class!!
Thanks for taking the time to comment!

Collaboration, Community and Cooperation! (Writing on Tables)

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