Secret Spots for Learning

Students love to sit around the room to work independently. They often fight over who gets to sit where and run at light speed to the latest “hot spot.” With safety being at stake (and my sanity as well), I decided to allow students to remain in a secret spot for a length of time. I figured this will cut down on the rushing about and intense arguments that end in tears. I also am a big proponent of student ownership, so I did not want to just assign spots. I wanted them to earn them. A co-worker mentioned having her students “apply” for classroom jobs and it hit me… I can have my students “apply” for their secret spot! Thus, the “Secret Spot Request Form” was born!

Below are some examples of completed forms and student work areas:

I must say that once I put this application process into place, there have been no arguments between students. Everyone is respectful of the “Secret Spot” implementation and stick up for one another during a “Secret Spot” hijacking. 🙂 Students spend more time on-task, complete their work efficiently and orderly, and I am able to focus on my small group instruction instead of breaking up arguments. The classroom is peaceful and routinized. I love every minute of it!

Every two weeks, the application process opens and no one is grandfathered into their old “Secret Spot.” You must earn your spot fair and square each rotation. A student may apply for the same spot, but their reasoning has to beat out another person applying for the same location. Competition, you might say? Sure. But, increasing student persuasiveness is a Win-Win in my book!

How do you organize/assign student work areas?