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Move Around the Room


Student getting supplies from storage area.What are strategies for helping students be more physically active during the day, and how do we keep control of the group if they’re sitting less and moving more?

Try having lessons take place in one area of the room, and student work take place somewhere else. Bringing students to the circle area for instruction and then sending them back to their seats to work adds a bit of natural movement to the lesson. Teaching with students at their desks and then having them get up and form new groups for their practice time works the same way. Same thing if you have a SmartBoard or dry erase board: Have students come there for lessons, but then move to tables, the floor, or other spaces of the room when it’s time for them to practice and apply.

Similarly, at the end of a work time, have students reconvene in the lesson area to share ideas, ask questions, and conclude the period. Varying seating and work spaces this way helps students get a little movement and change of scenery which can help them refocus and sustain their attention.

One thing to keep in mind, though -- this strategy won’t work if your students don’t know how to move from one place to another quickly and safely. If you haven’t already, you’ll need to teach this skill – don’t assume it’s something your class just naturally knows how to do!  If you’d like more guidance about how to teach this, have a look at the “Schedule and Routines” chapter from Margaret Wilson’s book, What Every 2nd Grade Teacher Needs to Know in the What Every Teacher Needs to Know series.

Submitted by Hadley Ferguson on October 29, 2010.
I just tried something similar to this in my middle school classroom, having them take 2 brisk walks in an 80 minute class. Here is the blog post about it. http://hadleyjf.wordpress.com/ I tried it again today before they took a test and it really helped with the nerves.
Submitted by Amanda on October 31, 2010.
Children are always moving in my room but I have always fel that that is kind of the nature of first grade so I appreciate the validation. I also think it really reduces behavior problems as I watch other 1st grade teachers with similar student make-up but a lot less movement in their room who struggle with behavior problems. I always do whole group direct instruction on the rug but this year I have started doing it with the kids in a circle. It is a wonderful what that little tip has done for me. I think they feel more included, fewer behavior problems occur (no poking, struggling to see, etc.), and participation is up. I love it! Thanks, Marlynn, for your book, Classroom Spaces that Work!
Submitted by Candace on November 3, 2010.
I have 3 rug areas in my room: The Meeting Rug, The Reading/Writing rug and the Word Wall Rug. We start our day on the Metting Rug for MM. Then we take a "field trip" (usually with a funy movement: walk like a chicken or tippy-toe walking) to the Writing Rug for Writer's Workshop. Later in the day we start our Daily Five lessons on the Reading Rug and in the afternoon, back to the Meeting Rug for Math Meetings. It breaks up the lessons physically and mentally so the kids really have a change that they seem to need for variouis reasons.
Submitted by Jaclyn Brief on October 24, 2011.

I agree with Mike Anderson's discussion about moving around the room. In elementary school, especially at the early grades, teachers need to help keep their students engaged during both whole group lessons and independent/group work time. By designating different areas for learning and working, we are allowing students the opportunity to move around, and to transition themselves to the next activity. As teachers we need to be aware of the attention level of our students, and try to move from one activity to another, without spending too much time on one given task. In addition, by keeping students busy and engaged, we are helping to reduce off task behavior.