This year, I decided to start my seating arrangement in pods to hopefully create a more conducive environment for learning. In my class, I utilize a lot of pair share, quick group formative assessments, and projects. With correct parameters, I feel this setup has gone extremely well so far.
This is for my 9th grade classes. I was hesitant (and only did pods half time last year) because I also have 2 sections of 8th graders. I was not quite sure if the 8th graders could handle sitting in pods.
However, I really focused on expectations in regards to the seating arrangments, and so far they are going quite well. It is also making my classroom activities more fluid for quick discussions, sharing ideas, etc.
