No More Boring Seatwork – Spice It Up with Student Choice

 It’s a dreaded battle….seatwork… Students aren’t itching for it, honestly I don’t like to give it unless necessary. Seatwork alternative do exist.  Most seatwork is used to practice or eventually assess a skill that we have been working on.  Introducing a concept I like to do an activity, use short clips, or some way to get moving.  Alas…practice of the skill usually comes in the form of worksheet, questions from book, homework, etc…

It is inevitable that it will happen in your classroom at some point or another…more often in the older grades.  I want my students to keep their kid like happiness or innocence at least until after their year with me (4th grade) so we have some ways to spice up seatwork in our room!  Check it out and see if they can benefit your room – trust me you will earn some major cool points.

Maybe the class is working on the animal quotations as a seatwork assignment. Enter the Decide Now App. Instant engagement, morale booster and fun!

• – NO shoes – self explanatory
• – reverse in chair – flip chair around to work (we loved this one today)
• – last ? First, sometimes starting from the end switches the dynamic
• – cool tools, use pens or special designated tools for assignment 
• – on floor – work around room 
• –under desks – a definite favorite until your students get so big (you cold modify and have them complete like Picasso with just head under desk writing upside down)
• – partners they choose
• – partners I choose
• – groups-just table groups we have already makes it easy

•  switch seat with number before you
• switch seats with number after you
• work on top of desks
• work with feet up on desks
• work with music
• work on dry erase boards
• work by flashlights

If you want to up your game and move from an app –this wheel (with dry erase spaces!) is perfect to use as well. This works as a helper can spin and it also can be used in many ways in the classroom!

Do you have any others to add to the list? How do you spice up seatwork in your classroom? Do you have other seatwork alternatives you like?