Seating Charts

I hate making new seating charts for my classes. I can never remember who needs to be where to see and to hear and to avoid being distracted. All I can remember is who shouldn't sit with whom. So when we got back from break last Thursday, I had all the kids write me a note for their starter that told me 1) if they need to somewhere special to see, 2) if they need to sit somewhere special to hear, and 3) if there's anyone they should not sit near to keep them out of trouble. I'm stunned at how honest my kids were answering number 3. Most of my kids listed people that they will fight with AND people who I know they're good friends with and will talk to. I'm so proud of them. I gave them a chance to keep themselves out of trouble, and they took it.

That said, here are my 2 favorite answers to question 3 (not the kids' real names):
From Jill -- "Please move me away from Ricky. I made a New Year's resolution to be nicer to people, and I'm doing really well. But he's really really really annoying, and I know you know that. I can't make it much longer. I'm trying to be less rude to him, but he just makes it so hard."

From Ricky -- "Jill is mean to me. Please move me far away!"