I broke up with my desk

I broke up with my desk. 

I removed it from my classroom without a second thought. It served no purpose, and I had no emotional attachment to it. So, breaking up was not very difficult. I almost feel heartless, the lack of emotion I feel about getting rid of it. Who just tosses a desk to the curb as if it has no purpose? To make matters worse, I replaced it with a media cart and a metal organization shelf. I sometimes imagine my desk peering into my classroom, becoming downtrodden at the sight of me with my media cart in such educational and organizational bliss.

However, to be honest, my desk stressed me out. 

I stared at it, overwhelmed by the stacks of papers and the random items students had given me.  I once opened the middle drawer and found a back scratcher shaped like a small hand and a tiny pink toothbrush. Why were these items in my desk? At some point, they were handed to me as keepsakes, and I tossed them into the abyss without regard for them. My desk had become a black hole. We lost respect for each other.

When I decided to say goodbye, I had no instructional strategy or advice from an educational expert to guide me. I didn’t even have a hallway conversation at the tardy bell with a co-worker. I simply walked into my classroom, and I could not stand the sight of it. 

My desk mocked me with its mountains of paperwork I meant to file and piles of lesson plans I meant to develop. I often hoped that if I dug around, I would find a secret map that would lead me to a hidden treasure. But, in reality, all I saw was a toothbrush and a small metal hand.

I’m mature enough to admit that my desk was probably relieved that I made he first move in the breakup. After all, I forced it to hold a random toothbrush and back scratcher. Who knows what else I would do it in the future?

Truth is, I rarely sit down in my day. I teach Advertising & Design and Yearbook. My students are active and I like to walk around and view their progress. On the occasion that I am siting, it is either at my classroom computer next to my students or a tall stool that I can easily move around the room with my media cart. 

Ah, that media cart. I’m not one to boast about relationships, but I will admit that I’m rather smitten with my media cart. It offers everything I need. My laptop fits perfectly on the top and I have room for a few papers. My media cart knows that if it offered me a lot of space, I would, no doubt, take advantage of all the space and overwhelm it with papers. My media cart moves with me. It is there for me. It simply gets me.

                          

                              

If you are thinking about breaking up with your desk, think about these things:

WORKING SPACE

You still need a working space in your classroom that is just for you. I have two spaces. My media cart is for my laptop and daily walkabouts. I also have a classroom computer that is placed with my students. Even when I’m sitting and working on projects, I’m next to them. Bless their hearts, they can't get away from me. So, make your space work for you, but don’t distance yourself from your students.

I’M NOT READY TO BREAKUP

If you can’t get rid of your desk, think about placement. If your desk is at the front of your classroom, consider moving it so it is part of the students’ environment, not a barrier to it. Also, while you still have your desk, write down what storage you will need if you get rid of it. One by one, create space in your classroom for those items. Do not tip off your desk about the impending breakup. Play it cool. Clean out the drawers, one by one. You can slowly work your way into the breakup, instead of throwing everything on the floor and giving your desk the boot.

WALKABOUTS
If you sit down a lot, ask yourself if it is for you or your students. I mean it. This is a tough one. Teaching is tiresome. However, doing walkabouts in your classroom often keeps your students engaged. If you sit a lot, what message are you delivering to your students? If you can sit among them, try it. Keep in mind, you may freak out your students at first. However, I promise you that the more you are engaged with your students, the less you will need your desk.

Theresa Shadrix is an IDEO Teachers Guild fellow. She encourages you to Defront your classroom and set it up for student-centered learning. 

• Move the teacher’s desk to the side (or remove it altogether)
• Ask students to help design different class configurations for different purposes, and create “reset” options