classroom feng shui

Left: One of the classroom whiteboards, which will remain beautifully illustrated until some wayward elbow takes out an eye, someone's butt erases half the bowtie, etc.

Trying out a new seating arrangement today. Well, same villages (5- or 6-person pods) but different physical arrangement. Some kids are at each others' throats on a daily basis so I tried to move them without disrupting the groups (which only change when the quarter does), and also did my best to give the most unshushable individuals seating conducive to quiet, productive worktime. The result: ugly, Tetris-piece-like pods that at first glance will raise eyebrows, and on second glance will cause nausea and vomiting. That's why I cut the desks out of the picture. I wonder how much the physical arrangement has to do with this bunch's general behavior. I am not one of those militant teachers who wants the kids sitting ramrod-straight in a chair every second they're in my class. But two things: 1) Where I sometimes flail in organizational skills (very go with the flow I am), I have never flailed till this year in classroom management. This class is the first one to really make me scratch my head. And 2) some of them are simply unable to stay put and quiet for more than a minute. I know that chi has something to do with it, but I don't know how much, nor do I know how to fix the energy problems in here without weeding out half the kids for the space alone.

Speaking of chi, I came across this article on kitchen feng shui featuring Sharissa Chun, from whom I was lucky enough to take a class about 7 years ago. Interesting thoughts - I wonder if I can convince S. to cover his brand-new Henckel block, which he so loves. I do enjoy condo life but the article makes me look forward to living in a house, where our kitchen will be large enough for the two of us to cook side-by-side.