October 11, 2010

By: Sharon D. from Philadelphia, PA
Comments: 25

Posted By: Sharon DiMarco
On: 12/4/2008 7:18:15 PM

My little ones are having issues staying in one place on the carpet. We constructed "flying saucers" out of pizza boxes to make individual zones, but this is not working. They end up hitting each other and playing with them. Does anyone have a design solution to help me have them stay in their designated areas?

Posted By: Michael DiMartino
On: 12/5/2008 12:35:49 PM

Maybe you could design some sort of rug with different themes such as animals or characters for the students to be. Even give them some choice and change them every so often.

Posted By: Katie Burnett
On: 12/11/2008 5:41:43 PM

Try xeroxing pictures of crayons, coloring them in, and taping them to the rug. Have a chart that shows which color (group of children) were the best that day. After a certain number of points from being good, they get a prize or a coloring sheet or something. Basic rules of behaviorism. Or even try starting your own classroom currency. I had Katie Bucks once. The kids acted so good to earn them and it really improved morale and confidence.

Posted By: Theresa Ferrer
On: 12/12/2008 5:21:12 PM

Hi Sharon, I'm an interior designer who specializes in educational spaces. Michael is right, you need to establish boundaries using a floor pattern. Check out this link below. Good luck! https://www.schooloutfitters.com/catalog/default/cPath/CAT5_CAT44?cm_ven=Google&cm;_cat=Preschool&cm;_pla=Child%20Rugs&cm;_ite=classroom%20rugs&s;_kwcid=classroom%20rugs|785946437

Posted By: Karen Lennan
On: 12/15/2008 9:48:35 AM

I hear if you call a carpet store you can get small floor pieces for free. duct tape works to secure them to the floor so they won't end up hitting each other with them. You can give them points or stars for staying on their sqaure when they are supposed to. Music is a good way to cue them to get to their spots without having to raise a voice. Good luck. Karen Lennan

Posted By: Catherine Macaulay
On: 12/29/2008 1:31:48 PM

I was wondering if you brought this issue of rug time behavior up with your students? Even though they are in kindergarten, they probably realize that their personal space is being negatively effected during rug time activities. Perhaps you could have the students brainstorm some solutions to this problem and have them sketch their ideal rug situation. If you have already purchased your carpet squares, you could still have the students brainstorm their arrangement and use. It would be interesting to see if you could integrate some of the students' ideas into your ultimate solution. This bit of ownership may make effectiveness of the solution last longer.

Posted By: Sharon DiMarco
On: 1/1/2009 9:21:50 PM

Hi Catherine. That is a good idea. I think brainstorming solutions to the problem could be really effective. I'll keep you posted on what happens! Thanks!

Posted By: Sharon DiMarco
On: 1/1/2009 9:27:17 PM

Thanks Teresa. I will be sure to check that website out!

Posted By: Susie Jessop
On: 2/21/2009 10:59:39 AM

In first grade we have designated sitting spots around a circle carpet. Students help each other remember where they sit. I have also used masking tape on the carpet to label each child's spot.

Posted By: Gineff McKinney
On: 5/1/2009 8:54:28 AM

What great ideas everyone has contributed. A teacher in my school used spray adhesive on carpet squares in her classroom. She had cool patterns and textures for her carpet squares. The children loved sitting on them! This is something that I will have to keep in mind when I design my classroom for next year!

Posted By: Nancy Eason
On: 5/1/2009 3:11:51 PM

At church our kids designed a carpet with bold colors and fish. We took it to a carpet store and they created the carpet for us! It looks great, and the kids are so proud!