Finding enough space to use our mats can be difficult in a small classroom. One strategy to make space is to involve students in the furniture moving process. You can create a procedure which explains exactly where it needs to move. Then, practice the procedure until students can move everything quickly and seamlessly.
To make it fun, use a timer and challenge students to get ready, move their desks, and roll out mats in 30 seconds or less. Repeat this process during clean-up. Students can try to beat their time from the day before. You can also log the set-up and clean-up times and use the numbers to teach concepts such as graphing.
With a 30-second set-up and 30-second clean-up routine, only about one minute is needed to make mat use possible.
Reflect: Create a set-up and clean-up procedure for a mat of your choice.
