Should older primary children be sitting around tables?

[kesstrel]

I thought this article was interesting:

globallessonsonlearning.com/2017/02/23/rows-vs-groups-have-your-cake-and-eat-it-with-creative-planning/

"Eager to try something new, I arranged my tables in horizontal rows facing the front. It worked: behaviour rapidly improved. On the second day, the deputy head walked in and saw the layout. Obviously not happy, she pulled me to one side and said ‘that’s not how we do things here. That looks appalling to anyone that walks in – it looks like we don’t do collaborative learning, and we do.’"

I've read a number of instances of teachers being actively forbidden to arrange desks in rows, even for older children. But even Finland has primary age desks in rows, so is there really something that wrong with it?

I would leave it up to the teacher to decide what works best in their class, wouldn't cross my mind to discuss it with other parents BUT my ds has asd and sensory processing and can't sit facing people and can't sit in a circle on the floor. I would expect this (and it seems to be) to be considered.

Rows work best for my class (y3/4) - they are much more switched o - but as the tables are not glued to the floor it's not a big deal to move them for particular tasks. Dd2 ended up with real neck/shoulder muscle issues in Y6 - physio said he had a fair few primary children who were turning round to see the board and writing at the same time turning up with similar problems.

We never had any rows in primary, even still in secondary lots of class rooms are in the 'group' format.

I suggested grouped tables of similar abilities (some of the other mums agreed) but his teacher was having none of it.

Many schools no longer group by ability because it doesn't fit with the Growth Mindset.
Also children quickly work out which is the 'top' or 'bottom' table and some children (and parents) stress about which table they are on.

I have in the past been banned from teaching A levels in rows.

I suggested grouped tables of similar abilities

You went in to see the teacher and attempted to tell her how to teach? Glad you didn't try that in my school.