Fun 5 Fridays (On a Sunday!) - Have you gone to the Power Zone?

So I have been in hiding for two weeks...well, not exactly.  After STAAR test prep, administering the Writing STAAR, dealing with a sick husband, and a lively two year old, I honestly had no energy left. But now that Easter is coming to end, life is settling down a bit.  I have been thinking lately about how much of an aire of relief came over my classroom as this round of testing ended (we have another round still to go). Once our tests were turned in and we reorganized our room, it was as if new energy had flowed in! I think a lot of that was due to being back in our comfort zone, which are our table groups affectionately known as families.  There was just something soothing about arranging our room back where we could work cooperatively and I felt more like a participant in their learning rather than a warden pacing the rows.  I think in this zone also lies what The Fundamental Five terms The Power Zone.
The Power Zone is one of the easiest of the Fun 5 to implement and it also reaps the most benefits. It basically is the teacher placing themselves in the middle of the action! Not standing at the front lecturing, or slumped behind a desk, but right in the middle of it all! Of course, that means using a classroom arrangement that allows for free movement of the teacher.  It also requires that the teacher be actively present in the classroom. I didn't say "in attendance"; I said "actively present". There is a big difference.  Like most teachers I have attended school when I was sick because we all know it is easier to just go than to prepare for a sub! I was "in attendance" but pretty much was just a warm body in the room. As I sat at my desk dreaming of my bed and some chicken noodle soup, my students sat at their desk doing some worksheets that I knew they wouldn't do correctly anyways. Basically, I wasted a day of learning anyways. Yeah-I cringe at that admission, but it is reality. When a teacher works IN the Power Zone so much more happens. Here are just a few of the benefits you might see:

• Behavior issues minimized
• More effective teaching because you can pick up on whole group misunderstandings as they happen
• Ability to see who is "getting it" when you have those quiet, shy students
• Built interventions as you can sit one on one with a student
• You even reap the rewards of getting up and active!

See - this guy MUST not use the Power Zone

Who knew that simply moving from your own comfort zone to teaching in the middle of the action could yield so many results!  I know I can hear your concerns now.... But what about technology tying me to the front of the room? My room is awkward and can only be arranged in rows! But I need a podium to help me with my notes! I feel awkward without something to stand behind!

Believe me - I hear you.  Seriously. Every. Single. One. Try having a sewer pipe running down the front of your room directly next to your SMART board. Seriously. It is all in your creativity as to how you can make it work. Split your room in two and have the rows face each other. Try small groups of 3. Prepare well enough to be able to step away - even if you have to circle back every 4 or 5 minutes. ELA teachers- Just thinking of the arm muscles you can develop carrying around those massive Teacher's Editions of the literature books!!!  Shy folks - think of it as acting.  It CAN be done.

I'm on the hunt for some great ways to make working the Fun 5 Power Zone as user-friendly as possible.  If your have any pictures or suggestions - I would love to know! Post below!