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Two Sides of the Seating Chart

Choose and write endings that follow from each writer's opinion.

Read both sides

Two students wrote for the Room 9 class newspaper. Jalen wrote paragraphs 1 to 3. Amira wrote paragraphs 4 to 6. Neither writer has written an ending yet.

Should Students Choose Their Own Seats?

1In Room 9, our teacher decides where everyone sits, and she makes a new seating chart every month. Some charts work well, but some do not. I think fourth graders should be allowed to choose their own seats. After all, students know better than any chart where they do their best work.

2First, choosing a seat would help students learn. I see the board best from the front row, but last month the chart put me in the very back. I spent four weeks squinting at the math problems. A student who is easily distracted by the hallway could pick a desk far from the door. A student who likes quiet could sit away from the pencil sharpener.

3Second, choosing seats would teach us responsibility. If two friends sit together and chat instead of working, the teacher could still move them. Most kids would work hard to keep the seat they picked. Learning to make good choices is part of growing up, and our classroom is a safe place to practice.

4I disagree with Jalen. I think our teacher should keep choosing where students sit. A seating chart is fair to everyone, and it makes Room 9 a better place to learn.

5First, a seating chart helps students get to know new classmates. If we picked our own seats, most of us would sit with the same best friends all year. In October, the chart put me next to Hector. I found out that he draws amazing comics, and now we are friends. I might never have talked to him if I had chosen my own seat.

6Second, a seating chart saves time and keeps things calm. On the first day of school, before there was a chart, kids raced to grab desks near their friends. Two students argued over the same desk, and it took ten minutes just to settle down. With a chart, everyone walks in, finds a name card, and gets to work. Nobody has to worry about being left out.

Endings that follow

A concluding statement must follow from the writer's own opinion. Answer each question.

1.
Read paragraphs 1 and 4 again. In each paragraph, underline the sentence that states the writer's opinion about who should choose the seats.

In Room 9, our teacher decides where everyone sits, and she makes a new seating chart every month.Some charts work well, but some do not.I think fourth graders should be allowed to choose their own seats.After all, students know better than any chart where they do their best work.I disagree with Jalen.I think our teacher should keep choosing where students sit.A seating chart is fair to everyone, and it makes Room 9 a better place to learn.

2.
Each sentence below is a possible concluding statement. Sort it by the opinion it follows from.
A seating chart helps us make new friends, so our teacher should keep making one.Room 9 should paint its walls a brighter color this year.Letting students pick their seats would help each of us find the spot where we learn best.Choosing our own seats would teach us to make good choices, so please let us pick.When our teacher plans the seats, class starts calmly and nobody is left out.Every student should bring a water bottle to school each day.
Follows from Jalen's opinionFollows from Amira's opinionFollows from neither opinion
3.
Which concluding statement follows best from Jalen's opinion and both of his reasons?
  • A. That is why our teacher should mix up the seats so we can meet new classmates.
  • B. That is why students should pick seats where they learn best and act responsibly.
  • C. That is why the seating chart should change every week instead of every month.
  • D. That is why every classroom should have a front row close to the board.
4.
Each ending below was written for Jalen's piece. Match each ending to the phrase that describes it.
  1. In conclusion, maybe a seating chart is the best idea after all.
  2. In conclusion, our school should get a new slide for the playground.
  3. In conclusion, I squinted at the board from the back row last month.
  4. In conclusion, picking our own seats would help us learn and grow, so let us choose.
  1. A. starts a new topic
  2. B. follows from his opinion
  3. C. only repeats one detail
  4. D. switches to the other side
5.
Amira is planning her concluding section. Which two sentences follow from her opinion? Choose two.
  • A. Students should be free to sit next to their best friends every day.
  • B. A seating chart helps classmates get to know each other.
  • C. Hector draws comics about a dog who drives a fire truck.
  • D. Please keep making a new seating chart for Room 9.
  • E. The seating chart should be taken off the wall for good.
6.
Amira wants one sentence that reminds readers of both of her reasons. Which sentence does that?
  • A. Seating charts let us sit where we learn best and make good choices.
  • B. Seating charts change every month, and Hector sits right next to me.
  • C. Seating charts help us meet new classmates and start class calmly.
  • D. Seating charts are made by teachers who work hard all year long.

Write your own endings

Write concluding statements that follow from an opinion.

7.
Ending for Amira: Write a concluding statement for Amira's piece. Say her opinion again and remind readers of her reasons.
8.
Your side: Which writer do you agree with? Write one sentence that states your opinion. Then write a concluding statement that follows from it.