Tables vs Desks

I'm not one to start talking big about the whole layout of a classroom, but at the semester break my principal followed through on his promise to exchange some of my traditional desks for tables.  It was enough to replace about half of my desks.  It's a nice start, and a way to get my feet wet, so to speak.  I have had my kids set up in horizontal rows, instead of vertical rows, all year. They've been seated with 4 desks to a row. So what I did was remove the two desks in the middle and replace it with a rectangular table. Then I book-ended each table with a traditional desk.  This still left groups of 4, and still basically in their horizontal rows, but now with a bit more space for group work and those chrome books.

Day 1:

We walked into the room, and there were all of my wonderful tables! The kids were excited. Then they turned to me and asked me where they were supposed to sit..... While the request was quickly filled for the tables, nobody thought to request chairs with them!!!!! Lesson learned! So, our custodian thought quickly and brought us a set of lovely and oh so uncomfortable brown folding chairs that we set out for plays and graduation and things.  Throughout the day he was able to exchange about half of them for the regular blue student chairs, and I was promised an order would be placed.....

Months later: 

Still half brown and half blue.... It's an exercise in who can get to the room first! The first to the room grab the blue chairs and trade out the brown, the last in pout about the uncomfortable brown chairs.  Some still like the desks, so I'm glad that I didn't trade it all out. It seems to work out nicely.  The ones that like the desks, have one. The ones that prefer the table, have one of those, too.  I've been considering purchasing some alternative seating options, like balance balls, but maybe over the summer for next year.

Update:

Across the legs of the tables, I strung an extra large rubber band.  The kids love it!  It's not strong enough to completely support the weight of their legs, but it is enough that they can rest their feet on it, or play with their legs swinging on it when they are restless.  I've been trying to see if it is reducing the number of disruptions with my active freshman boy class.  It's reduced, but I'm not ready to put it all on seating just yet....

Side Note:

We started the year with the colored light covers.  I admit I was skeptical at first, but I really like them.  I bought one package of off-white and one of blue (for tranquility).  First, I experience headaches, and have had noticeably less of them this year.  My eyes do not tire out like they normally do, so big plus on that.  As far as the tranquility part, jury is still out, but I think I'll keep them!