Unpopular opinion: I don’t like to have assigned jobs in my classroom. I know many teachers like to have some sort of job chart, table jobs, or assigned jobs to students but I’ve done some of those things and I just find it easier to not have them. I also prefer it that way. Let me tell you why.

In my art room, I want all the kids to help out. Help each other get supplies, help each other learn and help each other clean up. We are all using the art room and we are all responsible! By not having assigned jobs, I avoid the common student response of “That’s not my job” in order to get out of doing something. If I ever hear this phrase or something similar, I remind them that we are all in this together. We all help each other out! 

I have had table jobs before that rotate every week. There were “folders” to pass out our table folders, “distributors” to pass out supplies, “collectors” to collect supplies at the end, “noise monitors” to help with reminding the class to be quiet, “floor” to clean up the floor, “tables” to clean the tables, “sink” to clean things in the sink, etc. This list could go on and on and I know many teachers do these things and like them. I had trouble with it. I would forget to rotated the jobs every week so students would have to remind me. And we didn’t always need the jobs. We weren’t always using things where the sink needed to be cleaned. Sometimes we didn’t have things to pass out. So those kids ended up without a job (and they wanted one). Some classes were bigger and I had extra tables, so did I need a job for that table? Some classes were smaller so there was an empty table. Who takes that job on? When I stopped doing this job chart of table jobs, and just choosing random tables to do things, it got a lot easier. 

I had chairs numbered once. I was able to say “All 2’s go get your table paper” or “4”s need to put the oil pastels away.” But I didn’t always need to use them. And now, we stack the chairs at the end of the day so it’s easier to not have numbers on the chairs. How chaotic would it be to make sure they all got in exactly the same spot every time?! I’m not about that kind of extra work. 

Another thing many people do is table captains. I don’t think I have ever tried it. But I have had drawers next to the tables before and tried to make it one or two people’s jobs to get in and out of the drawers because they sit closest. It still ends up being a struggle with the other people wanting to do the job and then they were all fighting over it. Not worth it! I do suppose, this last situation is more of one where I just needed to reinforce the procedure more. But really, I think I was just tired of trying to manage things like that. 

Now, I have expectations for how things need to be done in my art room but I don’t have specific people who need to do certain things. We are all working towards the same goals and we all work together and help each other out. I find this method extra helpful during clean up time. Everyone has to help, no one gets out of doing something. If you are done cleaning your own area early, you go help someone else. I hardly have people arguing over who is going to do something and all I have to do is remind them that we are all responsible and we are working together. 

Regarding things like passing out materials or artworks or if I need help with cleaning something specific like in the sink, I call on people to help. Maybe I pick the best listening table to pass out table folders one day, the others will see they will get to do something if they are behaving better. Or maybe I choose students who need to be redirected from a behavior they’re exhibiting and I have them do a job for me. I get to hand pick students for jobs I need done a certain way. I can choose trustworthy students or students that I know know how to do something. Overall, I get to be strategic about who does what when I don’t have a list or chart I am supposed to be following as part of my classroom management. 

This method of not having actual labeled jobs for students to do works for me. I have been doing it this way for years now. This doesn’t mean it’s the right way. I don’t think there is a right or wrong way. Do what works for you. If you are a rockstar with your classroom jobs and everything gets done the way you want it, more power to you! But if you struggle with the consistency of doing those jobs, or students wanting/not wanting certain jobs, maybe it’s time to be done with jobs. Throw the chart away and start creating the classroom culture of everything helps. If it works, great! If not, try something else! 

We’d love to hear how you do jobs in the art room! Tell us below. 

Keep blending,

Laura