Documentation for Teachers / SIS Teacher Checklists / Attendance

Seating Charts Checklist

Updated on Oct 06, 2025

This checklist helps teachers create and manage seating charts for their class sections. Seating charts can include desks, furniture, and student details such as names and pictures. Once set up, teachers can use the seating chart to take attendance and award positive behaviors. See Seating Charts for detailed information about each of the processes outlined in this checklist.

Creating & Managing Seating Charts

Creating New Seating Charts

Follow the steps below for creating brand new seating charts for the selected section.

1. In the menu, click Seating Chart.

2. Enter the Chart Name in the provided text box.

3. Select your Starting Point; options are described below.

Grid: The chart will start with a generated grid of desks or chairs, facing the selected front of class, with the selected rows and columns.

Freeform: The chart will start completely blank.

Copy of Previous Layout: The chart will start with the furniture layout from the selected chart. Select the Existing Room Layout from the pull-down; options listed include all previously created charts.

4. Depending on the Starting Point selected, select the Front of Class direction by clicking one of the four arrow choices (Up, Right, Down, or Left).

5. Depending on the Starting Point selected, enter the number of Rows and Columns needed for students' chairs/desks.

Desks or chairs can be added or deleted while editing the seating chart after the initial creation of the chart.

6. The seating chart will be created for the section selected from the Section pull-down located in the header but can also be linked to other sections if selected from the Link Additional Periods section.

7. Click Create.

Using Existing Seating Charts to Create New Charts

Follow the steps below to create brand new seating charts using an existing chart (created for another section).

1. In the menu, click Seating Charts.

2. Click Link an Existing Chart to link an existing chart layout to the section, rather than creating a new one.

All charts with this layout (including the newly linked one) will displays the same furniture layout, including future changes.

3. Select one or more existing chart layouts to apply to the current class from the pull-down.

4. Click Link.

Adding New Seating Charts

Follow the steps below if a seating chart has already been created for the selected section, and you are adding additional charts.

1. In the menu, click Seating Chart.

2. From the Seating Charts screen, click Charts.

3. Click New Chart to create a new seating chart.

Clicking New Chart opens the New Chart pop-up modal.

4. Enter the Chart Name in the provided text box.

5. Select your Starting Point; options are described below.

Grid: The chart will start with a generated grid of desks or chairs, facing the selected front of class, with the selected rows and columns.

Freeform: The chart will start completely blank.

6. Depending on the Starting Point selected, select the Front of Class direction by clicking one of the four arrow choices (Up, Right, Down, or Left).

7. Depending on the Starting Point selected, enter the number of Rows and Columns needed for students' chairs/desks.

Desks or chairs can be added or deleted while editing the seating chart after the initial creation of the chart.

8. The seating chart will be created for the section selected from the Section pull-down located in the header but can also be linked to other sections if selected from the Link Additional Periods section.

9. Click Create.

Linking Existing Charts

Follow the steps below if a seating chart has already been created for the selected section, and you are adding additional charts.

1. In the menu, click Seating Chart.

2. From the Seating Charts screen, click Charts.

3. Click Link Chart to link an existing chart layout to the section, rather than creating a new one.

All charts with this layout (including the newly linked one) will see the same furniture layout, including future changes.

4. Select one or more existing chart layouts to apply to the current class from the pull-down.

5. Click Link.

Deleting Charts

1. In the menu, click Seating Chart.

2. From the Seating Charts screen, click Charts.

3. Click the delete button (red minus sign) next to the applicable seating chart to delete it.

4. In the confirmation pop-up window, click OK.

5. Click Save to apply any changes.

Customizing Layout & Assignments

Creating the Furniture Layout

1. From the new or existing chart, click the Layout tab.

2. Click the Furniture tab to add or edit furniture and create the layout of the classroom.

3. Click the Grid pull-down to add desks or tables and chairs by selecting Grid, Horseshoe, Square Table, or Round Table; then, click Generate.

Grid: Select Grid to insert 16 desks in a rectangular shape.

Horseshoe: Select Horseshoe to insert 10 desks in a horseshoe shape around the classroom.

Square Table / Round Table: Select Square Table or Round Table to insert a table and four chairs.

4. To add furniture, scroll to the applicable section and click the piece of furniture.

Students: Add a Chair or a Desk in which students can be assigned a seat.

Teacher: Add the teacher's Desk to the classroom.

Notes: Add a Text Box to the seating chart where you can enter notes.

Tables: Add different shapes of tables to the classroom, such as Rectangle, Round, Trapezoid, and Kidney.

Decor: Add classroom decorum, such as Blackboard, Door, WIndow, AV Cart, Flag, Computer, and Lab Table.

5. Once the piece of furniture is clicked, move the mouse around the classroom and click where you'd like to place the furniture.

6. Depending on the item selected, you may have the option to change the color of the furniture, such as teacher's desk. Click the desired color.

7. To move a placed item, click the furniture and drag it to the desired location.

8. To move a group of furniture, click and highlight the area where all applicable furniture is located.

9. Most furniture can be rotated by clicking the item then clicking the rotator.

If you click the rotator, the piece of furniture will move a little each time you click the icon. You also have the option of clicking and holding the mouse while rotating the item to the desired position.

10. To resize items, click the item and use the points around the item to click and drag the item to a large or smaller size.

11. To remove an item from the classroom/chart, click the item, then click Delete. You can also click the delete key or backspace key to remove the item.

To delete a group of furniture, click and highlight the area where all applicable furniture is located, then click Delete.

12. To duplicate a piece of furniture or a group of furniture, select one or multiple items, then click Clone.

13. Click Save once your layout is complete.

Assigning Students' Seating

1. From the new or existing chart, click the Layout tab, then click the Students tab to assign seating to students.

2. Flag applicable students by clicking Front of Class and/or Talkative to identify the students who need to sit at the front of the class or students who are talkative.

3. Click the Smart Shuffle pull-down to determine how students should be quickly seated by selecting Smart Shuffle, Last Name, First Name, or Random; then, click Quick Seat.

Smart Shuffle. Smart Shuffle takes into account the students who have been flagged as Front of Class and/or Talkative. The flags can be placed prior to the initial seating or at any time during the school year.

Last Name / First Name: Seats students by last name or first name in ascending order. This option does not take into account the student flags. If First Name is selected, Archie Lawson will be seated in the front row and Vivian Jackson will be seated in the last row.

Random: Seats students randomly. This option does not take into account the student flags.

4. To assign seats manually, click the student listed in the Students tab, then click the desired desk or chair.

Placing a student in a seat already occupied by another student, will bump the seated student back into the student list if there isn't a desk available for the bumped student. If there is another desk available, the student will move to the empty desk.

5. Click Save.

Unseating Students From Desk Assignments

1. From the new or existing chart, click the Layout tab, then click the Students tab to assign seating to students.

2. To unseat students from a desk or chair, click the student and click Unseat.

3. Click Save.

Locking Students' Desk Assignments

1. From the new or existing chart, click the Layout tab, then click the Students tab to assign seating to students.

2. Click Lock to lock the student into the desk/chair, so they cannot be moved upon using Quick Seat. If editing seating manually, the student can still be moved.

3. Click Save.

Viewing & Editing

Viewing Existing Seating Charts

1. In the menu, click Seating Chart.

2. From the Seating Charts screen, click Charts.

The Charts pop-up displays all existing seating charts linked to the section selected from the section pull-down located in the header.

Editing Existing Seating Charts

1. In the menu, click Seating Chart.

2. From the Seating Charts screen, click Charts.

From the Charts pop-up, you can edit all existing charts' information including the Sort order, Title, and the Front of class direction.

3. To edit the order, click the Sort field and change the number as needed. The chart with the lowest number, i.e. 1, is used as the default chart when none are assigned. By default, all charts are given a Sort order of 1.

4. To edit the name of the seating chart, click the Title field and make the necessary changes.

5. To edit the direction of the classroom, click the Front pull-down and select the applicable arrow to indicate where you'd like the front of the class to be.

6. Click Assign for the applicable seating chart to Take Attendance and/or Award Positive Behaviors.

7. Click Layout for the applicable seating chart to edit the Furniture Layout and/or Assign Students' Seating.

8. Click Save to apply changes made to the seating charts. Changes not yet saved, display in yellow.

9. Click the X to close the Charts pop-up window.

Attendance & Behavior

Taking Attendance

1. In the menu, click Seating Chart.

2. From the desired seating chart, click the Assign tab, then click the Attendance tab.

3. To assign a code, click the code listed in the Attendance tab, then click the applicable students.

Once assigned an attendance code, the student will turn the applicable color. In the example displayed, the student has been marked as Unexcused Tardy, so the student is yellow.

4. Click Save to apply attendance codes.

Awarding Positive Behaviors

1. In the menu, click Seating Chart.

2. From the Seating Charts screen, click the Assign tab, then click the Badges (Positive Behaviors) tab.

3. To award a positive behavior, click the behavior, then click the applicable students in the seating chart.

4. Click Save to apply the positive behaviors. Once saved, the number of behaviors awarded displays next to the star icon.

Awarding Positive Behaviors with Required Comments

1. In the menu, click Seating Chart.

2. From the Seating Charts screen, click the Assign tab, then click the Badges (Positive Behaviors) tab.

3. To award a positive behavior, click the behavior, then click the applicable students in the seating chart.

4. Select the Comments Before Save check box to ensure comments are made in regards to the behaviors awarded to students upon clicking the Save button.

5. Enter a general comment in the provided text box and click Confirm to post to the Student and Parent Portal along with the awarded positive behaviors.

You also have the option to click Confirm without posting comments or clicking Cancel to return to the Seating Charts screen.

6. Click Save to apply the positive behaviors. Once saved, the number of behaviors awarded displays next to the star icon.

Awarding Positive Behaviors with Personalized Comments

1. In the menu, click Seating Chart.

2. From the Seating Charts screen, click the Assign tab, then click the Badges (Positive Behaviors) tab.

3. To award a positive behavior, click the behavior, then click the applicable students in the seating chart.

4. To enter a personalized comment for an awarded positive behavior, click the award icon once assigned to the student to open the award in the Badges (Positive Behaviors) tab.

5. Enter the Comment in the provided text box.

6. Click the behavior icon to Edit the awarded number of behaviors. Click and enter the new Value in the provided text box.

7. Click Save.

Awarding Positive Behaviors to All Students

1. In the menu, click Seating Chart.

2. From the Seating Charts screen, click the Assign tab, then click the Badges (Positive Behaviors) tab.

3. Click the behavior, then click + All Present to award the behavior to all students present.

4. Click Save.

Student Info & Printing

Viewing Student Information in Seating Charts

1. In the menu, click Seating Chart.

2. From any tab, click Name to display students' name in the chart.

3. From any tab, click Photo to display students' photos in the chart.

4. From the Assign tab and Attendance tab, click Code to display the students' attendance codes in the chart.

5. From the Assign tab and Badges tab, click Earned to view postive behaviors awarded to students in the chart.

6. From the Assign tab, click the student in the seating chart for additional links pertaining to the student. Click any of these links to navigate to the applicable screen, such as Absences or Test History.

Printing Seating Charts

1. In the menu, click Seating Chart.

2. From any tab, click Print.

3. In the print preview pop-up window, click Print.

You are done. Great job!

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Other Resources

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Seating Charts Checklist

Heading anchor Creating & Managing Seating Charts

Heading anchor Customizing Layout & Assignments

Heading anchor Viewing & Editing

Heading anchor Attendance & Behavior

Heading anchor Student Info & Printing

SIS Teacher Checklists

Other Resources

Creating & Managing Seating Charts

Customizing Layout & Assignments

Viewing & Editing

Attendance & Behavior

Student Info & Printing