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My Mum, the Teacher

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Setting up your classroom – How to arrange desks and students.

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Setting up your Classroom – How to arrange desks and students.

I’m really excited about bringing you this series of blog posts. I have a real passion for helping teachers, especially those teachers new to the game. There is so much to learn and do when you get your first teaching position. I have expanded my original post, and broken it down to help you with setting up your classroom desks and students so that you are prepared for the year (and years) ahead.
Setting up your classroom: How to arrange your desks, students and equipment
Your classroom is where you’ll be getting to know the individuals that you’ll be educating. It’s where they’ll learn a thing or two (hopefully) and where they will get to know you! The organisation of your classroom directly affects how students behave and learn. It sends a message to the students, parents and anyone who enters your classroom. Through furniture, books, desk placement, learning stations and general organisation you can communicate the values and ‘tone’ for your class. To create a positive classroom environment you are going to need to consider the following: desk arrangement, student placement and equipment organisation.

SETTING UP YOUR CLASSROOM: DESKS

“Seating arrangements which allow the teacher to see the faces of all students at all times have been associated with increased academic engaged time” (Askew. 1993. et. al. cited Konza, Grainger, Bradshaw. 2003. p25).

When setting up your classroom you need to consider the arrangement of student desks and other learning areas. You will need to ensure that the placement of your furniture meets the needs of your students and compliments your teaching style. Tables in rows, small clusters, large group and U-shapes all have their advantages and disadvantages. Each will encourage certain behaviours and discourage others.

Desk Arrangement: Single Rows

Single rows are useful for teacher demonstrations and independent table work. This is a more formal style of seating arrangement and encourages less student-to-student interaction. I highly recommend this style in the first few weeks of teaching. It allows you to easily engage in eye-to-eye contact with all of your students. You can also easily monitor your students. This seating arrangement is recommended until students learn to develop greater self-management skills.
classroom-desk-arrangement-single-rows

Desk Arrangement: U-Shape

U-Shape desk arrangements offer students the chance to engage in eye-contact with one another. Group discussions can be facilitated. However, the distance can lessen the chance of private conversations. Tables can also be easily moved for group work when necessary.
classroom-desk-arrangement-ushape

Desk Arrangement: Double Rows

Double Rows, or groups of tables where students are facing each other, provide more opportunity for student talk and interaction. While some lessons require this type of interaction, it can encourage students to engage in off-task behaviour. It can also be harder to gain eye-contact with students. However, this layout ensures that students don’t have to physically turn around to see the board or teacher.
classroom-desk-arrangement-double-rows

Desk Arrangement: Work Stations

Clusters, or work station arrangements, require students to have a high set of self-management skills. It is a great set-up for creating a cooperative or ‘group’ feeling amongst the class. It is harder for a teacher to engage in eye-to-eye contact with all students and monitor student activity. Students lose their individual space, which can be an issue for some students. This arrangement is NOT RECOMMENDED if you have a difficult class or management problems are an issue.

classroom-desk-arrangement-groups

Some things to consider when deciding on desk placement:
  • Make sure ALL students will be able to see you and the board from their desks;
  • Allow aisle space so that you can work with individual students if required;
  • Create as wider walkways as possible so you and the students can move around the room easily;
  • Place centres, work area tables and storage around the perimeter of the classroom;
  • Consider where students will keep their personal belongings;
  • Where will student notebooks, folders, stationary etc. be kept and how will it be accessed.

setting-up-your-classroom-desk-arrangement

SETTING UP YOUR CLASSROOM: STUDENTS

When you begin the year or term, seating students in alphabetical order and/or in a boy-girl/boy-girl order will give you the opportunity to establish control over the class as well as the chance to get to know your students. Once you feel there is a good sense of control and self-management by students, you can start letting them choose who they sit with. This gives ownership and responsibility back to the students. If they muck up, then they lose the privilege of sitting and working with their friends.

Changing the seating is an excellent way of re-establishing control or when you want to establish new working patterns when commencing a new unit of work.

setting-up-your-classroom-student-placement

When setting up your classroom, consider student placement to optimise learning for all students.

My next blog in this series will focus on Behaviour Management. Be sure to come back and see what strategies work for me, and read about others that may work for you! And remember, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!
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