When you start planning for a new school year, classroom seating arrangements are probably at the top of your to-do list. It has such a major impact on classroom management and often dictates the layout of the entire space. How you arrange your desks or tables is a matter of personal preference, and there's no better way. However, there are some important things to consider when deciding on your class seating plan.
Here are some questions to think about and answer before deciding on your lesson plan:
How often will students work in groups?
Where will your teacher's desk be? (Often determined by the location of power outlets, interactive whiteboards, and other devices)
Do you have individual desks or tables?
How big is your classroom overall?
What is the minimum/maximum number of students I could have?
Where is the "front of the classroom" located?
What is your teaching style? Do you prefer to be the center of attention?
All of these things play an important role in determining the best seating arrangement for YOU and YOUR STUDENTS. Before we look at specific classroom design ideas, let's talk about some things that don't work very well:
👎 Alphabetical order
Locating your students by their last name is not the best option and doesn't really make much sense. Maybe in high school at the beginning of the year when the teacher is trying to learn hundreds of names and faces. But in the elementary environment he feels impersonal and inflexible. If he has trouble knowing who is who, he writes the names of his students on the front of their desks and on the backs of their chairs. That will solve the problem.
👎 Big kids back
I understand the tendency to put your best students in the back row. You want everyone to be able to see the front of the room and make eye contact with you. However, this is really the least of your worries when deciding between different seating arrangements. A teacher rarely stands at the front of the room. They are also very likely to move throughout the group class. Therefore, the size of your students should not dictate their seating arrangements.
So what is the best way to set up your classroom? There are many different options and you need to weigh the pros and cons of each. The good news is that if you're trying a fix and it doesn't work, it's pretty easy to change things.
Does seating arrangements affect learning?
One thing we know for sure is that the layout of your desk can affect the way your students learn. Previous studies have shown thatThe students sit in the front rows.in a traditional rectangular row arrangement tend to be more attentive, answer more questions, and have more interaction with the teacher than those in the back rows. This setup also lends itself to more teacher-led lessons, less student engagement, and less active participants.
Given the choice, students with a strong desire to excel academically will choose to sit near the front. Those who don't tend to choose seats in the back or near windows and doors. You need to take this into account when designing the room.
Here are some common seating arrangements and the pros and cons of each:
Traditional row arrangement
Traditional rows are a very common arrangement in higher education (high school and university), but in recent years they have also been the most common arrangement in elementary classes. The desks are arranged in straight rows with equal distances from each other.
ADVANTAGES:
easy to set up
Takes up less space than other arrangements
Easy for the teacher to move among the students.
Minimize student talk
DISADVANTAGES:
teacher-centered
Inhibits student collaboration.
Less Engaged Background Students
Group work is not conducive
Students sitting in the front may block the view of students in the back.
Circular or round table setting
With this arrangement, the student seats are arranged in a large circle so that everyone faces the rest of the group. Usually a table is left outside the circle to allow the teacher to come and go.
ADVANTAGES:
student centered
The teacher can easily switch from "on stage" to "off".
Encourage discussion and collaboration throughout the group.
Create a sense of equality and inclusion.
Increase class participation for all students.
DISADVANTAGES:
It takes up most of the space in the classroom.
Increases student speaking
not ideal for testing
Increases distraction for some students.
It provides a large audience for disruptive students.
pod arrangement
This setup involves organizing your students into small groups. This can be achieved by putting your desks together in "pods" or by using small round or square tables.
ADVANTAGES:
Easy for the teacher to switch between groups
Encourage discussion and collaboration in small groups.
It can be used with desks or tables.
Often takes up the least amount of space
Best for collaborative learning activities
DISADVANTAGES:
Increases student talk and distraction.
Not ideal for testing or individual work.
It is impossible for all students to face the teacher at the same time.
It can be difficult to create motley groups of tables that get along with each other.
More difficult to move the student to a new seat if necessary
horseshoe arrangement
This looks like a semicircular arrangement. The student desks are arranged in a U-shape and all point in the same direction. Typically used with single desks, but long desks can be used on either side of the U.
ADVANTAGES:
Allows the teacher to take center stage or transition from student to student
Encourage discussion and collaboration between partners or face to face.
Can be used with tables if required
All students can easily see the front.
DISADVANTAGES:
teacher-centered
not ideal for testing
takes a lot of space
Not as conducive to group work as a pod setup
Z-shaped arrangement
This is a less frequently used desk arrangement, but many teachers love it. To configure your Z-desks, you have one row in the back and one row in the front, connected by a third diagonal row in the middle.
ADVANTAGES:
All students face in the same direction.
Provides some students with more personal space when needed
Can be used with some tables if required
All students can easily see the front.
The diagonal row works well for a student who is easily distracted or talkative.
DISADVANTAGES:
Only the students in the front and back rows have shoulder partners.
Takes up more space than traditional pods or seats
Group work is not conducive
Students in the diagonal row may feel isolated or singled out
flexible seating arrangement
By choosing to provide your students with flexible seating, you'll no longer have headaches trying to organize desks, and your students will love being able to choose their own seats for different tasks. Anything from bean bags and giant pillows to balance balls and floor rockers can be used in a classroom with flexible seating.
However, when implementing flexible seating, it is critical that you have clear rules and procedures. Your students MUST understand how and when to use flexible seating, and you must have an alternative (desk and chair) for those who cannot follow the rules. While flexible seating may seem synonymous with a relaxed environment, it's anything but.
ADVANTAGES:
Consider students' preferences and personal learning needs.
Give students a higher level of control.
Does not require desks for each student
It can have a positive impact on students' attitudes and academic performance.
DISADVANTAGES:
Not all students handle the options well
It can lead to fights between peers and discipline problems.
The teacher must have a higher level of control and a strong management of the class.
Harder for the teacher to monitor off-task behavior (especially for a new teacher)
It often involves spending personal money to purchase different seating options.
What is the best classroom seating arrangement?
As you can see, there are many options when it comes to classroom seating and there really is no BEST arrangement. Each configuration has its pros and cons. How do you decide?
At the beginning of the year, take the time to study the classroom and the physical space to see what is working and what is not. For example, if you don't have a large open area, a circular layout is probably not the best option. If your school only provides small tables instead of desks, small group modules are probably your only option.
Remember that the dynamic of your class is really the most important factor in setting up your space. There will always be some students who need proximity to the teacher or a distraction-free space to work. Your classroom seating plan is not set in stone. Regardless of what you choose, the goal is to create a classroom environment that encourages active learning. Keep trying until you find what works for YOU and YOUR class.
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