Classroom Management Tips: Ways to Improve Your Classroom Arrangement
Written by Ken Croft   
Monday, 02 November 2009 10:03
The physical environment of the classroom is a key element in effective classroom management. There are some wonderful ideas you can use to improve your classroom's physical arrangement. In order to be the star attraction in the classroom you will need to create a "center stage." Certainly a classroom comes to life with word walls, bulletin boards, and posters, but for many students visual stimulants like these are very distracting. Take time to think about where you are when you deliver most of your instruction. It is best to create a bland area there so you become the brightest star in your classroom universe.
by KenCroft


The physical environment of the classroom is a key element in effective classroom management. There are some wonderful ideas you can use to improve your classroom's physical arrangement. In order to be the star attraction in the classroom you will need to create a "center stage." Certainly a classroom comes to life with word walls, bulletin boards, and posters, but for many students visual stimulants like these are very distracting. Take time to think about where you are when you deliver most of your instruction. It is best to create a bland area there so you become the brightest star in your classroom universe.

Maybe you have some cute and funny posters like Garfield struggling with a load of books, but don't let them be a distraction to your "center stage." It is important to have a place to list notices, events, homework and the like but find a location for these items so they do not interfere with your main teaching area. If the board near your center stage is blank, kids will stay more focused on you and what you are teaching. Then when you write on the board, be sure that everything relates to the current topic or lesson.

Furniture arrangement can impact how kids stay focused. Your cabinets, teacher desk, and other furniture doesn't have to stay where it was placed by the custodians. Take a look at how the physical elements in your classroom are arranged and ways the arrangement may impact learning. Notice the location of windows, doors, and boards. Windows and doors are best kept to the students' back or to their sides to minimize distractions.

Your teacher desk and such---your "operations center"---should be away from your center stage in a somewhat less visible location. When you confer with a student or group at your desk while other students are doing seat work or group work, a less visible desk area will minimize distractions. So carefully consider your furniture arrangement and the function of various areas in your classroom.

Seating arrangements are best when done purposefully. While creating a "center stage" is important, this doesn't mean that daily you "stand and deliver" your instruction. This "sage on the stage" approach has been the subject of much research which shows that this model is not effective for many of our students today. However, the "sage" when combined with much moving to different locations in the classroom can be a very effective teaching model. There are of course lecturers who are very fine presenters. But there is a hidden dynamic related to student seating arrangements that even the most spellbinding lecturer cannot overcome. The most involved students in the traditional arrangement of rows of desks are the first row or two of students. This is because of the proximity of those students to the teacher. The middle rows are also involved but not to the level of the first rows. Although we try our best to involve the back rows, those students are simply too far away to have the same level of involvement as the first rows.

This dynamic can be changed by simply rearranging your seating to include some aisle you can walk through. ALL students can have that "front row" feeling as you reposition yourself so that at certain times you are near every student. As you begin using a new classroom arrangement just explain to the students why you are making these changes. Let them know that this new arrangement can help you be the most effective teacher for them and help them learn as much as possible in your class.

Are you already using many of these ideas in your classroom? Then you are using strategies that research in "best practices" has found to be highly effective (give yourself a pat on the back!). Take a careful look at your classroom environment. It is surprising how a few simple changes can reduce interruptions due minor distractions and keep kids focused. One of the most important elements in effective teaching is a well planned physical set-up of the learning environment!

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