In a typical classroom,
the seats are arranged in rows and aisles. Each student has their “personal
space,” and both teachers and students can negotiate the pathways to move
around the room. Unfortunately, the problems it engenders far outweigh any
supposed benefits to this arrangement.
First of all, this
arrangement creates too much distance and separation between teacher and
student. As a former teacher, I can tell you that being in front of such a room
feels stifling, like I’m trapped behind a desk that in effect becomes a “wall”
between teacher and student: “This is my space, that space is yours.” Second,
when a teacher does decide to move amongst the students there is the real
potential for taking a “pratfall,” there are a lot of pieces of furniture to
have to maneuver around. This might not seem like a big deal, but such an incident
can be disruptive and easily cause students to lose focus. And third, this
arrangement is isolating for the students, creating too much distance between
students and creating a sense of solitude that may actually discourage certain
students from asking questions, making comment, and in general participating in
the teacher’s plans for the day. From a management standpoint, at first glance
it would seem like a positive thing, since isolating them presumably will keep
them focused on the lesson and not making the effort to communicate with one
another. Are people who think this really being serious? Lol
What I suggest, strongly
suggest, is placing chairs in a semi-circle, forming an arc or two about 5 or 6
paces from the front of the room. From a management perspective, this is
actually a much better arrangement, as teachers can more easily move into and
around the students’ space. No more hiding in the back of the room! It gets the
teacher out from the back of the desk and gives her a nice open space to work
from. Rather than the farthest student being as much as 10 to 15 yards from the
teacher’s desk, by using that open space there is no student more than just a
few steps away. This also enhances discussion, as the close proximity gives a
greater sense of collegiality among the kids, and it is clearly easier for
students to hear the teacher and one another. Sitting in the back, I am no
longer staring at row after row of students’ backs. During presentations, for
example, a semicircular arrangement is more comforting by reducing the
effective space that students in front of the class must deal with.
By placing desks in this
arrangement, it is easier to distribute and disseminate materials, and it is
easier for students to share resources. And by moving the desks closer
together, you have opened up a lot of free space for students to utilize when
group work is part of the lesson plan.
Now I can hear the
objections of those who think I am facilitating the ability of students to pass
notes, chat, and otherwise communicate with each other. Yes, I guess I am. But
on the other hand, students will always find ways to communicate, and so I am
at least minimizing the disruption they might cause through their efforts. And
by being able to “invade” their space much quicker and easier, by literally
being “on top” of them all period, I raise their risks of being caught. And by
being in closer proximity, in general it is less likely that students will be
able to get away with things “behind my back.” A teacher’s credibility can be
negatively impacted when a class feels that they can “get away with stuff,” and
that is much more likely in a traditional arrangement.
Hopefully any teachers
reading this blog will, if they haven’t already, at least try this arrangement.
I think you may also find that- knowing your kids are arranged this way- it
will actually make you more creative as you plan your curriculum and design
class activities. I don’t exactly know why that occurs, I just know that it
will J
The bottom line is that, if you want to improve the culture of learning in your
classroom, rearrange the chairs. You’ll be glad you did!
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