Arranging your classroom furniture is kind of like going to your doctor for a diagnosis: it’s good to get a first, second and third opinion. We already discussed how to arrange Clean Room Mats in your school, and setting up your classroom isn’t much different. Just use common sense and observe how your students interact with their learning environment.

Scholastic.com’s article entitled Classroom Organization: The Physical Environment emphasizes the importance of keeping an open mind and adapting to students’ needs. Here are a few points to consider:

• Be flexible with desk arrangement: Set up desks in U-shaped or circular arrangements to encourage face-to-face interaction and discussion. For small group projects, arrange desks in small clusters. Don’t hesitate to change based on the activity.
• Keep it comfortable: Students learn better when they feel comfortable in the classroom. Whether it means adjusting the amount of sunlight coming in or adding some padding to your chairs, students can concentrate better on your lessons when they’re not preoccupied with the environment.
• Access is everything: If students frequently visit the quiet reading area or walk up to your desk to ask questions, make it easy for them to get there by keeping nearby pathways and areas free and unencumbered. As anyone who’s driven on a congested highway can tell you, a smooth commute improves the mood and saves time.

In his article How to Arrange Classroom Furniture, Kurt Schwengel agrees with many of the aforementioned points and advocates using graph paper to help you plan beforehand. You may even want to get a graphic markerboard for an easy-to-view solution that saves paper. Schwengel also advocates decorating a bulletin board or two with displays and student work to stimulate visual learning and give students a sense of ownership over their learning space.

If you like case studies, Sydney Brown’s article Arranging for independence emphasizes the importance of pre-planning your classroom furniture arrangement based on factors such as number of students, their individual learning needs, and size and shape of the classroom. Brown examines a kindergarten class up-close and notes how organization helps the teacher maintain control and stay on schedule. For example, color-coding and labeling supplies and different areas in the classroom enable students to independently figure out where to go and what to do. In addition, something as simple as putting your markers and supplies next to your desk or board can save you a senior moment and help you start lessons on-time.

Arranging your classroom furniture can often make or break your efforts as an educator, so plan beforehand, observe what works and what doesn’t, and don’t be afraid to change based on the needs of your students.