The Creative Classroom – Desk Arrangment

Desk arrangement is one of the most important components of classroom management. Read Rachel's thoughts and suggestions about desk arrangement to help you find what works in your classroom.

 

  • Tristan, Alex, Lucy, and Kayla really needs to sit near the front, if you want them to focus.
  • You can’t put Ashley next to any of her friends – which is most of the girls in the class – because she will constantly talk to them.
  • No one wants to sit next to Bradley. He is that kid no one likes, and he doesn’t bathe enough.
  • You’d really like all desks facing forward, but rows are so very out of vogue these days…

So many variables to consider. Whatever is a teacher to do? There are many articles on classroom seat arrangement. Here is a good one complete with animations. Environmental Engineering also has some great ideas. Honestly, though, they probably don’t tell you much that you don’t already know from your own experience. So, in this post, I will try to bring out some points you may not have considered.

In Defense of Rows

Walk into a classroom with straight rows of desks not touching and words like “boring,” “uncreative,” “highly structured,” and “traditional” may come to mind. However, sometimes this arrangement is exactly what is needed and not just for test taking. Having your own space is great for messy art projects, and it keeps all those wiggly bodies facing forward for instruction. In addition, we all know that this arrangement really does result in kids staying on task a higher percentage of the time.

This arrangement also works well for “quirky” kids. These days every classroom seems to have its share of ADHD, Asperger’s, anxiety, kids with sensory issues, introverts, or just kids who like to do things in their own way. Yes, they need to learn to work in groups, but all the time? As adults few of us work side-by-side with our desks touching our coworkers’ desks. Why should we make kids work this way?

Still, the straight rows do give the classroom a traditional, almost militaristic feel. One way to get around this is to angle your desks and make rows like chevrons.

Clusters

Great for group work, of course, but they come with so many issues and not just kids talking. I believe that many teachers are woefully ignorant of what is really going on socially in their classrooms, especially in the upper elementary grades. As adults we don’t really get what is going on just outside our hearing. When we place students in close proximity, we may be making an already difficult situation worse without even knowing it.

I’m not saying we should never cluster desks. If you have actually managed to create a positive, emotionally safe learning environment where everyone is respected and students really do work together cooperatively, then clusters are great. They are also good for learning these skills. I just think we should proceed with caution.

Clusters of four seem to be most common. One thing to consider trying is clusters of three: By having one desk face the front of the class and the other two facing each other, sideways to the front, no one has to sit directly next to another person. If you do a lot in partners, you can just partner two of the ones that are not facing each other together.

Some More Things to Consider

There are also U shapes, circles, and any other number of other arrangements, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Whatever you choose, I think it is a good idea to rearrange often. Change is good for stimulating creative thought, and I think it is also good for kids to experience sitting near many different people in many different parts of the room.

And finally, please don’t stick that one kid in the corner away from everyone else unless you absolutely have to. I have seen this more than I would have expected, and it always makes my heart sink.

Be sure to check out the rest of The Creative Classroom Series.

Next week, I will be doing the 4th installment of the Creative Classroom – Making an Inviting Classroom Library. So be sure and come back for more ideas!

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