Best Classroom Layouts for Student Engagement

As a teacher, preparation for the upcoming school year is multifaceted. You may be checking discounts at local stores to replenish your marker stock or glue sticks, but preparing your classroom is a crucial task. Getting the arrangements right can significantly impact the learning experience of your students. A well-thought-out classroom layout can foster an engaging learning experience and let your students know your room is an environment for growth.

Here are some ideas to help you perfect your classroom layout for the year, or consider some new ideas. Wherever you are in the preparation process, let this be a help to mitigate the summer scaries that may flare as the new school year approaches.

1.        Understanding Your Objectives

Before arranging your classroom, it’s essential to understand your teaching objectives and the needs of your students. Consider the following:

• Teaching Style: Do you prefer traditional lectures, group work, a mix? How often do you anticipate students needing to move during a lesson?
• Student Needs: Are there any special accommodations required for incoming students?
• Class Size: How many students will you have?
• Technology Use: How integral is technology to your lessons?

2.        Different Classroom Layouts

Here are some layouts that you may find helpful for students K-12 and their benefits:

Traditional Rows

• Pros: These are the most traditional and easy to manage, giving a clear sight line for student and teachers. This format is also helpful during standardized testing & lecture style classes.
• Cons: This style may be less conducive to group work and impact lesson times if desks need to be reorganized.

Pods

• Pros: Encourages group work and collaboration, which fosters communication and community building.
• Cons: These can become noisy as students may have more side-conversations, which makes monitoring small groups while teaching more challenging.

In this format, you may find desks can be set up in various patterns including pairs, small teams, L-shaped formations, etc.

Horseshoe or U-Shape

• Pros: Facilitates discussions, debates, and lends well to presentations.
• Cons: This may not be the most ideal set up for written work or individual tasks. The larger U-Shape does tend to take up more room, so this may be challenging with a larger class.

Flexible Seating

• Pros: Students choose their seating based on comfort or learning style, this may help students become more autonomous in tasks.
• Cons: Without clear rules, flexible seating may be chaotic. If cost is a concern, you may look into grant options or funding from external resources, learn more about a program like Donors Choose.

You may find it best to explore flexible seating options through teacher recommendations, blogs, or explore other classrooms with this set-up.

 

3.        Key Considerations

• Accessibility: Ensure pathways are clear for students to move easily around the classroom, especially those with mobility issues.
• Visibility: Make sure each student has a clear view of the board and of you as the lesson is in progress.
• Storage: There are likely other pieces of furniture that need to fit in your classroom, plan for adequate storage for you and students. You may think about where your desk fits into the arrangement or where student supplies may be organized.

Be prepared to rearrange your classroom based on what works best or needs reconsideration. Flexibility is critical; especially when you meet your students at the beginning of the school year, you may find different formats are more suitable once the year is underway.

 

4.        Enhancing the Environment

Consider some of these recommendations as you put the finishing touches on your classroom to make students comfortable in your classroom, while still supporting learning.

• Color and Décor: Use colors to set a mood or theme items around the classroom to reflect a theme.
• Lighting: Natural light is always a bonus in a classroom, but this may not be realistic for your classroom. Consider alternative options like dimming lights, lamps, or turning some lights off during instruction. Read more here for options that may suit your classroom best.

5.        Involving Students

• Accept Input: Including students in decision-making increases engagement; offers an opportunity to build relationships, which can decrease discipline issues; and may give you more ideas to change, alter, or improve your classroom.
• Feedback: Regular check-ins with students can provide timely information about what students need to thrive. Here are some practical and quick tools to gather feedback from students.

Designing a classroom is an exciting and, sometimes, daunting task that requires ongoing considerations, creativity, and flexibility. Get creative with tools that help you find the best set up, talk with other teachers, but don’t be afraid to explore new options. Understanding your objectives, exploring new layouts, and considering the needs of your students will help you create the best learning environment that is functional and inspiring. Your space is there to help students feel comfortable, engaged, and ready to learn.

Learn more about how PublicSchoolWORKS, a Raptor Technologies Company, can support your school as the new semester approaches with programs like StudentWatch or EmployeeSafe. Or check out our blog, with articles like Classroom Rules: Importance and Tips for Creating and Enforcing Them, for other information to help you start the school year.