How To Arrange Your Classroom To Create A Successful Learning Environment?
Classroom setup is a crucial factor in a learning environment because it is an important requisite for classroom management to support both teaching and learning. If you want to learn various ways to set up or arrange your classroom for a better learning environment, you can take up an International Teaching Diploma course.
The physical arrangement of the classroom can affect both student and teacher behaviour, and a well-structured classroom management plan of the design has the ability to enhance learning and behaviour.
In order to develop a safe and supportive learning environment, incorporating classroom management for the way you organize your desks matters. A supportive learning environment can be the difference between having a good day and a bad day.
The arrangement of your classroom is the physical base of where your students will acquire knowledge. The whole layout of the classroom from where students can be seated to how they will move around the classroom is needed to be kept in mind while arranging the class to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of the students. The physical arrangement of the classroom should also be reflective of the student body and must be consistent with the needs of all learners.
Benefits of a Well-Designed Classroom
The structure and design of a classroom can have a strong impact on the performance of the students. So, one must consider all the crucial aspects of the design of your classroom. Here are a few benefits of a well-arranged classroom:
● Students learn to follow rules and regulations. For example, there are specific areas for teachers as well as students i.e. the space around a student’s/teacher’s desk.
● Keeping classroom materials organized helps students to reclaim them quickly and reduces the possibility of unwanted behaviour.
● The proper arrangement of a classroom makes things predictable for students as
they are known to prosper in a comfortable learning environment.
● Students get to know what kinds of behaviours are acceptable and suitable for different corners of the classroom. For example, when in the classroom library, students should be quiet, but while in the classroom play zone, students are allowed to talk.
Arranging Your Classroom
Before you are all ready to arrange your classroom, you need to ask yourself the following questions:
● How can I arrange the desks? Teacher-related activities will have desks arranged in rows or facing the front of the classroom, while in student-related activities, desks will be arranged in groups or semicircles providing scope for students to easily co-ordinate with one another.
● Do any of my students require medical assistance? A food allergy, wheelchair, etc.
● What kind of information is important for my students to know? They must be aware of the date, assignment, classroom procedures, etc.
● How to motivate my students every day? Quotes, posters, classroom awards, everyday heroes, etc.
● Do I need to think of a flexible seating classroom? Standing desks, stability balls, bean bags, etc.
Answering these questions will aid you to create an effective learning environment for your students. Take a look at a few areas you should keep in mind to reach your goal:
Crucial Areas
There are a few crucial areas that must be present in your classroom: group teaching area, a home base, teacher workstation, and transition space. The way you arrange these areas will create an impact on the classroom environment.
Dedicated Teacher Area
Teachers also need a place of their own. The space must be in an area where you can easily access a computer, a little out of the way but such that students can reach you and also you can scan the whole class from your seat. Such seating area should be ideally near the window along with a desk or small table kept at your side, in the corner of the classroom.
Home Base
Every student needs a place which they can call home. It can be their desk or a dedicated space at the table, basically a place that they can call their home base. In this dedicated area, students can perform their individual duties or go to when you are switching in between lessons.
Transition Area
The transition area can be a particular location, e.g. the carpet, where the students can wait to take part in the next activity. The location and arrangement of the space shall depend on the needs of the students and also their ages. Irrespective of the location of the space, you must ensure that your students are aware of the place to go during transition periods.
To conclude, particular classroom features are relevant to what students are acquiring and students gain a lot from a well-designed, well-structured classroom. Therefore, whenever you find any student facing issues with the design of your classroom then you should think of rearranging it. In order to learn the tactics to arrange your classroom, you can take up an International Teaching Diploma course.
