5 Tips For Arranging Effective Classroom Learning Spaces
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As exciting as the prospect of a new school year is for most of us educators (wheeee! pre-planning!), a daunting task we are faced with right away is how to set up and decorate our classrooms. It does not matter if you are a novice teacher or a 20-year veteran - the majority of us are not guaranteed the same classroom year after year.
I’ve been through this process many times in my years as an educator, and continue to experience that initial overwhelming feeling when I first walk in to a bland, blank room with no personality. Luckily, I’ve had many amazingly-helpful co-workers to provide suggestions and research on how to design effective learning spaces for our kiddos. It’s taken awhile, but I finally nailed down the most helpful areas to focus on. I’m sharing what I’ve learned, so you can skip the trial and error most of us go through. After all, sharing is caring!
In this blog post, I’m sharing the 5 tips that have helped me the most when setting up my classroom furniture. Today I’ll be covering:
• How to be aware of spacing and the flow of traffic while creating your student desk layout
• How to group student seating for collaborative work or specific accommodations
• How to designate areas for technology use
• Consider a reading corner - in any subject area!
• How to set up YOUR work space - teacher desks and more!!
So if you’re excited but nervous about all the decisions that go into designing your classroom, if this is your first year teaching and you have no idea what should be prioritized, or if you’re tired of using the same setup year after year, keep reading. This is the place to begin a solid foundation.
“ Let’s jump right in!”
How to Arrange Your Classroom Furniture to Create Effective Learning Spaces
As a new teacher I did not realize how important the physical layout of a classroom could be to a student’s ability to learn. I just wanted to make it look cool! I have since learned how wrong I was!! The specific layout of student desks, teacher desks, file cabinets, etc. can actually support student engagement and success in your class (or hinder it, if you’re not careful).
Tip #1: I have come to learn that a teacher’s first goal should be to focus on the flow of traffic: When arranging furniture in your classroom - especially student desks - think about how students will move around the space. Make sure there are clear pathways for students to walk to their desks, group work stations, and other areas of the room. Avoid creating cramped or cluttered areas that may inhibit movement and accessibility. I have arranged a few rooms that looked good until the students filled in the desks! Then I realized we needed to spread out a bit.
Obviously different schools have different options for furniture. As far as student seating goes, you may be given a room with individual desks, small group tables, or even provided with flexible seating options: Traditional rows of desks have never worked well for me, unless in a testing situation. For younger students, consider incorporating a variety of seating options such as bean bags, cushions, standing desks, and floor mats. Providing students with different seating choices can help them feel more comfortable and engaged in their learning.
I too, found a flexible arrangement that helps me rotate around the classroom by purchasing a portable standing laptop desk! It is adjustable in height and rolls around the room with me - but more on that tip later!!
Tip #2: For those of us blessed with individual student desks and chairs, the possibilities are endless! When grouping student desks, I used to make sure to keep all groups the same size. I have recently discovered that it is not so bad to have one or two pairs of desks together, or a single desk here or there, when others are grouped. This can be beneficial for students with specific learning needs, or for discipline reasons! I know teachers that keep their desks in the same arrangements all school year long. That is fine if that is conducive to your lessons. I tend to rearrange desk groups often - depending what activities we are doing in class.
I am sharing with you a few of my favorite desk layouts for a variety of situations. Click here for my suggested desk layout designs.
Two pieces of advice I stick to every time I move desks around are: (1) if student chairs are not connected to the desks, keep them piled up around the edge of the room until you have the desks positioned exactly where you want them - this prevents so much unnecessary moving! and (2) sit in each desk to make sure EVERY student will be able to see the instructional materials clearly.
Tip #3: Utilize technology effectively: Incorporate technology into your classroom layout however works best for your situation. Some teachers can designate a tech corner or station for students to use computers, tablets, and other devices. Make sure this area is easily accessible and well-equipped with charging stations, headphones, and other necessary accessories. Others might share access to a laptop cart that is portable from one classroom to the next. In other schools, technology is available in the media center - so there is no impact on your classroom design at all!
Tip #4: As an English teacher, I always recommend designating a reading corner if room allows it: Create a cozy reading corner in your classroom with comfortable seating, bookshelves, and reading materials. This space can serve as a quiet retreat for students to read independently, work on literacy skills, and immerse themselves in texts they choose. A well-designed reading corner can foster a love of reading.
Please believe me when I tell you that I have seen some amazing reading corners in science classes and history classes, as well as foreign language classes! It’s important to expose our students to a variety of reading material - including informational texts and magazines. One area of concern for educators - PLEASE monitor your personal classroom library to make sure you do not display any currently-banned books in your state or district!!
Tip #5: Finally, let’s talk about YOUR space. While the classroom should be student-focused, it is your office. This is the place you will be spending a HUGE amount of time in, so you should be comfortable as well! I’m talking about your teacher desk and any storage space you may have - whether it’s cabinets or a closet. Many times we are limited on what space is left in our classrooms, so the teacher desk goes anywhere it will fit! Some administrations instruct their teachers where to place their desks. If you have the luxury of choose where to place it, I recommend that it somehow face your classroom door. This is mainly for safety reasons - you want to see who is coming and going from your classroom.
Educators use their own desks for many tasks, yet are rarely seen sitting behind them during the day! While I sit at my desk to grade essays, plan lessons, and rest my feet here and there - the majority of my day is spent circulating the classroom, like so many of you. This is done for many reasons, including monitoring student engagement and understanding, and classroom management.
Last year I purchased a small, rolling laptop desk from Amazon that has saved my sanity numerous times throughout the school day! This mini-desk allows me to continue circulating around my classroom, while keeping my laptop within arms’ reach! My coffee mug - within arms’ reach! Notes and lesson supplies - within arms’ reach! This addition to my classroom eliminated the back and forth to my actual desk, and BONUS - it’s a nice support to lean against when your back is sore from standing all day!! I love reaping the benefits of something when I only acquired it for something else instead - don’t you? To get your own, click below!
I guarantee you never put this much thought into moving furniture around in your home. I know I never have. And in the grand scope of things we do in our school year, this is pretty minimal. But planning ahead and considering these discussed 5 tips will save you many headaches (and maybe backaches!) later on. And if one thing doesn’t work for you, come back for more.
The best way for me to prepare everything I need for a strong start to the school year is to stay organized. If I don’t write it down or have it on a list, I’m guaranteed to forget it! (Teacher brain!) Even if you’re not ready to contribute your own furniture to your classroom, such as the standing portable laptop desk I mentioned earlier, I have something that will help you stay organized and on track while arranging your classroom. Get my FREE Classroom Set-Up Checklist! Use the form below to get INSTANT access to this organizational tool that will guide you toward the most prepared start to a school year ever!
I also have an awesome resource library that I am constantly growing for your use at any time - checklists, worksheets, graphic organizers, classroom decorations, and more! Click here to check it out!
