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      Classroom environment
      Submitted by nahla_shaw on 2 February, 2012 - 20:28

       

       I have noticed that the desk arrangement in schools influences the classroom environment:


      1. Groups of homogeneous students: it is disastrous because the weak students create a "gang" in class and their aim is to disturb other students and teachers because they are not getting enough attention like the other groups
      2. Groups of heterogeneous students: The strong students tend to be distracted by others in the group, while the weaker students try to dominate the group. Yes, an ideal group would be one in which the stronger students help the weaker students during the lesson, but does it actually happen?
      3. The normal classroom setting of two students on one desk: it makes the lesson more quiet and organized, but the students are getting bored of the same old class settings.

      How are your students seated? do you change the seating arrangement in your class? how does that affect the lesson? I would love to read about your experience.    

      Average: 4 (1 vote)

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      Elena Nikitina's picture
      Elena Nikitina
      It's important
      Submitted on 3 February, 2012 - 18:48

      I try to make everybody to sit as close to me as possible. They can change their places every lesson if they want. I can ask them to change their place as well if I need it for my lesson

      nahla_shaw's picture
      nahla_shaw
      reply
      Submitted on 4 February, 2012 - 17:57

      Dear Elena,

      Thank you for your reply. Doesn't that cause any problems? I mean when students decide to sit next to each other to talk during the lesson for example.

       

      Nahla

      Elena Nikitina's picture
      Elena Nikitina
      They know me
      Submitted on 4 February, 2012 - 20:56

      They know that that's the case I'll ask them to change their places (or I can do it like by chance during one of the activities)

      nahla_shaw's picture
      nahla_shaw
      reply
      Submitted on 4 February, 2012 - 21:56

      I like the idea of changing their places on purpose without them knowing it.

       

      Thanks

      lilitmartirosyan1's picture
      lilitmartirosyan1
      You know during my lessons
      Submitted on 4 February, 2012 - 22:10

      You know during my lessons pupils sit in rows( there are 3, sometimes 4 rows as our school is large). A girl with a boy is obligatory.They never speak if the lessons are attractive, topics are interesting and catching, and there is a quiet and warm classroom environment which we create together. Sometimes I make a circle and I sit in the middle of it and we start discussing something. If we have open lessons we sit like a ladder just for being nice.

      nahla_shaw's picture
      nahla_shaw
      reply
      Submitted on 4 February, 2012 - 22:14

      Dear Lilit,

      Thank you for your reply. The students that I teach are wonderful and would never try to disturb on purpose, but activities like you have suggested (like a circle) would create chaos sometimes. I do agree with you that if the lesson is attractive, they will have no need for disturbing.

      Nahla

      Michaeladarasinger's picture
      Michaeladarasinger
      Chaos moving seats?
      Submitted on 5 February, 2012 - 22:44

      Thanks for this important post. It would be worth writing some more on this topic - the question I always ask myself though, is this: is it worth creating the chaos of moving everyone about and having everyone complain about who they are sitting next to at the beginning of the lesson - it would take my class about 15 or so minutes to get in their places. On the other hand, although this may happen for the first week or two, in the long term it could be worth it!

      Happy Blogging

      Michaela

      British Council

      nahla_shaw's picture
      nahla_shaw
      reply
      Submitted on 6 February, 2012 - 18:27

      Dear Michaela,

          I think it is worth the time because as you said, they will get a hold of it and get used to it. I love group work and what they come up with. So I don't think I will give it up. What I dislike is having students sit together in groups during all the school year because it creates chaos.

      Thanks for the reply. 

      singerina's picture
      singerina
      good topic!
      Submitted on 6 February, 2012 - 18:50

      The desks in my classroom is organized in the shape of a large letter U. I don´t like it because it is too wide and it is difficult to keep an eye an all of them, but I can´t change it because it is not only my classroom.

      At the beginning of the school year I let them sit however they want but if I see they are making a mess I rearrange them. All of your points are correct, about the weaker students disturbing the better ones. What I like doing (when I can) is arranging them 2 pupils per desk (as you said it maintains order) and then sometimes letting them do activities which can easily be done "on foot" - that satisfies their need to talk to other classmates.

      something like this - http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/blogs/singerina/speaking-skills-i-love...

      nahla_shaw's picture
      nahla_shaw
      reply
      Submitted on 8 February, 2012 - 13:24

      Dear Singerina,

      Yeah I agree that the best setting is the two students on one desk, although, as you said, I do change them around when I need to do activities. 

      Thanks for the link to your post. I really liked the "Do you know your friend" activity. I bookmarked it and will come back for the ideas when I get new classes :))