The
layout of a classroom can give you insight into the teachers’ instructional
styles and the overall classroom environment. I believe that the physical
arrangement is only one aspect of the overall learning space within the
classroom. A few years ago, at Educon, I
attended a session with David
Jakes about learning spaces. He focused not only on the physical space, but
also the personal and digital learning spaces. He encouraged us to think
outside the box and be creative when considering all aspects of the learning
environment.
I
spent ten years in a second grade classroom and I experimented with room
arrangements all the time. I changed the seating arrangement often just to give
the students a break from the same atmosphere. Many times I allowed students to
choose their own seats, but I also assigned seats based on students’
instructional needs and strengths. My students did not spend a great deal of
time in their seats. They were permitted to work around the room and we were
involved in many small group and center activities throughout the day.
As
an Integration Instructional Advisor, I had the opportunity to spend time
co-teaching in so many elementary classrooms and I worked closely with the
teachers. When I take time to reflect on the teachers’ styles and their
classroom layout, I see many connections. The teachers who expected “quiet
workers” usually had the students in rows, unconnected. The teachers, who
expected their students to work together often, usually had the desks placed in
groups. The one aspect of room arrangement that I always noticed when I entered
rooms was the flow of traffic. I was bothered when I could not easily move
about and get to all areas.
Over
the past two weeks, I was able to visit many classrooms. I have seen a variety
of room arrangements. I would say the majority had student desks in groups,
teacher desks in a corner and areas for whole group meetings and small group
work. Most of the rooms had an interactive whiteboard and various other white
boards/chalkboards. Many of the primary rooms have sections for different
center based learning activities.
I
would like to describe one that stood out to me. It was a second grade
classroom and I work with the teacher in our iPad Integration Program. I knew
from working with her, that she is an exceptionally good teacher and she uses a
variety of effective teaching strategies to meet the needs of the students in
her class. As soon as I stepped into her rom, I felt at home. It was such a
warm, welcoming atmosphere. She has tables instead of individual desks. There
are no nametags because the students can sit anywhere. There is a large rug for
gathering as a class. She has her walls filled with useful instructional
materials displayed for the students to use. She does not have a “desk.”
Instead, she works at a table, which is where she meets with individual
students and small groups. There is a comfortable couch and many chairs for the
students as well as a reading “hut.” There are collaboration areas set up
throughout the room where students can meet and work together. There were large
ball lanterns hanging throughout the room and the ceiling lights were not used.
I was able to easily move throughout the room. It was evident that the students
were incredible comfortable in their classroom. They found places to work and
were incredibly productive while I was there. That is the kind of classroom
that I would like my own children to have the opportunity to explore and learn
in at school.
Observing
the classroom environment and room arrangements of the teachers in a school
could certainly allow an administrator to gather information about teaching
styles and instructional strategies and this can guide them as they plan for future
professional development opportunities for their staff. If they find that
classrooms are not set up in a way that in conducive for collaboration to
occur, they may focus on the importance of collaboration and cooperative
learning strategies. If they find that interactive whiteboards are not in a
place where students can utilize them during small group and center time, they
may focus on effective teaching strategies with a focus on the use of the IWB.
I look forward to visiting more classrooms
and learning more about how learning spaces affect teaching and learning.
