Discusses research on the impact of the physical environment of the classroom on student behavior and attitudes, and offers guidelines for designing informal classrooms. Encourages school personnel concerned with creating positive learning environments to pay more attention to the physical environment. (Author/NRB)

This informally written handbook for elementary school teachers describes typical classroom behavioral problems and proposes ways of dealing with them. The "problem" student is identified as one who requires the teacher's personal energy or reactions, drawing attention away from the remainder of the class and creating added burdens for the…