In the conducted field experiment, we explore the intensity of university students' interaction related to the seating arrangement (circle or rows) in pre-service teachers' groups during the reflective practice. We also probe the differences across the various fields of study and evaluate the facilitator's influence on the interaction. We use…

Teachers' efforts to manage classroom social dynamics can have positive effects on students' social relationships. One way that teachers may seek to manage these relationships is through seating arrangements. In a randomized control trial, van den Berg, Segers, and Cillessen (2012) found that closer proximity in the classroom can reduce disliking…

The design of a classroom space can make a big difference in student behavior and learning. The use of color, sound, light, furniture arrangements and more can help foster community and culture and promote understanding. Dillon discusses some easy ways to transform the classroom space that can help with classroom management.

A student's ability to attend in the classroom is an important factor in determining academic success. This systematic review examined the effects of an alternative seating system on improving attention in students with attention difficulties. Databases searched included CINAHL, Medline, PsycINFO, OTSeeker, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar.…

Seating assignments and arrangements are utilized in every school classroom. This qualitative study explored the perceptions that teachers have on seating assignments and arrangements to gain a better understanding of how they make design considerations which impact their students. The questions that guide this study are: How do elementary…

Good teachers know that the physical environment of the classroom can either enhance or hinder learning. Appropriate room preparation and arrangement of materials reserves class time for learning, while inadequate planning interferes with instruction by causing interruptions and delays. Before the year begins, effective classroom managers…

This paper provides teachers with an opportunity for thinking about the kinds of "people" constructed in their classes, the kinds of "dances" choreographed and the ways space is organised for learning. We argue that this is essential for teachers to think about if they are to enact socially just professional practices. In this…

The beginning of a new year is a crucial time for both students and teachers alike. What a teacher does to establish an effective classroom management system and create an environment that supports learning will influence what students accomplish throughout the year. Learning cannot take place in chaos, but well-managed classrooms do not just…

The arrangement and use of space are parts of the nonverbal communications system of the class and, as such, have effects on the performance and behavior of both students and teachers. (MJB)

Looks at the impact of the classroom environment on student emotions and behavior, offering suggestions for using the physical features of the environment to calm or stimulate students. Shows how the factors of environmental arousal, classroom robustness, and spatial settings may be used to create art classrooms that minimize chances for…

In order to develop an ecological theory of teaching, the classroom must be viewed as a sociological unit. The unit of interest was the teacher-student learning group. The basic question explored was: What is the relationship between human interactions and the physical and social contexts of the group? Teams of scholars met in seminars, each…

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)

Case study assessed effects of rearrangement of desks in an open classroom on incidents of disruptive behavior occurring in that classroom. Results revealed that alteration of the physical environment produced positive responses from students through reduction of maladaptive behavior occurrences. (Author/MH)

In this book, three veteran teachers show how teachers can make real improvements in their classroom by concentrating on basic skills. There are 13 chapters in three sections. The first section, "Time and Classroom Space" (Joyce McLeod), focuses on (1) "Setting Up the Classroom"; (2) "Managing Instructional Time"; (3) "Managing Administrative…

Examines what junior high teachers believe they manage in their classrooms and how they perceive and use strategies in this management. Observations and interviews highlight three themes that convey the complexity of teacher management and strategies: teachers' management classroom space, the energy of people and pedagogy within classroom space,…