Inspiring Students with Classroom Layout

How Classroom Organization Speaks to Your Students

Dec 12, 2008

Even the little decision you make about your classroom layout can have an effect on your students and their desire to learn.

What does your classroom say to your students and their parents about yourself? Use classroom layout and design to tell your students about what you expect from them, to tell them how exciting learning can be, and inspire them on to great things. Your classroom is a special place for your students to learn. Putting a little extra effort into preparing your classroom will be well worth it in the end.

Desk Organization

The way you organize your students desks speaks volumes about your teaching style. Your students will walk in and immediately know whether they are going to be working as a team with other students, or be required to keep all their work to themselves. Different grade levels will lend themselves to different desk arrangements, but keep in mind that the traditional organization of rows of individual desks may not provide the best learning environment for your students.

In order to promote an atmosphere of collaboration, consider grouping students together. Desks in small groups will promote shared learning experiences, small group discussion, and group activities. To create an atmosphere of unity and class cohesion, consider putting the desks together in a circle, or in a u shape. This type of desk arrangement promotes large group discussion, teamwork and direct instruction by the teacher.

Bulletin Board Displays

The displays you have up around the room will tell your students about the different things they will learn about, and the style in which they will learn them. Will they learn lists of information or produce creative projects? Inspire students' to put forth their best effort by creating bulletin board displays that are bright, colorful and fun. Interactive bulletin boards can promote learning as well, even though they do take a little more effort to create.

Classroom Decorations

Many teachers put different colorful posters up on their walls urging students to reach for the stars and always do their best. Your choice of posters will tell students a little bit about your particular code of ethics. Do you want them to always keep a positive attitude? Maybe you want them to help others who are struggling. Choose your classroom decorations carefully, keeping in mind the message you are sending to your students.

Classroom Peripherals

How you have the outside edge of your classroom organized will again tell your students much about the year they will spend in your class. Displaying lots of books at the student's level, and a comfortable carpet for them to lounge on while reading will encourage students to read daily. Providing clearly marked areas for students to place their completed homework and other classwork speaks to your organization. Where you put your teacher desk will tell students whether you will be available to them between classes by whether or not it is facing out into the room.

When organizing and decorating your classroom, remember that you are creating an environment where students need to feel loved, safe, encouraged and excited to learn. It needs to be a place where students know what is expected of them, and feel that they can meet those expectations. Provide a rich learning environment for your students through the careful design of your classroom space.

The copyright of the article Inspiring Students with Classroom Layout in Classroom Organization is owned by Jennifer Wagaman. Permission to republish Inspiring Students with Classroom Layout in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.