Description: Monday I observed a Math Class, that I thought was very intresting. In every math class i have ever been to there have been long straight rows facing an overhead. Well in this class monday i saw an almost perfect arrangement. The desks were set up in an ampitheatre kind of arrangement. It was a block of ten deskd at the front with a walk way around them, then it wa a radial arrangment in the back. It was the perfect set up for almost any class. It allowed for group work, and teacher proximity. There was not a bad seat in the classroom, every one had a direct veiw of the overhead.
Analysis: This classroom arrangenment will help with classroom management, it allows the teacher to be in direct eye contact with all students. It also allows the teacher to walk around the room and monitor students. The only thing i would like to change about this arrangement is the block of ten desks at the front of the room. The teacher also commented on changing this but due to the number of studnets has beeen unable to. THe teacher and i agree that if you take the middle two desks out of the block of ten and make it two blocks of four, it would allow even more walk space for proximity and teacher availability.
Reflection: As a beginning teacher i believe that this is the best arrangement i have seen, to this point. It is very creative and lends itself well to many different class functions. Group work and pairs are easy to get to, and lectures and power point are easily seen from every seat. I really enjoyed watching this teacher but i believe i have found my class room arrangement.
John, good comments. You have learned something that is very important for teachers. The room arrangement should help the teacher to teach. When administering a test, arranging the desks in rows is ideal. When students work in cooperative groups, then putting the desks together is appropriate.
I like Dr. D’s room arrangement. It’s creative and unusual. And I think that students respond more positively to it.
You’re also right that the teacher needs easy access to each student. The teacher needs to be able to help a student if he/she is having problems, and the teacher needs to be able to stand next to the student (proximity) if the student is misbehaving.
How does the idea of room arrangement apply to a gym setting? Food for thought….. NB