Room Arrangement Assignment

Room I

Room II

Comparison based on the “Five Keys to Good Room Management” (page 2-3 of Classroom Management)

• Use a room arrangement consistent with your instructional goals and activities: Both rooms are strong setups for central presentations, yet Room I is better suited for group-based activities whereas Room II is better suited for class discussion and presentations that require a lot of room (i.e. a skit).

• Keep high-traffic areas free of congestion: In both rooms, high-traffic areas are mostly free. However, Room II may have a choke point between the teacher's desk and the top-right student desk.

• Be sure students are easily seen by the teacher: With Room I, all the students have their back to the teacher. However, with Room II, two-thirds of the students are facing the teacher. The teacher can monitor student activity well with either room, but Room II has a slight edge.

• Keep frequently used teaching materials and student supplies readily available: In both setups, the supplies are easy for students to access. However, Room II frees up the back of the room with the relocation of the teacher's desk, allowing students to have greater movement when getting materials and supplies.

• Be certain students can easily see instructional presentations and displays: In this case, both setups work well if the teacher is presenting from the podium or front of the room, or using the blackboard. However, Room II is superior for classroom discussion as it allows all students to see each other without twisting around or craning their necks and there is no “front” or “back” of the room, necessarily.