Make the Classroom Fit the Children’s Bodies
While thinking about student size may seem too obvious a place to begin, I have learned through experience to make this an explicit part of the planning process. Too many times I have watched students struggle with attention and behavior problems that were clearly the result of being in spaces that were too small, too crowded, or otherwise unsuited to their physical sizes. (Clayton and Forton Intro Chapter 1).
Careful use of physical space makes a considerable difference in classroom behavior (Clayton and Forton, 2001; Evans and Lovell, 1979).
Also, when lower-ability students are seated closer to the front of the room, their achievement may improve (Jones and Jones, 2012).
In class where I do my residency the students seating are arranged in groups of four, five and one group of three. The three seats are in a line and not in a group because they are facing the projector but they still work together as a group when they need too. In the back of the classroom is an area with bean bags and only one student is allowed to sit there alone during the entire course of the classroom day. I have noticed that he needs all the space he can get to move freely as the student pleases without being disruptive to the classroom when the teacher is teaching. The students that have behavior issues sit near the area where the teacher is always standing conducting her lessons. This is ideal because the teacher keeps a watchful eye on the student and if bad behavior occurs she can easily correct it before it gets out of hand, it lessens the students’ temptation of seeking attention that is most likely bad behavior. The only other reason is student will sit up front is because they have poor eyesight. A teacher might sit a student up front and that could be to keep them focused in the lesson and away from distractions to improve their academic skills. From my personal experience I prefer to sit in the front of the classroom because I tend to pay attention and don’t miss out on any important details the teacher might be explaining but I also sit up front because of my poor eyesight, nothing is worse than not being able to see what is being displayed.
While thinking about student size may seem too obvious a place to begin, I have learned through experience to make this an explicit part of the planning process. Too many times I have watched students struggle with attention and behavior problems that were clearly the result of being in spaces that were too small, too crowded, or otherwise unsuited to their physical sizes. (Clayton and Forton Intro Chapter 1).
Careful use of physical space makes a considerable difference in classroom behavior (Clayton and Forton, 2001; Evans and Lovell, 1979).
Also, when lower-ability students are seated closer to the front of the room, their achievement may improve (Jones and Jones, 2012).
In class where I do my residency the students seating are arranged in groups of four, five and one group of three. The three seats are in a line and not in a group because they are facing the projector but they still work together as a group when they need too. In the back of the classroom is an area with bean bags and only one student is allowed to sit there alone during the entire course of the classroom day. I have noticed that he needs all the space he can get to move freely as the student pleases without being disruptive to the classroom when the teacher is teaching. The students that have behavior issues sit near the area where the teacher is always standing conducting her lessons. This is ideal because the teacher keeps a watchful eye on the student and if bad behavior occurs she can easily correct it before it gets out of hand, it lessens the students’ temptation of seeking attention that is most likely bad behavior. The only other reason is student will sit up front is because they have poor eyesight. A teacher might sit a student up front and that could be to keep them focused in the lesson and away from distractions to improve their academic skills. From my personal experience I prefer to sit in the front of the classroom because I tend to pay attention and don’t miss out on any important details the teacher might be explaining but I also sit up front because of my poor eyesight, nothing is worse than not being able to see what is being displayed.