"The first thing that you need to consider when designing a layout for a classroom is the students and the different ways that students learn, while keeping in mind that where and how students are seated can make or break their learning experience. It is extremely important to make certain that every learner can easily see the board and that they can also hear from where their desks are in the
. classrom. There is a multitude of various setups to consider when setting up desks in a classroom: rows, tables, partners, row arcs and circles. You can be creative- but it is important that the students points of view and needs are met. You want to plan for both ease of function and safety. Avoid creating a layout that makes the room congested, and that will cause students to gather in any particular area. Keep the size of the room when you are beginning the steps of the design process. Too many items and too many desks too close together will clutter the room and make it difficult for both you and the student alike to move around. Make sure students as well as yourself, can safely move around the room and reach the door and the emergency exits in case of an emergency situation. It is wise to designate an area in which students can do group work, or keep the desks in such a manner that students may easily move their desks in order to do group work. This group work area may be an area where students can work in small groups or a teacher can work with a group of students. This spot should doesn't necessarily need to be away from the desks, but can be. When it comes to placing your own desk within the classroom, make sure that your desk is visible from the classroom door for your protection as well as for the student's protection. Assign a space within the classroom in which students keep their materials, as well as places for students to get their handouts, turn in their work, and collect graded work (depending upon their grade level). Consider assigning a space within the clasroom in which you (the teacher) will keep your teaching materials, and your personal materials. This should be a cabinet or something that could be locked such as a cabinet. The last thing to consider is decorations for the classroom. When it comes to decorating there are many things to consider: what kind of class is this? what grade level are your students in? what kind of things will the students, as well as yourself enjoy? are any students allergic to various types of plants and/or small animals (such as gerbils and hampsters). For example, if it is a mathematics classroom, you may want to consider having a multiplication table that contains large print that could be read from the very back row, hung somewhere near the front of the room. Line the wall with nice looking mathematical images and symbols on boarder paper. You could hang up photos of fameous mathematicians in the room. If the design you have choosen just isn't working out for you, you can play around with the setting until you find something that is appropriate and does work for both you as well as your students."
