Classroom Management One Pedagogical View

Classroom Management

One pedagogical view for teachers is that classroom seating is the cheapest and easiest to implement form of classroom management available for the modern teacher. Since each group of students is quite different, it stands to reason that each group will have a different psychological energy; different behavioral issues depending on who is seated next to whom; and how many and what quality of distractions exist. It is important, also, to keep in mind that a teacher should arrange a classroom so that they can walk freely among students, checking work, and helping (by modeling) the behavior of keeping on task. The realities, though, of the modern classroom are usually overcrowding, mainstreaming of potentially problem children, and a curriculum that requires so much pressure and quick movement that there is hardly time for drawn own classroom issues. Thus, the idea of minimizing events by appropriately seating individuals is the most practical way to implement a powerful tool (Jones, 2004).

Situation -- We have a third grade classroom in a regular elementary school environment. The student in question, Edward, is a bit over 8 years old. Edward is continually distracted during independent work time; rarely completing his work, or when he does, it is sloppy and haphazard. Based on a previous IEP, Edward is seated near the chalkboard where the independent directions are written. The teacher recognizes that the current seating arrangement (below) may be encouraging Edward's behavior.

Issue #1 -- Minimizing Distractions -- While Edward may be near the chalkboard, there are two, and potentially three issues that may be distracting him. Note that not only is the computer very near him, as is the trash can -- both of which may be used by other students during independent time, he is also able to gaze out of the window as well as listen to, and year to participate in, time in the Group table. The solution for Edward is actually quite simple, although there are really only 2 seats that are appropriate for him (both marked E. above). Seating Edward near the teachers desk results in less external distraction, more hands-on management, and while the teacher may need to review instructions because of the lack of proximity to the chalkboard, Edward will have fewer distractions and be able to focus more on his work.

While there is no "ideal" classroom seating arrangement because of the differences in the classroom makeup, age of students, and activities, I believe that the classroom should not be static. Student desks are easily moved, and as long as the teacher's desk, computer station and chalkboard remain stable, then I would likely have two ways of organizing the room:

A -- Lecture, film, presentation or group even in which I wanted all eyes on me, minimal collaboration, testing, individual work, etc. Note that in this arrangement student contact is limited, students who are behavior or attention problems would be seated in the first two rows.