Marissa Whitey

10 November 2019

SED 464

Lovitt

Classroom Layout

I will be teaching English, so my main concern with my classroom layout was that I have the

student’s desks organized in a way that promotes conversation, since I want the class to have
productive discussions about our readings. I chose a double horseshoe layout, because I think it

allows the class to see a good portion of their other classmates, no matter where they are

sitting. I also think that it will be easy to form small groups with this layout, as people from the

inner horseshoe can simply turn their chair around and group up with the people behind them. I

put my desk at the front so that I can have all my materials with me up front. I think that the

double horseshoe layout would also be a good setup for me to walk through. I can walk all the

way around it, through the middle of the inner horseshoe, or in between the horseshoes. I also

chose some fancy whiteboard desks, which could be used for group work and brainstorming

activities. In the corner, I created a little reading nook. I think this could be a fun little way to

reward students for various achievements or good behavior- by letting them do independent

work or reading at the reading nook. It could also be a good space for a small group activity,

although only one group would be able to use it at a time. I left a large area by the doorway

clear for safety reasons. Studies show that a layout like this, where students can look at each

other instead of the back of each other’s heads, is correlated with increased question asking

from the students (Marx, Hartig 1999). I really like the idea of a layout that promotes questions,

especially between students.

Works Cited

Marx, A. (2000). Effects of Classroom Seating Arrangements on Children's question-asking. Retrieved

November 7, 2019, from

https://www.academia.edu/2506301/Effects_of_Classroom_Seating_Arrangements_on_Childrens_ques

tion-asking.