Classroom
Layout
Did you know that the way the chairs and table
are arranged affect your class, your ability to retain attention, and maintain
discipline? It does! Sounds silly, I know, but the way the tables
and chairs are arranged creates an environment. If that environment is not
conducive to the way you teach it can create unwanted disruptions, behavior
problems, or too much chatter. At the same time if you want the kids excited
and they aren't the classroom set up could be affecting this as well.
Tables and chairs: Do we
really need them? Some churches think so and demand that children
sit. Think about this for a moment. Asking a child to sit for an
hour isn't a big deal. But ask someone else to do something that isn't
really following their physiological development - like asking an elderly person
to stand in Bible class for an hour - isn't right. One seems ridiculous,
the other is expected. Reexamine if you really need the chairs.
How do you maintain order without chairs?
Good question. If images of children running rampant are coming to mind,
let me ease your fears. Kids love to sit on the floor. Getting them
to wiggle less is the key. If they are not used to sitting on the floor
you may want to have them create a mat out of construction paper that says GOD
MADE (CHILD'S NAME). It is their special seat to sit on in class.
When they come in they get it and when they leave the put it away. This
helps them stay in their space and leave other children alone. It also
creates whatever kind of set up you want/ need.
Set up: If you use a table and
chairs how should you set them up? Inward facing seating arrangements will
generate discussion. That means your class will be more talkative.
Outward facing chairs will discourage talking. This would be rows of
chairs that face the same direction or back to back.
Diagrams of outward and inward arrangements: O-Teacher
X-students
o
x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x
Outward chair arrangement
Diagrams of outward and inward arrangements: O-Teacher
X-students
x x x x
x x o x x
x x x x
Inward chair arrangement
Click the link to see how color affects the class!
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