How to Arrange Your Desks in the Middle School Classroom

A successful classroom is one that is warm, focused, and well-organized. Thinking about the room arrangement and planning for an easy-to-navigate space for students and teacher is an important part of classroom organization.

How do you decide what classroom arrangement you need and want? First, you must work with what you have...no administrator is going to allow you to go into your new classroom and buy new tables because you want your students to work at tables.

I recommend that you begin the year with your students sitting in the traditional rows. This arrangement says that you mean business and we’re here to learn.

I always begin the school year in a traditional seating arrangement, then change the seating arrangement as needed to meet the lesson dynamics.

For example, if I’m going to be reading aloud, then the students will push the desks to the back of the room and sit on the floor. If we’re going to have class discussion, then I move the desks into a circle. I also use a circle if we’re reading aloud.

If I’m doing small group or one-on-one instruction, then I put the put the students who are not participating in the lesson back into rows.

If we’re proofing or helping a classmate revise his writing or partner reading, then the students sit together in groups of two.

I never do groups larger than three, but I allow students to move their desks or sit on the floor for group work.

Seating arrangements should be flexible to meet the needs of your lesson and the needs of the students. There is no right way to arrange your classroom.

Thanks for stopping by!

Melissa Reese Etheridge