Courtney Voss

CI 406, Cohort 3
Classroom Arrangement Rationale
10-3-2010

Classroom Arrangement Rationale

This classroom arrangement is ideal for a kindergarten classroom. It includes

items and resources that are vital to a kindergartener’s success in school. I hope to use

this classroom arrangement in the future if I get to teach a kindergarten classroom.

First, instead of desks there are tables for students to sit at. Five students sit at

one of five tables, comfortably sitting twenty-five students. By having students sit at

tables, collaboration is encouraged and it promotes interaction between the students. I can

meet the needs of my students by seating students with classmates that are at the same

ability level. By doing this, students can work on assignments together and learn from

each other. For other activities, tables allow students work with classmates that they may

not work with regularly. This helps create a classroom community where everyone feels

welcome. Finally, table arrangements can help ELL students succeed in the classroom.

Students that speak the same language can sit together so they can speak in their native

language if they need to clarify an assignment. Students with special needs also benefit

from table arrangements. They can be placed at whatever table best meets their needs.

For example, a child with poor eyesight can sit at a table that is close to the board.

Tables are beneficial for a kindergarten classroom environment.

The placement of the teacher’s desk is also important in a kindergarten classroom.

Here, the desk is in the front of the room. This placement allows me to “maximize [my]

proximity to students and frequently used materials and equipment” (Wong, 97). First,

my desk is located where I can see all areas of the classroom at any time. It is also easily
accessible so students can approach me if they have problems. My desk is placed near

the storage space as well as the cabinet, where I can store and quickly get to supplies.

The tables that are used for centers are also important aspects of a kindergarten

classroom. Students can move from center to center and work on various tasks. The art

and science center is located close to the sink so that students can wash their hands

promptly after doing an activity. The writing table has a seat for the teacher so she can

see and help all students. The two other center tables can be used for a variety of

activities, and the art and science table can also be used for other purposes as well.

During center time, the teacher can use the student’s tables in the front of the room to pull

individual students aside to work one-on-one with them. There are enough seats at the

tables so that all twenty-five students can participate in a center activity at the same time.

The carpet is used for a variety of activities. First, it can be used for classroom

meetings. All students can fit at the carpet comfortably. It is a place where I can address

the class as a whole and it is a great place to do morning meetings. Students can sit in a

variety of arrangements on the carpet. They can sit in a large circle, in rows, with

partners, or in other ways to best facilitate the activity we are doing. The carpet is also a

good place to go over activities before students are able to go and start them on their own.

I have a chair at the carpet so all students can easily see and hear me.

The computers are located in the front of the classroom by the electrical outlets. I

have the, “computers arranged so that the screens are visible to the teacher” (Sherbert,

10/4/2010). By doing this, I can monitor what the students are doing and make sure that

they are on task. Students can use computers for a variety of tasks. They can do

webquests or play educational games, for example. The computers can also be used as a
listening center during literacy time. Computers are a great resource for kindergarteners

to use during class.

Bulletin boards are placed around the room. These are great visuals for students

to see in the classroom. The bulletin board behind the writing center table can display

writing tips that are relevant to the topic they are writing about. It can also have the

alphabet posted on it, as well as high frequency words. Students can use this bulletin

board as a reference when writing. The bulletin board next to the white board at the front

of the classroom will have rules and procedures displayed on it. This bulletin board is

visible to all students since it is in the front of the classroom. The other two bulletin

boards will display student work or other seasonal information.

The arrangement of this classroom also facilitates transitions well. When students

enter the room in the morning, they go to the right and hang up their coats in the corner of

the room. They then go around the back of the classroom to the carpet to wait for the

morning meeting to begin. This creates a flow and students are not blocking the area by

the coats by circling around the classroom. The area in the middle of the classroom is

also open so that transitions from work at the student’s tables to the center tables are

smooth. The open space also provides space for students to line up when they are leaving

the classroom. Finally, since the door is not blocked, “the classroom [is] ready for

emergencies” (Wong, 95). A safe environment is of the utmost importance, especially in

a kindergarten classroom where students may be flustered by an emergency.

This classroom arrangement is great for the beginning of the year for a

kindergarten classroom. The teacher can make modifications to the room as she sees fit

throughout the year.

 Works Cited

Sherbert, J. Classroom Arrangement The Learning Environment [PowerPoint

Presentation]. Retrieved from moodle.ed.uiuc.edu

Wong, H.K., & Wong, R. (2009). The first days of school: How to be an effective

teacher. Mountain View: Harry K. Wong Publications.