Managing Space

In the time I have been in the first grade classroom, the desks have already been moved. When I first came to the classroom my cooperating teacher had the desks grouped into two groups of five and two groups of six, and now she has three long rows facing the SmartBoard. I believe the group arrangement was a more effective use of space because the students were able to work in groups more easily and weren't as likely to talk to their neighbors because she assigned seats. In the row arrangement she has let the students pick their desk buddies and it has given them plenty of opportunity to talk to their neighbors when they should be listening. I hope to have small groups of desks in my own classroom rather than rows.

Kaylynn Bailey