Effective classroom management with Findel Education

Classroom design is often an over-looked and neglected aspect of learning that when executed well, can have a significant impact on students’ as well as teacher’s performance and behaviour.

In fact, a study at the University of Salford selected seven primary schools for an in-depth assessment of the environmental factors relating to 34 classrooms.

Of the 751 pupils studied, almost three quarters of the variation in pupil performance could be attributed to design and environmental factors.

This showed that a well-designed classroom can boost student’s performance by 25 percent, so it should be considered essential to work up a well-thought out plan for an effective learning environment.

Furniture Arrangement

From the arrangement of the classroom to the furniture, the organisation of specific areas is key to outline boundaries for students, which will ensure stability and predictability.

Students will thrive in a comfortable learning environment and bringing in teacher only areas as well as the learners own space around his or her desk will ensure there is a mutual respect and will set the tone for what behaviours are acceptable and expected in certain locations in the classroom.

Making sure there are no ‘hiding places’ and that students are visible wherever they choose to work is important to minimise distractions.

Something to think about when arranging furniture, is imagining that you’re the student; are your areas welcoming and inviting, can they easily see and reach resources?

Organising your classroom to allow students to access materials quickly and easily will help decrease unwanted behaviour. It is important to consider and be consistent with the varying needs of all learners.

A greater emphasis should be placed on flexibility, such as positioning desks into groups to promote collaborative learning and communication.

Several separate learning areas will allow the students to flourish through whole-group involvement however, with the ability to still receive instruction from the teacher.

Space and Storage

Many classrooms have limited space, so furniture that can be easily moved and rearranged is essential.

Desks, tables, chairs and beanbags can be positioned strategically to give students more choices, encouraging them to invest in their learning, letting the area flow and allowing enough room for students to move around.

Smart and innovative storage solutions can go a long way to improving students’ attitude towards learning and their behaviour, reducing the amount of disruptions with accessible resources within a close distance to each area.

It has been suggested over the last couple of years that classrooms turn towards a more natural environment, so most are turning away from bold and bright colours especially in displays. Experts have particularly recommended avoiding the use of too many items on the walls as this can be a distraction.

A varied approach to learning will help keep students engaged, and a creative classroom will also allow teachers to branch out from the more traditional methods and explore what works best for them and their classroom.

For everything you need for the classroom, from furniture to a wide range of educational resources visit findel-education.co.uk