Podcast: A Flexible Seating Arrangement That Teachers Love
After trying numerous seating arrangements—including rows, blocks, and U shapes—this teacher stumbled on a desk layout that outperformed them all. Here’s how it works.
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Is there an ideal classroom seating arrangement? Most teachers would say it depends on many factors, such as class size, learning goals, desk shapes, and student personalities.
Over several decades of teaching science classes, including AP Biology and Geology, retired Oregon teacher Jay Schauer experimented with many seating arrangements before landing on one that delivered exceptional flexibility for teachers and students.
In this episode of School of Practice, Schauer walks us through the many benefits of arranging desks in L-shaped groups, including better communication, more flexibility, and improved learning outcomes for all students. Plus, we ask him how to adapt the setup for testing, tiny rooms, and a range of other real-classroom challenges.
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