This blog post is more for my records than anything else. My room is usually organized with the desks in six rows, facing the front of the room. I rearranged the desks for center work last week. I really liked the way the room worked out, and I wanted to jot down some notes for myself & take some photos to help me remember the arrangement.
I split up the desks into groups of 4 to set up 6 centers. This accommodates 24 students. I placed extra desks around the room so I could observe or work with select groups. I could add an extra desk or chair to a couple of the centers if my class size increases by a couple of students.
I found that this set up is perfect for group work. I like the flexibility of moving my room from rows to groups. This is the first year I’ve been able to do this because my class size is a little smaller than previous years.
I have found that my students work best by themselves or with a partner when they are in the traditional rows, but when I want my students to discuss something as a group, work on a group project or work on centers this set up is ideal.
