EPC 1401 TP Three Classroom Management Physical Space

Tips for Classroom Organization

Instructions: Read the article about classroom management. Each of the underlined words is a
vocabulary word. Next to the vocabulary word, you will find two words highlighted. Circle which of
the highlighted words has a similar meaning to the vocabulary word. When you are finished, answer
the questions.

As a teacher, the way you organize your classroom is extremely important. Whenever you
decorate or organize your classroom, keep in mind how you can develop your classroom
environment (area / pollution) to provide quality (positive / negative) learning.
Student Benefits
The prime (major/minor) benefits of a well-organized classroom will accrue to (help, give to /
hinder-take away from) your students. Your organization and procedures are, after all, everpresent reminders to the children of how to behave, how to conduct their business, and how best
to be effective without discord (harmony, everyone getting along / disharmony) in a group.
Respect for others, consideration, efficiency, pride of accomplishment, security in knowing what,
how, when, and where to do somethingall these positive elements are the hallmarks (rooms /
signs) and characteristics of students who learn in well-organized classrooms. Children like a
predictable, safe, and orderly (disorganized / organized) environmentand they like going to a
school that provides that environment. For these reasons alone, it behooves (is good for / is bad
for) any teacher to pay close attention to good organization.
Teacher Benefits
Aside from the benefits to students, good organization brings powerful help to the teacher. In
fact, it can be truthfully said that the first aide any teacher has is his or her ability to organize
the classroom well.
The immediate benefits of a well-organized classroom to the teacher are clearless wasted time
and therefore more efficiency.
Not so immediately apparent (vague, unclear / clear, obvious), perhaps, are the following very
significant elements:
reduced teacher fatigue (guess or look it up in a dictionary: dull)
improved student-teacher relations
improved parent-teacher relations
increased job satisfaction
increased enthusiasm for professional growth
increased student academic progress
Here are three important points to remember when organizing your classroom:
1. Create a positive and safe environment for your students.

EPC 1401 TP Three Classroom Management Physical Space

2. Create an environment that will maximize (guess or look it up: increase) learning.
3. Create an environment that will minimize (guess or look it up: reduce) the frequency of
behavior problems.
Desk Arrangement
Check these suggestions to include in your decision-making when arranging the desks in your classroom. Remember that the classroom is there for your teaching
and the students learning.
Observe how other teachers have arranged their classrooms and choose the arrangement that best suits your needs and goals.
Desks or tables might be arranged in one of the following ways:
(1)

half-circles (maybe also with a front row and a back row)

Draw this here:

When would you use this style in the classroom? I am going

to use half-circle style, when we are going to make debates
and hall class discussion.

Benefits? It helps the student to be comfortable while

taking. For me as teacher its good because am going to have
the ability to see all of my students faces.

Negative things? Its little distractive, because students will

not be able to leave easily. For me as teacher its bad because
I cant go beside them to explain something. The only thing
that I can do is to stand in front of them.

(2) in groups of four or five

Draw this here:

When would you use this style in the classroom? I would use
the style of groups, when I have group task or anything that
need several of students who works on it.

Benefits? it is great to share teamwork with each other. For

me as a teacher its good because I think the students learn
more and get more experience from each other.

Negative things? Its negative because students use it for

talking and not focusing. For me as teacher its bad, because
I cant handle their behavior.

EPC 1401 TP Three Classroom Management Physical Space

(3) the traditional way, with chairs lined up, one behind the other.
Draw this here:

When would you use this style in the classroom? If I had an

exam, I would use that way. And if there are independent
tasks for them.

Benefits? It make the students avoid cheating. More than

that students will depend on themselves. For me as teacher
its great to move between them and walk around easily.

Negative things? It stop group work and they may feel

lonely.

Arrange your room so you can have eye contact with all your students.
Arrange your desks so that the students attention is on the teacher.
Make sure that each student is able to see chalkboards, whiteboards, and other modes of
visuals.
Desks should not be placed directly in front of windows (if there are no shades on the
windows). The glare can be distracting and difficult on the eyes.
Note where the high traffic areas will be. Try to keep this area free of congestion.(guess or
look it up: traffic)
Students need to have easy access to those materials that will be used frequently.
Students should be able to find their work easily and quickly to promote (guess or look it up:
support) learning.

Vocabulary Exercises:
Put the underlined words from the text into the table below in ABC order. Then fill
out the rest of the table.
Vocabulary word

environment

Part of speech

Idea (meaning)

(from the reading)

noun

The surroundings or conditions

in which a person, animal, or

quality

noun

plant lives or operates

The standard of something as
measured against other things
of a similar kind; the degree of

prime

adjective

excellence of something
Of first importance; main

EPC 1401 TP Three Classroom Management Physical Space

accrue to

verb

be received by someone in
regular or increasing amounts

discord
hallmarks

noun
noun

over time:
between people
A mark stamped on articles of
gold, silver, or platinum by the

adjective

British
Neatly and methodically

behooves

verb

arranged
It is a duty or responsibility for

apparent
fatigue

adjective
noun

someone to do something
Clearly visible or understood
Extreme tiredness resulting

orderly

from mental or physical

minimize

verb

exertion or illness
Reduce

True / False / Not Given

1. How you organize the space in your classroom can affect the students. T F
NG
2. Children can learn about organization from how you, the teacher, are
organized. T F NG
3. Children like many posters and decorations which have bright colors. T F
NG
4. Interesting seating arrangements benefit the teacher only. T F NG
5. Having an interesting and organized classroom possibly leads to liking your
job more. T F NG
6. Even though designing your classroom in an organized style wastes time, you
will become more efficient as a teacher. T F NG
7. Desks should not be in front of windows because the children will be
distracted by what is happening outside the classroom. T F NG
8. Teachers should always be able to see the children in the class. T F NG
9. The easier it is to move around the classroom will make the students smarter.
T F NG
10.Organizing the classroom looks nice, but it has very little effect on the
learning that happens in the class. T F NG

EPC 1401 TP Three Classroom Management Physical Space

Short Answers:
1. List the three ways mentioned in the reading to set up your classroom, and
give an example of when this arrangement might be helpful in the
classroom.
Half-circles (maybe also with a front row and a back row) it helps the student to be comfortable while taking. For me
as teacher its good because am going to have the ability to see all of my students faces.

In groups of four or five it is great to share teamwork with each other. For me as a teacher its good because I think
the students learn more and get more experience from each other.

Traditional way, with chairs lined up, one behind the other. It make the students avoid cheating. More than that
students will depend on themselves. For me as teacher its great to move between them and walk around easily.

2. Why do you think that children like a predictable, safe and organized
environment?
Children like to study in safe and organized environment, because they feel more
comfortable and they achieve more things. More than that the organized place
provides the children to reach or find thing easily.
3.

Which point in the article is the most interesting to you as a future teacher?
Why?
The most interesting point for me is considering the desks arrangement ,
because the organization of the decks effect lots on the students mood and
conditions. For example, when the students set in groups, they learn more
from each other, whereas when students dont set in groups, they are not
able to share much as they share when they are in groups.