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: over work)
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: expand) 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? When the
students have a debate.

Benefits? students can concentrate on the teacher.

Negative things? Teachers cant stand beside the girls only in

front of them.

(2) in groups of four or five

Draw this here:

When would you use this style in the classroom? When

students have discussion or a group work.

Benefits? Easily can do the group work.

EPC 1401 TP Three Classroom Management Physical Space

Negative things? Student can get easily distracted.

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

When would you use this style in the classroom? When

teaching something important.

Benefits? all of the students will concentrate with teacher.

Negative things? Teacher cant reach all of the students and

see their work.

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: crowding)
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:
raise)learning.

Vocabulary Exercises:

EPC 1401 TP Three Classroom Management Physical Space

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

Part of speech

prime
accrue to
discord
hallmarks
behooves
apparent
fatigue
maximize
minimize
congestion
promote

(from the reading)

adjective
verb
verb
noun
verb
adjective
noun
verb
verb
noun
verb

Idea (meaning)
major
help
disharmony
signs
Good for
Obvious
Over work
expand
reduce
crowding
raise

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

Short Answers:

EPC 1401 TP Three Classroom Management Physical Space

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.
a. Half-circles : in debates
b. In groups of four or five : doing a group work
c. Chairs lined up, one behind the other : having an important lesson
2. Why do you think that children like a predictable, safe and organized
environment?

So the student wont be missed up and understand what is around

them and dont get confused .
3.

Which point in the article is the most interesting to you as a future teacher?
Why? Organizing your classroom because its more attracting

for the students and fun to do it also feels nice.