Students prefer different settings in which to learn, and teachers may be wise to create different scenarios inside of the classroom. A separated desk shielded by bookshelves could be good hide spot for a student who likes silence for individual learning. Most of the students like to learn and work as a group, so a round group table may be the ideal place for them to gather. I believe that the ideal classroom needs to be learner focused. According to Kearsley & Shneiderman (1999), Learner Focused Classroom needs to be arranged in a way that is easy for students to work together in pairs or groups and also easy for the teacher to move all over the place to facilitate discussions among student groups. Teacher provides maximum opportunities for students to use authentic materials, and students feel free asking questions and have maximum opportunity to give or exchange information to each other.
Arranging Space. In my ideal classroom, I prefer to create different areas within the classroom. For example, my classroom will include a quiet reading corner with soft beanbags, a discussion/conversation center, computer station in which students can work on their research papers and taking AR (Accelerated Reader) quizzes, and individual work areas. Easily accessible materials and supplies can eliminate interruptions and confusion as students prepare for activities. I will place frequently used items such as scissors, highlighters, rulers and pencil sharpeners in several different areas to avoid traffic in the classroom. Desk Placement. I prefer arranging students’ desks for cooperative learning groups, because I believe that group work is an effective method to motivate students, encourage active learning, and develop key critical-thinking, communication, and decision-making skills and it is also easy to reach each student. While arranging the desks, the first thing I’ll consider is the students’ clear visual access to the whiteboard. I will leave