Physical Classroom Environment
Arrangement of classroom and its effects
My experiments
I decided to arrange the desks differently and to observe how my students are going to react and work together or separately. I also asked them about their preferences and I created several assignments that required collaborative learning and use of technology.
Four/ five students groups
This arrangement was successful with big and small classes. In the bigger classes I chose the partners and in smaller classes I let the students pick who they wanted to work with.
Partner work
Using the technology and figuring out the plot of a criminal story in Italian was a fun variation.
Mini circle
This worked great when using the jig saw puzzle technigue we discussed Dante's Inferno.
What about your experience?
What desk arrangement works for you and when?
Student production on my walls
The Best family tree ever
More examples from my students
Student Survey
In a survey, I asked my students about their preferences as far as the classroom physical environment. I found out that about half of the students prefers collaborative learning, a few likes circle or a U shape desk arrangement and a minority preferred individual desks. This made me think that switching the classroom setting at least twice a week will give me a chance to reach most of my students' preferences and will allow for a variety of activities in class.
Some of my classroom experiments
Ugly Sweater Hot Cocoa Party
I Dolci Natalizi
Mystery Skype
West Haven High School
Email: signoraporto@gmail.com
Website: signoraporto.weebly.com
Phone: 203 937 4360
Twitter: @portoA2000