Having students in a specific seating arrangements can impact student behavior.  Mitchell et al. (2017) list a physical layout as an evidence based classroom management strategy that is constructed in regularly scheduled routines, and designed safe navigation for teacher and student.  Classroom seating arrangements can impact student engagement, student performance, and most importantly for the purpose of this professional learning module, student behavior! Including a designated method of where students are seated can be a useful tool.  

In The Well Managed Classroom, Wong (2014) discussed the benefit of assigning students to specific seats beginning on the first day of school. By specifying where students are to be seated at the beginning of establishing classroom management expectations, it helps teachers regardless of years of service, continuously reflect on whether their classroom management strategies are effective throughout the totality of the school year. 

How the classroom is arranged can be varied including some factors such as size of classroom, types of desks, shapes of desks, student interactions, proximity to teacher. This includes: organizing your classroom based on student behaviors, homogenous and heterogenous ability based grouping, interest based grouping, and your own understanding of your students. 

Seating arrangements can be organized in several practical ways beginning the physical structure. 

• Flexible seating: Otherwise known as "flex seating" is a practice that encourages several types of seating arrangements for students of different shapes, sizes, and learning needs (Helean, 2020). Flexible seating also provides students with the right to choose where they sit.  In a flexible seating classroom, there are several types of seating arrangements including: floor seating, wobble stools, floor pads, bean bags chairs. small tables, lap desks, rocking chairs, etc. 

• Row by Row Seating:  Row by Row is more of a traditional approach. Depending on the quantity of students, space in the classroom, and physical setup of the classroom,  the rows will differ. However, structurally seats should be aligned behind each other, creating lines that assist the teacher in navigating through each section of the classroom space. 

• Partner and Group Seating:  Students desk or seats are organized in twos, three, fours, or more. Desks can be altered based on size and shapes of desks. Knowing your students both personally and academically would also help determine whether there is a need to utilize pairs or groups.