Free Editable Classroom Layouts
Classroom layouts depict the basic class setup that aids in effective student-teacher interaction. This article is all you need to know about a good class layout and a quick, easy way to design it yourself. So without further talking, let’s dig into it.
1. What is a Classroom Layout?
When it comes to effective classroom learning, a teacher tries to employ all sorts of tricks and teaching methods. However, what she might miss out is the classroom layout. A good layout can help increase engagement with students and significantly impact academic outcomes.
Besides, this also helps students interact with each other. An interactive classroom environment will ultimately help students express and explore themselves. Here are some important considerations for an ideal classroom layout:
#1 All Students Visible to the Instructor
The seating arrangement should make all students visible to the instructor. This will help the teacher monitor their activities and aid in an interactive classroom.
#2 Board is Visible to All
The board must be visible to all children. For this, a semicircle or row seating arrangement is preferred. The seating should not be very distant from the board, so the board is easily observable even in a crowded class.
#3 Student Interactions
The chair organization should be set such that inter-student interactions are possible. No student should be left out and can easily communicate with their mates. This will aid in improving socialization between children.
#4 Ample Space to Move Around
While designing the classroom layout, consider leaving space for the instructor to move around the class. There should be ample space to move and supervise each child thoroughly.
#5 Teacher's Desk
The teacher's desk should be placed such that it is easily accessible by all and does not cause hindrance in viewing the board. Besides, the teacher can easily surveil the class environment from her table.
#6 Seating Arrangement
The most important thing to consider is that the seating pattern should match the objective of the teacher's lesson. A circular or cluster arrangement can prove beneficial if there is a group activity, while for a lecture, column arrangement seems more appropriate. These were some important aspects of an ideal classroom layout. Let us see some examples to see how to put these in effect.
2. Classroom Layout Ideas & Examples
To help you and your kids make a classroom layout, we have listed some of the templates that will be useful for your kids.
Example 1: Classroom Layout
The picture below shows a simple yet very well-thought classroom layout. This is a group seating arrangement with alternately arranged tables, decreasing distractions and off-task behavior. The teacher table is located such that the entire class is visible. The seating is not too crowded and leaves enough space for the instructor to move freely in the class. Three students at one monitor is a good ratio for effective learning and group discussions. Overall, this is a lovely layout ideal for group-based learning and peer interactions.
Example 2: Preschool Classroom Layout
This example demonstrates a preschool classroom layout. The tables are nested in four groups, with the teacher's desk tilted for a complete class view. This type of seating layout can be advantageous for promoting cooperation and teamwork between peers. The instructor will also be able to keep track of their activity more efficiently. However, some students may face difficulty viewing the board and get distracted easily. This is a good seating plan for pre-schools but would require stricter monitoring by the instructor.
Example 3: Classroom Floor Plan
The example below shows a classroom floor plan for a middle school. Considering students can engage in distractions, the seating is spaced yet maintains a limited interaction between peers. Just in the front is the podium, followed by the board. This semi-circular arrangement aids in good board visibility and maintaining a quick check on every student. The teacher's desk is placed at one side so that it does not block the front view of the board. The layout seems comfortable and ideal for even a large group of students.
Example 4: Classroom Seating Chart
The picture below gives an idea for a high school or college classroom seating chart. The chair arrangement follows a curved seating pattern with linearly increasing seats. The seating pattern is divided into two, with a walking aisle in the middle. Since the room is big, it shows two doors that ensure a quick and easy exit through the room. This is a more crowded seating plan accommodating more students at a single time. The teacher's desk is placed in the middle to easily interact with both sides of the class.
Example 5: Montessori Classroom Layout
The following diagram depicts four different classroom layouts for Montessori. The seating plan is flexible and can be adjusted to the purpose of learning very easily; therefore, more committed to teacher interaction. There are dedicated activity seating plans and U-shaped seating arrangements to accommodate different teaching methodologies. The teacher's desk is placed in a location intended to surveil the class activity in each classroom layout. Since Montessori classes aim for more activity-based learning, such layouts promote a suitable environment.
Example 6: Elementary Classroom Layout
A classroom environment should be comfortable and interactive to keep the students active and engaged. Below is an elementary classroom layout that can accommodate a large group of students. The layout features two plans: U-shaped seating for board lessons and nested group seating for group discussions. There is also a circular seating arrangement for activities. This spacious and versatile seating layout accommodates different needs and promotes teacher-student interaction.
Example 7: Kindergarten Classroom Layout
The Kindergarten classroom layout needs to be fun and interactive for self-exploration and effective academic growth. Therefore, a seating plan like the picture below can seem like a perfect idea. This is a basic and colorful arrangement with student tables arranged in a group of fours and six. Adjacent to the tables is an activity area for the kids for hands-on activities to promote individual growth or teamwork collaboration. The room also has a dedicated corner for storybooks and playing. The room allows creating a multitude of learning experiences and accommodates the needs of different learners.
Example 8: Special Education Classroom Layout
Considering the needs of differently-abled children, special education classroom layouts need to be much more diverse and activity-based. This layout depicts a simple seating structure with a few tables in the center for academic learning. The classroom has multiple bookshelves and cabinets to store activities away from these hyperactive children. Lab table will allow students to have a fun learning experience while putting their energies to more productive use.
Example 9: Classroom Table Layout
The following example shows different ideas for a classroom table layout. A classroom layout should correlate with your day's objective and promote an effective teacher-student partnership. A seating pattern like banquet or boardroom for group discussions seems more compatible. In contrast, the classroom or U-shaped layout is more inclined to help academic learning. When you have a larger group of students to accommodate, a seating pattern like U, E or Fursheet can help because more students can be adjusted next to each other. However, these patterns may make it difficult for the instructor to move around and individually monitor each child's progress.
3. Online Classroom Layout Maker
EdrawMax Online is an intuitive application that can help you create professional-looking diagrams in just minutes. The application is free and user-friendly to accommodate all kinds of users. With an easy-to-understand interface, anyone can create layouts on EdrawMax. The cherry on top is that it has over 280 templates that are customizable and let you create layouts effortlessly. However, using the large symbol library, you can also create your own diagram from scratch and even share it with people around the globe.
And there's more. The team collaboration tool that allows multiple users to work on the same diagram. EdrawMax is a blessing for architects, office workers, college students who often need diagrams. With so many layout templates, customizing and creating a layout with Edraw is just a piece of cake.
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4. Key Takeaways
Classroom layouts are certainly an essential consideration while planning out the objectives for the lesson. A good, interactive seating pattern aims to provide a fun and collaborative environment. This can significantly help students explore themselves and their abilities. Even though there are a lot of ideas, you would want to create a seating pattern that best suits you and your students. Edraw is a professional diagramming tool with a wide variety of templates, a huge symbol library, and extensive editing tools to help you create layouts in a snap. The process is simple- select, customize and save.
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