Arranging the Physical Environment
The physical environment can impact the student's behavior. How student's desks are arranged can make the difference of how students will behave. Having furniture arranged so that the flow of traffic is not blocked and the zone of proximity of students to teacher is always open.
The teacher's desk should be placed in the back of the room so that the teacher may mointor students when not 'working the room,' "In a lessdominant and obtrusive spot, perably in a corner or near the rear of the room" (Savage, 1999, p. 70).
Hanging student's best work on the walls of the classroom gives student's ownership. This, "Is enhanced when classrooms are created where. students feel they belong and where they have a sense of ownership" (Savage, 1999, p. 63). Allowing students to participate in the arrangement of the room gives students a felling of competence and promotes intellectual growth. The room will then provide students with a place where students fill safe and secure.
It is also important to not over crowd students as this may cause students to become withdraw, increase anxiety, and may create competetion between other students or the teacher.
This is an example of how a classroom should NOT be set up:
"O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls and prosperity in your palaces. (NLT)
The relevance of the scripture is the physical environment of the classroom communicates to the students the teacher's expectatons and goals of each student.
