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My classroom is divided into
centres - areas where materials are stored for specific
subjects and acitvities. There are centres
for Math, Art, Writing, Reading, Listening, Science and
Social Studies. There is also a computer station, book
centre, as
well as a large carpet in the centre of the room for class
meetings and lessons. Students work at tables rather than
desks.
This type of seating is effective with both cooperative and
independent work, and gives space for special activities
which
desks do not easily accomodate. Some students also choose to
work on the carpet and there is a class set of
clipboards.
Students usually have free choice of where to sit and I
encourage them to sit in different places and to work near
different
people. Of course talking is discouraged at times and
students generally do not have difficulty working quietly
(e.g. while I
am doing a reading group on thecarpet) because we practise
this at the beginning of the school year.
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