Creating discrete spaces in your classroom for different types of activities can enhance students’ ability to read, concentrate, or work in groups. Consider putting comfortable seating like beanbag chairs in your classroom library. Create learning centers for hands-on lessons that provides for students to progress physically and mentally from unit to unit. Pull desks together for large group discussions or break them into groups of three or four for smaller teams at work.

Flexible seating, which includes the use of different types of chairs, stools, and desks, allows students to choose the seating arrangement that works best for them. Giving students choices helps them feel secure and contributes to their overall sense of wellbeing, which in turn, primes them for participation. Every child is different, and tailoring seating to their needs removes barriers to learning.

Design your classroom in a way that reinforces the rules and processes you have established. By looking around the classroom, students should be able to tell where lines form, where supplies are, and what comes next in their day. Make it as easy as possible for students to retrieve and use the tools they need throughout the day. “The classroom should permit orderly movement, make efficient use of space, keep potential disruptions to a minimum, and provide a well-organized area for learning,” Calise said.