There are many ways to organize your classroom - groups, rows, one giant horseshoe - You name it; it's probably been done. If you've been teaching for a long time, you've likely seen different arrangements come in and out of style. Maybe you've even had your classroom setup impact your observation ratings.
My personal experience has been that administrators and supervisors constantly push grouped desks and other setups that foster cooperative learning, usually citing vague studies that "show this is best for our students." So I decided to dive into the research to see what's out there for myself.
What did I find? After reading through several studies from the past two decades, the answer is clear (and also pretty obvious to those of us who have ever stood in front of a classroom): The optimal seating arrangement depends on the task at hand and your students.
It's time to dig into the research to see for yourself. Read on to learn more about what the studies are saying and whether or not you should take their advice.
Jump Ahead:
What Types of Classroom Arrangements Are There?
Before we get into which classroom arrangements are best, let's look at a few popular options for teachers.
Inge Poole and Carolyn Evertson put together a really useful case study on effective room arrangements for the Iris Center at Vanderbilt University. Although their research is focused on elementary students, and I concentrate primarily on older students, their classroom arrangement diagrams are helpful to all of us.
Flip through these images to see a few options for row arrangements, groups, and broader class discussions.
The Age Old Argument: Rows vs. Groups in the Classroom
If you've ever sat through a staff meeting on classroom organization, you've probably heard passionate teachers defending their own (sometimes bizarre) classroom setups until they're blue in the face. Hey, I've been there - If something is working in your room, there's nothing more annoying than someone else telling you to change it.
So which is really better, rows or groups? Like nearly everything else in our field, the answer is that it depends on the situation.
Based on my review of the research, the simple answer here is that rows are optimal for independent work while groups are best for cooperative learning and group activities.
Are Students More On-Task In Rows Or Groups? What Does The Research Say?
Plenty of research supports the overall conclusion that students are more on-task in rows when working independently and in groups when working collaboratively.
Independent Work
A research review completed by Rachel Wannarka and Kathy Ruhl (2008) found that students, especially the most disruptive, are more on-task when sitting in rows.
These findings are supported by a 2006 study by Hastings and Schwieso and a 2020 study by Clarke, Nelson, and Gallagher. Clark, Nelson, and Gallagher's study specifically looked at student performance on exams and projects, finding that they performed better in rows.
Collaborative Learning
Now, let's not forget that "on-task" means different things depending on what the task entails. A student working quietly on their own paper may not be considered "on-task" during a group discussion.
A 2012 study found that students participated more in group work when organized into semi-circle groups instead of rows. This conclusion is supported by many other studies, such as this 2019 study that found cluster seating is best for collaborative and student-centered learning.
My Two Cents as a Classroom Teacher
For the most part, my own experience aligns with these research findings. I've always struggled with keeping my classroom set up one specific way for the entire year and am constantly rearranging based on the lesson.
The concept of keeping students in rows for independent work, such as writing tasks, assessments, and note-taking, resonates most with me. I've always thought it was ridiculous to keep students in groups all the time.
How can you position students facing one another, often with backs to the front of the room, and then become frustrated when they pay more attention to one another than to your instruction? Rows for direct instruction and independent work are a no-brainer.
Traditional vs. Alternative Seating in the Classroom
Upon researching this topic, I came across several studies that examined student success based on the type of seating in their classroom. I've never seen a teacher swap out traditional chairs for another option! It was pretty interesting, so I thought I would include some information about it here.
What Is Alternative Seating In The Classroom?
A little bit of background: In recent decades, teachers have been swapping out traditional chairs for alternatives such as beanbag chairs, medicine balls, therapy cushions, or air cushions on top of typical chairs. These alternatives were thought to help students remain on-task and in their seats longer.
Does Alternative Seating Improve Student Learning?
So, do alternative seating options work? It seems like the jury is still out on this one, so we'll need to wait for more research before we draw any conclusions.
A 2018 study of middle school students found no difference in student success when provided with alternative seating. Alternatively, a 2015 study came to the opposite conclusion, finding more students remained on task when seated on therapy balls.
Student Learning Needs and Alternative Seating
The students themselves are clearly an important factor in whether or not alternative seating is successful in a classroom. Perhaps the research is mixed because alternative seating works well for some students and not for others.
We've all taught fidgety students whose inability to sit still distracts them from their classwork. Alternative seating might help with this. In fact, Sadir et. al. (2017) found that sitting on therapy balls increased in-seat and on-task behavior in students on the autism spectrum.
While therapy balls might work well for students with specific learning needs, I imagine others would find sitting on a therapy ball more distracting than helpful.
Do Therapy Balls Improve Student Learning?
One research trend was that those who found alternative seating successful were almost always focused exclusively on therapy balls. Many studies that found alternative seating ineffective in student success did not clearly distinguish between different alternative seating types.
My advice to teachers after reviewing this research would be to make any decisions about alternative seating based on your classroom and individual student needs, rather than relying on conflicting studies on the subject.
The Optimal Classroom Arrangement by Task
Here is an easy reference guide for how to arrange your room for different types of tasks.
Classroom Activity | Suggested Arrangements |
Exams | Rows |
Independent Assessments | Rows |
Direct Instruction (Lecture, Mini-Lessons) | Rows or Partnered Rows |
Independent Work | Rows or Partnered Rows |
Group Discussion | Small Groups (3-6) |
Group Task or Project | Small Groups (3-6) |
Reading Circles | Large Groups (4-8) |
Whole Class Discussion | Horseshoe or Large Circle |
Tips & Tricks For Arranging Your Classroom
The best way to arrange your classroom will not be the same as the best way to arrange someone else's. It's important to consider how any suggested arrangements will work with your teaching style, classroom shape, and students.
Here are a few tips to point you in the right direction.
Basic Guidelines for Arranging Your Classroom
There are a few basic rules to follow when deciding how to arrange your classroom.
Make sure that whatever arrangement you come up with meets these requirements:
You can make eye contact with every student from the front of the room
No student has their back to the board (or other attention focal point)
All students can easily get up, sit down, and scoot out their chairs without knocking into something (or someone)
You can walk comfortably between desks to check on and discuss work with each student
Regularly used items (such as a turn-in-your-work bin) are in places students naturally pass on their way in and out of the room
Keep students as close to the front of the room as you comfortably can. Students who sit further away statistically earn lower grades than those in front.
Change Your Classroom Arrangement Based on the Task
If there's anything we can take away from the research that informed this article, it's that classrooms must be re-arranged depending on the task you are asking students to complete.
Put your students in rows (or some other "island" seating) for independent work. Keep them in groups for collaborative activities.
Hastings and Schwieso (2006) noted in their study that today's teachers tend to organize their room into groups, even when students are not completing group work. Maybe this is because it is easier to leave them in one place or because of outside pressure from someone who believes this is the best way.
However, the research could not make it more evident that the always-groups mentality will not be effective in every lesson.
Always Assign Seats
Assign your seats. Assign your seats. Assign your seats.
I can't say it enough. It can be tempting to let students, especially higher-level students, choose their seats. But it's not nearly as effective as assigning them. And according to this 2021 study, learners actually prefer assigned seats.
I like to tell the class at the beginning of the year that they can privately request a seat change if they feel friends are distracting them during group work. You'd be surprised how many students over the years have taken me up on this - I've even agreed to get fake angry with a student and move their seat seemingly on the spot to prevent their friends from knowing the seat change was requested. Some students really appreciate being removed from distractions they don't feel capable of ignoring on their own.
Assigning seats allows you to be intentional about student levels at each table. You can decide if you want your tables to be mixed levels (heterogeneous) or grouped with others of a similar level (homogenous). Both can work in different situations.
If you require a lot of group work, assigning seats can also allow you to ensure students at each table fulfill your standard group roles. I like to have a natural facilitator, encourager, and timekeeper at each table. (Don't have group roles yet? Check out our group role printables in the store for $5).
It's Okay to Get Weird
Working in NYC schools, I'm accustomed to cramming over 34 kids into spaces that would comfortably fit 20. Hell, I've even taught in rooms where students had to sit at the teacher's desk because there weren't enough desks in the room and no space to add more. It's not uncommon in NYC.
I'm mentioning this because I've had to get pretty creative to fit all the desks into an arrangement I like. And sometimes, it gets weird. But as long as you follow the guidelines listed above, it will be effective, and it will work - even if it looks a little crazy to the outside eye.
A tip for weird arrangements - Once you know you like it, mark the desk locations on the floor with masking or painter's tape. This way, you (and your students) can quickly move desks back to where they need to go if they are moved by another teacher or for a specific activity.
Remember That Most Students Can Move Their Desks Around
Keep in mind that your students can move their desks around. Your arrangement does not need to be one-size-fits all for every class (and should not be).
When I was in high school, I remember sitting in rows in most classes and being told "swing your desks around" when it was time to work collaboratively.
My very first admin was horrified when I suggested this as a plan for a seating arrangement. But, I have to say, I still don't think it's that crazy - As long as students are assigned seats in a way that allows for effective groupings when they come together.
My Favorite Classroom Arrangement
I've taught in rooms of different shapes and sizes, so my arrangement never looks exactly the same - but the image below is a variation of the classroom arrangement I like best.
The L-shaped groups along the side and the rotated back desks in the center row have a purpose. They keep all students facing forward and prevent them from looking at one another instead of me. The students seated on the outside of the L can easily swing their desks in to create a neat square when it is time for group work.
I hope this works for you as well as it worked for me!
Limitations of These Studies and Their Conclusions
The research I reviewed here (and all research on the subject) has a few key limitations to keep in mind. It's always best to take conclusions with a grain of salt and consider how the findings fit with your classroom and experience.
Limitation #1: Factors Outside of Seating Impact Learning
Many factors impact student learning outside of how and where they sit in the room. Nearly every study I reviewed for this post mentioned this in one way or another. We can draw conclusions from different seating arrangements, but we will likely never be able to account for every factor that could also be impacting student success on a given day.
Limitation #2: Students Are Individuals - One Size Will Not Fit All
Your students are individuals with specific needs. Just because a study found that a particular seating arrangement worked best for the participants does not necessarily mean that it will work for your class.
Limitation #3: We Need More Research On This Subject
Many studies discussed here mentioned a surprising and detrimental lack of research on how classroom arrangements impact learning. Where the studies exist, they do not often look closely at how student learning differences, teaching styles, or other factors play a role in student success in conjunction with classroom organization.
Wrapping Up
The bottom line is that you will need to adjust your classroom arrangement depending on the task you ask your students to complete.
Choose rows for independent work and a group arrangement for collaborative work.
Remember, there are limitations to the research, so you should consider your own students and classroom when arranging your classroom.
Did you find this post helpful? Subscribe for future posts and updates, right in your inbox! :)
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Let’s connect!
Join the email list for updates on new releases and posts
Follow me on Medium (special content!)
Follow our publication, The Parent Teacher Playbook (or write for us)
Follow me on Twitter
About the Author
