Seating Arrangements In The Classroom

In this paper I will discuss student social statuses and how their seating arrangements can affect a classroom. Teachers have the power to influence students in many different ways. Student desk come in many shapes and sizes, and there are multiple ways that desk can be arranged, for instance, semi-circled, rows, L-shapes, and in small groups. Classroom management is a high priority for teachers especially when keeping students engaged. The question at hand is how student social statuses and teacher influenced seating and desk arrangements can create a positive environment of likability within a classroom. After reading a research that was conducted through Peer Status and Classroom Seating in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology there is still much to learn about the affects of student social statuses and the role that it can play out in seating arrangements within a classroom.

It's my philosophy that student social interaction can be influenced by teachers and in turn help build likability between students. I would control likability by creating a non-biased student desk and seating arrangement. For this …show more content…
All though this may be true, a students social status will have to be carefully taken in to consideration when applying social status to a students desk and seating arrangement in the classroom. For instance, I wouldn't put two socially awkward students face to face and then expect them to participate in class. A student with more of a social grace plus a student that lacks social grace would encourage a student centered engagement. In fact, social statuses of students and their differences have been studied and found that likability and popularity are related socially but have different social statuses amongst students that are emotionally, cognitively, and behaviorally correlated with each other (Mayeux, Houser, & Dyches,