Making the Best Use of Space in a Small Classroom

I have been a high school English teacher for over sixteen years and have had the luxury of large classrooms as well as the challenge of small ones. Since my classroom is my second home, there are a number of general arrangements I have made to promote efficiency as well as strong comfort level for both my students and myself.

First of all, I do not face my student's backs to the windows or the door. I personally would not be comfortable in this set-up, so why should the students be?

I also allow students to move desks into groups of two, three, or four, depending on what we are working on and the size of the groups. Our school has those desks with the seats attached, so I also try to have a number of single chairs in a few corners for students to just pull a chair up to a desk.

At my own desk, I keep a space empty for students to place their own work on for when I am giving them one-on-one assistance. I also keep a chair next to my desk for them to feel free to sit down and talk to me about their work. I place this chair next to my desk and not in front of it. The desk can serve as a communication barrier, otherwise.

As for the lighting, we have fluorescent lights, which can be "brassy" at times. Whenever possible, I will leave at least one set of lights off, so that the lighting in the room is not so overwhelming. On sunny days, whenever I ask the students if they would prefer the lights off or on, they nearly always ask me to leave them off. I think that their eyes need a break from this harsh lighting at times.

I also try to have a round table with four chairs in a corner for group work. I keep a vase of flowers or a healthy plant in the middle of this table.

I also try to have a space in the front of the room, or at least have my room set up so that desks, podiums, etc. can be moved easily in order to create a mini-stage area for public speeches or drama presentations.

Along the entire back wall, on shelves, I have my own collection of over 3,000 novels in alphabetical order according to title. These are for the student's personal use. I also have a magazine rack with updated magazines displayed, as well as a reference-section shelf for the students to make use of.

I try to keep items away from the windows. Not only do I want the students (and myself) to have a clear view of the mountains outside my window, but I don't want "stuff" obstructing the air flow. I try to make my classroom homey by placing a few leafy green plants about the room. This also improves the purity of the air.

Above all else, I believe that clutter should be avoided; items that can be placed up higher are preferable to stacking them on the floor, and there should be ample space provided for easy movement about the room. It's not always possible to store Department items in another location, but if given the option, take it! Sometimes empty lockers can be used for storage.

It is important to me to arrange my room so that I don't mind being in it for long hours. Even with a small room, this is possible. It all comes down to tossing what needs to be tossed, and using the outside perimeters of the room as much as possible.