The Physical Environment and Routine

I read this article that talked about how teachers can use the physical environment and routines to positively affect behavior and classroom management. This is what I found:

Classrooms are incredibly dynamic. It is where teachers and students engage in the learning and politics of the room and the power struggle between the two can dictate the manageability of the class. For instance, when placing students in rows, a particular power structure is implied. In contrast, a class divided into table groups can convey that your learning will be collaborative. As a teacher, you have the ability to shape these subtle changes to work in your favor while managing a class. By placing oneself in the middle of the classroom sitting face to face with students a teacher can interrupt the social quota. This invokes Vygotsky’s law of awareness when an aspect of the classroom is taken-for-granted (ex. who sits where) get disrupted, it becomes easily notices and therefore questioned. This allows for a different kind of learning to emerge within the dynamic. When shifting student and teacher position, a circle formation can be very favorable as it promotes large group discussion, as it upsets the traditional spatial power allowing more focus to be on the students rather than the teacher. By paying attention to your classroom dynamic, as a teacher, you can focus more time being on task while creating continuity in the classroom and move between activities smoothly. A sense of security is also easily maintained by creating a structured course of action for students to follow which is effective across cultures. Lesson plans should be built to have a smooth flow between, and contain simple routines to allow for momentum in their learning since they are aware of what to expect. A strong routine will allow students to be immersed in learning right away. For example by implementing brainteasers or daily puzzles into the beginning of class creates a positive motivator that students can expect that gets them into the learning mode, engaging them in learning. Moreover, research has suggested that starting class on time can provoke student achievement because it sets a sense of routine right away. 

Pinto, L. E. (2013). The Physical Environment and Routine. In From discipline to culturally responsive engagement: 45 classroom management strategies (pp. 61-77). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press doi: 10.4135/9781452285160