#5 Physical Environment
A well-organized classroom can be a game-changer when looking to keep students engaged and minimize distractions. Take time to arrange seating to suit various activities and maintain focus whether using clusters for collaboration, dyads for partner sharing or rows for independent work, to name a few. Identify ways to get feedback from students regarding the arrangements that best support their learning and collaboration. Keep materials clearly labeled and leave some wall space blank to avoid overstimulation. Leverage the visibility of bulletin boards to display key information, such as expectations and student work displays, and when establishing and reviewing daily routines, use wall space to reinforce them with visual reminders. This approach can serve to optimize instruction, promote appropriate behavior by minimizing crowding and disruption, and create a safe and supportive environment. For guidance and helpful tips on arranging the learning environment, listen to KaMalcris Cottrell and Ashley Lloyd (Iris Center, 2025), who offer examples on how they create a structured classroom environment, and check out: VTSS: Foundations of Student Success – Module 1 along with the accompanying one-pager: Physical Environment, which is the seventh page within this comprehensive resource.
References
The IRIS Center. (2025). Page 6: Create a structured classroom. In Classroom behavior management (part 1): Key concepts and foundational practices. Vanderbilt University. Retrieved from https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/beh1/cresource/q2/p06/
“VTSS Resource Hub.” Resources VTSS-RIC – Virginia Commonwealth University, Old Dominion University TTAC, vtss-resources.vcu.edu/. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
“Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports: Foundations of Student Success.” CIEES OSEP LMS, VTSS, osep.cieesodu.org/videomodule/virginia-tiered-systems-of-supports-foundations-of-student-success/. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
