1. Designing Your Inclusive Classroom
The real voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new
landscapes but in having new eyes.
(Petras, 1995)
Designing Your Inclusive Classroom
By Pat Carter and Tresa Marshall

2. Index Rationale Classroom Benefits Student Benefits Setting the Stage
Teacher-Led Groups
Student-Led Groups
Traditional
Discussion and Debate
Horseshoe
Centers
Resources

3. Rationale
How can we create a physical environment in our inclusive classrooms that foster a community of attachment?
We believe that flexible grouping is a powerful tool for nurturing an inclusive classroom that fosters a community of attachment. When seating is flexible and arrangement styles are purposefully matched to learning outcomes, students can work together in a comfortable environment that will motivate learners and help them to feel safe. Not all students will learn at the same level for every subject. Flexible grouping considers each individual student’s learning strengths and needs. The social life of the classroom is also enhanced with flexible grouping, providing students with the opportunity to both socialize and work across differences.
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4. Classroom Benefits How does this benefit the classroom?
Groups can change according to learning strengths and struggles of students.
Eg. Students differ in areas of strength and need. Flexible groupings allow for groups to be meaningfully and purposefully organized to facilitate the most powerful learning.
Groups can change according to the social climate of the classroom.
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5. Student Benefits How does this benefit the student?
As the learning and social needs of individual students change so can the groupings.
As students improve, changing groups can be motivating for students when they see their own advancements that can be physically represented in a classroom by shifting the groups.
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6. Setting the Stage Back to Index Questions to consider (1)
Will every student be able to see the board and bulletin boards with learning tools?
Can the teacher see every student clearly?
Is there plenty of room for lining up and exiting the room?
Is there sufficient space between desks for backpacks, lunches, and coats? Many classrooms do not have a storage place for these items.
Is there sufficient aisle space for wheelchair access or for a student on crutches?
Sample Designs (2)
Every arrangement should be
based on lesson outcomes.
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7. Teacher-Led Groups
(6)
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8. Student-Led Groups
(6)
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9. Traditional Back to Index desks in rows
teacher’s desk in front of the room
desks have individual space
efficient with easy access to seats
best for controlling behavior, ensuring space to walk, helps to prevent cheating
teacher role = policeman.
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10. Discussion and Debate Interactive, whole classroom activities
the whole class can see, listen and contribute
an isle down the middle
teacher’s desk in the back out of the way, still close enough to grab from
Teacher role = Speaker of the House.
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11. Horseshoe a two-side arrangement works well for distributing materials
teacher role = coordinator and collaborator
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12. Centers
good for when students need more space to work or are sharing materials
centers can be set up around the perimeter of the room
leaves enough space to get back and forth
good when students can work mostly independent
teacher role = trouble-shoot and observe
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13. Participant Suggestions
Some layout suggestions from colleagues:

14. Tresa and Pat
Presenting our culminating project on 'Flexible Grouping’

15. Resources Back to Index
Things to Consider in a Classroom Seating Arrangement
Sample classroom floor plans
More Than Just Surviving, by Barbara Law and Mary Eckes, Portage and Main Press, Winnipeg, 2000, Pages
Differentiating Instruction for Students With Learning Disabilities, 2nd ed, by William Bender, Corwin Press, California, 2008, Pages
Flexible Grouping
Article: Flexible Grouping, by Catherine Valentino
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