Q: If I walked into your classroom, what would it look like?
A: The desks in the classroom would be arranged in a horseshoe pattern. This will open up the front of the classroom for oral presentations, skits, and small group work on the floor. My desk would be pushed into a corner in the back of the classroom, instead of being in the front. I know that a desk can be perceived as a symbol of power – its placement in the front of the room is a symbol of power and authority. I much prefer an atmosphere of shared governance in any classroom. I would soften up all the straight lines and sharp angles with lots of rugs, bean bag chairs, perhaps an old sofa, a variety of plants and various animal habitats, and some pillows in a reading center. I have learned that all those lines and angles can sometimes be psychologically inhibiting for students and that rounded edges, lines, and corners suggest psychological safety and comfort for youngsters. My classroom would also have well-designed traffic patterns allowing students opportunities to easily get to the pencil sharpener, the wastebasket, from their desk to me, from their desk to the door, and from their desk to a center activity. Those patterns need to be based on both safety concerns as well as ease of accessibility. Most important, I want the classroom to be a community – one in which students are given opportunities to suggest patterns, arrangements, and configurations. Those opportunities will help build a sense of personal ownership in what we do and learn.
You probably haven’t given much thought to the physical arrangement of your classroom. It, too, will provide the interviewer with some insights into your personal philosophy as well as your ability to plan ahead.
