Different groupings of desks may result in a more functional room plan. Temperature and ventilation affect comfort. Stuffy, hot classrooms contribute to restlessness, inattention, and fatigue. If space is at a premium, retain only the most functional centers and change them frequently to fit in with current studies. In a smoothly run classroom, children should be able to make such movements as necessary, and without asking permission, once a socially accepted manner has been established.
Routines can help.
Sensible routines, firmly established, can help to avoid troubled situations that may snowball into a control problem. They also help to teach courtesy, self-discipline, and respect for the rights of others. The less direction a teacher has to exercise over a routine, the better the routine. Early in the year, teacher and pupils should plan together to develop safety measures, standards of courtesy, and other procedures for co-existing together in the classroom. It is wise practice to take time at the beginning of the term to accustom the whole class to working on assignments, whether at desks or in learning centers.