Choosing a classroom seating arrangement

Choose a layout for your class

Rows faces individual desks toward the front. Pairs places desks two at a time, and Groups brings four or six desks together. U-Shape leaves an open center. These comparisons explain the layouts and their rules; they do not establish which layout improves learning.

Every template except Blank starts with 24 seats. Adjust the count for your class, then check desk sizes, views of the board and access in your room before moving furniture. DeskRoster does not measure clearances.

Rows: individual desks facing the front

Rows starts with four rows of six single desks. Each desk is independent, so you can move it without changing a pair or group.

In Rows, the neighbor links join seats immediately beside each other in a row. They do not join a seat to the one in front of it. Add pairs or groups before using Same pair as or Same group as.

Pairs: a desk for each partner

Pairs starts with 12 pairs across four rows. Each pair has two desks and two seats. Same pair as keeps two students together when you arrange seats again, but does not reserve a particular numbered pair.

The two seats in each pair are neighbors. A required Same pair as rule therefore conflicts with Not next to for those same students. Decide whether they should be partners or sit apart, then change the rule that no longer applies.

Groups: four or six students together

Groups of 4 has six clusters of desks. Groups of 6 has four larger clusters. Both start with 24 individual desks. Change Group size on the template page to compare the previews and printable charts.

Use Same group as to seat two students in one group, or Different group from to put them in separate groups. Not next to checks only neighbor links, so students can meet that rule while sharing a group.

U-Shape: an open center, individual seats

U-Shape starts with eight desks on each side and eight across the bottom, leaving the front open. Check the length of the sides, views from the corners and access through the opening. Shorten or reposition the sides in Move desks if the default does not fit your room.

U-Shape starts without pairs or groups. Seats on opposite sides of the center can still be close in your room, even when the editor shows no neighbor link between them.

Try a layout before adding students

Use this layout creates a new class with an empty student list. Your other classes remain in the class name menu. Pick the closest template and adjust the desks before adding students and rules. Choose Blank if you want to place the desks yourself.

1. Open a template and inspect the preview or print a blank chart.
2. Choose Use this layout, then use Move desks or Add desks to match the room.
3. Add students, check the seat count, and add only the rules you need.
4. Choose Arrange seats, check the preview and its rule results, then apply it before printing.