Figure 1.-- Primary classrooms commonly have the flexibility to set up for a range of different lessons. Here the teacher is allowing the students to get comfortable around her desk for a story reading. Notice the children's written work on the wall.

We noticed all kinds of classroom arangements in the New Zealand schools we visited. This was especially true in the primary-level schools. Here the teachers had the most flexibility. Some schools had very traditional arangements with desks pointed to the front where a blackboard and teacher's desk was located. There were many other alternatives. This was affected by both teacher preferences, school philosophy, and of course the subject matter. Some classess had tables which were pulled together in small groups. Other classess had arrangements that allowed different activities to be conducted at the same time. Several primary-level classes had small play areas or libraries where some of the students could work while the teachr focused on selected students for various purposes. Of course in primary classrooms, teachers commonly had the flexibility and room to readjust the arrangement depending on the lesson.

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