If the room is large enough and the class is small enough, the U shape can be an ideal arrangement. Students should all be seated facing the instructor so that the teacher will have a perfect vantage point from the front of the room. Papers or other items can be distributed without difficulty and students will not be able to hide behind one another, making it less likely to misbehave since the teacher can readily see them.
This layout requires at least four tables that are all the same size and shape which are placed together to form a large rectangle or square. The size of the room and the number of students will dictate how many tables are needed. Students are seated around the table, so some of them may have their backs to the teacher, but the teacher can move around the room and, at one time or another, will face all students. This is especially convenient for classes that require large work spaces, such as art or science but may not be appropriate for lecture-type classes.
Small round tables in a cluster style throughout the classroom permit students to work in small groups, to have a greater work surface and to collaborate with one another. You may arrange students around the table so that no one’s back is to you. When the activity or the collaborative project requires a change in the arrangement of the tables, you can move them around easily.
If space permits, arrange tables in assorted blocks of circles, squares or rectangles. This is ideal for classes that are hands-on rather than lecture oriented, such as a science or computer class, where each block of tables can have its own electrical outlet. This arrangement allows teachers the space to move around the room and at the same time allows students congenial associations with one another.
The classroom style is one where you place rows of long, narrow tables aligned so that they are positioned one behind the other. This arrangement does not allow for group collaboration since it is tantamount to rows of desks with students seated behind one another. It provides more workspace than the typical desk, giving students options for activities, such as writing, typing or laying out supplies.