Horseshoe
The horseshoe is a U stretched sideways. More students sit across the back than down the sides, and the middle of the floor stays open. It favors conversation over note-taking, and it leaves you room to stand inside the curve without a teacher desk in the way.
Use it when
- Discussion-heavy lessons
- Read-alouds and Socratic seminars
- Classes where you want an open floor in the middle
Pick something else when
- Long stretches of board work
- Tests
- A room that is deeper than it is wide
Class sizes
12 students
3 rows on a 10 by 7 grid.
14 students
3 rows on a 12 by 7 grid.
16 students
4 rows on a 12 by 8 grid.
18 students
4 rows on a 14 by 8 grid.
20 students
4 rows on a 16 by 8 grid.
22 students
5 rows on a 16 by 9 grid.
24 students
5 rows on a 18 by 9 grid.
26 students
6 rows on a 18 by 10 grid.
28 students
6 rows on a 20 by 10 grid.
30 students
7 rows on a 20 by 11 grid.
32 students
7 rows on a 22 by 11 grid.