# A Flexible Seating Arrangement That Teachers Love

An episode of [School of Practice](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1840474338), 30 Sep 2025, 18 min.

Audio: https://wpvip.edutopia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/L-Groupings_DescriptExport_v5-DK-withAD_-18LUFS.mp3

After trying numerous seating arrangements—including rows, blocks, and U shapes—educator Jay Schauer stumbled on a desk layout that outperformed them all. Edutopia’s community took notice. In this episode of School of Practice, Schauer walks listeners through the many benefits of arranging desks in L-shaped groups, including better communication, greater flexibility, and improved learning outcomes for students. Plus, we ask him how to adapt the setup for testing, tiny rooms, and a range of other real classroom challenges. Related resources: • A Desk Layout Alternative to Rows and Circles • A Strategic Approach to Seating Arrangements in High School • 11 Smart Student Desk Layouts • Research: Learning With Jigsaw: A Systematic Review Gathering All the Pieces of the Puzzle More Than 40 Years Later • Boosting Student Belonging With the Jigsaw Technique

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