Does seating impact behavior and learning?

FALLBROOK – The first day of school brings many changes. Students must acclimate themselves to a new routine and curriculum, while teachers must acquaint themselves with an entirely new crop of students. The first few weeks of school are a time to ease into the coursework and get to know everyone’s strengths, weaknesses and personality traits.

On the first day of school, students may be seated in alphabetical order, but over time seating assignments may change as the teacher quickly learns who is friends with whom, which students tend to be disruptive, which may need extra motivation, an...