Rand (2011) states, “I just completed a graduate course in which the students each visited six different early childhood classrooms. When reporting to the class what was interesting and what they learned in each of the classrooms, the physical environment was mentioned most frequently – both positively and negatively. The physical environment is quite a challenge because there is little a teacher can change, but it has a huge effect on children's behavior. In my own observations of classrooms, I have noticed that one of the big problems is the group meeting area. Here are some of my suggestions for preventing behavior problems during group time and helping kids stay engaged: Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original Enough Space essay. Don't let a small rug determine the size of your meeting space! I saw third graders sitting so close that they couldn't stop touching each other. I have seen preschoolers continually jostle each other because the mat is too small. Determine the size of the circle you need so all your children can sit without touching each other and still see you. Then get a rug, carpet squares, or two rugs, or get creative with demarcating the space you need. I strongly prefer children sitting at the edge of the space rather than in rows. Personal space. Make sure each child can determine where their personal space is. Use carpet squares, use patterns built into the carpet, draw lines with tape, or consistently teach children to sit down to have personal space. This should be done repeatedly with frequent modeling and reinforcement. Educational material. Have a place to store or store your own materials that you will need for the activities: whiteboard, audio player, books, charts, etc. Make it clear what your space is and remind children of your own personal boundaries. Consistent procedures. If you let a few children sit on chairs one day, the next day other children will want to do it! There may be good reasons to allow a child to sit in a chair rather than on a mat, but think about it in advance, explain it to children, and be consistent. You may want all the children to sit on the mat no matter what. Once again, the important thing is to avoid having your group time disrupted by children moving around, asking for chairs, getting up, etc...”