Setting: Preferential Seating

Setting: Preferential Seating

Related References

Types of Assessment Accommodations Accommodation Objectives Guiding Principles Case Studies Glossary

DescriptionPreferential seating may include placement in the classroom (e.g., up front by theteacher, away from a distracting doorway or fan, facing the wall) or in a separatedefined area such as a study carrel. Preferential seating may be implemented in thesame room as other classmates, or it may be located in a separate setting.

Procedure

1. Review the room and identify all areas that may create distractions or provide bestplacements for individual students.
2. Before asking a student to test in a location,make sure that both you and the student have tried to work in the space for anextended period of time.
3. While a student may work well in a studycarrel during regular instructional activities, he or she may not do as well during anassessment.
4. While a student may work well in the front row during instruction,your presence at the desk may prove distracting for the student during a test situa-tion.

Cautions

Students should be comfortable in special placements during assessments. Take careto ensure that the preferential seating is not perceived as punishment.

Excerpted from Assessment Accommodations Toolkit.