Which arrangement BEST supports students with attention difficulties in a general education setting, in addition to clear routines?

• A. Open seating without structure
• B. Preferential seating near instruction
• C. Random seating with equal access to materials
• D. No routine or cues

Answer: (B)

For students who have trouble sustaining attention, reducing distractions and keeping them within easy reach of the teacher are key. Placing a student near instruction means the teacher can more easily provide quick prompts, reminders, and feedback, and the student is less likely to drift off task because the teacher’s presence is more salient. When this close seating is paired with clear, predictable routines, the classroom becomes a structure where attention can be supported consistently: the student sees what’s expected, knows where to turn for help, and experiences fewer competing stimuli that pull focus away from learning.

Open seating without structure can invite more off-task behavior because there are fewer cues and less teacher visibility. Random seating with equal access to materials doesn’t specifically leverage proximity to instruction or predictable cues, so it’s not as effective for sustaining attention. No routine or cues leaves students without the predictable framework that helps them regulate their attention and behavior in the classroom.