my new seating arrangement...

I put the seats in a circle to promote communication and group learning.  It has been wonderful.  The kids love it, and they feel much more comfortable because everyone feels equal.  I will sit in a different student desk each day so that I am constantly rotating around the room.  We are the 'spaniards of the round table!' 

Another great aspect of this arrangement is that I can have rotate them to work in pairs or small groups, have them make up an activity and pass it over two desks (etc) to do review each others work or notes, and the possibility list goes on and on