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For several years I have been wanting to try flexible seating in my classroom. Research states that providing students with a variety of seating options benefits student engagement, motivation, and learning. This year I changed the layout of my classroom. I now have a couch, low tables, standing shelves, and exercise balls, but my students are asking for chairs they can sit on when sitting on the ground and at low desks/tables. The Backpatter chairs will be perfect for my students! I've found that some of the immediate benefits of flexible seating include burning more calories, using up excess energy, improving metabolism, increased motivation and engagement, creating a better oxygen flow to the brain, and improving core strength and overall posture. It's no surprise that physical activity is linked to higher academic performance, better health, and improved behavior. In fact, a paper by Matthew T. Mahar, et al (PDF) finds that: simple in-class activities can boost performance. Studies suggest that children who participate in short bouts of physical activity within the classroom have more on-task behavior, with the best improvement seen in students who are least on-task initially. The student-choice benefit behind flexible seating is that it helps students become more self-aware of what types of seating and environment helps them learn best. And, of course they are empowered by the opportunity to have choices. These seats will benefit my students for years to come!
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