Your web browser might not work well with our site. We recommend you upgrade your browser.
Your custom url is /pamsthompson
Flexible seating is shown to give students more autonomy and choice in the classroom. It is beneficial to students of all abilities, but proven to give those of higher energy an outlet. As an experiment last year, I brought flexible seating to my middle school classroom with yard sale and thrift store finds. My goal was to give students a voice in where they sat - calling it Smart Seating. They can choose to work on yoga balls, bean bag chairs, stools - and, most importantly, the seating wasn't static. It could be moved about the classroom into orientations that they thought worked for them best that day. Students raved about the options, and parents were happy to see a welcoming room at Open House. Admin and staff supported the move and asked for help and support throughout the year. It added to collaboration as seating is easily movable, allowed us to invite other classes into our room to co-teach, as the seating was easy to clear and stack, and gave a sense of home. To top it off, the students all passed their state standardized test - proving that the alternative seating was not a distraction to their learning, but a choice that empowered them in their education. I would love to add more bean bags, wobble chairs and yoga mats to the classroom and give them options based on student feedback from a survey given to last year's students at the close of the year.
Read more