My classroom is a place of challenge and discovery. Students spend the year learning the foundation skills they will need as they move forward in their elementary education and throughout their lives. My students are 3rd graders in Utah.
They are excited to explore the world through hands-on exploration to expand their capacity for critical thinking.
It is important for me to help them learn to take pride in their efforts and be willing to challenge their minds for the sake of learning.
There are 6 major benefits for flexible seating: Choice, Movement, Community, Comfort, Collaboration, and Sensory Input.
Choice: Students learn best when they have some control over their environment.
Flexible seating allows students to choose where they work and with whom. It also allows them to change their location and position as needed.
Movement: It is no secret that children need to move. When children cannot move, they can become distracted or worse, disruptive. Yoga balls, floor pillows, and bean bag chairs allow students to bounce, lean, twist, kick, fidget, wobble, roll, stand, kneel and sit to suit their needs.
Community: Traditional desks can cause students to become territorial or possessive over their space and supplies. Flexible seating encourages them to take turns in different locations and with different seating options. A community carpet allows students to feel part of a team.
Comfort: When students are uncomfortable, they are distracted and unproductive. Floor soft seats and pillows allow students to find comfortable positions throughout the classroom. Comfortable students are calm, focused, and productive.
Collaboration: Students learn better when they have a chance to work together. Traditional desks in rows isolate students from each other. A pair/share kid couch allows students to easily buddy up. Floor pillows and soft seats promote versatile groupings.
Sensory Input: Many classrooms with flexible seating options stimulate students' sense of touch with soft, pliable and hard surface choices. Bean bag chairs, pillows, and soft floor seats provide this type of stimulation and can help children focus and process information. Sensory input is especially helpful for students with ADHD, ADD, and ASD.