Discussion: Flexible Seating
Q: How do you feel about flexible seating in the classroom?
Ms. I
"Flexible Seating" has become a buzzword in education. I've seen tons of Instagram posts where teachers have done "extreme makeovers" of their classrooms and loaded them with all kinds of fun seating options. But the operative word there is "options."
What I like to call 'Funky' Seating should be an option in the classroom. We as educators need to understand that there are students who truly learn best when seated at a traditional desk. My personal experience has also taught me that appropriate seating can depend on the time of day or the activity.
I have students who write best when they can grab their Chromebook and curl up in a corner of the room on a beanbag. I have students who read best when they can lie down flat under a table. There are even students who listen best while standing, fidgeting, or bouncing around.
In 2008 Herman Miller did a study showing that “giving people some control over their surroundings adds to their sense of well-being.” We already know this though. We also know that sometimes children don't make the best choices. They want to sit with friends, or use the most popular seating option. That's why it has to be accompanied by explicit instruction.
In my experience, kids as young as 7 or 8 can be taught all about learning styles and encouraged to track their own learning and comfort. Metacognition can be extremely useful for younger students who need to learn to advocate for themselves. Children can and should be taught to recognize and understand their learning styles at an early age.
Don't let blogs, Instagram, and twitter push you in one direction or another. So many of us are afraid of old-fashioned-autocratic-looking classrooms with rows of desks. Be open to changing things up, responding to your students' needs, and being different.
Flexible seating can be a lot of fun. And it can make our classrooms look more inviting and attractive, however, oftentimes students need to be explicitly taught how to use these options and given choice.
My Theory2Really Verdict: in moderation
One of my students does his best work under the table!