During my observations, I have noticed that my cooperating teacher incorporates flexible seating into her classroom. She allows students to decide where they wish to do their work and with whom they would like to work as the complete their classwork. She has wobble stools, seat rockers, and exercise balls as possible seating choices for students when they are working.
Have you seen flexible seating in the classrooms where you are observing? If so, what types of seating does your cooperating teacher use in the classroom? Would you be interested in having flexible seating in your classroom? Do you see any benefits this type of a classroom structure? Do you see any drawbacks?
Attached please find a link to an article that describes the benefits of flexible seating. This may help you to make your decision.
In my classroom, so far this school year, I have not seen any type of flexible seating within the first grade class. Except my cooperating teacher did mention last Wednesday, the next day the students will be able to read a short story with one of their friends, and they will be able to sit anywhere they want in the classroom. Although this was the first mention of the students have the chance to work anywhere in the classroom and not have to sit at their desks, I do not believe my cooperating teacher offers much flexible seating to the students. I am curious to find out the answer to this question; I will definitely ask her when I observe this week. Last year in the second grade classroom I observed in, there was a lot of different types of chairs and stools for flexible seating. The students would have many opportunities to be rewarded with a different chair and desk in the classroom. I thought this worked out very well for the students, they seemed to become motivated to have flexible seating, and once they go it they would still work hard, because they knew it could be taken away from them. In my future classroom, I would love to incorporate flexible seating, for many reasons. I feel that it is a way to keep students motivated, but also allow them to move around the classroom and work in different spaces with their friends.
ReplyDeleteFor this semester, my cooperating teacher does not have flexible seating within her fifth-grade classroom. However, there are more desks than students as she also teaches fourth grade religion so her fifth grade students are allowed to switch their seats around if they would like to. Last year when observing I was able to see flexible seating in multiple different settings with various forms of flexible seating. I have seen wobble stools, exercise balls, standing desks, pillows, and little mats. I have also seen students being able to pick who they would like to work with.
ReplyDeleteI think flexible seating within the classroom is very beneficial for the students. Sometimes everyone just needs a change of pace or environment and flexible seating can help with that. I also think of flexible seating as a good way to assist those with disabilities. For example, flexible seating allows a student in a wheelchair to easily fit into the environment and allows them to focus on their learning rather than if they can find a space within the classroom. Another example of flexible seating working positively for those with disabilities is when a student with ADHD has an easier time focusing in class when they are able to bounce on an exercise ball. I find that flexible seating is beneficial for all students and helps to keep the layout of the room fresh, exciting, and safe for everyone to use.
A potential drawback that I can see is students being able to work with people who they would like to. It is great that students have preferences and know who they would like to work with. However, the same people would then be working with the same people every day and the students may be missing out on gaining knowledge or an opinion from someone who they may not have put themselves with in the first place. Also, I think that it is important for students to work with different people as later in life you will have to work with those who you maybe might not have picked from the start. It is an important skill to have to be able to work with everyone and not just those who you have chosen to work with. I think teaching the students this life lesson early on helps them to prepare for their future as you will not always be able to pick who you would like to work with for every project.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI have seen flexible seating within the 2nd grade class throughout the day. For example, the students can choose their own seats for reader's workshop. Even though they may sit along side their peers, they are reading independently at this time. Also, I have seen this seating arrangement being used in math as well. Their cooperation with others can help in order to find a solution to a problem.
ReplyDeleteI would use flexible seating for some tasks and activities in my class. I like how it especially gives students an opportunity to collaborate with others. Collaboration is a great skill, for it is used often in the real world as well. To add, I find flexible seating to also benefit students with ADHD or ADD. These options allow time for movement, which increases their sensory input. By doing so, students are able to better focus and process information.
However, a potential drawback of this may be that students may only want to work with people who are their close friends. Therefore, I believe that it may be more beneficial if the teacher arranges the students' groups more often. In the real world, they will have to work with different people they may not have chosen to work with. I think this system better prepares them for the future.
Submission by Molly Heller:
ReplyDeleteI have seen flexible seating being used for the third year in a row. In first grade for two years, students could choose from a variety of seating options including: chair cushions, bean bag chairs, their desk chairs, wobble chairs, colorful stools, a rocking chair, exercise balls, and high chairs to work in. In the fifth grade classroom this year, the teacher allows students to work at their desks, on ottoman chairs, colorful stools, and out in the hallway with mini rugs and plastic trays to do their work on. In all of these classrooms, the students have had a great deal of success working with flexible seating. They are not confined to the uncomfortable desk chairs, they can find a spot in the room where they work best away from distractions, and they can work in a position that is comfortable for them, especially if the assignment is lengthy. As Erin and Maria mentioned, it can be beneficial for students with disabilities, students who are fidgety (like myself), or students who just need a change of pace. It makes learning interesting and I would use this in my classroom in a heartbeat.
The 5th graders love sitting out in the hallway to work this year because it provides a nice distance from the craziness of the classroom. To keep this privilege in check, my teacher pulls five students, at random using popsicle sticks with their names, to determine who gets to work in the hallway for the day. This way, groups of students who might be distracting are separated. For the most part, the kids are focused and get their work done, but if they get too rowdy, the teacher or myself go out in the hallway and monitor.
The only drawback that I can think of would be the abuse of privilege that comes with flexible seating. I, along with my cooperating teachers, view this as a privilege.
When I was observing in a 5th grade setting I saw many different flexible seating options. I saw wobble seats, exercise balls, stools, standing desks, and swivel chairs. When I spoke to the teacher about the seating she explained that they were very expensive, which is expected. The teacher was given a grant and also had parent donations which made it possible for her to get so many different options.
ReplyDeleteThis is also a topic I am interested in. Although I have not seen many studies being done, as it is a relatively new topic, I have found many articles by teachers. Teachers have personally been noticing differences in their classrooms and even in their students from before flexible seating to after flexible seating.
Flexible seating is a big part of a classroom. I believe that students look forward to this and is a motivation to act appropriately. In the future I will definitely have flexible seating in my classroom.
ReplyDeleteThis semester there are many forms of flexible seating in the classroom for my student teaching and believe that it is a true benefit. There are times throughout the day that the students are not just sitting at their desks in their seats. For those students who have difficulty sitting at their desk there are other chairs to switch out with their standard chair. My cooperating teacher has a bouncy seat and wobble chairs. These help the students focus more and work at their desk. I also think it is important to being students to the rug so they are able to move around a little, rather than just sitting at their desk.
Megan Barreto
ReplyDeleteFlexible seating is very evident in the current classroom that I have been working in. I see this being used most for students who are unable to sit still in their seat. IF the teacher feels that he or she need to be in a different seat she gives them a short circle stool that allows them to move around as the chair it moving with them but they remain sitting. During classroom work, a form of indirect flexible seating that the teacher uses is that she allows students to stand in at the seat as long as they are still working. This helps most of them work more efficiently without disrupting others. I believe having flexible seating in a classroom is extremely important and should be implemented as much as needed in order to create the most accommodating learning environment for all students.