For the past four years I, along with several teachers across the country, have implemented flexible seating in my classroom. Leaving behind the traditional desks and chairs for more of an open form of seating where students are able to learn where they are comfortable and can do their best learning. Now you might say, how and why would I want to transform my classroom from desks to tables? How much will it cost? Will mystudents like it? How much work will it be for me as the teacher to manage the class?
I have found that the benefits of flexible seating in the classroom help the students do their best learning when they are comfortable. The first few weeks are always harder as you implement the rules and expectations for the year. Some of the rules that I have in my classroom are to choose a place where you will do your best learning, no saving spots for friends, and no bouncing, standing, or jumping on your choice of seating. The most important thing is that the teacher can make changes when he/she sees that learning is not taking place.
I have a variety of seating styles and table heights in my classroom and it changes from year to year. All the furniture in the classroom has been bought over time, and some donated. This type of seating has helped accommodate students with ADD/ADHD or students who struggle to sit for long periods of time. It gives them the freedom to move or stand when doing their work. Don’t get me wrong, there are days that some seating goes into timeout until it can be used properly. Sometimes, it goes away completely and saved for later or next year. Make the seating work according to the ways of learning of your students.
Routine, routine, routine! I really push this at the beginning of the year. A solid routine helps make the room run smoothly the rest of the year. The classroom is eventually run by the students where they are the ones who help add to the rules and expectations for the year and make it their classroom. Set up and clean up are also done by the students and our daily routines help with that.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 hit and like most, we finished out the year on Zoom. Flexible seating turned into asking the studentsto sit up, turn on their camera, stop eating during class, stop playing, and the list goes on. I was thankful that I was able to still see my students daily, but it just wasn’t the same, and I don’t think our classrooms will ever be the same. With new guidelines from the CDC being created, I have already been planning for how flexible seating will look like in the fall, and it could all change in an instant.
Don’t get frustrated. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow, have fun with your students, and things will fall into place. Students do their best by seeing their teacher working, talking, and having fun alongside them.
By Adeline Scherencel
Adeline teaches at Burton Adventist Academy in Arlington, TX.
