During my years of teaching I have watched my students struggle to sit in their traditional seats for an entire day. They would fidget, wander around, and stand behind their desks. It was a struggle. Finally, last year I began experimenting with some flexible seating options. I had a small variety of chairs, stools, and cushions that the students could choose from. I was amazed at what happened next.
My students wanted to move, and they were learning better when they were comfortable!
My students enjoyed class and were more engaged in their learning. They were focusing on their work and participating in lessons. They didn't wander around as much. They also were excited about coming into class every day.
My hope is to round out the flexible seating choices in my classroom. I already have two wobble stools, and I am requesting two more because they have been a favorite in our class and I would love to see more students enjoying them. The peanut balls will be a new addition to our classroom. The students can sit on these in a variety of ways. They can be straddled, or they can be turned and the students can sit on them like a chair. They can also push them against a desk and sit on the floor and lean on them if they choose. The slight bouncing motion will help the students to focus on their work and get their fidgets out. Finally, I want to add a carpet with a map of the world. This will serve many purposes. We will use it for small group instruction, flexible seating, as well as locating geographic areas as we discuss Ancient Rome, Early Americans, European Explorers, and the American Colonies.
I am excited to expand our flexible seating options!
About my class
During my years of teaching I have watched my students struggle to sit in their traditional seats for an entire day. They would fidget, wander around, and stand behind their desks. It was a struggle. Finally, last year I began experimenting with some flexible seating options. I had a small variety of chairs, stools, and cushions that the students could choose from. I was amazed at what happened next.
My students wanted to move, and they were learning better when they were comfortable!
My students enjoyed class and were more engaged in their learning. They were focusing on their work and participating in lessons. They didn't wander around as much. They also were excited about coming into class every day.
My hope is to round out the flexible seating choices in my classroom. I already have two wobble stools, and I am requesting two more because they have been a favorite in our class and I would love to see more students enjoying them. The peanut balls will be a new addition to our classroom. The students can sit on these in a variety of ways. They can be straddled, or they can be turned and the students can sit on them like a chair. They can also push them against a desk and sit on the floor and lean on them if they choose. The slight bouncing motion will help the students to focus on their work and get their fidgets out. Finally, I want to add a carpet with a map of the world. This will serve many purposes. We will use it for small group instruction, flexible seating, as well as locating geographic areas as we discuss Ancient Rome, Early Americans, European Explorers, and the American Colonies.
I am excited to expand our flexible seating options!
Read more