Everything I do in my classroom is based on research and best practices for kids. Although my students have been requesting alternative seating for many years, it wasn't until last year I saw the true benefits. The items I am requesting offer a variety of seating for my students. I've found that some of the immediate benefits of flexible seating include burning more calories, using up excess energy, improving metabolism, increased motivation and engagement, creating a better oxygen flow to the brain, and improving core strength and overall posture. It's no surprise that physical activity is linked to higher academic performance, better health, and improved behavior. In fact, a paper by Matthew T. Mahar, et al (PDF) finds that: simple in-class activities can boost performance.
Studies suggest that children who participate in short bouts of physical activity within the classroom have more on-task behavior, with the best improvement seen in students who are least on-task initially.
The student-choice benefit behind flexible seating is that it helps students become more self-aware of what types of seating and environment helps them learn best. And, of course they are empowered by the opportunity to have choices. Some of the choices I am requesting are "backpatter chairs" for our low table. The students will benefit from the variety of height levels, comfortability, and location in the classroom. For some children, their brains have a hard time processing where their body is in space. To compensate, their bodies stay in constant motion to give the brain the feedback to understand where they are. These seats will benefit my students for years to come!
It is my job to promote learning, engage my students, encourage them to do their best, and persevere through challenging situations.
About my class
Everything I do in my classroom is based on research and best practices for kids. Although my students have been requesting alternative seating for many years, it wasn't until last year I saw the true benefits. The items I am requesting offer a variety of seating for my students. I've found that some of the immediate benefits of flexible seating include burning more calories, using up excess energy, improving metabolism, increased motivation and engagement, creating a better oxygen flow to the brain, and improving core strength and overall posture. It's no surprise that physical activity is linked to higher academic performance, better health, and improved behavior. In fact, a paper by Matthew T. Mahar, et al (PDF) finds that: simple in-class activities can boost performance.
Studies suggest that children who participate in short bouts of physical activity within the classroom have more on-task behavior, with the best improvement seen in students who are least on-task initially.
The student-choice benefit behind flexible seating is that it helps students become more self-aware of what types of seating and environment helps them learn best. And, of course they are empowered by the opportunity to have choices. Some of the choices I am requesting are "backpatter chairs" for our low table. The students will benefit from the variety of height levels, comfortability, and location in the classroom. For some children, their brains have a hard time processing where their body is in space. To compensate, their bodies stay in constant motion to give the brain the feedback to understand where they are. These seats will benefit my students for years to come!
It is my job to promote learning, engage my students, encourage them to do their best, and persevere through challenging situations.
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