Take a Stand for Flexible Seating

Funded Sep 12, 2023

The addition of the standing desk and wobble stool to my classroom immediately sparked excitement. None of their other classrooms have standing desks, and they love the one that has wobble stools because they're helpful. After setting some ground rules and giving the students a chance to play with the buttons on the standing desk a little, the new materials were fully integrated into our class.

The standing desk allows one of my students to have more controlled movement throughout a class period while still easily being able to write and do assignments. This is particularly helpful for my students with ADHD or who come in very tired. My favorite part of this tool is that it gives me a chance to teach students about advocating for their needs, finding helpful supports and resources, and problem solving for specific situations. Not only does the flexible seating allow students to focus better and have their sensory needs met, but it also allows me to teach them practical skills for life beyond school.

Since so many of my students this year prefer nontraditional seating choices in the classroom, I am looking into removing all but a few traditional desks and switching to more flexible options. These options promote creativity and increase movement, improving brain functioning. This change would take lots of consideration and enforcement of routines and expectations, but the standing desk and wobble stool have shown me that the work on the front end is worth the benefits. Thank you for being a part of this project and for helping my students receive supports that fit their needs!”

With gratitude,

Ms. Davis