Flexible Seating and Making Kids Feel Valued

One of my new additions to my Inspiration Wall

When I was in middle school and high school, I remember staring up at the ceiling tiles and trying to count the number of holes in each one. Desks faced forward in straight rows. There were few, if any, posters on the walls. It was a desolate, depressing atmosphere.

I have always taken pride in my classroom and tried to make it inviting. I have been known to paint a file cabinet turquoise and paint my door with chalkboard paint. Students have told me that they love my "cheesy" posters.

This year I took my classroom to another level. I have always wanted my room to feel cozy-like home! The newest rage seems to be flexible seating, and I decided to implement this kind of arrangement in my classroom.

Reading The Outsiders

I began by asking students what they would like. In fact, I created a Google Form asking them to rank their top five choices. Google Forms provide results in a variety of ways. However, the pie graphs were very helpful in this case. Then, I began with my best resource-parents and the PTSA! They are always willing to help me out. I received the following: an antique desk, three swivel bar stools, a rocking chair, two bungee chairs, several yoga balls, and some folding "stadium seats". I also received an Amazon gift card. Then I went to work! I took the legs off two tables (who knew you could even do that?) and added my stadium chairs to those tables. I painted the antique desk with chalk paint, distressed, and waxed it. I inflated the yoga balls and placed them strategically around my room. I also purchased a few bistro tables for my bar stools. These are great in the back of the room because they give students a better vantage point of the front of the room for when students are presenting or I'm showing something on the screen. I made sure to keep several "regular" tables and chairs. There are one or two kids who prefer this type of seating. Google Drawings provided a great way for me to create a seating chart that actually looks like my seating arrangement. Here's a link to my seating chart.

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Next came the task of sharing my expectations with my students regarding the new seating choices. I asked for a student volunteer to demonstrate the Dos and Don'ts of the yoga ball first. "Little bounces are great, " I said. Student proceeded to do "little bounces" on the yoga ball. "Big bounces are not great," I said. Student proceeded to do huge, exaggerated bounces on the yoga ball. The fun continued with "Do not kick the yoga ball." Student pretended to kick the yoga ball. You get the idea!

Although we have assigned seats, I utilize stations most class periods which allows students to move around to different areas of the room. This allows students to experience all of the seating options. Before I assigned seats, I created another Google Form asking students their seating preferences. You can check it out here. Feel free to make a copy and use it. Somehow it all worked out and almost every student got the seat they requested. A few students requested to sit next to a particular person, as well. I made sure that at least one of their requests was granted.

There have been a few challenges with the new seating but none that have made me rethink my decision. The kids love our classroom. They are comfortable and allowed to move. They are allowed to be kids. They feel valued.