In order to make choice seating manageable for me, I began by giving my students the option to sitting in the flexible seating area if they were done with their work. However, I have since given them the choice during free work time. I generally do not assign seats or groups to the students during free work time. (Although they do have assigned seats for the beginning of class, attendance, whole group instruction, and when there is a substitute.) I have found that when the students are comfortable and happy, they tend to work harder and ask more questions (perhaps because they do not need to ask in front of the entire class). I've also found that when my students are working collaboratively in their choice seating, they also tend to keep their conversations at a reasonable volume. In short, I love giving students the choice. When I have kids sitting all over the place working on math, it just makes my heart smile. I honestly can imagine them as ancient Greeks discovering math for the first time.
Here is how I have provided affordable and easy choice flexible seating in my classroom.
1. If you can't buy it, make it!
For the past few years, my STEM students have created cardboard chairs during the first week of school, focusing on durability and comfort. Their chairs remain in my room all year and are used daily. They are hands down class favorites. I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that it is their very own contribution to the classroom environment. The couch and chair below have actually lasted almost 2 years!! It is fun to see which chairs survive the year and which ones become class favorites. I can honestly say, I will be so sad when these break down.
6th graders can be so creative when they are given minimal constraints. This year, we had a few groups sew pillows in our makerspace to add comfort to their designs (they did not survive).
Not only do these chairs provide an awesome learning experience, it is their first encounter with the engineering design process, but they are very inexpensive. I am that teacher who is always sending emails to the faculty, students, and parents begging for their garbage. On the top of my list... cardboard! We have a storage room half filled with broken down boxes. The students use them to build everything!
WARNING: You will need to provide large amounts of tape for this project. We always budget for mass quantities of masking and Duct tape every year.
Couch with Ottoman
I've used this one on a few occasions, it really is quite comfy.
2. Crates and Seat Cushions
As I looked around my room for anything my students can sit on, I noticed that I had tons of extra crates. I moved classrooms a few years ago and the previous tenant left a large and awesome file cabinet. This left my crates lonely and unused, and the hoarding STEM teacher in me refused to let them go. I really am glad that I kept these crates, they have become another class favorite.
I turned the crates up-side down and added these easy to make cushions. My husband and I purchased a fixer-upper a few years ago, he is so fantastically handy, and we have lots of scrap wood laying around the house. I had him cut squares of scrap plywood while I found some fun remnants in my fabric drawer to decorate. Several years ago, I purchased some seat cushion filler for a project, I can't even remember what it was, that I never ended up attempting. Fortunately for me, my 10pm idea was able to take shape as a result. I wrapped the boards and cushions with the fabric and stapled it snugly to the bottom of the board. Two years latter, they are still in great shape. I also brought in an old Ikea T.V. stand that completes the set.
3. Anything that adds a "Coffee Shop" feel
Because I can't help myself at the beginning of the school year, I did spend some money on two butterfly chairs, a storage ottoman (where I keep clipboards), and a area rug. I thought it would define a space for the students, but they do not always stick to the area when using the chairs. I honestly don't mind, which I think makes it easier for me to allow my students to spread out.
I have found that the students who choose to sit in the "lounge area" feel like "college students". They act sophisticated and begin to relax as they learn and practice.
4. Anything that does not look like the rest of the tables/desks
I also inherited a huge/heavy brown table. It is nothing too fancy, but the students, particularly my struggling students, love to sit at it. There is a small lip at the front and I think they sometimes feel as though it hides them from the rest of the class on the particularly frustrating days. Maybe they think the lip hides their work from the rest of the class so no one will see if they make a mistake.
5. Add seating for your wigglers.
I did spend a little bit of money this year on a wobble cushion and bouncy band. I'd like to get a few more of the wobble cushions. I only have one, but there are several students that can benefit from having one.
6. You know you're not using those exercise balls at home...
Some kids need to bounce. When students use these during class, they have increased focus, improved posture, and demonstrate longer periods of class engagement. There is a ton of research out there on the use of these exercise balls in the classroom.
7. Don't limit student choice to the four walls of your classroom.
There is no need to get fancy, remember the point of choice flexible seating is that students get to choose where/in what they sit. It is interesting to me that so many of my students choose to sit on the floor to do their work. Because it can sometimes get loud during our work sessions, I also allow students to work in the hall outside of my classroom door. I've actually discussed this area with a our tech coordinator, who may have funds to allocate to our hallways, ways to make this large hallway space more inviting with rugs, chairs, a small table, etc... How awesome would that be?
8. Provide Pillows (and large stuffed animals)
If the students are going to choose the floor, there is no need to be uncomfortable. When I noticed there were a lot of students choosing the floor, I began to bring in old pillows that no longer fit my personal style at home. I also found some great deals at Ikea. What I found was that the students who choose to sit at the tables also like to use the pillows to pad their seats. I created a corner to throw them all in when not in use. The students are great about putting them back, or lose the option of using them in the future.
As my own children are getting older, and acquiring more toys, some of their over-sized stuffed animals no longer fit in our house. No worries! They are also a huge hit in my classroom.
9. Be flexible!
I also allow students to rearrange the room to suit their needs and comfort. Some students put the pillows on their chairs at the tables, others lose the chairs all together and pull up one of the butterfly chairs or wheelie chairs. Remember, we are discussing CHOICE and FLEXIBILITY for our students, but it only works if teachers are willing to be flexible as well.
10. Swap your Desks for Tables
Swapping out my desks for tables have greatly added to the collaborative atmosphere in my classroom while giving students that need a more structured work-space a good substitute. Tables also give students the feel that they have more flexibility to choose their groups or turn and talk to a peer for help. I would also like to add a few standing desks.
While our school is working hard to innovate and provide engaging and empowering lessons for our students, the fact remains that students do not always get much choice in their day. They are working hard to learn prescribed standard, despite their readiness level. Little things like allowing students to select a seat makes a huge difference in the attitudes towards mathematics class. I have found that comfortable seats can reduce anxiety and helps students to remain calm while learning.
I hope this helps those of you out there that are looking for easy ways to incorporate more choice seating in your classroom without the expense. Try a few out, keep what works, lose what doesn't. What are your favorite choice flexible seating options? Share your thoughts and let's continue the conversation in the comments below.
Thanks for reading!
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