Before you walk into our classroom, know this…
Not all of us will be sitting on chairs. Some of us will be at a podium or on the floor. We don’t always raise our hands and sometimes we are loud. We chose to sit in these spots. We are trusted with our choices and therefore are engaged in our own learning. We are learning how to collaborate and communicate with each other. We are active learners.
Not all of us will be sitting on chairs. Some of us will be at a podium or on the floor. We don’t always raise our hands and sometimes we are loud. We chose to sit in these spots. We are trusted with our choices and therefore are engaged in our own learning. We are learning how to collaborate and communicate with each other. We are active learners.
Each year things always look different in my room but the philosophy has always remained the same. My students and I spend a massive amount of time in this small room and we need to all feel comfortable and welcomed into the learning environment. The pictures below are from when I taught 1st grade in 2016. I have current pictures of my room on my "pictures" page.
Did you know that some of your children like reading while lying on the floor, hiding under a table, or sitting in a basket? Did you know that some of your children prefer to write standing at a counter or on the floor with a clipboard? Did you know some of your children would rather practice their spelling words while sitting on a couch or leaning against the wall? |
I believe that whether your child is sitting, kneeling, lying, or standing they are capable of performing at their best. Your child is the expert on what best suits them so I am taking their lead by allowing them to choose their daily work space.
So how do I manage it?
When considering a flexible seating arrangement there are many things you need to think about. Where will student supplies be stored? What about consistent flat surfaces for writing? How will I manage behavior without a seating chart? How do I let my subs know about flexible seating? How do I roll this out so the students take ownership and make smart choices? What about transitioning from subject to subject? Do all students need to face the front board?
Every morning the students walk in they grab their pencil box from their cubby and their name tag. The name tags have velcro on the back. The student places the tag at the work spot they choose. This is the students chosen spot for the entire day. They do not move from their chosen work spot unless I find it necessary to move them, or if they have a meeting with me explaining why they feel they should relocate.
They can choose somewhere new tomorrow! |
I use this parking lot to help manage behaviors.
Each morning every student is on free parking because they get to choose their spot. If they have trouble making smart choices at the spot they pick I give them a verbal warning. If they do not heed the warning I move their car to the "warning" lot. The warning lot means they need to choose a new spot. I always have more work-spots then students in the room so there are always new/empty spots for those who get to the warning lot to go to. If the student still has trouble making smart choices at the seat they chose I move their car to the "ticket" lot. The ticket lot means I choose their spot and document the ticket. If a child receives 3 tickets, they have a conference with me and they are given a permanent spot for a short time (usually several days depending on what is agreed upon by me and the student at their ticket conference. |
Left: Student mailboxes. Students store their folders and notes home. At the end of the day they empty their mailbox and place their pencil box in the cubby for overnight storage. In the morning they drop off their folders and retrieve their pencil box so the day can begin. Right: Student worksheets, notebooks, journals stored in file folder pocket charts. (this year I have a crate with portfolio files for the students to save their work in. Each week their work gets sent home with a cover page signed by me.) Bottom: Student reading supplies are kept in boxes. (Mainstay ice cube boxes from walmart, very affordable!) |
Flexible Seating Supplies
Here are some of the ideas and things I use to create a flexible seating environment in my classroom.
Stools (varying heights)
Bucket seats (5 gallon buckets, 3/4 in. plywood, foam, poly wipe-able fabric, wood stapler)
Crate seats (milk crates, 3/4 in. plywood, foam, poly wipe-able fabric, wood stapler)
Wobble seats (anti-burst core balls found at any sports store, 2x8 board with a hole drilled through the center, milk crate, zip ties, pillow case) Place ball inside the pillow case, thread the pillow case through the hole in the board, secure the board to the milk crate using zip ties)
Podiums (tall ones can be used with bar stools, shorter ones can be for standing)
Tall tables and/or desks raised to height above student waistline
Short tables and/or desks lowered so students can sit on the floor with pillows, cushions, mats, ect.
Floor mats with clip boards
Rocking chairs, patio furniture, camp chairs, gaming chairs, bean bags, a couch if you have the space! I have clipboards available and side tables so students have flat surfaces to write on.
Exercise ball seats
Large laundry baskets with pillows for reading and lounging
I always have a few regular chairs around the room for students who do learn best that way.
If you are interested in any of the budget friendly things I used to make the seating options please email me.
Here are some of the ideas and things I use to create a flexible seating environment in my classroom.
Stools (varying heights)
Bucket seats (5 gallon buckets, 3/4 in. plywood, foam, poly wipe-able fabric, wood stapler)
Crate seats (milk crates, 3/4 in. plywood, foam, poly wipe-able fabric, wood stapler)
Wobble seats (anti-burst core balls found at any sports store, 2x8 board with a hole drilled through the center, milk crate, zip ties, pillow case) Place ball inside the pillow case, thread the pillow case through the hole in the board, secure the board to the milk crate using zip ties)
Podiums (tall ones can be used with bar stools, shorter ones can be for standing)
Tall tables and/or desks raised to height above student waistline
Short tables and/or desks lowered so students can sit on the floor with pillows, cushions, mats, ect.
Floor mats with clip boards
Rocking chairs, patio furniture, camp chairs, gaming chairs, bean bags, a couch if you have the space! I have clipboards available and side tables so students have flat surfaces to write on.
Exercise ball seats
Large laundry baskets with pillows for reading and lounging
I always have a few regular chairs around the room for students who do learn best that way.
If you are interested in any of the budget friendly things I used to make the seating options please email me.