How will implementing flexible seating impact my 4th grade general education classroom?

Clair Henriksen


Seminar Title


How will implementing flexible seating impact my 4th grade general education classroom?


Concept/Strategy

Focus of the Research


Flexible Seating


Grade Level

Research Was Applied


4th Grade


Relevant Grade Level

Connections


Elementary


Discipline

Where Research Was Applied


Other


Additional Discipline Areas

I see Application to


All Disciplines


Invitation/Commercial


As an adult, have you ever entered a library or coffee shop with the intent of getting work done, only to be greeted at the door by an attendant who would guide you to a predetermined spot and insist you sit there to do your work? I haven’t either, so why do we do that to our students? Why am I making the decisions regarding where my students complete their work each day? This idea prompted me to look into flexible seating to see its impacts on academic success, focus, engagement, behaviors and relationships and begin redirecting my classroom to place the focus on my students rather than myself. This year, after following my implementation plan, I feel that my students have shown the most independence and taken the most responsibility for their learning. The relationships they have with one another are also different than I have experienced in prior years. If you’re looking to implement flexible seating on any level (all in or just a few options to start) and wish to discuss experiences and methods of doing so in an honest, open manner, this session is for you!


Abstract


As I began my review of literature, I already knew I would be attempting to implement flexible seating in my classroom because I didn’t enjoy dictating the environment in which my students learned. I wanted them to be able to decide which types of seating worked best for them and allow for flow between seats throughout the day. What I didn’t know was if I would see this actualize, or if there were other ways in which my classroom could be impacted. Through my research, I found that classrooms which utilize flexible seating have seen changes in student relationships, collaboration, behaviors, responsibility, engagement and academic success. While this a broad spectrum of areas, improvement in any one area would prove the seating method to be successful. Through my research, I have realized the importance of providing many options for students to choose their seating from, and the necessity of having a clear set of expectations and method of implementing choosing seats, switching seats, etc. Therefore, I created a plan of implementation, data collection, and student reflection in order to best adjust this plan for continued use through the years.