Flexible Seating in Room 115!

Dear Families/Guardians,

I am excited to be able to offer your student an opportunity to be a part of a flexible seating classroom this year!  You will notice at Meet-N-Greet that their name tag is not secured.  That is because their seat is not an assigned seat.  They will likely only be sitting there the first few days of school.

What is flexible seating?

A classroom with flexible seating looks different from a traditional classroom that uses only desks and chairs.  Items such as cushion seats, stability balls, wobble chairs, bean bag chairs, etc. are used to allow students to have options for where they can best work and learn.  The goal of flexible seating is to give students choice and to help them find the type of seating that allows them to achieve their best learning.  Their best learning spot may change throughout the day based on their needs or the work that they are being asked to do, so students will have the option of changing work spots when necessary.

How will flexible seating be introduced?

At the beginning of the school year, I invite the students to join me in creating a list of guidelines/rules for using the different seating options.  I spend time teaching them what it should look like when they are using the seats and community supplies and how to best take care of them.  I then allow students the opportunity to try out the different options in our classroom and determine where they work best.  They will be able to evaluate the choices available in order to choose the best spot for them to complete the task they are being asked to complete.

There are many different options for seating, but you will notice that all options still allow for a workspace for students.  Almost all of the seating choices are placed at tables and individual desks are still available for students that prefer private workspace or show me that they need a bit more structure (or less choice).

I have seen many benefits since implementing flexible seating.  Implementing flexible seating has empowered our kids, increased student engagement, and has helped to prepare students for the real world.  My students in the past have loved the opportunity to have a choice about their seating and I hope your child will too!

Warmly,
Alison Doherty