So You Want to Try Flexible Seating... Tips and Tricks for the Curious Teacher

Why?

Flexible seating had been a buzz word in education that I was fascinated by. I had seen classrooms on Instagram and Pinterest that had a variety of tables, floor cushions, and couches. My first thoughts were, "how could these teachers possibly afford this?" and, "there's no way their students get any work done." After researching funding and management strategies, I decided it was time to step out of my comfort zone and dive head first into the world of flexible seating.

How?

My first step was to obtain funding for my flexible seating options. I decided that Donor's Choose and an Amazon Wishlist were the fastest ways to gain funding. I started small with some floor cushions and a picnic table. To my surprise, I was funded within a week! I also utilized Facebook Marketplace for new barstools within my teacher budget. As nervous as I was, I knew my teaching would never be the same. My next step was to throw out everything I knew about classroom set-up. I traded out almost every desk in my room for any table I could get my hands on. My suggestion would be to keep at least four desks for students who are unable to handle flexible seating for the day or for students who prefer the traditional setup. Flexible seating is not for every student! I bought Sterilite carts with three drawers to store students supplies labeled with each subject. Students would be able to store their notebooks, workbooks, and journals inside the drawers.

Flexible seating items linked in my Amazon Storefront:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/flexible_in_fourth?listId=329BKMK15ZZCU&ref=idea_share_inf

What did the first day of school look like?

Students walked into the classroom and were instructed on their unpacking procedure. I asked students to choose a seat at any table they would like. You may also want to consider putting nametags on tables for the first few weeks to ensure students have internalized the procedures. Students came to the carpet and I explained what a flexible seating classroom is. I showed students each seating choice and we generated ideas for our anchor chart about how to properly use each choice. I explained to students that flexible seating is a privilege that can be replaced at any time.Students were then asked to sign the anchor chart as a flexible seating contract. Before the first day, I created a Powerpoint showing students their transition groups. I placed students in alphabetical groups in order to create an orderly system for transitions. Once our introduction and anchor chart were complete, we practiced transitioning from the carpet area to a flexible seating spot. We discussed what to do if the spot we wanted was taken and practiced transitioning multiple times. Once students had the transition procedure down, I assigned table captains that would be responsible for retrieving materials for their group. After the first day, students were able to adjust to the new structure of a flexible seating classroom.

My Final Thoughts

Real Talk: Flexible seating is not something I would recommend for every teacher because it requires strong classroom management and the ability for the teacher to allow students to work in a space they feel comfortable in. But, flexible seating changed my entire view of teaching. I am able to build better relationships with my students because they feel carefree in my room. When students feel safe and loved, they can do anything. I love seeing the look on my students faces when I have them transition into their flexible seating work time. I would encourage any curious teacher to start small and allow students to choose an alternative seating spot for one part of the day. Students can work their way up to a full flexible seating day when you feel they are ready. So, get out there and create a space that feels like home!