Mythbuster Vol. 1: Flexible Seating




In Mythbusters, our hope is to explore some of the best (and worst) practices that are making names for themselves in the world of academia; specifically, K-12 public education.  Our intent is to dispel the myths behind some of these topics and - in the process - empower teachers to dive into a new no-longer-frightening best practice for their students.  Our first topic embodies this vision as “flexible seating” is a trending, widely-discussed topic… but surrounded by misunderstandings. Pull up a chair - or stool - or old milk-crate with an embroidered cushion and let’s jump right in!

Mythbuster Vol. 1:  Flexible Seating

Written by Josh Hostetter, JCPS K-12 Humanities Coordinator
Stylistic Choices:  "we" used in body of text represents Academic Innovation of JCPS; "I" appears in author's note.

Author's Note:

I spend my Saturday mornings with my wife - also an educator - working or reading.  We plan, grade, chart future projects, connect on Twitter, research best practices, dig into a new piece of writing, or read for pleasure. Truthfully, we’re always immersed in our passion: teaching.  On the days we frequent our favorite local coffee shop for a change of pace, we prefer sinking into a pair of comfy, mismatched armchairs to get in the right headspace.  At home, she typically sets up shop at our pub-height dining room table, especially for longer periods of grading and lesson-planning.  I prefer a squat chair and even lower coffee table in our library, keeping me focused but comfortable.  I like the option of being able to get up and move around regularly with ease.  Weather permitting, we occupy our back porch. If we’re just reading, I prefer a hammock or camp chair in the front lawn with marking pen at the ready. She prefers the couch with coffee in hand. So what?

“So what” is that we - as adults - get to make these decisions about learning for ourselves.  We get flexibility in our environment for learning.  Why should it be any different for our students?  Do they not deserve these same options for flexibility and comfort?  It is my suggestion that our students deserve all of this.  They deserve “flexible seating”.


Sure, I’m curious. What is flexible seating?

Flexible seating is… a seating un-rrangement (yes, we are aware that this is not a real word…) in which traditional seating is replaced with seating options and arrangements that allow students to sit where they choose.  Flexible seating classrooms allow for selection and movement of various seating options, including - but not limited to - beanbag chairs, stools, carpet squares, couches, inflatable balls, crate seats, pillows or cushions, as well as the traditional student desks and chairs.
But, real talk: “flexible seating” is about more than chairs.  It’s more than rearranging or discarding desks.  It’s more than stools or crates or inflatable balls or canoes being used for classroom seating.  As one of our team remarked, “Just because you added beanbags to your classroom doesn’t mean instruction has changed.” True. And it certainly doesn’t mean that instruction has been meaningfully changed for the better.
The concept of flexible seating stems from a realization that students are learners that need to be equipped with an environment where learning can be maximized; equipped with an environment where they can be comfortable to learn.  This optimization comes from increased choice, the opportunity for engagement, comfort, and collaboration.  And with this mindshift at the center of “flexible seating”, many of you are already on your way in this journey!


But why?! What’s the rationale behind flexible seating?

All of the decisions we make and everything that we do in our classrooms should be based on research, best practices, and the benefit of our students.  Flexible seating should be no different. The academic benefits of flexible seating include increased motivation, incorporation of student choice, increased engagement, authentic opportunities for collaboration, physical movement to facilitate learning, and the ability to build a “community” from a space that was once only a room.  As a more efficient use of your physical space, flexible seating in your classroom also frees up learning space.  In ditching the oversized teacher desk, your students benefit from additional creation and learning space - while also seeing you as a part of their learning processes rather than the sole leader and decision-maker at the front of the room.  
Also, disdain for rigidity in classroom seating is nothing new. Famed educator (and physician, people!) Dr. Maria Montessori described the impact of chairs: "[When chairs were used], children were not disciplined, but annihilated". (probably from a 1986 Encyclopedia entry. The providence of the quotation might be unreliable but the statement is profound, right?!).  In the 1940s, Italian educator Loris Malaguzzi developed his “Reggio Emilia Approach” methodology wherein students explore and (re)create their own physical environments for learning.  As he said, “there are three teachers of children: adults, other children, and their physical environment.” We must not forget to give thought and efforts to this “third teacher” in our classrooms and schools.
Surely then, we are prepared to take the advice of decades of physicians, educators, and thinkers… right?


Fine. You convinced me that we should try. What are potential difficulties?

There aren’t any? Seriously though, the “difficulties” are more like tiny hurdles on the path to success.  
The biggest hurdle is getting comfortable in a classroom without rigid rows and columns.  Your flexible classroom environment might retain some of the desks and chairs from earlier iterations but it will not keep the configuration. We know what you’re up against by giving up your seating chart.
This hurdle is one of (giving up some) control.  Simply put, you’re going to have to relinquish control of where every student is at every moment.  You won’t have a permanent seating chart.  You won’t even have permanent seats! This is scary but worth the payoff.  We understand that this is both frightening and difficult but, nothing in life worth having comes easily.  
As POTUS Theodore Roosevelt said, “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.”  Be the envy of your peers by taking the leap toward a flexible classroom and doing it well. The key to overcoming this hurdle is planning and setting classroom norms and expectations. No matter your step in the journey towards flexible seating, we can’t stress this enough - planning is a necessity.
Another hurdle will be to answer the question, “what do I do next?” In anticipation, we hope to revisit this topic in a future post; to follow-up soon. Stay inspired.


Alright! That’s not bad at all! What do I need to do?

So you likely noticed we didn’t include “buying lots of furniture” in the difficulties/hurdles earlier.  That’s because it needs mentioning here. NOTE: Before you purchase or move a single thing, you’ve got to give your classroom redesign some thought.  Serious thought.  We’ve listed some questions below:
  • Why am I doing this?
  • What do my students need? What do I need to make this happen? What do I already have that can help with those needs? How can I better use what I already have?
  • What classroom environmental barriers must I eliminate in order to optimize student learning? How can I make this space a teaching and learning environment?
  • How can I modify my classroom procedures to help with flexible seating and more flexible learning environments?
  • Why have I made the seating decisions that I have in the past… was it best for my students?  Or was it best for me?  How can I change my thinking to prevent adult-convenience-first from creeping into my decisions?
  • I want my classroom to reflect my stance that students must be at the center of learning: how do I make this happen now?
What do I not need to do? [please repeat after me]
  • I do not need to rush out and buy all new chairs.
  • I do not need a class set of brand-new beanbags.
  • I do not need to throw away my current seating options.
  • I do not need a dozen yoga mats.
  • I do not need to beg my principal for new kidney tables.
  • On that note... I do not need to sell a kidney to finance my flexible seating plan.

Yeh yeh yeh… but what’s my first step? What can I do right now?!

Right now? Answer the above questions. Think through what is best for your students. Sketch various “optimal” layouts of your classroom space. Give thought to what you want students to be able to do… not just what you’re going to ask them to do; but what you want to open up as a possibility in your learning space. Mentally plan the steps you need to make those wants into realities.
Then jump right in: make the first move. Literally. Move a desk or a chair.  Clear your desk of the clutter that you’ve been wanting to eliminate anyway. Get rid of the bulky chair-desk welded combo that you’ve hated for years.  Ask your custodial staff if the school has any “extra” furniture stored somewhere. Resketch your classroom space as you begin to move things. Ask school neighbors for extra clipboards for student use. Buy some plastic crates to store communal materials that once cluttered the center of large student tables. Dust-off your label maker and label bins and boxes for student supplies.
And next? Start digging into some research*.  Reach out to your PLN via Twitter or blogs. Ask peers in your building. Have crucial conversations with your administrators.


Post-note: I did all of that… how else can I acquire these incredible new seating options?



In addition to the advice above, we recommend exploring DonorsChoose.org and individuals already on their way to a flexible seating classroom. If this is an avenue you will be traveling on your journey to a "flexible seating" learning space, be sure to involve your administration team in the discussion as DonorsChoose requires JCPS prior approval.


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