Flexible Seating

in the Classroom

By: Sierra Knight

“The classroom environment impacts
the level of student engagement and
academic success.”
The Question
What do you believe provides the students with the most educational opportunities
as possible as far as seating is concerned?

❖ Rows
❖ Cubes
❖ Versatile
The chosen answer: Versatile Seating
I have noticed that the further along education gets in early elementary education,
students are given more options when it comes to where they sit, and in what kinds
of seats they are offered.

In an article by the Turkish Online Journal of Educational Teaching, they reported

that students need to be comfortable in the place they are learning, which will lead
to them being more engaged.

They also added that teachers need to facilitate a classroom environment

specifically designed to meet the needs of all learners.
The Study
1. How are the defined spaces within the classroom utilized by students and
teachers?
2. In the classroom, do the students continue to gravitate to a specific seating
choice or area in the room to work?
3. Does flexibility with seating arrangements or student choice in where they
work impact student engagement?
Participants
❖ (25) 2nd grade students and (40) 5th grade students
❖ The 2nd grade classroom includes 3 students with individualized education
plans, and the 5th grade classroom includes 4 students with individualized
education plans
➢ The students were to be monitored based on where they are working throughout the day in the
classroom.
Seating Arrangements
2nd Grade: 5th Grade:
Results
2nd Grade: 5th Grade:
Results: Examined
2nd Grade: 5th Grade:
The students were offered 9 different seating options- The students were offered 8 different seating options-
Floor
Floor
Couch
Couch
Soft Chair
Crates
Tire
Stools
Stool
Wobble Stool
High Stool

Ball Chair Single Desk

Chair Beach Chairs

Floor Table Regular Chair

Conclusion
The implementation of flexible seating innately develops a students’ sense of
ownership of their learning as to navigate which classroom workspaces suit their
learning needs.

Moving forward teachers noticed the benefit of having flexible seating throughout
the work day and will continue to implement it, and even encourage other
colleagues to do the same.
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1304613.pdf