Flexible Seating
Flexible Seating refers to the choices in which we give students on where and how to sit. This involves not only chairs, but yoga balls, stools, kneeing, lap desks, clip boards, and laying down amount MANY options!
When we give students options of how to sit, we are helping them understand how they learn best. This often helps students who have attention challenges and diagnoses of ADHD and ADD, as well as students who are on the autism spectrum. However, using flexible seating incorporates core principals of Universal Design for Learning and greatly benefits ALL STUDENTS.
Flexible Seating options can be implemented as assistive technology for students.
When we give students options of how to sit, we are helping them understand how they learn best. This often helps students who have attention challenges and diagnoses of ADHD and ADD, as well as students who are on the autism spectrum. However, using flexible seating incorporates core principals of Universal Design for Learning and greatly benefits ALL STUDENTS.
Flexible Seating options can be implemented as assistive technology for students.
Ideas for Flexible Seating
Stability BallsStability or Yoga balls can be used on their own, with specially made chairs, or inside of milk crates.
These give students ability to wiggle while sitting, bounce while working, and use muscles to stay sitting up. Lap DesksLap desks allow for movement throughout the room.
They allow for students to work on the ground and while sitting against walls. |
Balance DisksThese disks can be placed on other seating methods, such as chairs or benches, or can be placed on the ground.
These allow students to wiggle while sitting, provide sensory stimulation with their texture, and allow for movement around the room. Book BoatsBook Boats allow for students to move throughout the room, while providing a tight, cushioned space to help with sensory over-stimulation.
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Milk CratesMilk crates give students flexibility on where to sit throughout the classroom. Since they are lacking a back, the students must use more muscles to sit up.
Students also can lay on them and do work on the ground below them, giving more flexibility to the students. These also can be used as storage as the top cushions can be removed by students to hold their materials. |
StoolsStools can be used for students to sit without back, leading for them to use more muscles in their backs while they do work.
Wiggle stools also can be bought, which are stools meant to move around without falling over. They have a base which allows for students to move in various ways without becoming unbalanced. |
Seat Cushions
Seat cushions ca be used both on traditional seating and on the floor to provide more versatility. They provide students with more opportunities to move while seated.
While being used on the ground, students have the ability to both sit and kneel. |
BenchesBenches can be used throughout classrooms to provide seating. Students can use benches by sitting against them to provide back support, sitting on them to allow for muscle in back to be used, kneeing next to them and using them for table support, or laying on them to allow for stretching during working.
Benches can be similar to the picture above or similar to park benches with a back. |
Floor MatsFloor mats give students opportunities to be on the ground, as opposed to a seated position.
For mats, teachers can use bath mats, yoga mats, foam mats, or rug spots. Students can use these next to tables to lean on or can sue clip boards to complete work. |
Standing Desks & TablesStanding allows for students to release engird throughout the working periods. Often students have difficulties sitting. By providing opportunities to stand throughout periods, they are able to stay motivated to work.
Teachers can buy standing tables, raise table legs, or add risers to table legs. |
How To Implement Flexible Seating
Implementing flexible seating throughout classrooms can be a challenge, but will lead to a positive experience for all students. Expectations need to be set and explained at the beginning, and students need to be held accountable for their decisions. Certain students may need to pick a seat and stick with it, other may need to change as it will help students focus when the options are changed.
Videos About Flexible Seating
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