Flex Seating: Elevating Student Engagement in the Classroom

Foothill Elementary is incorporating WOBBLE stools, yoga balls, floor cushions, and more flexible seating into classrooms.

By providing alternative, non-traditional seating arrangements, students feel empowered to choose a place in the classroom that makes them feel safe, relaxed, comfortable, focused and successful. In addition, new seating options will allow for increased physical activity - which enhances the learning process.
​
Students strengthen their abilities to participate as a community, improve communication skills within collaborative groups, develop a stronger understanding of how and where learning works best for them within the classroom and engage in critical thinking activities. The goal of flexible classroom strategies is to see students’ grades improve, observe increase happiness and overall engagement, watch participation through invigorating conversation grow and aid students to develop smart, independent choices. 

In addition to empowering students to take control of their learning and establishing strong community within the classroom, flexible seating options incorporate movement.  In Eric Jensen’s (2000) article Moving with the Brain in Mind, he confirms that the brain learns best and retains most when the organism is actively involved in physical activity.  Sitting still in a chair for more than a 10-minute interval is likely to have effects on both the physical and mental self.  A child’s mental state becomes fatigued, which ultimately affects his/her learning. ​