Hold up! Before you throw stones at me… Hear me out. I don’t think you should throw out all your tables and desks in your classroom. Alternative seating has recently made the blog roll of many education bloggers. I have noticed some fantastic classrooms with great alternative seating options.
This school year my Facebook newsfeed has blown up with pictures of teachers throwing out traditional seating and moving in options like couches, bean bag chairs, rockers, bouncy balls, and stools. While I am thrilled that teachers are introducing new options into their classroom for seating, I do not believe that we should change our classroom to provide only alternative seating and leave out traditional options. I see teachers taking it to the extreme and moving everything out except maybe a reading table. Observing my kids in my classroom, I know that would would not work for us.
Alternative seating should be what the name says – an “alternative”.
Jennifer Kadar from Simply Kinder says “I get having alternative seating – as an alternative not as a norm.”
“I used exercise balls in my classroom and found that after the novelty wore off, about half of my students wanted to go back to their desk and chair. You have to give them a choice, because they will do their best when most comfortable.” Alisa from First Grade Fun Times
“I think it’s important to remember that quality education, classroom management, and optimal learning environments, always start with teachers. Alternative seating works for many teachers, especially those who were doing it right with desks. If you are struggling as a teacher, it’s important to consider the fact that alternative seating may not work for you. Although the idea is novel, and it seems like a perfect solution, one size never fits all. Do what works for you, and make sure your management is solid before making the decision to use alternative seating.” Emily from Education to the Core
In my classroom, I have a desk for every student. I would like to have tables, but our school provides desks. I push my desks together into groups of 4. I also have a Tee-Pee with pillows, a lowered table with pillows, a trampoline, stools, and a couple of round regular sized tables.
I think desks are good for students that work best sitting at a regular table and chair. Some students need that. Some students even PREFER that. They like having their own space. When completing independent activities, I allow my students to grab a clip board and go work where they learn best. As the year has progressed, I have observed that some students like to stay put at their desk. Some students like to grab a clipboard and work somewhere on the floor in the classroom or hidden in a nook. I do not have one student that ALWAYS chooses the alternative seating or one student that ALWAYS chooses the desk.
Think about it… How do you work? As I am typing this blog, I am on my couch under a warm blanket with a cup of coffee close by. My T.V. is on pause so I can concentrate. In a few minutes, I am sure that I will get tired of the couch and move to my home office with a desk. In there, I might put on some background music. Before I press publish, I will change the place that I am working at least 3 times. Kids are the same way.
I disagree with classrooms that make kids sit in a desk all day long. This is why I will always have a carpet area. Kids need to be moving around in the classroom. I don’t think that kids should sit at their desks for the majority of the day. I also disagree with not providing a place where kids can sit in a normal chair at a table or desk. If you only have one table with a few chairs and you are working with a group at that table, what happens to the child that needs a desk? What if that table is covered with your teaching materials? You know that happens during the day.
Recently, I rewarded my students by moving all of our desks to the side and providing a day where we only had alternative seating. My kids walked into the classroom with a look of shock on their faces. They were excited about sitting where they wanted all day. It was a bit of an experiment for me. I needed to test my theory. During the day, I noticed several of my students pulling up a chair to the desks shoved next to the wall. A few liked it and had a clipboard all day. A few were asking if they could have a desk to sit at. Initially all of them were excited because it was different, but by the end of the day my students were asking for things to be “back to normal” on Monday.
So, yes, I agree with alternative seating options, but I am not about to get rid of my traditional seating as well. If you are a teacher that has been going back and forth over alternative seating, don’t beat yourself up. Do what is right for your classroom and best for your teaching style. Leave comments and let me know what you think about this conversation.
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I, too, am curious about the round seating at your kidney table. Where did you get those? I am getting a kidney for the first time, and those look awesome. Thank you in advance for your ideas!!
There is traditional and some alternatives in my kindergarten classroom. We have tables at different heights, even a standing one, with chairs, stools and pillows to sit on. We have pillows and scoop rockers as choices when it’s not an instructional time. I recently saw an idea using inner tubes covered with fabric that I want to make for this year.
I feel exactly the same way! I have a few alternative seating options available to my students. Yoga balls, benches and bean bag chairs. Everyone has a clipboard “mobile office” and can work around the room as they wish. Traditional seating is also available- desks are grouped in teams of four.
Dear Bonnie Catherine,
My name is Jessica Davis and I am conducting a research on
alternative seating and how it impacts student behavior. I would like
to interview you about your experience using alternative seating. If
you are interested in being a participant in our research, please let
me know as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Jessica Davis
Completely agree! I am teaching Grade 4 this year and have such a variety of seating choices, including single desks and tables. We talk regularly about choosing a place where your brain learns best.
I don’t like the fact that the teacher took out all of the traditional desks. I don’t want my child in third grade to be on the floor and develop bad posture/habit. Supposedly it is ‘alternative’ but the teacher took out the ‘norm’. So, my child has to be pick among the floor, bean camper chair, or a very low table with couple of chairs. I can’t believe the school board/ principal would approve such radical change in the instructional facility. Parents were not involved in this decision making and they never obtained an informed consent from parents of such changes. I don’t like that fact that these inexperienced teachers are experimenting with out children with their education.
I agree totally but have never seen a trampoline in the actual classroom. How do you manage that? I like the idea but am curious how you get to the cute little boy laying on it to read:)
I was wondering if Michelle Avila’s husband would share his plans for the counter-height table he made for her. Thank you!
I feel like you read my mind and wrote about it!!!!
I am a retired teacher now but when I taught I had students that were more comfortable working on the floor with a clipboard and several who worked well standing up by a bookshelf and using the top of the shelf as a,desk.
I always had quiet music in the background. My first graders learned to identify bird songs from the CDs I played. They especially enjoyed the haunting songs of the loons. Kenny G. , John Tesh and even Big Band music was enjoyed.
I really enjoyed your article!
I experimented this year with my 4th graders after reading research about children and movement, especially boys. My husband built me a table that was counter height with a kick bar around the bottom for raising of one leg while standing. I provided stools, but they were rarely used. Kids loved the standing table so much, he built another and is making a 3rd for this coming year. I will continue to use the standard height tables, and the “cushy tushy” crate seating, but I really believe that having options and the ability to stand and stretch while working cut down on behavior issues in the classroom.
My first graders loved alternative seating last year! I did leave 8 traditional desks and chairs as an choice. There were several kids that sat at those each day. Options are important. You have to take into consideration so many things, but one I hadn’t thought about was body type. It was not comfortable for some of my larger kids to sit on the floor or at a seat with no back.
Great article! Loved your caution alert about jumping into arternatice seating for every child, all day long. My 26 Kinders each have a traditional chair at a table, We are constantly changing according to the activity: sitting on the Story Rug, laying on tummies to write with clipboards, small group stools, standing and working, etc. I know it is harder for the teachers in the NEXT grade level if these kiddos have NEVER done class work in traditional seating—— tough transition!
I completely agree with your article. I am considering adding some more choices in seating next year, but because we have a newly remodeled building, we have to keep the new furniture. When do you introduce your alternative seating? Do you do it slowly as they get accustomed to routines and procedures or do you start on day one with alternative seating? I am more of a gradual release type. A coworker and I are thinking about writing a grant to fund our alternative seating too, since it could be pretty pricey. 🙂
Great post! I agree and have been grappling with this. Also, I am in a brand new building and cannot remove any furniture from the room.
Diane
One Giggle At A Time
With 26 students in a smaller room than your video, this is a challenge.
I have 2 tables with mostly regular chairs, 2 yoga balls at one, scoop rockers, 2 regular desks, 1 stand desk, a beanbag, a video rocker, 2 little tables with chairs or camp chairs and my reading table. I would not get rid of my regular tables because kids like to work there too. Happy not to have regular desks because of the clutter that takes over. With their locker boxes, they can move around during different activities and sit where they are most comfortable. I also have a rule that when we eat snack or treats, they must be at a table or desk. I love having options so everyone can choose.
I agree! Although I’m not currently in the classroom, over the years, I’ve always had alternative seating in my classroom. Bean bags, saucer chairs, floor pillow, bed, couch etc. but I would always have students that preferred to sit at desks and chairs too! Options are great! Thanks for sharing this post!
I agree! I am going to take the alternative seating plunge next year, but I am keeping all my tables and existing chairs for this very reason! I’ve already introduced several “alternative” options this year and although my students love and enjoy them very much, some of my students just work better in a traditional table and chair setting. I do plan on raising and lowering several of my tables, so they can sit or stand to complete tasks, but I already know there will be at least 3 tables that will stay put as another option! Thanks for sharing!
How did you make your round “pillow” seats around your kidney table.? I would like to try them. Great article!
Thank you for this! My own daughters fourth grade teacher had no chairs, only tables lowered so they had no option but to sit on the floor. It drove me crazy because she wasn’t considering the fact that some children wouldn’t be comfortable sitting on the floor all day long just as students aren’t comfortable sitting in a chair all day long! Great post!
Great thoughts! I’m considering some changes in my classroom for next year and offering options but I feel like a chair and table need to always be there for them if they want it.
Yes! I have been slow to jump on the alternative seating train, because we move around for both literacy and math centers all day, and our desks are really just a “home base.” I also love your point that you need strong classroom management before you introduce alternative seating, and it is not a cure for poor management.
I think you nailed it perfectly!