CARMEL, Ind. -- At Towne Meadow Elementary School you won’t see third graders sitting in those stiff chairs connected to tiny desks – that’s because Miss Catherine Staples has adopted flexible seating as part of her classroom style and she says it's helping students learn and be happier in school.
There are yoga balls, mats, fluffy chairs and a variety of other seating options students can choose from.
“Wherever they feel they can do their personal best work is where they should sit,” said Miss Staples.
Experts say flexible seating is healthier both for the student’s minds and their spines.
“Usually during independent reading, I sat on the bean bags or on the red cushions,” said third-grade student Claire Wolfgang. “They were just more comfortable for me.”
Miss Staples said it didn’t just make her classroom look different; there was a shift in her student’s attitudes as well.
“I noticed a huge change in student engagement,” said Miss Staples. “Students felt comfortable, they were really able to focus their attention on their work and they were just overall happier. Making those choices for themselves and giving them that ownership of their learning really made a positive impact in my classroom.”
Students also say flexible seating has allowed them to make more friends because assigned seating didn’t allow them to get to know everyone in their classroom.
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