Stay in Your Seats?!

Students getting up from their seats seems to be a thing these days, and many struggle when students get up and leave with or without permission. Rather than react, consider a more fundamental and proactive approach. When was the last time the classroom looked transformed communicating a shift in mindset?  Some say, offering students agency over their seating arrangements, promotes students thinking about the learning environment and the freedom to make their own positive decisions. This, of course, can be seen as a difficult departure from the control of the seating chart and not everyone is ready.

The seating arrangement impacts the dynamics and flow of instruction. Lessons in a U- or circle-shaped classroom encourage greater student participation and interaction than those taught in rows. Standing desks, exercise balls, and beanbag chairs are just a few of the flexible seating alternatives that provide kids the freedom to learn in the most productive setting for them. Each learner's unique preferences can be met in this way. If there are expectations of student working together collaboratively, they are more likely to work together on projects when their desks are arranged in clusters. For quiet, focused collaboration, paired desks are ideal.

The location of the teacher's desk is also significant. Having it up front emphasizes the instructor's position as the head of the class, whereas having it in the middle of the desks encourages students to come up and talk to the teacher.

Many of the elements described in the article below are already in place here at Ramona. Visiting our school’s AVID tutorials on Tuesdays and Thursdays can be a great place to observe the impact of seating on student engagement. For those open to new experiences, consider a brain-based classroom redesign. Results can be extraordinary…

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2016-03-01-10-tips-for-using-brain-based-methods-to-redesign-your-classroom

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