My fourth grade students are a diverse group of kids with all kinds of amazing talents and unique needs. We love our flexible seating, which include tall stools, cubes, and yoga balls. The typical ball chairs cost thirty dollars each, but barely last one school year. I would love to invest in these Hokki Stools, Jellyfish Jr. Seating, and Alert Seats, so they could be more sustainable over time.

The education community has long known that students have many different learning styles and we make sure that our lessons address these differences. However, the physical environment is not structured as much to the individual student as I would like. I have found that some kids need to be able to push back with their feet while sitting. They have been using stools, but when their feet push on the floor the stools tend to fall over or break. These Hokki Stools are perfect for the student who wants a harder seat but still needs to move their feet and core. My experiences over the years with students with ADD and ADHD have led me to the conclusion that flexible seating can have a positive impact. I let my students choose, but have had only one student in three years who preferred a regular chair. The rest have all said they love sitting on a soft ball chair or stool. I know my students appreciate these alternatives to traditional hard chairs.

Flexible seating directly ties to all parts of the curriculum that I teach in my classroom setting. When students are in a seating/standing desk or position that fits their body it helps them be attentive and  it is my belief that more academic progress can be made.

Currently students are using older and run down chairs, balls, and other seating options. This will allow me to tailor the physical environment to students needs.