When planning for this year, our principal asked what needed to change to engage students more in their learning. I responded in a whisper "flexible seating", thinking about our then-current classroom. It had rows of desks with blue chairs and nameplates reminding each student where they should be sitting.
This began a journey to transform our practice and challenge the ways of learning for a group of Year 6 students used to sitting in desks and rows for years.
Flexible seating has been defined as movable furniture to create an engaging learning environment. It is a shift in practice from being teacher-focused to student-focused learning. For us, flexible seating has meant removing most of the traditional chairs and desks and introducing a variety of different seating options to promote student engagement.
The use of rows and their minimal adaptations to "U" shape were traditionally intended to maximize on-task behavior and reduce distraction from the teacher. Teachers tend to still use this format because of either the need to control students or the belief that the teacher is the most important person in the room.
Now our students have a range of different seating options, including a floor desk, couches, stools, bean bags, and the traditional desk-and-chair.
From our experience so far, flexible seating enhances student ownership of space and engagement in learning, while reducing rates of student disengagement and disciplinary actions. It is a win for all concerned.