BUCYRUS – The human body learns 10 times faster and forgets 10 times slower than the brain.
Children learn best when the body is involved, and teachers at Bucyrus Elementary School are beginning to see benefits of flexible seating for students in their classrooms.
The flexible seating options started to make their way into BES classrooms after teachers did individual research and reading on the topic. Fourth grade math teacher Cathy Green started small in her implementation of flexible seating during the 2016-2017 school year.
“Students love to use the flexible seating while working,” Green said. “Students can choose from Bucket seats, bean bag chairs, Beach chairs, video rockers, bench, carpet, foam flooring, tall table and stools and rocking chair, which I acquired with my own money.”
Green has seen her students more focused on their work when they are comfortable. Her students understand that flexible seating is a privilege that must be earned.
“The first thing they ask when we start an activity is ‘can we sit in comfy seats’,” Green explained. “I do better work when I’m comfortable, and I think my students do as well.”
Kindergarten teacher Shari Shuck, much like Green, spent time reading research about kids needing to move more and have more options for seating in the classroom. Shuck implemented flexible seating in her classroom during the 2016-2017 school year.
“I witnessed some of my students in my class not being able to sit still in their seats,” Shuck explained. “I read some testimonials about other teachers finding flexible seating useful in their rooms and decided to try it.”
Shuck’s flexible seating options include wiggle seat cushions, yoga balls, KORE patented Wobble chairs, and bouncy bands on some of the chair legs. Students also have the choice to use a cardboard “office” if they need a personal space, and several lounge type chairs are available in the room.
“The children who need to move are now allowed to in a fashion that is not disruptive to the entire class,” Shuck said. “Some students can concentrate better when they get a choice of where to sit while it doesn’t make any difference to other students, just as no two children are the same.”
Kristine Fourman, a teacher in the Five-Star Rated Bucyrus Elementary Preschool Program, offered flexible seating and alternatives to seating when she taught elementary students with multiple disabilities. She took a class in 2010 taught by an Occupational Therapist who visited Ohio from California and started to understand the connection between alternative seating, preschool students, and academics.
“We have child-size rocking chairs, cube chairs (high and low), bean bag chairs, child-size regular classroom chairs, wooden chairs with high sides and arm rests, plastic circular air seats, seating next to an adult, and carpet,” Fourman said. “The student may stand in another area of the room to watch a lesson, laying on their stomach or on their back, all of which are considered flexible seating options in our Five Star Preschool Program.”
Green, Shuck and Fourman aren’t the only teachers at BES utilizing flexible seating in the classrooms. Other teachers shared how they’re using flexible seating in the classroom and its success with students.
Dawn Martin uses flexible seating during her classes’ reading workshop.
“I think it is a major factor leading to the success of the reading workshop in my classroom,” she said.
Valerie Richardson gives her students options of cube chairs, carpet, wooden chairs and rocking chairs.
“The options really help those who struggle to focus, need movement or defined personal space,” Richardson said.
Amy Hawkins has been using flexible seating since January 2016.
“I wrote a mini grant from the Bucyrus Education Foundation and received $500 to buy yoga balls, swivel seats and shag carpets,” Hawkins said
Lori Rister’s students have the choice to utilize flexible seating as well.
“We have a few wiggly seats that have made a huge difference in the quality of writing for several students,” Roster said.
Kristine Fourman shared she’s had a student that liked lying on his stomach inside a box with only his head out of the box while watching her lessons. Another student preferred to sit in a box during her lessons.
“It’s really about knowing each child and being willing to change with the child based on the day, lesson, and need of that child,” Fourman continued. “When students aren’t trying to hold themselves still in their chairs, they can integrate auditory, visual, and tactile systems of the body.”
The ultimate choice to implement flexible seating in the classroom, according to Bucyrus Superintendent Kevin Kimmel, rests with the teacher.
“I’m not going to stand in the way of teachers that want to offer their students flexible seating options in the classroom,” Kimmel explained. “Every student in this district learns differently, and if being able to sit and learn in a bean bag chair or inside a cardboard box helps a student reach his or her maximum potential then I want to encourage all our teachers to consider flexible seating options.”
Flexible seating options are just one of many ways the Bucyrus City School District works to provide every student with an individualized and personalized educational experience, which starts with the Five-Star Rated Preschool Program. Families interested in enrolling their child in the Five-Star Rated Bucyrus Elementary Preschool Program should call the school office at 419-562-6089.
