CLASSROOM SEATING WITH A TWIST
Randi House, a Conway kindergarten teacher, uses creative movement and seating to keep her students focused thanks to a wellness grant from the Conway Regional Women’s Council.
The KARK, Education Matters news segment below explains how classroom seating with a twist works. Watch the segment below:
CONWAY, Ark. - A local teacher is changing the way her kindergartners learn in the classroom by adding a little comfort and movement.
You won't see them studying at their desks...because they'd prefer a different seat. Their reading and interactive assignments are done in a different way.
"I like the blue ones, the bouncy ones, and I like all of them!," says Claire.
The youngster showed us how nice it is to work on the tablet while not having to stay so...stationary.
"Cause you can get your wiggles out when you're doing something and you can get your wiggles out when you're learning," she explains.
If you know any kindergartners, they've got to get the wiggles out. The concept has put a "spin" on learning.
There are five different types of chairs they can use in Mrs. House's classroom at Theodore Jones Elementary.
"I have yoga balls, wiggle stools, I have rocking chairs, and I have what's called balance discs, a little black disc with nubbies and then we just have a little tent," says Randi House, Kindergarten Teacher.
It's taken an adjustment period since September, but the class has seen a difference. Mrs. House says these types of seating arrangements keep kids engaged, more focused and even more comfortable in class.
"I noticed that when they're working independently, they're a lot more focused and they're getting more work done," she continues.
Mrs. House started doing research online about how to better suit her students' needs. She found out about the optional seating, and later received a grant from the Conway Regional Women's Council to buy the chairs.
"They're getting some health benefits out of it. They're burning some energy off, especially the yoga balls and the balance discs and they're having to use those core muscles," she adds.
For kids like Claire, it's "sitting" well with them.
Mrs. House is also "rocking" this concept back and forth to other classrooms to test it out.