Flexible Seating

What is Teacher Research Inquiry? Why do we use this research? 

• Teacher Research Inquiry referred to as Teacher Action Research, is a form of self-reflective, systematic inquiry conducted by teachers to improve their teaching practices and enhance student learning. It involves identifying a problem or question related to their classroom, collecting and analyzing data, and implementing changes based on the findings.  We use Teacher Research inquiry because it is engaging research that helps teachers develop professionally by fostering a deeper understanding of their practice and its impact on students. It promotes the use of evidence to inform teaching practices, leading to more effective and informed decisions in the classroom. It often involves collaboration with colleagues, leading to a more supportive and reflective teaching community. By systematically investigating and addressing issues in their teaching, teachers can directly improve student learning and engagement. 

What is the benefit of Teacher Inquiry?

• Enhanced Reflection: Teacher Inquiry encourages reflective practice, allowing teachers to critically evaluate their methods and understand what works best for their students.

• Personalized Solutions: Teachers develop solutions tailored to their specific classroom context, which are often more effective than generic approaches.

• Increased Student Engagement: As teachers implement more effective strategies based on their research, students are likely to become more engaged and motivated.

• Collaboration and Community Building: Engaging in inquiry often involves collaboration with other teachers, leading to a stronger sense of community and shared purpose within the school.

1. What do you want to change based on data collection?

Based on data collection, we want to change the classroom seating arrangements to better accommodate students with physical needs, vision needs, and other specific needs students might have. This includes providing differentiated seating, adjustable desks, and other necessary seating options to enhance their learning experience and support their individual needs.

2. How will you implement that change?

This change will be implemented by adjusting the classroom  seating arrangements and making accommodations for students that need it.  This will include classroom adjustments such as regular updates on seating, teacher and staff training that provide training sessions on how to assist students. We will also collect data and monitor students to see if the adjustments are working. 

a. How often? 

The adjustments will be reviewed and made on a bi-weekly basis to ensure that the seating arrangements are meeting the needs of the students.

b.How long will it take?

It will take approximately two weeks to assess the needs of the students, to find out the necessary seating, and rearrange the classroom. Ongoing adjustments will be made bi-weekly as needed.

c.How will you track progress?

Progress will be tracked through regular observations, student feedback, and academic performance reviews. We will focus on students with accommodated seating to make sure their needs are being met.

How will you collect measurable data? 

• Conducting surveys and interviews with students to gather feedback on their comfort and concentration levels.

• Teacher will monitor academic performance and behavioral changes before and after the change of the new seating arrangements.

• Recording observations from teachers and support staff regarding student engagement and participation.

1. How will you document and reflect?

• Keeping a log of all seating adjustments made and the reasons for these changes.

• Maintaining records of student feedback and academic performance data.

• Holding regular meetings with the teaching staff to discuss observations, reflect on the effectiveness of the seating changes, and plan further adjustments if they are needed.

What did your team learn about your inquiry?  What stood out?  What are your recommendations for best practice based on your research?  This should not be your personal opinion but research-based recommendations (be sure to cite)!

After much research, we have learned that flexible seating is essentially important for the students learning process in the classroom. Flexible seating is not a luxury in the classroom but a necessity when it comes to enhancing the student's ability to learn and stay focus. This is essential because students have different learning styles and require different needs. Based on research, we suggest that to be open minded when it comes to seating arrangements within the classroom. There will be many different students in the classroom that require unique needs. As future educators we understand that it is important to reach these requirements for the students, so they receive the same educational opportunities. Flexible seating allows students to feel more comfortable in their learning environment, collaborate with their peers, and get more involved with learning (N. Feria-Ortiz, 2023).  From this source, it is effective that flexible seating does in fact allow students to have a more engaging environment to learn in the classroom, it is also found that flexible seating essentially aids for the students supports their mental health. For example, "Although flexible seating is intended to be student-centered and needs-based, our results indicate that this type of arrangement can be detrimental to the wellbeing and mental health of some students" (Bluteau 2022). 

One thing that particularly caught our attention as a group was a flexible seating arrangement not only benefits the students but also the teacher. Some examples from research from the article mentions is that patterns of classroom organization in classrooms where children exhibit higher and lower language gains, has shown is that flexible seating can be more predictive of the students' outcomes than their physical literacy environment. Thus, showing the students clear expectations that the teacher has for the students. The article has also shown that an organized classroom can help with the classroom management, through the student's behavioral management, productivity, and instructional learning formats (Schachter 2022). 

Some best practices we found as a group that benefits the students and the classroom seating arrangement styles is having comfortable seats in the classroom. Having comfortable seating in the classroom promotes a stress-free environment as well as a more positive and inviting environment compared to the traditional metal and plastic seats (H. Lee et al, 2023). Another practice to incorporate in the classroom that would benefit students is getting rid of row-by-row seating. Students need to be seating in groups. More importantly, groups that would help improve their academics (Schachter 2022). This could be done by putting a student who is struggling with a student who is doing well in the class. This student could help the other. By putting students in groups this could also help promote engagement between peers and student-to-teacher. Students would feel more comfortable asking each other for help than raising their hand and asking the teacher. Flexible seating should be incorporated in classrooms because it helps promote a comfortable and engaging environment. 

Aspiranti, K., Michaliszyn, S., Dula, M., Tischner, C., & Fedewa, A. (2023). An active classroom intervention to improve physical activity, on-task behavior, and academic achievement outcomes for students with disabilities. Psychology In The Schools, 60, 4545–4562. 

In this study, Aspiranti and colleagues investigate the effects of an active classroom intervention designed to enhance physical activity, on-task behavior, and academic performance among students with disabilities. The intervention integrates movement-based activities into the daily classroom routine, aiming to address the unique challenges faced by these students. Results from the study indicate significant improvements in students' physical activity levels and on-task behavior, alongside moderate gains in academic achievement. The research highlights the potential benefits of incorporating physical activity into educational settings to support the holistic development of students with disabilities. This article provides valuable insights for educators and policymakers seeking to create more inclusive and supportive learning environments.

Bluteau, J. & Aubenas, S.& Dufour, F. (2022). Influence of flexible classroom seating on the wellbeing and mental health of upper elementary school students: A gender analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1-12. 

This is a research article that talks about how differentiated seating (flexible and fixed seating) can affect the wellbeing and mental health of 5th and 6th grade students. The study split the results in three ways and compared them, the wellbeing and mental health in boys, girls, and grouped up boys and girls. This was done with 107 students in total, 50 girls and 57 boys. When the research was finalized, it was found that boys who were in a fixed classroom had fewer internalized problems, had few problems paying attention, and emotional symptoms. The girls were the opposite, with the girls having few problems in flexible seating classrooms. There are disadvantages and advantages for many students when it comes to flexible seating. As a teacher it is important to know what the students' needs are in order to know if flexible seating could be something to do in the classroom. 

Conde-Velez, S., Delgado-Garcia, M., & Javier Garcia-Prieto, F. (2023). Classroom organization and teaching methodology- keys to interactions in Early Childhood Education (ECE). Pedagogies: An International Journal, 19(1), 126-127. 

This research article mentions that students have access to an educational environment in their everyday lives where classroom organization has importance in their learning. It promotes students' interaction and collaboration amongst each other, creating a positive environment. They mention that it is important to create an environment and setting where children are respected and where they can discover the world around them. They mention that this is one of the most methodological strategies to apply to the classrooms. Classroom organization should also include teachers including stuff that will interest their students.

Feria-Ortiz, N. & Christman, R.(2023). Enhance the classroom environment: Seating in the classroom. Department of Education, Roberts Wesleyan University. 14-65. 

Flexible seating in the classroom can enhance the classroom environment, giving students multiple options for seating. This allows students to learn in different ways that fits their needs and preferences. Flexible seating is a new trend and talk at many different schools, Most teachers refer to it as alternative seating. Having the different types of seating including yoga mats, balls, chairs, couches etc. This approach allows students to feel more comfortable in the classroom, create opportunities for them to collaborate with peers and be more involved with their learning. Flexible seating arrangements can benefit all ranges of learners including special needs. Strategies given included that it can be done in many different ways as well as increments, allowing the children to get familiar with flexible seating before completely throwing it at them. Flexible seating can be shown in various settings in early childhood classrooms, secondary classrooms, and higher education. This article examines and shows that flexible seating will lead to an increase in academic achievement and on task behaviors. 

Hosshan, H., Stancliffe, R. J., Bonati, M. L., & Villeneuve, M. (2021). Peer-seating groups and social participation by students with learning disabilities in full-inclusion in Malaysian secondary schools. International Journal of Inclusive Education, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print), 1–17. 

Based on this source it is expressed that peer-seating does take a significant role when it comes to students' social participation in the classroom. Meaning that the seating chart does matter significantly if you want students to participate in the lecture and classroom activities. It is important to group the students based on their instructional level so they are able to support each other academically, to provide support for one another. Since the student’s are more likely to participate in the classroom based on their seating arrangement, this will then create a positive and engaging active classroom environment. This source does focus mainly on students that need the additional support if they have learning disabilities, for the teacher to meet those needs for the students, not just on their seating arrangements. Thus, the seating arrangements discussed in this article is mainly beneficial for students with learning disabilities but it does benefit students that are non-disabled students as well. 

Lee, H. Y., Ramsay, C. M., & Robert, J. (2023). The effects of furnishings and technology on pedagogical agility and student engagement across flexible learning spaces. Journal of Learning Spaces, 12(1), 23-32. 

In this research article, it is presented that flexible seating is very beneficial when it comes to a student's academic needs. Flexible seating supports multiple modes of learning. Because of this, the teacher is able to adapt their instruction to the students' learning styles. Flexible seating also helps increase student engagement between student-to-student and teacher-to-student. In the article it also states that flexible seating in the classroom satisfies students' multiple physical needs. A student is able to feel more comfortable in the classroom when they are given their own choice of space to sit in. This causes more engagement between students and teachers. Flexible seating also allows students to be able to move freely around the classroom with disruption in instruction or work. This research article also gives us a study that was done in three different classrooms with different arrangements of seating.

McKerr, L. & McConnell, E. L. & Black S. A. & McClelland, J. & Little, J. A.& Saunders, K. J. & Dillenburger, K. (2020). Meeting vision needs of children with special educational needs: Case studies of the impact on behavior and academic achievement. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 48(1), 45–58.

This research article talked about how implementing flexible seating and maintaining an organized classroom can support students with different learning disabilities for example children that have vision needs. Children with learning disabilities often have problems with their eyesight. Research was done with nine students to determine whether children needed glasses or bigger print. The research showed that teachers needed to adjust seating for many students in the classroom to help with their vision needs. The article also mentions that children that are identified with special educational needs are at higher risk than other children of having visual needs more than other students. Based on the research from the article, after students' seating adjustments were made by the teacher significant changes were observed such as children’s behavior, increased engagement with peers, and helped students decrease off task behavior. 

Schachter, R. & Gabas, C. & Piasta, S.& Purtell, K. & Helsabeck, N. (2022). Patterns of classroom organization in classrooms where children exhibit higher and lower language gains. Early Education and Development, 34(5), 1128–1146. 

Within this article it is shown that an organized classroom can have long term academic outcomes for the student. Classroom organization helps the students with a setting aspect for their language learning and their development. The article then goes on to explain that an organized classroom can benefit the teacher as well since there was research that shows it can be more predictive of the students outcomes than their physical literacy environment. Thus showing the students clear expectations that the teacher has. The article has also shown that an organized classroom can help with the classroom management, through the students behavioral management, productivity, and instructional learning formats.