Yoga balls, bean bag chairs, and couches. These are some of the flexible seating options to help kids be more focused, by bouncing, rocking or even leaning back. A CFHS English teacher is working hard to give her students the best learning environment.

An eighth grade English teacher, Anne Davisson, who has been teaching for fourteen years, thought of a great idea to provide an environment to help students to learn even better. It all started last year when Mrs. Davisson’s instructional coach, Pat Bronk, offered a couch and a round table to Davisson’s classroom. After having the couch and the table for a while, they learned that it helped kids focus on their studies better. Although, it wasn’t Bronk’s idea to start flexible seating, she was in full support of it. So the classmates and the teachers rearranged the classroom, to make it the best learning setting possible. Davisson, however, still wasn’t satisfied. She then realized how much she needed new chairs when she had the students read an article about flexible seating. In fact, Davisson tweeted about how amazing her journey has been to change her classroom and the website that posted the article, Newsela, commented on her tweet.

Davisson is very passionate to offer the kids what they would like to see in a classroom. She remarks, “I want the learning environment to be optimal for as many students as it can possibly be.” Also, she mentioned that many students in her class are comfortable with the new and improved seating, although many kids have very different opinions with what helps them learn better. For example, an eighth grader in her class, Anna Becker, mentioned, “I would love a change and I really like to lean back or rock in chairs.” By making a survey, the children could speak their opinions on what they would like in a classroom and Davisson could figure out what was right for the students.

Flexible seating puts kids in control of their own learning. People may think that all these seating options are a distraction, but it actually helps students sit still, focus, and write better. On the other hand, it can be a large distraction for some of the other students in the classroom. Even though some kids get distracted by the new seating, the benefits of flexible seating are greater than the risks. According to a study by the Mayo Clinic, “the ability to move around more while sitting made the students more attentive.” This study claims this is because kids are able to burn off excess energy by bouncing or rocking on a chair. If students like to move around in chairs, they can sit on the wobble stools that Davisson has recently purchased.

Recently, a wave a excitement went through the class. News from a member of the school board revealed that Davisson’s request for flexible seating was approved. In her letter, she asked for six thousand dollars to buy tables and chairs. Also, the individual said that the meeting went very well and is excited to see what is to come. Overall the members of the eighth grade class are excited for what is to come for the rest of the year. With the effort from the eighth graders and Mrs. Davisson, the hard work is paying off to achieve the finest learning environment.