Teachers Pay Teachers Pinterest Facebook Twitter Image Map

Sunday, February 7, 2016

18 Flexible Seating Ideas for your Classroom!

Have you tried flexible seating in your classroom yet?  I am sure you have something in your room that would already work as an option!  Flexible seating is all about giving your students a choice where they sit & providing them with alternative seating options that aren't those boring metal chairs!

Classroom seating is going from metal chairs to alternative seating options!  Check out 18 flexible seating options for your classroom!  There are suggestions such as yoga balls, scoop rockers, wobble chairs, and more!  Check out classroom furniture that you could get FOR FREE!  Turn your classroom into a 21st century classroom with these flexible seating options!
(affiliate links included)

Here are 18 alternative seating ideas for your classroom!
  1. Floor Pillows - I got these through Donors Choose - they came from LakeShore.  Here is another great option that you could cover any way you please! 
    Classroom seating is going from metal chairs to alternative seating options!  Check out 18 flexible seating options for your classroom!  There are suggestions such as yoga balls, scoop rockers, wobble chairs, and more!  Check out classroom furniture that you could get FOR FREE!  Turn your classroom into a 21st century classroom with these flexible seating options!
  2.  Bath Mats
  3. Carpet Squares*
    Classroom seating is going from metal chairs to alternative seating options!  Check out 18 flexible seating options for your classroom!  There are suggestions such as yoga balls, scoop rockers, wobble chairs, and more!  Check out classroom furniture that you could get FOR FREE!  Turn your classroom into a 21st century classroom with these flexible seating options!
  4. Futon*
  5. Yoga Balls
  6. Loveseats or couches*
  7. Wobble Chairs - I got these through Donors Choose as well!
    Classroom seating is going from metal chairs to alternative seating options!  Check out 18 flexible seating options for your classroom!  There are suggestions such as yoga balls, scoop rockers, wobble chairs, and more!  Check out classroom furniture that you could get FOR FREE!  Turn your classroom into a 21st century classroom with these flexible seating options!
  8. Crate Seats - Super easy to make - I brought one to Lowe's and they cut the wood the exact size for me! How kind of them!  Get a pack of six here!
    Classroom seating is going from metal chairs to alternative seating options!  Check out 18 flexible seating options for your classroom!  There are suggestions such as yoga balls, scoop rockers, wobble chairs, and more!  Check out classroom furniture that you could get FOR FREE!  Turn your classroom into a 21st century classroom with these flexible seating options!
  9. Body Pillows*
  10. Scoop Rockers - I got mine from OverStock but I heard you can find them at Walmart if you are lucky!
    Classroom seating is going from metal chairs to alternative seating options!  Check out 18 flexible seating options for your classroom!  There are suggestions such as yoga balls, scoop rockers, wobble chairs, and more!  Check out classroom furniture that you could get FOR FREE!  Turn your classroom into a 21st century classroom with these flexible seating options!
  11. Benches - I bought bookshelves from walmart & put them horizontal to make a bench!
    Classroom seating is going from metal chairs to alternative seating options!  Check out 18 flexible seating options for your classroom!  There are suggestions such as yoga balls, scoop rockers, wobble chairs, and more!  Check out classroom furniture that you could get FOR FREE!  Turn your classroom into a 21st century classroom with these flexible seating options!
  12. Clipboards
  13. Yoga mats
  14. Lap Desks - I found mine at Hobby Lobby (you can call and request specific colors when ordering online)
    Classroom seating is going from metal chairs to alternative seating options!  Check out 18 flexible seating options for your classroom!  There are suggestions such as yoga balls, scoop rockers, wobble chairs, and more!  Check out classroom furniture that you could get FOR FREE!  Turn your classroom into a 21st century classroom with these flexible seating options!
  15. Standing Tables*
  16. Floor Tables*
  17. Sit Spots 
    Classroom seating is going from metal chairs to alternative seating options!  Check out 18 flexible seating options for your classroom!  There are suggestions such as yoga balls, scoop rockers, wobble chairs, and more!  Check out classroom furniture that you could get FOR FREE!  Turn your classroom into a 21st century classroom with these flexible seating options!
  18. Lounge Pillows
    Classroom seating is going from metal chairs to alternative seating options!  Check out 18 flexible seating options for your classroom!  There are suggestions such as yoga balls, scoop rockers, wobble chairs, and more!  Check out classroom furniture that you could get FOR FREE!  Turn your classroom into a 21st century classroom with these flexible seating options!
[BONUS] 19.  Luv Chicken Seats - these cushions are super light weight, making it easy for kids to carry them from place to place.  They are covered in a material that can be wiped off - perfect for all the germs, glitter, and glue that goes around the classroom!  Purchase yours on Amazon today!
Classroom seating is going from metal chairs to alternative seating options!  Check out 18 flexible seating options for your classroom!  There are suggestions such as yoga balls, scoop rockers, wobble chairs, and more!  Check out classroom furniture that you could get FOR FREE!  Turn your classroom into a 21st century classroom with these flexible seating options!


*These ideas can be done FOR FREE!  Carpet Squares - ask a local interior designer or carpet store if they have any extras you can have.  I had a good friend give me her prints that were no longer in stock.  Futon, Loveseats, Couches, Pillows - Ask your parents!  You will be surprised how many people need to get rid of furniture and would love to donate to your classroom!  Standing Tables/Floor Tables - Just adjust the legs on the tables/desk you already have in your classroom - no need to purchase the fancy "standing" desks, you already have them!

What other ideas do you have?  How do you use flexible seating in your classroom?

55 comments:

  1. Just really concerned about fabrics and lice. Have you had any issues?

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have not! All of the fabrics can be removed & washed if needed. I wash things once a quarter and whenever I feel they get "gross" in between. There are plenty of options that aren't fabric though!!

      Delete
  2. Thanks for your post! I am starting to launch flexible seating in my classroom and your tips are great!

    Becca
    adventuresofbeccasclassroom.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am starting to do alternative seating starting next school year! I can't wait!! Any storage/how you set up your room/etc. advice. I plan to keep 2 desks so that if I have a student that likes to sit there can. Do you have problems with kids fighting over the same thing? Also where do you store all their supplies/books, etc. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will hopefully get pictures of my room up before the school year starts. I can't get in to start setting up until the week before school so it will not be until at least August. I love the crate chairs because they have built in storage.

      As for supplies, we do community supplies so I have supplies available at every table. I store binders on shelves and books go in their book boxes. They have a cubby for their bookbags and a little section above where they can store things as well.

      I have not had kids fighting over any seating. I have 5 groups in my classroom (I use these groups for Daily 5) and the blue group picks their seats first each time we go on Monday, Red group picks Tuesday, etc. They know they will get their turn eventually!

      Delete
    2. That is such a simple, fair way to manage choices, th hanks for resolving this for me!

      Delete
    3. That is such a simple, fair way to manage choices, th hanks for resolving this for me!

      Delete
  4. I had plant stands for stools, bath mats, rugs, and a futon. Unfortunately this year we battled ice, cockroaches, and bedbugs. I ended up throwing them all away because it was a reoccurring problem. I am going to try the plastic patio type chairs this year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, yikes! That is not fun! There are definitely options that will be more kid/germ/bug friendly - hopefully the plastic works better for you.

      Delete
  5. Where did you buy the lap desks?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hobby Lobby sells them in store and online! You could also use a 40% off coupon if you buy them separately!

      Delete
    2. How have the Lap Desks held up? I heard that they sometimes bend in the middle...I am trying to select which brand/type to buy for my class.

      Delete
    3. I got them from Hobby Lobby & I called after I ordered and requested the colors that I wanted.

      I had 1 break last year. The kids tend to put a lot of weight on them so they are not as sturdy as I would have hoped, but again, they are not very expensive so I guess you get what you pay for.

      Delete
  6. Where did you get the sit spots? Did they stick well?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. http://sitspots.com/ and YES! There are other knock-off brands out there and I am not sure how they work. I would definitely suggest the Sit Spots brand. They will send you a sample so you can test it out on your carpet. Mine sticks to the schools carpet but it doesn't stick to the "cute kid" area rugs.

      Delete
  7. What did you use for the sit spots? I cannot tell what it is. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. http://sitspots.com/ and YES! There are other knock-off brands out there and I am not sure how they work. I would definitely suggest the Sit Spots brand. They will send you a sample so you can test it out on your carpet. Mine sticks to the schools carpet but it doesn't stick to the "cute kid" area rugs.

      It is just velcro and when you pull it up it doesn't leave a mark or anything on the rug!

      Delete
  8. Do swim rings, balls and cushions work for a cheap fix?

    ReplyDelete
  9. https://www.sitspots.com/collections/circles

    ReplyDelete
  10. I notice you had seat pockets on all your chairs in one picture of your classroom and it looks like you had 25 chairs. Do you just stack the chairs not being used and have kids pull one down as needed? If a student doesn't have a seat cover to store their work inside of, how did you accommodate for that? Did you get rid of seat covers? Seems I have more questions than ideas! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I started the year off with traditional seating and then slowly introduced the idea of flexible seating. As I introduced flexible seating, the regular chairs went into storage closets. I will start the year off with flexible seating this year since I absolutely LOVE it.

      The seat pockets are gone (I was not ever a huge fan of them anyway). We have a shelf where they store their binders which used to be in the pockets and then they have a little storage area above their cubby for a notebook. I do have a stack of 4 chairs in my room incase I needed to add addtional traditional seating!

      Delete
  11. How do you plan to introduce flexible seating to your kinders at the beginning of the year?.....and also to parents? How do your students use community supplies when they are all spread out around the room? I also had some flexible seating in my kinder classroom last year but I am wanting to start the year with it this year just as you are. I am just nervous about how to begin the year with it and what to do with all of the students supplies. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  13. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  14. These are all wonderful ideas! Thank you sooo much for sharing! What do you do when other classes enter your room? How do you manage that?

    ReplyDelete
  15. What did you use to make the sit spots? I'm trying to find a way to teach my kiddos not to sit on top of each other without destroying my carpet!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I just finished a pre-practicum in a kindergarten classroom and the teacher used flexible seating. She has camping chairs and laundry baskets with pillows in them. The children loved them! I'd never thought of this idea but definitely plan on implementing it in my classroom :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Quick question...my kinders eat in our classroom...any suggestions on how to make this work with flexible seating? I currently have traditional tables and chairs on the floor area and some other seating options around the room. However, I would really like to change and mix things up...concerned about messy carpet...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, yes! We eat in our room every other month and so I understand your concern! Our tables are over the carpet and really, the kids have done a fabulous job. We do not eat on yoga balls (obvious reasons) and we do move the pillows when we are eating to avoid any food/spills on that. The kids just sit on the floor at the low tables. I have also seen teachers who have the "messy foods" be consumed at the one table in the room that is over tile. I don't know if that is an option in your room. However, I definitely think flexible seating is doable, even when you have to eat in your room! I would just move anything that you wouldn't want kids to spill on :)

      Delete
  18. Quick question...my kinders eat in our classroom...any suggestions on how to make this work with flexible seating? I currently have traditional tables and chairs on the floor area and some other seating options around the room. However, I would really like to change and mix things up...concerned about messy carpet...

    ReplyDelete
  19. yeah these chairs are pretty awesome, i recently purchased one from website Floorchair.org

    ReplyDelete
  20. The details you shared about floor chairs are really helpful. You can buy floor chairsonline

    ReplyDelete
  21. I really liked your Information. Keep up the good work.This is a really informative knowledge, Thanks for posting this informative Information.

    Best Bento Box In USA

    ReplyDelete
  22. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  23. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  24. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I absolutely loved reading this blog post about flexible seating ideas for classrooms! It's amazing to see how educators are thinking outside the box to create comfortable and engaging learning environments for their students.
    How Did Andrew Tate Make His Money

    ReplyDelete
  26. I hope this little tip adds some value to your already wonderful blog post. Keep up the fantastic work in sharing innovative ideas for all kinds of spaces, whether it's a classroom or even the gas pump! Looking forward to more insightful posts in the future. 😊
    how to use walmart gift card for gas

    ReplyDelete
  27. I always look forward to the latest posts on this blog. Each article is a delightful blend of information and creativity. It's evident that the author pours their heart and soul into every word.
    shoprite digital coupons

    ReplyDelete
  28. I'm genuinely grateful for this blog's commitment to quality over quantity. Each post is a carefully crafted masterpiece that leaves a lasting impression, rather than just a fleeting moment of consumption.
    https://tryvoucher.com/blog/

    ReplyDelete
  29. Your blog is an internet beacon of sunshine. We appreciate you sharing your knowledge and making learning fun.scheels coupons

    ReplyDelete
  30. I eagerly anticipate reading your blog since it is a true gem. Thank you for continually posting informative material.just incredible deals

    ReplyDelete