Getting up and switching seats used to be taboo during school, but for a third grade class at Bettendorf’s Riverdale Heights Elementary, it’s now encouraged. Jenny Umland’s classroom is missing something most of us associate with school: Desks. Umland started gradually getting rid of her desks a while ago. Now some students don’t even sit down during class. “I was at home. I had my feet up on the coffee table, and I thought, you know these kids are stuck in the same spot all day…and I started thinking about how that might be for a student,” Umland said. Students can put their feet up, sit on the floor, even the teacher’s chair is up for grabs. “They asked if they could sit in my chair, so they can wheel that around and sit in that at any time,” Umland said. Umland says the flexible seating has helped her students focus. Instead of finding their assigned seats, students walk in to find their “focus spots.” “Just a spot that you’re focused at and you can do your work really well,” said student Ivan Rosmilso. Part of the reason Mrs. Umland says flexible seating works so well is if a student doesn’t feel focused they can simply get up and move to a different seat. “You don’t just have to stay in one spot all day. So that’s why I like it,” said student Kaylyn Gilmore. “I think it’s nice because if someone’s bothering you, you can move,” said student Brett. Not only has the flexible seating helped students focus, Umland tells us it also helps keep their behavior in check. “I don’t have to manage at all. The kids, the only time they might be a little talkative is during transition time. Otherwise they are focused, they’re quiet…It’s been the best thing I’ve ever done, and I would definitely never want to go back to having those desks,” Umland said. Giving children the freedom to learn from their own point of view.
