Flexible seating, classroom tech engage students
A group of kindergarteners, fourth graders and fifth graders from Beryl Elementary demonstrated a new classroom setup, called flexible seating, to the Redondo Beach Unified School District’s Board of Education on Tuesday night. The seating plan, according to Principal Karen Mohr, is part of the school’s effort to work on mind-body connectedness and came from her teachers. “They’ve been doing the research and found that there are many benefits to allowing students to sit on a couch, or a little rocker chair, or on the floor,” Mohr said. “Research has shown that giving students choices improves academic performance, increases motivation and engagement, and improves physical and emotional well-being,” Mohr said. “It also eliminates boredom; that creates an atmosphere of achievement and stellar behavior.” Kindergartener Brandy Turner — who fought off hiccups during her presentation, to the amusement of the room – said that flexible seating helps her and other students focus and that she chooses scooters because she gets to rock with them while she works. One nuance to the program, according to presenters, is that flexible seating time is meted out. Students transition into flexible…
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