Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/859531
The 'Starbucks Classroom' I N 2 0 15 , North Dakota educator and blogger Kayla Delzer wrote of her epiphany at a local Star- bucks, where happy customers relaxed and worked in a variety of seating and table options. She thought her students could benefit from the same thing. In the real world, Delzer observed, people are responsible for their own learning, and giving students choices that suited their learning styles made sense. She redesigned her classroom with mostly recy- cled and repurposed items to offer flexible seating and open floor space. Students decide where to sit every day, depending on their work and where they work best. Delzer said that students' distracting behaviors have lessened while engagement and participation increased. In a recent Edutopia story, she detailed how she makes her classroom work: Be aware of where students are working and their level of engagement at all times. House each student's personal learning materials in bins in the corner of the room. Be open to removing much of the furniture. Make space for whole-group instruction. For Delzer, it's the big rug in the middle of the classroom. Before allowing students to self-select seats, have them try all seating options for an entire day. Reserve the right to move students at any time if they aren't fully engaged and able to work in their self-selected spot. Have more seating combinations than students in your classroom. Classroom " The kids are more engaged. There's more participation." — BRYNN HUTCHISON, UNIFIED ASSOCIATION OF CONEJO TEACHERS students By Dina Martin 37 A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 017 Photo: Kaia Lea Photography Her biggest surprise? Some of the seating, like yoga balls, requires students to pay more attention than before, lest they fall off their perch. And Tetzlaff says she makes more eye contact with students, since they can't hide behind others. More examples on the next page. Brynn Hutchison and Kim Tetzlaff, below, with scenes from their classrooms, with flexible seating, reading nooks, etc.