At Anderson Elementary School in California, teacher Alexandria Gladstone-Lamas has decided that she wants her classroom looking more like a Google office. She wanted to make her students more comfortable in the classroom. With being more comfortable there are less distractions and more focus on the main topic. She removed all of the tables, desks, and chairs from the room and put them in a separate room of the school. She then replaced every piece of furnature that was previously in the room with bean bags, pillows, and comfortable couches. This provides all students with a comfortable workspace. All students are able to choose where they want to start their day. Then after recess, they can change up the spot a little bit if they want to. The teacher says, as long as the work gets done, I don't care how you do it. After interviewing many students in this classroom, it seems that they enjoy it and they seem to actually stay more focused with their schoolwork. The students also include comments saying things about how they do not miss sitting in desks. They say how they enjoy going to school so much more now that they can sit where they want. When desks are used in classrooms, there tends to be many "restroom breaks" that are not nessessary for the situation. Many students leave class just to go tot he restroom. They don't enjoy sitting through a class lecture.
1. Do you think schools should continue to do this? If so why?
2. Would this help you concentrate or be a distraction in class?
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Replies
Well done! Be sure to include your thoughts within your summary.
I think being comfortable in class, especially for elementary aged kids, is an awesome idea because most kids can't sit in a desk for 8 hours everyday, most adults can't even do that without hating their job. I think it would help me concentrate because I wouldn't be so uncomfortable otherwise.
I think that if it's keeping the kids attention in class, helping them get the work done, stay focused and enjoy going to school more, then the schools should continue it. I feel like it could be a distraction in some classes or if i'm really tired, but I would rather sit on a couch while oing my work instead of in a desk.
I agree that if it is a benefit to children's learning, we should continue to do this. But along with that it is both a distraction and benefit depending on the student. It would be a distraction for me because I wouldn't pay attention as well.
1. Yes, if it keep student attention in class and student actually get there work done on time.
2. It will most likely distract me if we have couches I would get off task more and not able to get things done.
I think it would be fun but like you said, it all depends on how well the students react to the situaiton. If it is a problem in the classroom and causes distraction, then it should not be continued. I know that I would get distracted even though it sounds like fun.
I believe schools should add bean bags and couchs because it might make school a more relaxing enviroment. At first it might be a little distrating but in time I would get used to it.
Yeah, I do think it would make school more relaxing and calm. But relaxing and calm isn't always a good thing during class. It can cause students to doze off and miss most of a lexture. You also might be correct that it just might take time.
Yes, I think schools should continue doing this because the kids focus on there work way more than they would in desks. I think it would probably be a distraction in the morning because I would be tired and probably fall asleep, but after morning would be fine.
I don't agree with your answer to the first quesiton but it honestly depends on the student and how it affects them as an individual. I think for many it sounds like fun to do this but deep down they don't want to admit that it would be a distraction to them.
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