Your Guide to Learning and Education

As a teacher, I'm constantly looking for the most innovative tip and information to improve education for my students. I'm paticularly interested in the affect classroom furniture can have on learning. Follow along here for news and information on learning and education.

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Keeping your germ free doesn’t have to be a large task. Here are a few ways to easily keep your classroom germ free.

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Key Considerations for Classroom Seating

Classroom furniture is the ultimate accessory, but it is important to choose the most practical furniture to help your students succeed.  Classroom chairs and desks are iconic, but they should not be distracting, uncomfortable or dysfunctional.  

Summer is the perfect time for teachers to gather ideas about how they want to start the new school year, gather ideas about staying organized, and ultimately how they can help their students better succeed in school.  It all starts with their chair

First, are the chairs comfortable?  Remember, whether you’re teaching Pre-K or 12th Grade, your students need to be able to sit for hours at a time and stay attentive.   When the chairs are stiff, poorly designed, too large or small it will be difficult for your students to pay much attention to anything else besides their seating arrangement.

Next, focus on the durability of the chairs.  Be mindful of the functionality of the chairs; can they withstand frequent use and occasional rough activity?  For example, you should look for chairs that have strong leg support, these often have steel frames and a resistant, hard plastic seating surface.   These considerations are especially important for music or art classes where the seating arrangements are often changed and furniture has a tendency to be handled roughly.  

Last, but certainly not least- think about the desks, are they functional?   Functionality can come in many forms, but for the classroom, your student needs ample space to read and write.  The desk should be sturdy and depending on the grade level have enough space for the student to comfortably move.  The desk is a reflection of the classroom, the lesson being taught and the objective of the subject.  

At the School Outlet, there are lots of different styles, sizes and colors to match your classroom.  Your students will be grateful for your consideration and they will be confident and productive during the school day.  All they have to do is relax, pay attention and learn. 

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Top 5 Items Teachers Love When Setting Up a Classroom

1. Functional desks and chairs: There is a large selection of desk and chairs on the market today ranging from lift-top desks with storage inside them to more classic styles. 

2. Cubbies: These classroom supplies are very versatile. Students can keep their classroom activities in them as well as store supplies for special events. 

3. Coat racks: These tools help organize students’ jackets and backpacks, preventing things from getting lost. They usually come with cubbies or shelves.

4. Bulletin board displays: Teachers often use bulletin boards to welcome students on their first day of school, announce upcoming events, or reinforce classroom lessons. 

5. A good AV setup: Teachers use technology to enhance their lessons more than they have before. Many prefer to have a space that is conveniently set up to accommodate laptops, projects, and mobile devices. 

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Top 4 Qualities of a Good Student Desk

Keeping students engaged in the learning process throughout the school day is a challenge no matter what the subject or age of the children. By using functional and accommodating furnishings within the classroom, distractions are kept to a minimum so that time can be spent on learning rather than fidgeting or finding the right pencil or notebook. Whether it's preschool furniture or high school furniture, here are some of the most important qualities to look for in student desks:

Comfort

When it comes to classroom furnishings for children and teens, comfort is a top priority. A comfortable pupil can take full advantage of all instructional and learning opportunities without the distractions caused by improperly-sized seating or being unable to reach papers or books on the writing surface. Pupils of many ages and sizes will find it comfortable to work at the right student desk without being distracted by dangling feet or a table that is too low or too high. Large work areas convenient for both left and right-handed children make it easy for instruction to be given in open and shared classrooms, as well.

  Quiet

When a pupil sits down or reaches to perform a task, a noisy desk can interfere with the learning process of an entire classroom. The most effective student desks will be specially designed to minimize noises as a child sits and does his or her work. The laminate tops reduce noise made by writing, drawing, and coloring, while the supportive plastic storage areas, coated leg caps, and lubricated hinges reduce noise throughout the school day.

  Storage

In classrooms where children remain at the same desk throughout the day, having adequate functional storage assists in the learning process. Easy access to writing utensils, paper, and books means less time spent fussing between work activities and fewer lost items. Classroom desks should come with deep storage areas to accommodate books and lessons for multiple subjects and projects.

  Workspace

In today's classroom, students might use everything from a tablet or laptop to books, paper, and a variety of writing utensils during a single instructional session. Larger work areas on desks allow a young learner to have everything that is needed for a lesson or activity within reach. No longer will the student have to waste time putting one item away in order to make room for the next item, only to need the first item again a moment later. The increased workspace also makes it easier for students to work together on paired assignments or for an instructional assistant or teacher to sit next to the student and provide help with projects.

  The best furnishings will be ideal for many ages of students and be built to last through decades of heavy use. With a little thought given to the design and practical aspects of the desks, students will be more productive, ultimately getting more out of each day and achieving more in school.

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Maximize Student Benefit By Choosing the Right Classroom Furniture

The choice of whether to use tables or desks depends on teacher preference and classroom environment. When students are well-behaved, focused, and engaged in learning, classroom tables and chairs create a communal environment that fosters teamwork. Sitting at tables instead of desks also eliminates arguments over personal desk space and can help center kids' attention on the task at hand. The types of tables that are used vary from room to room according to the needs of each type of activity.

Science

Tables offer a big advantage in science classrooms. Lab work is often done in groups, meaning that desks would often have to be moved, taking up valuable class time. Round tables allow lab tools to be placed at the center of the table where they are easily accessible to all students. Long rectangular tables are better for lab activities that require equipment to be spread out over a large area.

Reading and Library

Whether in the classroom or in the library, having a special place for reading is important. Sturdy rectangular tables that can be arranged in rows or tucked in corners offer prime study areas for students of all ages. In the classroom, teachers can use a reading table to break up reading groups into different skill levels for targeted instruction. In the library, students can gather around tables to share favorite books, do research or complete homework in a quiet environment.

Computers

Setting up computers on tables in a lab or classroom makes more sense than using desks. Tables in a computer lab should be long enough and sturdy enough to accommodate several machines side by side. Large rectangular tables with metal trestle style supports may be the best choice for keeping computers secure. This type of setup also helps kids focus on their own screens and gives them a clear view of the front of the room during instruction.

Tables provide students with a central place to sit and focus on their work. Classroom tables with different shapes and functions serve many learning and teaching styles. By getting students away from a traditional desk setup and into a more communal environment, teachers can keep instruction fresh and engaging no matter what the subject matter.

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Sensory Integration Using Classroom Tables and Chairs

Students with ADHD often find the school experience challenging due to symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity resulting in persistent academic difficulties. These symptoms often result in disruption in the classroom, failure to follow rules, and difficulty understanding and completing a task. Students with ADHD tend to have lower average marks, failed grades, more expulsions, and higher dropout rates than those who are not suffering from ADHD. Difficulty sustaining attention to one task can contribute to missing important details of assignments and daydreaming during lectures- therefore, the student doesn't retain the information given to them.

There are various ways to combat ADHD in the learning environment and innovative solutions are formed on a regular basis to help these students during their classroom experience. One solution that has recently stood out among academic professionals is sensory integration, which helps students maintain higher levels of attentiveness throughout the day. So what does sensory integration mean? Sensory integration refers to the way people process sensation to understand and interact with the world around them. In simpler terms, the environment can support or disrupt the way students learn.

Virco supports this theory with Healthy Movement (deemed classroom furniture for the 21st century) with school furniture such as chairs that allow for students to stretch, move, sit with good posture, and other aspects that result in a better classroom experience. This furniture offers unique features that increase a student's behavior and attention by allowing them to move about in their chair. The most unique feature include dynamic seating that allows for a student to move around- it has been proven that a child that can move about freely is more likely to pay attention and stay engaged; sitting still does not mean the student is paying attention. The reasoning behind this fact? If we keep our bodies completely inactive, we tend to fall asleep or zone out. Virco chairs and school furniture allow students to make adjustments for position and comfort, while allowing their arms, legs and body to move while sitting, keeping them alert and engaged.

Research has shown that the classroom environment, including classroom furniture, can improve behavior and attention for all students, not only those with special needs such as ADHD. Many students are happy with the chairs because of their need to "move" and as a result, students are more focuses in class and are experiencing more academic success.