Classroom Set-Up

Posture

A good position whether it is sitting, standing or lying on the floor, supports and balances the body so that the arms and hands can move freely to perform a task. Good posture also promotes learning and concentration, because the student is free to focus on the task at hand instead of being distracted by how to stay seated at the table. Balance, strength, and body awareness all play a role in maintaining this supportive base.

No one can maintain good posture for a long time. Shifting allows weight redistribution and reduces fatigue from maintaining a position.  It is important to find out why a student has problems with maintaining posture. It might be caused by poor balance, strength or body awareness, or simply a need to move around a bit.

A student who has poor balance and/or strength will:

• use  their helper hand to support body at desk
• slump their body over the desk and work
• prop their head up with one arm (make sure this is not because they are tired)

A student with poor body awareness will:

• sit awkwardly in the chair
• have difficulty maneuvering body onto the chair

A student who needs to move to help focus on a task will:

• move around in the chair constantly
• drop things giving themselves a  reason to move

Posture at the Desk or Table Feet flat, hips back, head up.

• feet are resting on a surface, (floor or foot rest)
• knees and hips are at 90 degrees
• trunk is upright
• Helper Hand is on a surface to stabilize the work
• Worker Hand is doing the task or operating a tool

Keys to Success

• encourage good posture
• try alternative work positions
• provide movement breaks when needed

Everyday Opportunities

• Consider using a different position or space for things like: story time, circle time, sharing time, report presentation, reading aloud to a small group.
• Provide the students with a choice: "Do you want to colour lying on the floor or at your desk?" By providing a choice, students identify and take ownership of what they need to do to improve their performance

What is a Good Table Height?

Sit at a table, bend your elbows to 90 degrees, and keep the wrists straight and your palms down. Ideally the table surface should be about an inch or so below your hands. In a room full of students of different heights all growing at different rates this is, of course, not always possible.
If your working surfaces are not adjustable you can make simple adjustments to the classroom environment, for example, place a stack of books under a student's feet, or have the student sit on a Move 'n' Sit ™cushion.

Alternative Work Positions or Postures
Working in different body positions strengthens muscles in the trunk and shoulders, wrists and forearms and small muscles in the hand. Encourage students to draw, colour, write or do other activities in these positions:

• standing or kneeling at the board or other vertical space (board, wall or easel);
• tummy lying on the floor;
• lying on floor on back;
• sitting cross-legged on the floor or on a chair (feet will be well supported in this position);

Movement Breaks
See section on Gross Motor for more ideas.

• chair push-ups: student presses down on seat of chair and pushes body up.
• sit on a moveable surface such as Move 'n' Sit ™ cushion.
• body stretches
• push-ups against the wall or floor

If a student needs to move to maintain concentration refer to the section Attention and Focus.

Strategies

• Organize space and furniture to ensure good traffic flow.
• Have desks facing the board.
• Set up a vertical space/area in the classroom so that students can stand to do work.
• Find a corner in the room for floor space for tummy lying, kneeling, etc.
• Consider where shelving and storage are situated to allow natural movement opportunities.

Devices & Tools

Remember to check desk/chair height about twice a year.

To use on the chair:

• Move 'n' Sit Cushions™
• non-slip matting such as netted shelf liners or DycemTM.
• tennis balls at the base of each chair leg – reduces noise as chair is moved around

To use as footstools:

• phone books bound with duct tape – you can use both the large and small ones to get a good range of heights
• stacked books

Different types of chairs:

• chair ball
• Stools (easier to get on/off)
• alternative seating like a sofa, armchair or large
• cushions for the floor (to lie or sit on)
• carpet squares on floor to demark area (for standing and sitting)

Tables:

• Consider different designs such as: horseshoe cutout, circle or rectangle.
• Attached desk/chair instead of separate chairs