Alternative seating information-

Definition: Anything from couches to Yoga Balls.

Benefits students with special needs

1- An article in reviewing multiple reports of classrooms with alternative seating, determined that
students with attention difficulty can increase their ability to attend (pay attention, be involved)
through alternative seating. Clinical significance was given through various measures of
attention measurements and qualitative measurements such as teacher report.

2- Another looked at students with ASD, therapy balls created better engagement than students
who used a typical seating device such as a seat, bench, or carpet square.

3- Further study showed effectiveness for a student with ADHD trying to complete a certain
task/listen to certain instruction. Given a yoga ball, there was a remarked decrease in task
completion duration, and maladaptive behaviours for the student being observed. Alternative
seating showed an increase in time-on-task too.

10- Another study explored the effects of a flexible seating arrangement on the ecology of the
at-risk secondary classrooms, to look at advantages and disadvantages. Within two at-risk
secondary classrooms the results demonstrated flexible seating increases the democracy in the
classroom, allows self-regulation, and increases a sense of well-being. However, based on this
study educators are advised to learn their students’ needs and remember the nature of the task
should influence the seating arrangement as well.

Young Children

4- While nothing of relation to literacy was found in one particular study with young (primary)
students, it was noted that teachers had to spend less time dealing with off-task behaviours.

6- With use of wiggle cushions, there were statistically significant improvements in Attention in
preschoolers, Teachers provided positive feedback for the intervention, indicating social validity.
Results provide support for the use of wiggle cushions to enhance engagement during
preschool circle time.

Why?

5- The senses work together and when they work collectively in a learning
environment the brain is able to attend better and to encode the memory more robustly
(Medina, 2008)

7- Studies have found extended sitting has negative impacts on the development of the
musculoskeletal system, hence brain breaks.

8- Another study focused on two fifth grade classes with alternative seating.It found teachers
should consider the task for alternative seating. It also noted that students were moving more
throughout the day with alternative seating. And lastly, the researcher encourages teachers to
consider their own teaching style and preferences when choosing an arrangement because they
will be most effective when the classroom is arranged in a way that is pleasing and comfortable
to them as well.

9- Letting children choose: Three fifth-grade Science/Social Studies classrooms were studied.
Given a desk, students were allowed to choose their own chairs. The study measured: on-task,
participation, academic achievement, the number of teacher redirection, and student opinion of
the subject matter. the number of teacher redirections decreased and academic achievement
increased. On-task behaviors and participation also indicated an increase. No change was
noticed in student opinion of the subject matter.

Bouncy Bands:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CJ7WVWQ/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=t
heinsptree0f-
20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01CJ7WVWQ&linkId=3cdeedd
29dbad5698fde4dd93a132139

Stabili-stool:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042SRC4S/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=th
einsptree0f-
20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B0042SRC4S&linkId=6bbf615de
46e669e4ebb0409bd5fe091

Balance DIsc:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002Z9FV6C/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=the
insptree0f-
20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B002Z9FV6C&linkId=74a844f38
6ac0ba81bd2a33f6bbd1a69

Wobble-chair:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DQAJ9KI/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=the
insptree0f-
20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00DQAJ9KI&linkId=6d5b7b8c5
c551a973c78bf49baa0b8b6

ROcker Chair
https://www.schooloutfitters.com/catalog/product_family_info/cPath/CAT2_CAT26/pfam_id/PFA
M1847

Folding Chairs
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000296Y36/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thei
nsptree0f-
20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B000296Y36&linkId=91ee77a8d
d388107796c26f7c7435748

Ergo Stool
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H4EN1VA/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=th
einsptree0f-
20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00H4EN1VA&linkId=c700f66b4
d3c08566795b4647b7cfe4c

Scoop Chair:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M0RPVYG/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=t
heinsptree0f-
20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01M0RPVYG&linkId=18ef0c2b
2c861821c15e7d01d0772a37

Lazy Man Chair:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01535LNLQ/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=the
insptree0f-
20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01535LNLQ&linkId=d7ad5f0e6
ae99fc0f39463b1c4fb4287

References

1: Brittany Gochenour & Gail A. Poskey (2017) Determining the effectiveness of alternative seating
systems for students with attention difficulties: A systematic review, Journal of Occupational Therapy,
Schools, & Early Intervention, 10:3, 284-299, DOI: 10.1080/19411243.2017.1325817

2: Schilling, D.L. & Schwartz, I.S. J Autism Dev Disord (2004) 34: 423.
https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JADD.0000037418.48587.f4

3: Pellack, K. (2018). Bouncing toward concentration: Using alternative seating when completing a given
task for students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (Order No. 10813971). Available from
ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (2058100534). Retrieved from
https://search.proquest.com/docview/2058100534?accountid=12246

4: Merritt, J. M. (2012). Alternative seating for young children: Effects on critical early literacy skills (Order
No. 3548336). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (1282147397). Retrieved from
https://search.proquest.com/docview/1282147397?accountid=12246

5:Medina, J. (2008). Brain Rules, Pear Press, Seattle, WA, 243-260.

6: Seifert, A.M. & Metz, A.E. Early Childhood Educ J (2017) 45: 411. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-016-
0797-7

7:McManus, Ali M.; Ainslie, Philip N.; Green, Daniel J.; Simair, Ryan G.; Smith, Kurt; Lewis, Nia (2015-11-
01). "Impact of prolonged sitting on vascular function in young girls". Experimental Physiology. 100 (11):
1379–1387. doi:10.1113/EP085355

8: Havig, J. S. (2017). Advantages and disadvantages of flexible seating (Order No. 10619168). Available
from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (1942412260). Retrieved from https://search-proquest-
com.ezproxy.viu.ca/docview/1942412260?accountid=12246

9: Allen, C. (2018). Flexible seating: Effects of student seating type choice in the classroom (Order No.
10812813). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (2061668236). Retrieved from
https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.viu.ca/docview/2061668236?accountid=12246

10: Erz, S. L. (2018). Impact and implications of the flexible learning environment in the at-risk secondary
classroom (Order No. 10932256). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.
(2103945987). Retrieved from https://search-proquest-
com.ezproxy.viu.ca/docview/2103945987?accountid=12246