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Classroom design is much more than making the best use of space based on instructional goals. Properly implemented, it can serve the needs of students who require a greater degree of support to improve interpersonal skills and achieve academic success.
Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports, better known as PBIS, is a different lens to examine and address these complex needs. It’s more than the latest classroom trend or an elementary-only program. Half of school district leaders surveyed by EdWeek indicated an emphasis on these holistic concerns, regardless of grade level.
So how do classroom routine and educational furniture fit in? Quite well, actually. A key principle of PBIS is providing clear expectations, an approach that increases engagement through rewards and choice — like preferred seating or classroom position — that adapt to the unique needs of each student.
“Consistency is essential to creating expectations, especially those that span an entire school, ” explains Megan Daniels, Learning Manager at HON. “It sets up students to be successful no matter where they’re working or who they’re working with.”
Featured Product: Tangram™
While PBIS seeks to serve all students, not all students (nor their needs) are alike. For some, engagement may be a struggle due to social anxiety or a more fundamental challenge, like a learning difference or medical condition.
Engagement sets expectations for everyone. Rewards are given for meeting them. Choice is a motivator because it’s self-determined. But just as all students are different, tiered PBIS interventions aren’t uniform either. Intensive needs are where rewards and choices sometimes intersect.
Solutions like HON’s Tangram™ help with all three. The inviting arrangement of clever cushions in geometric shapes and bold colors can provide an engagement area for class discussions or group projects. It can also be a reward for some students to relax during free time. For others, it may offer choice seating, soft and sequestered from the distractions of a crowded classroom, necessary to complete an individual assignment.
“Beyond the classroom, students can meet and collaborate in various areas while knowing the expectations and purposes, enhancing the space’s and the furniture’s functionality,” notes Daniels.
Featured Products: Build™ and Class-ifi™
Clearly designated spaces organized by specific furniture or colors that are consistent in every classroom help establish expectations and invite student engagement. HON’s Class-ifi™ storage system is steel-clad and slotted, ready for magnetic and hanging accessories and easy to customize for a variety of functions. Color options inside and out are endless — and the routine of removing and returning totes when finished creates a ritual that reinforces a predictable pattern of classroom activity.
“When every student knows that a particular color of Class-ifi storage means it’s a place for quiet study, they know what behavior is required for that space,” notes Daniels.
Featured Products: Flock® and Revel™
Giving students a chance to move more can have a huge impact. If they tend to wiggle, some furniture works better than others. The slip-resistant “active base” of HON’s Revel™ stool can gently rock or subtly spin, providing necessary feedback for fidgeters of any age. “If every classroom had Revel wobble stools, students who prefer them could expect them,” explains Daniels. “Choices and rewards should be universally available.”
Revel offers one-button height adjustment and is rated up to 250 pounds. Teens and teachers can both benefit from the motion of a seat that moves while sitting still. The Flock® Cylinder Mini also offers a more casual active-base option.
“PBIS acknowledges that every student is different, but deserves the same opportunities to learn in the way that suits them best,” notes Daniels. “It’s why HON designs solutions that answer multiple needs simultaneously, serving students and school districts in an ever-evolving educational environment.”
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