By Gwenny Kovachik-MacNeil
I began the 2024 school year in a classroom with eighteen standard desks. Today, I have none. This isn’t a lament about budgetary constraints or overcrowded classrooms; it’s a deliberate choice.
I have long believed that comfort and mobility play a significant role in learning. I teach a merry band of neurodiverse learners, much like myself, and I endeavour to tailor an environment that allows them to move, interact, and explore ideas in a way that best suits their needs and learning styles. Their ability to adjust their seating (and they do—they hop between couches and the standing desk frequently), collaborate in different places, and interact with the material on their terms has yielded increased engagement.
After eliminating the desks, it didn’t take long to realize that they were not required to facilitate the exchange of information in the first place. Instead, my classroom has become a thriving ecosystem of parallel play and learning, woven from blankets and throw pillows, LEGO and whiteboard tables.
It promotes instinctively unfolding movement, interaction, and exploration. Each learner adapts in a way that best meets their needs. Through this, I’ve discovered that flexible seating is part of a learner-centred approach that supports autonomy, engagement, and inclusivity; it encourages students to take ownership of their learning.
The Many Benefits
Flexible seating encourages movement, which improves focus, memory, and cognitive processing. Allowing learners to choose their own seats reduces restlessness and promotes responsibility, time management, and self-discipline—skills that are necessary for future success.
This approach also enhances collaboration, breaking down social barriers and creating a more inclusive space where participation and teamwork mirror authentic, real-world dynamics.
Impact on Neurodiverse Learners
Traditional classrooms, with rigid desks and harsh lighting, can be overwhelming for sensory-sensitive learners. Wobble stools, floor cushions, standing desks, and classroom swings are essential in my special education classroom, helping students self-regulate and stay focused.
Movement-friendly seating benefits kinesthetic learners, while visual learners thrive with whiteboard tables for sketching ideas. Collaborative spaces, like couches, support auditory learners by offering opportunities for conversation and idea-sharing.
One of my students with ADHD cannot sit in a traditional chair—a rolling office chair helps them stay engaged through movement. Another learner with autism prefers a floor cushion to avoid sensory overload. A dyslexic student finds reading at a desk frustrating, so prefers to lounges on the couch as a way to reduce cognitive strain.
Meeting learners where they are helps engage everyone, regardless of their neurological or learning profile. These alternatives create an inclusive, supportive environment for all.
Implementing Desk-Free Classrooms
Flexible seating doesn’t have to be expensive. I’ve acquired materials through thrift stores, donations, and online marketplaces, with each item costing $25 or less. I’ve also repurposed existing furniture, using pillows, rugs, and yoga mats for floor seating and bookshelves for standing workstations. DIY solutions, like padded milk crates and exercise balls, have helped as well.
I encourage self-reflection among my students, having them ask: “Is this seat helping my focus or hurting it?” This allows learners to adjust quickly. We also maintain the space together by fluffing pillows and folding blankets, reinforcing shared responsibility.
Fair access is crucial. Some learners need specific seating to succeed, and I make sure they have it. I rotate seating options and check in regularly with my class to ensure the setup works for everyone. This empowers my students to take ownership of their environment.
Overcoming Challenges
Some stakeholders may have initial concerns about whether these alternative seating options might present distractions for the students, but consider how often you shift in your own seat or need to stand up and move around during the work day. We all benefit from a change of scenery and comfortable, safe spaces enhance focus.
“The real world doesn’t have couches,” others may argue. But in fact, many modern workplaces—especially in tech and remote industries—embrace flexible seating and collaborative spaces.
Since implementing desk-free seating in my own classroom, I’ve received no negative feedback from administration, staff, or guardians. They’re always welcome in my room, and I am happy to show them how the space works and why it supports learning.
The comments that I have received have warmed my heart. Other teachers have told me that when their learners are struggling to focus, they’ll say, “I’m going to Gwen’s”—as though my classroom has become a sort of sanctuary where they can reset and actually get things done.
One parent walked in and said, “I wish my office was like this. I’d be way more productive!” This really reinforced my belief that flexible seating isn’t just a trend—it actually makes a difference. People can feel it the second they enter the room.
My Success Story
The results speak for themselves. My learners are more engaged, making progress academically and socially. The quality of their work has improved, and they exhibit better behaviour and stronger community ties. What began as an experiment has evolved into a deliberate choice based on learner needs and special education models.
My classroom is now known for “collecting” students. I’ll leave for a minute and return to find learners from other classes—relaxing, working on assignments, or just hanging out. Some even stop by during their free blocks just to rest. When I started seeing unfamiliar faces, I knew my seating strategy was doing what I’d hoped.
Most importantly, the feedback I hear from my learners is what keeps me going. They’ve made comments like, “This is the only room I don’t feel anxious in,” or “I can actually think here.” One learner told me it was the first time they’d felt like a classroom was built for them. That kind of feedback is why I continue doing this—it’s not just about furniture. It’s about belonging.
Flexible seating has transformed my classroom into a dynamic and inclusive environment. Removing rigid structures has enhanced focus, engagement, and collaboration. My students are no longer passive recipients of knowledge; they actively participate in their learning, develop self-regulation, and create meaningful interactions.
In the current era of education, it is important to ask how our learning spaces serve our students. When kids can choose how they learn, they become more engaged, independent, and prepared for the complexities of the real world. By prioritizing choice, movement, and accessibility, flexible seating fosters classrooms where students feel seen, supported, and ready to learn. It’s a deliberate, pedagogically sound choice that has enhanced engagement, well-being, and success.
By ditching the desk and embracing flexibility, we break down barriers and cultivate classrooms of curiosity and agency. Change requires creativity and a shift in mindset, but the benefits are immeasurable. The flexible classroom isn’t just about seating; it’s about making a space where students feel safe, valued, and ready to learn.
This article was penned with nothing but deep gratitude and love to my friends for helping move all of the furniture, and to the staff at my school for letting me run with these ideas.
Gwenny Kovachik-MacNeil is an educator, researcher, and PhD candidate focusing on the intersections of Yukon First Nation education and Westernized schooling. She has experience across Canada’s three territories and is passionate about decolonizing education and amplifying youth voices. Currently, she is teaching in Whitehorse, YT, and every day she wakes up amped to work with some of the most interesting teens in the world.
