Ever noticed how students just can’t seem to focus in an uncomfortable classroom?
And there’s actually science behind that. Comfort and focus are inherently connected in any learning environment. If students are uncomfortable… their minds shift from learning mode to survival mode. They no longer take in information, they only think about how bad they feel.
Here is the good news:
There are easy ways to tweak your classroom environment that will lead to huge gains in student attention and achievement. Best of all, these changes are effortless.
Let’s dive in…
Here’s what’s inside:
- Why Classroom Comfort Directly Affects Focus
- The Role Of Library Furniture In Student Concentration
- Key Comfort Factors That Boost Learning
- Common Comfort Mistakes Schools Make
Why Classroom Comfort Directly Affects Focus
Comfort in the classroom isn’t just a “nice to have”…
Learning? It is critical. If a student is sitting in an uncomfortable chair all day, their body is sending pain signals to the brain. Now you have competition between listening to the lecture or listening to your body.
Guess which one usually wins?
The discomfort. Every single time.
Imagine sitting in a wooden chair for several hours at your last long meeting. You likely experienced:
- Shifting around constantly
- Watching the clock
- Struggling to focus on what was being said
Students experience this every day of school. And they’re supposed to learn and remember stuff and do well despite it happening. That’s a lot to ask.
The Role Of Library Furniture In Student Concentration
Library furniture plays a really special role in student focus…
Here’s why:
Libraries are campuses libraries. Libraries are where students go to study intently, work on research papers and study for tests. So the furniture within libraries needs to allow students to focus for hours without experiencing discomfort.
Good library furniture usually includes:
- Ergonomic study chairs with proper back support
- Height-appropriate reading tables
- Cosy soft seating for casual reading time
- Individual study carrels for private focus
Great schools invest in a variety of school furniture for each unique learning space. Furniture for your library should be completely different to furniture in a standard classroom or canteen. It should suit the purpose of what students are doing there. Being engaged with a textbook for 2 hours requires a different kind of support to sitting still for a 45 minute lesson. Get it right and your library furniture is one of your best tools for concentration.
Get it wrong and students will pack up their books and go elsewhere.
The Concentration Connection Explained
Now this is where it gets really interesting…
Studies have indicated that more than 83 percent of children at school are seated at chair-desk combinations that aren’t adjusted for their stature. This is a large percentage of children attempting to learn improperly.
And it actually gets worse…
Students spend approximately 80 percent of their time seated in classroom chairs. So we’ve got kids sitting in ill-fitting chairs for most of the school day. Kids who aren’t spaced out on drugs. How could concentration levels possibly be maintained?
When students are comfortable, three important things happen:
- Their bodies relax
- Their minds can focus on the lesson
- They retain more information
This is what comfort really means for learning:
It’s not pillows and beanbags. Its about properly supporting students bodies…so their brains can do the job they were meant to do. Learn.
Key Comfort Factors That Boost Learning
Comfortability in a classroom setting really only requires three things. Nail these and you’ll find students focusing better.
Seating
The chair is the number one comfort factor. A good school chair has:
- Proper lower back support
- The right height for the student
- A shape that supports natural posture
If the chair is wrong, everything else is wrong too.
Temperature
Hot classrooms kill concentration almost immediately. So does cold. Neither should be a concern of the students. Try to find a happy medium. Even one or two degrees too hot or cold can distract an entire classroom.
Lighting
Daylight is best. If not possible, use bright warm lights that mimic daylight. Lights should be bright enough that they don’t cause strain when reading or writing. Poor lighting causes students to feel fatigued in minutes.
Layout
Desk arrangement is important than you might realize. Crowded rows are uncomfortable. Allow enough room for kids to move about without colliding. Classroom arrangement also influences how kids interact amongst themselves and their teacher.
Noise Levels
Ambient noise can be one of the distractions you don’t see. You want your classroom to be quiet enough so students can concentrate… but not so quiet that minor noises bother them.
Common Comfort Mistakes Schools Make
Even schools with the best intentions make some really common mistakes…
One size fits all seating — Kids aren’t the same size. Sitting a Year 3 student and a Year 6 student in the same chair will cause misery.
Neglecting the library — Libraries receive hand-me-down furniture from other areas of the school frequently. This should not be the case since libraries are where students study and need furniture that is comfortable.
Forgetting movement — No chair is comfortable after two hours of sitting. Plan movement breaks into the school day to allow students to reset.
Purchase strictly according to price — Furniture that is cheap is costly. It breaks easier, causes your body to be out of alignment and you will be buying new pieces sooner than quality ones. Spend a few extra dollars and save yourself tons of money in the long run.
Neglecting student feedback — No one cares if the furniture is comfortable more than the students sitting in it. Ask them. You’ll be amazed at what you discover.
Bringing It All Together
Comfort in the classroom is tied to student focus. You cannot have one without the other.
When students are comfortable…
- They focus much better
- They retain more information
- They perform better on tests
- They actually enjoy school more
Investment in quality library furniture, ergonomic seating and classroom design is well worth it. Not only for test scores… but for the overall health of your students. Look around your school. Does the furniture support student focus or distract from it?
Making the right changes today will pay dividends for years to come.
