Buying Classroom Furniture With Your Students in Mind
By: Kathleen Chaney and Wren Ovard
Selecting classroom furniture is one of the most important purchases a principal ever makes for his or her students. Whether the students are preschoolers or premed students or somewhere in between, the furniture must be comfortable and age-appropriate.
Classroom Desks
The younger the student, the more likely the classroom furniture will be an individual desk with an individual chair. Choosing separate desks and chairs allows the teachers to adjust the height of the units to the exact working height that each student needs. Individual desks cater to students of all sizes by adjusting in one-inch increments.
School desks that are correctly measured will enhance a student's ability to concentrate and learn. Several desk designs have tubular steel frames that are adjustable. These desks will be able to accommodate students of all ages.
The base of a desk will greatly depend on what type of classroom it is for and also the type of floors in the classroom. Among many product lines are desks with four legs that are appropriate for classrooms with hard floors and desks with sled bases that work well in classrooms with carpeting.
If a teacher desires versatility in a classroom, then a double desk, which allow students sit by twos, or desks that can join together to form hexagons or octagons are an option.
It is important for desks to be able to accommodate students and their school materials. The younger a student, the more often a classroom desk will offer book storage as an option. Once a student reaches middle school, and moves between classrooms, book storage needs change. The majority of desks have three different types of book storage.
1. Open Front Book Box
If convenience is a top priority, then an open front book box is the right choice. Students can access to all of their school supplies without having to remove the objects from the top of their desks.
2. Lift Top Book Box
If students are going to be storing lots of school materials in their desks, then a lift top book box is the right choice. This book storage option has the most room for school supplies.
3. Book Rack
Under desk wire bookracks are good for students who will just be storing books, backpacks and notebooks for a single hour class.
Classroom Chairs
Selecting individual chairs to complement the individual student desks sounds easy; however, the choices are so vast that each principal should consider these tips to assist the process.
Let's start with the obvious. High school students should not be squeezed into something designed for someone less than half their age, and, likewise, kindergartners should not be overwhelmed by extremely large seats. The range of sizes in several furniture collections can accommodate the young and old alike, and some seats are adjustable and thus capable of suiting all ages and sizes.
The different chair designs include the following:
1. Standard
These chairs will be basic chairs that are seen most often in classrooms. A classic chair is usually constructed in two pieces and can withstand five to 10 years of use from most students.
2. Stacking
If your classroom is going to continually be rearranged, then you will need a chair that is lightweight and versatile. Stacking chairs can be neatly placed on top of each other and stored or moved easily.
3. Shell
Students will be sitting in classroom chairs all day, so their comfort should be a great concern. Shell chairs are generally constructed of a single piece of softer plastic and are designed to fit the student's body for more comfort then standard chairs.
4. Swivel
Sometimes students need to be able to look in different areas of the classroom. Swivel chairs will allow students to turn their chair in whichever direction is needed and are great options for computer rooms or art labs.
The base of a chair will greatly depend on the type of classroom and also the type of floors within the classrooms. There are three different types of bases.
1. Four Legs
If a classroom has wood or tile floors, then a standard four-legged chair will be a great choice. Most four-legged chairs will come with swivel feet that allow the chairs to slide easily on your floors.
2. Sled Base
For classrooms with carpet, sled base chairs are the best. The design of the base allows the chairs to slide easily on carpet.
3. Casters
Chairs with casters are mostly used in computer and art labs. These chairs are better for older students who won't be tempted to create an annoyance by rolling around.
Chair Desk and Combination Units
As a student grows, so does the need for a larger desk. Beginning in the middle school years, principals seek new options for their growing adolescent students. Once a student begins to move classrooms throughout the day, the desks require added durability. The chair desk or combination unit is a popular choice for this age group. The elementary student who needed the lighter weight soft-plastic chair has grown and now carries his/her backpack to every class. The solid plastic chair desk or combo unit offers a sturdy option for this age group and can accommodate the growing sizes of many middle school students.
Chair desks and combination units are also popular in high school classrooms when students are reaching their adult height and weight. We are aware that kids can be pretty brutal to their desks. To counter this problem, manufacturers offer desks whose frames are constructed of either tubular or full-chrome steel that won't bend or dent, and whose tops are high-pressure durable laminate or hard plastic that won't scratch and are easy to clean.
Obviously, not all students write with the same hand. This is why there are desks that are designed for both left-handed and right-handed students.
Classroom Furniture Trends
Color has always been a popular feature for classroom chairs. Preschool rooms often teach colors to children by dividing the classrooms by the colors of their tables and chairs. Now, that same lesson can extend to the elementary classroom desks, trim colors on markerboards and trim colors for teachers' desks and storage cabinets.
Shape also has a new definition. No longer is an individual student desk always a rectangle. New options include trapezoids, hexagons, octagons and arcs from which to choose.
Collaborative learning environments are creating the need for desks that can be used individually, in pairs, small groups, semi-circles or full circles as the lesson plans dictate.
It is exciting to see the variety of classroom furniture offered by manufacturers today. Whether a principal is buying furniture for eight-year-olds or 18-year-olds, he or she can rest assured that they can find options specific to their students' needs.
Kathleen Chaney is the director of marketing and Wren Ovard is the director of telesales for Worthington Direct, www.worthingtondirect.com. Both have assisted hundreds principals throughout the U.S. with their school furniture needs.
Product Roundup
Artco-Bell's Discover Chair
Finding a stylish classroom chair that is ergonomically correct, durable, and affordably priced is a challenge for schools. Artco-Bell solves the dilemma with its new Discover chair and desk line, now available to the K-12 market. Artco-Bell's Discover combines thoracic and lumbar support with flexibility so that students can sit comfortably in ergonomically correct positions. With its sleek and contemporary good looks, choice of frame finishes, and comprehensive color palette, Discover is also a style leader in its price category. A dual-textured front and back and an innovative ribbed back design complete the Discover chair's attractive appearance.
www.artcobell.com
1500 Series Computer Tables by Smith Carrel
This rugged furniture with high pressure laminate work surfaces and 3mm rounded edges is tough enough for all institutional challenges. It is equipped with a heavy gauge steel frame and cable management that will support the use of casters where needed. Availability in a variety of sizes and heights with plenty of accessories makes them perfect choices for your computer lab or classroom. Any order of 20 units or less will be shipped within three business days. Quality and speed combined with reasonable prices, friendly service, and a five-year warranty make Smith Carrel furniture a great value.
www.smithcarrel.com
Integra from VS Furniture
The height-adjustable Integra table can be considered as a two-in-one solution. It ca be used as a normal student desk or easily be transformed into a computer table. Keyboard and mouse can be stored in the front monitor panel as well. The desk is available with an open CPU holder or with a hinged and lockable CPU compartment. The table top is made of melamine-resin-coated LIGNOpal chipboard and seamed by a polyurethane safety edge. VS uses highest quality 12-gauge steel, ensuring longevity and stability. The environmentally friendly powder-coating method allows for a wide variety of steel color options. The desk is alternatively available on glides or castors.
www.vs-furniture.com
Teacher's Desk from Dallas Midwest
With all the attention being given to the environment within the classroom and its effects on student learning, it is often the teacher's needs that come second. Yet, for much of the day, student-to-teacher interaction occurs at the instructor's desk. One popular Teacher's Desk continues to be this compact woodgrain laminate desk with 16 gauge steel frame from Dallas Midwest. Durable enough to withstand generations of classroom abuse, the desk also retains its classic look so it blends well with newer décor. The 46-inch-wide and 24-inch-deep desk affords just the right amount of work and lockable storage space. With the full suspension file drawer, box, and center pencil drawer, there's room to hold all essential items.
www.DallasMidwest.com
Clarin Folding Tablet Arm Chair
When ordering furniture for your classroom, consider a dual-purpose unit, such as the Clarin folding tablet arm chair. A music room can now be turned into a classroom by simply flipping up the tablet arm. Add a bookrack for the perfect classroom chair. Right-hand and left-hand models are available in a variety of finishes to fit most decors, along with your choice of wood, 1-inch or 3-inch seat cushions. These units are portable and fold compactly, so if additional seating is needed in another room, they can easily be moved.
www.clarinseating.com
McCourt ErgoStack Classroom Chair
The ErgoStack Classroom Chair is an ergonomically correct stacking chair manufactured by McCourt. The chair is available in heights from 10 inches to 18 inches in 2-inch increments, allowing the correct height chair to maintain proper foot-resting position. The ErgoStack features a lumbar support to maintain proper back alignment while sitting and working at a variety of tasks. Choose from 12 seat colors with black or chrome legs.
www.mccourtmfg.com
DEMCO Liberation Furniture
Possibilities are endless with this practical, beautifully styled furniture. Tables, computer work stations, and shelving combine the warmth of wood with an updated, rounded edge design. Liberation shelving matches with veneer side panel construction and adjustable shelves. Shelving is available in a variety of styles, including mobile units, to accommodate your needs. It's easy to create a welcoming feeling with quality furniture crafted with warm wood tones and laminate top choices. DEMCO can help you create the most inviting environments with their broad offering of furniture, equipment, learning materials and supplies.
www.demco.com
Horizon Tables from Smart Desks
Horizon Line computer tables from Smart Desks are designed to keep sight lines clear for ideal communication throughout the entire room. CPUs, LCDs, wire management and clutter are kept below the Horizon Line. The Laptop Safe is a charging station at the point of use you can lock up for security. The LCD flipIT presents LCD at ergonomic user position-below the Horizon Line-and rotates under the desktop for lockable storage. CPUs hang in line with the C-legs-plenty of knee room. Best of all, Horizon Line tables are sized for your classroom, in singles and doubles-optimized for your room dimensions and student population requirements.
www.smartdesks.com
