A Guide to Preschool/Kindergarten and Elementary Montessori Classroom Furniture
Friday, August 9, 2013
.As much as possible, NAMC ’s web blog reflects the Montessori curriculum as provided in its teacher training programs. We realize and respect that Montessori schools are unique and may vary their schedules and offerings in accordance with the needs of their individual communities. We hope that our readers will find our articles useful and inspiring as a contribution to the global Montessori community.© North American Montessori Center - originally posted in its entirety at Montessori Teacher Training on
When visitors first enter a Montessori classroom, you can almost hear a collective sigh as they experience the visually appealing yet simple space. Dr. Montessori believed that the child’s learning environment should be peaceful and welcoming. It should be clean and uncluttered. The walls should be neutral colors with a very few realistic paintings or photographs of children and families. She also believed that the furniture should be made of natural materials, like wood, and be light in color so as not to detract from the materials. The furniture must be child size and it should be light weight so that the children can move it easily about the room.This all seems relatively easy to understand, but the first time I needed to order furniture for my Montessori environment, I panicked!I had several catalogs to order from but when it came down to specifics, I had no idea what size tables and chairs I needed. All I knew was they had to be “child-size.” But children come in different sizes! There is a big difference between a young 3-year-old and an older 6-year-old. Luckily, I came across this handy Chair and Table Height Guidelines reference page from Community Playthings.When choosing chairs, the most important thing to remember is that, when seated, the child’s feet should be flat on the floor. For children ages 3–6, it is suggested there be chairs 10–12 inches (about 25–30 cm) in height, while elementary-age children need chairs 12–16 inches (about 30–30 cm) in height. Because Montessori classrooms cover a three-year age range and children come in different sizes, it might be wise to have chairs of different sizes, covering the full range. Table tops should be about 8 inches (approximately 20 cm) from the top of the child’s legs to insure good posture and proper work habits.Deciding what shelves to use can also be puzzling. For preschool classrooms, try to use shelves that are no more than 32 inches (about 81 cm) tall. Elementary classrooms may use shelves between 32 and 40 inches (approximately 81–101 cm) in height. Some units have fixed shelves that are permanently divided, but including units with adjustable shelves is useful to accommodate different size materials. Some shelves come with translucent backs, which allow for added light and visibility, while other shelves have solid backs. Others may also have no backs at all, which is useful for accessing materials from either side. I also like adding rounded or curved shelves on the ends of rectangular shelving. It gives the room a gentler feel by softening and rounding out the angles.Coat racks and cubbies should all be hung at the child’s level. It is counterproductive to try to teach the child to hang up her coat when she cannot reach the hook! Similarly, a child cannot learn to be responsible for his work if he cannot reach into his cubby where the work is stored.The only adult-size furniture I ever have in my classroom is my rocking chair that I use when reading to the children. Although it is adult size, the children are still welcome to use it. In fact, it is a popular chair that is frequented by readers almost all day. I occasionally find it being used by someone who is not feeling well. Because adult-size chairs do not fit under child-size tables, I usually sit on a child’s chair or kneel on the floor when working with a child at a table. Some teachers choose to sit on a small stool instead.Teacher desks are not usually found in the Montessori classroom. Since it is the child’s space and our attention should be on the child, our own personal work area is not be delineated by a teacher’s desk. Since we are a community of learners, it is important that the teacher models her work habits alongside the child.
Another concern is student health. Students come to school with all sorts of health issues, with one common issue being allergies. If you are placing donated or purchased secondhand items in your learning environment, you often do not know the history of the furniture.
Most educational furniture is certified by the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Assocation (BIFMA) or the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which are organizations that assure products for commercial markets. Another organization that certifies furniture for educational purposes is GreenGuard. They certify items for volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, released from furniture (think paint fumes).
Other concerns include accidents and infestations on noncommercial-grade soft seating. The fabric on this furniture cannot be disinfected and must be discarded in the event of spills, infestations or the presence of bodily fluids. There is no way to clean soft seating when these events occur. This also brings up the sustainable question: Once students are used to using these soft seating options, what happens when they are removed from the learning environment?
Educational items purchased from commercial vendors will last much longer. There are fabric choices that resist moisture and stains, contain a moisture barrier and are rated for ultra-durability. They should also have an extended warranty that lasts the lifetime of the product. When sourcing furniture solutions for schools, this is one of the first questions I ask: What does the warranty cover and how is a claim made? Normally educational furniture is designed for a 15- to 20-year life — that’s a long time!
In addition to all of the safety and health considerations, there are also more flexible options for couch or lounge seating with commercial products. They are designed with options that meet the needs of education environments, such as mobile casters and power outlets.
Our district is in the process of writing furniture guidelines and policies because of liability issues. If a student is hurt because of a piece of furniture that was purchased or donated to the learning environment, the person who purchased the piece may be held liable. Let’s go back to the chair pictured above. If a student severely pinched a finger in the chair, the parent of the injured child could file a lawsuit for damages against the person who purchased the chair.
I know every one of you who is reading this post is thinking, “I do not have money in my budget to purchase commercial-grade furniture!” I understand completely. Your space may not be able to be completed in one school year, and that is okay. Some ideas that may help with the cost of purchasing pieces for your space:
Don’t forget the importance of student voice when designing a learning environment. How would you as a teacher or librarian feel if you had to spend your entire day in a space in which you had no say in the design? Let students guide what is needed in your learning environment. They may have some suggestions for the space that you might not have thought about!
Supporting student learning by providing options for seating is very important. However, student safety should always be considered when placing furniture in the learning environment. When introducing new furniture to your environment, make sure you are seeking commercial-grade furniture from a vendor that serves schools and libraries and understands the needs and challenges of today’s educators. By following these tips, you’ll have an active learning environment that is safe and supports all students with options for how they learn.