Vanessa Singley, right, gives a lesson in her flexible seating classroom at Scott Elementary.

THOMASVILLE — A typical classroom is lined with standard desks. Vanessa Singley’s classroom at Scott Elementary is different.

No “traditional” desks.

A first-year fifth grade math teacher, Singley’s classroom is equipped with a variety of arrangements such as taller chairs, standing desks, desks fashioned with whiteboards as tabletops, among other unique fixtures. Singley’s classroom uses a concept called “flexible seating,” which trades out traditional desks for seating fixtures that allow students to sit where they choose and move with ease.

Singley teaches three math classes in her flexible seating classroom. The last class of the school day is tasked with the classroom’s upkeep.

“They do such a great job caring for everything,” she said. “It’s our little home, it really is.”

The seating arrangements allow students to able to move around and get comfortable but also still retain focus during a lesson, Singley said.

Students are even allowed to lay on the carpet — on one condition.

“If they’re laying on the carpet, they’re working,” Singley said.

Braelon Brock, one of Singley’s students, said he has started to see seating in other classrooms differently, even calling the typical seating arrangements “boring.”

“I like how it’s unique,” he said.

Other students said they enjoyed how comfortable the seating is, being able to move while in the classroom, and the variety of different ways to sit — or not sit — in the classroom.

Singley funded the unique seating arrangements through DonorsChoose.org. Since starting in June, Singley has received $6,511 in funding for 10 different projects through DonorsChoose.org.

“It’s such an easy platform to use,” she said.

Following a car accident last February that caused her to stay out of the classroom until the end of the school year, Singley said that during her absence she researched different topics and came across flexible seating.

“I always try to think about what could be better next year,” she said, adding the concept of flexible seating is known in the United States, but not particularly known in south Georgia.

Once funded, the classroom took four weekends, with the help of family members, to compile and craft into a flexible seating space.

“I could not have imagined it would have turned out the way it is now,” Singley said.

Singley currently has one active project on DonorsChoose.org. If successful, Singley hopes to receive funding for musical equipment to be used in math lessons, which ties into Scott’s school-wide classroom art-integration.

“They might have to soundproof these walls next year,” Singley joked.

The 12-year teacher also noted learning different art aspects to implement in her mathematics teaching.

“Before you can integrate something in your classroom, you have to learn it,” Singley said.

Since Singley’s students will transition to middle school next year, she talked with her students back in August about the classroom arrangement more than likely not being available next year.

“They know that all teachers do things differently,” she said. “I told them I just really want them to enjoy their last year of elementary (school). There will be tears shed at the end of this year.”

Reporter Jordan Barela can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1826.