Sitting or Standing: What is the Best Choice for Your VIPKID Classroom?
Every teacher has a unique way of teaching. Some teachers like sitting at their desks, others enjoy walking around the room, while still others prefer to stand in one place while teaching. But in your VIPKid classroom, you have just two choices…sitting or standing.
Sitting or Standing in Your VIPKid Classroom
When I started with VIPKid, I used a table and squeaky chair. However, as I upgraded my location from the unfinished basement to our homeschooling room, I decided to try standing to teach. I actually really liked it because I tend to be a “mover” when I teach. Of course, after 6 classes in a row, I was REALLY tired.
So, I went back to teaching while sitting down…but I upgraded my chair to a non-squeaky option. Unfortunately, because I teach and blog while sitting each day, I’m finding myself feeling lethargic and sedentary. Therefore, I’m thinking about going back to standing.
There is a pretty solid split of teachers when it comes to sitting or standing in the VIPKid classroom and there are proponents of each. Because I’ve tried both, I feel like they are both viable options with unique pros and cons.
In an effort to help you, I have broken down each of the pros and cons to assist you in making an informed decision to the question in your mind. Am I going to be a better teacher when sitting or standing?
Sitting
If we are being completely honest, most teachers tend to teach while sitting down. It’s the more traditional approach, and quite frankly, the most obvious option. It is definitely the more relaxed approach and by far the easiest to use in a small space.
Whether you are sitting on the floor, on the side of a bathtub, or in a chair, you can make the most of a tiny space by sitting.
Unfortunately, by sitting for an extended period of time, it is easy to become very sedentary. Also, if you tend to pull all-nighters or teach classes in the wee hours of the morning, sitting can make you too comfortable and thus super-sleepy.
Pros
- More relaxed approach
- Easier to manipulate your mouse
- Better for small spaces
Cons
- Sedentary
- Limited Range of Motion
- A little too comfy
This is going to be the BEST option for those teachers who have limitations on their range of motion or who only have a VERY small space to teach in.
Standing
While this is definitely outside the box, it is a great option for many! If you have a space large enough to move around, this might be a great choice. This is also a viable option if you want to increase your daily “steps.”
On the down side, it can be really tiring if you teach multiple classes in a row. And, there will be an investment if you plan to purchase a standing desk.
When I decided to start standing to teach, I purchased this laptop stand. It was much cheaper than many of the other options, and it works wonderfully well.
I can adjust it to the height I need based on whether I am sitting or standing. The fact that it can be manipulated to a variety of heights is really helpful, and it’s portability and 3.5 lbs. weight make it ideal for traveling.
Pros
- Freedom of movement
- Helps increase your daily step count
- Excellent for more active teachers
Cons
- Tiring with multiple classes in a row
- Requires some form of a stand for your computer
This is the BEST option for those teachers who tend to be very active and like to get their whole bodies involved in learning or want to “up” their daily step count. This is also a great alternative if you just want a change from the norm.
AS you can see there are good things and not such good things associated with each. But what if I told you that you could have the best of both worlds?
The Best of Both Worlds
What if you could teach one class sitting and then teach the next class standing?
Enter the standing desk. It allows you to go from sitting to standing with the simple push of a button or lever!
This is especially ideal for someone who teaches with VIPKid full-time or during the wee hours of the morning when sitting can get just a little too comfortable.
In the past, standing desks were so outrageously expensive that the common person could never afford one, but now you can purchase one like this for less than $150 on Amazon!!
And the best part is that it sits right on top of your current desk or table and comes in a variety of sizes. This makes it ideal for any space!
Now, if you have plenty of money to spend, you can get any type of standing desk you want. But for those of us who have to be a little more frugal with our money, I think this is an excellent alternative!
Final Verdict
The jury is still out on which is the “better” way to teach…sitting or standing. In my opinion, I think the standing desk option is the best because you can go from one to the other with a mere touch of a button.
If a standing desk just isn’t in the budget at the moment, you can always switch from sitting to standing! Remember, there isn’t a “one size fits all.” You just need to choose to teach the way that suits your needs.
And after trying one way for a while, you can give the other option a try…and on that note, I think need to go buy a standing desk!
If you want to read more about VIPKid, you can check out these posts.
