“Who needs scratch paper when you can write on the table?”
That question from Mountain Home Junior High School says a lot about how Math Instructor and Freshman Team Leader Whitney Hickman is using her new high-top dry erase table with students.
At Mountain Home Junior High School, part of Mountain Home Public Schools in Mountain Home, Arkansas, students are working through exponent rules directly on the tabletop, comparing answers, talking through problems, and showing their thinking in a way that feels active and collaborative.
The new setup was purchased through a grant from the Mountain Home Education Foundation and includes a Chargebar Standing Height Table with a dry erase surface and six Emoji Stools by Paragon. Ordered over the summer, the furniture arrived in time for the start of the 2026–27 school year and was quickly put to work in Ms. Hickman’s classroom.
A Workstation Students Want to Use
When Worthington Direct Sales Representative Alisa checked in to see how the table and stools were working, Ms. Hickman shared just how much enthusiasm the new workstation had generated.
“Students are excited to be called over to the table-top work station because they love being able to show their work on the table. It is a fresh new space that allows them a flexible seating arrangement and as a teacher I am physically at their level and can easily assist up to 6 students working at once. I would love to be able to have these in my classroom for every student!”
Her feedback captures what makes the setup so effective. Students have room to work together without feeling crowded, while Ms. Hickman can move around the table, see their work as it develops, and offer help where it is needed.
Making Math Thinking Visible
Instead of keeping problem-solving confined to a worksheet or notebook, the dry erase surface turns the tabletop itself into part of the lesson.
For math instruction, that can be especially useful. Students can write out steps, erase and revise, compare approaches, and explain their thinking to classmates right where everyone can see it.
The shared surface also supports peer learning. Students can see how classmates approach the same problem, talk through different strategies, and learn from one another as they work.
Learning in Action
We especially appreciate getting to see school furniture after it has made its way into a real classroom and become part of the learning experience.
Ms. Hickman’s photos show students gathered around the table, markers in hand, working through exponent problems directly on the dry erase surface. The shared workspace gives students room to compare their thinking, talk through solutions, and learn alongside their classmates.
Seeing the table in use brings the benefits of the setup to life: active participation, visible thinking, and a learning space that naturally encourages students to work together.
Designed for Collaboration and Connected Learning
One reason we like the Chargebar Table with six Emoji Stools by Paragon is how naturally it creates a gathering place for small-group learning.
With room for six students, the table provides space to spread out and collaborate without everyone feeling crowded. The high-top configuration also gives teachers room to move from student to student, observe work in progress, ask questions, and provide guidance.
Built-in flip-up power ports add another layer of flexibility by helping keep laptops, tablets, and other learning devices charged and ready to use.
One Table, Plenty of Possibilities
Ms. Hickman’s classroom is a great example of how adaptable collaborative school furniture can be. Here, the table supports math instruction and makes problem-solving visible, but the same setup can serve many other learning environments.
In science classrooms and STEM spaces, students can gather around experiments or work through calculations together. In libraries and media centers, it can become a shared project or technology station. Language arts students can use the writable surface for brainstorming, outlining, vocabulary work, or group discussion.
Wherever it is used, the overall design encourages students to gather, communicate, share ideas, and learn from their peers.
A Fresh Space for Learning Together
Ms. Hickman’s photos show what collaborative furniture can make possible: students gathered together, writing directly on the table, sharing ideas, and working through math problems side by side.
The setup does more than provide another place to sit. It creates a dedicated space where students can discuss, experiment, show their thinking, and learn from one another while Ms. Hickman stays closely connected to the group.
We love seeing the Chargebar Table and Emoji Stools actively supporting learning at Mountain Home Junior High School. Thank you to Whitney Hickman for sharing her classroom photos and feedback, and to the Mountain Home Education Foundation for helping bring this hands-on learning opportunity into the classroom.
Looking for a collaborative workstation for your classroom or learning space? Explore the Chargebar Table with six Emoji Stools by Paragon or contact our furniture experts for help finding furniture that supports active, collaborative learning.
