Can you imagine how much you would accomplish everyday if you students just sat down! I teach first grade and my students are consonantly standing up or moving around but I have a feeling this isn’t just a first grade problem. I have had student’s sit on seat cushions from our OT specialist and that has worked for some. I recently heard of the idea of using yoga balls, also called stability balls or fitness balls instead of chairs. They come in a variety of sizes and prices. After a few days of wiggly students I would love to try this so I decided to research it tonight and use the information for my blog this week.
I found a few articles from this past summer discussing the use of fitness balls in the classroom. One article is about a fourth grade teacher in Panama City, FL who used them in her classroom last year. Samantha Rogers student taught in a Missouri classroom that also used them in the classroom and learned about it in a workshop that discussed different learning styles. Rogers saw great results. The students paid more attention and she found it successful to promote good behavior. Mayo Researchers also promote that the use of fitness balls increases blood flow, increases oxygen intake, and improves posture. All of those reasons help the brain work so it sounds like a great idea, right? I think it would really help students concentrate longer. Students may sway or lightly bounce and I think that would be ok. I do have a few reservations about the use of these bouncy chairs. I would hope that after a few uses of the ball they would not be viewed as a toy by students and won’t be a distraction but that can’t be known for sure and this is an expensive “experiment.” The balls are also very expensive and I do not think I could ask parents to pay for something so costly and I’m not confident that my school would purchase them either. Parents out there, would you buy a $25 ball for your students to use in class or would you find this a ridiculous request? There obviously is some concern about the safety of sitting on fitness balls but Rogers says she has not had any accidents where students were injured. I find this a small concern because students fall of their chairs all the time (I told you they like to wiggle). On paper it seems like it would really increase student learning.
The school in FL where Rogers teaches uses the balls as a reward for honor roll students and I strongly disagree with this. I think it’s great to recognize high achievers but I don’t think this is the right way. In my opinion, the students who would gain most from this are the students who may struggle with their work because of the short attention spans.
I found a fitness article that suggests tips to incorporate the new sitting tool in your classroom (or office). They stress that you should introduce them into your classroom with ease. Don’t make them mandatory and have students use them in short time frames until students get used to them.
Well ladies and gentleman, any advice or stories for me on this issue? Should I try it? I was thinking I could bring in a few to try out this year. I would appreciate any comments.
Why restructure? Does it really do anything?
15 years ago
Trista,
ReplyDeleteI teach Jr. High students and I have several students who just can not stay seated. I've heard of this ball thing before. I've even heard of major corporations using it. I, too, have the same reservations you do. I think it would have to be something that is optional and more concrete studies done on it. I don't have children but I have two nieces who are in school and I'm pretty sure my brother and sister would NOT pay this for $25. My sister threw a fit when she had to buy certain items for her kindergartener. I do, however, see the benefits that bouncy chairs could bring to diverse learners and the health of students. Thanks for sharing!
Kimberly
Trista--Your article was timely for me! I have a student with autism who has just recently starting using the bouncy ball as opposed to the "nubby pad" for the seat used previously. Wow, what a difference! I hadn't thought of all of the benefits that you even mentioned in your blog--now it sounds even better yet! What I do like about your proposal of having all students using them is that some of the students that are using them as a special accomodation are not singled out then or made to feel different.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great read!
This is where my thinking is a little different than yours. I do not mind wiggly children. I actually learn better when I wiggle. I am never sitting still. The issue I have is noise. When a student is making noise with their chairs, pencils, or feet, it just about drives me batty. This is especially distracting when I am talking or when a student is trying to tell the class something. I have seen the yoga balls given to students but in all the cases, it never lasted long. The balls were a huge distraction, both to the student on the ball as well as to the students who did not get the ball. My question would be, why not let them stand up? If they stay by their desks and can still learn, it might be something worth overlooking.
ReplyDeleteI too would love to have the stability balls in my room. We have two 5th grade classrooms in our school that use them. I know they were really expensive but through grants and donations they were paid for. They are also different from a regular yoga ball. They have little rubber feet on the bottom of each ball helping them stay stabilized. Also, as far as behavior concerns with them, each child goes through extensive training on how to use their ball and take care of their ball. They have to sign contracts, watch videos, practice and model the way to use the ball correctly. If they break their contract, the ball is taken away.
ReplyDeleteOn a personal note, I have to say I have been in meetings and had the opportunity to use one. I am a mover and to be able to sit on the ball was great. I was constantly bouncing and felt I wasn't ever bored or anxious to leave. I also felt I had to sit up straight the whole time. It was almost a work out afterwards. I could see how they would promote good posture.
I think everyone should have them because THEY ROCK!!! I plan on searching for grants and donations to get the balls into my own classroom.