Chances are if you
have walked down the west wing at Marshall, you have noticed that one of the
classrooms is sporting some unique classroom furniture. Thanks to generous donations from a ‘teacher
champion’ and several others, 6th graders are testing out stability
balls in place of regular classroom chairs.
Research has shown a
great connection between cognition and movement. Circulation has a lot to do with it. Movement creates better circulation (even
small movements). Better circulation
means more blood flow and oxygen to the brain, which in turn, help to improve
focus, behavior and alertness.
Don’t believe for a
minute that the balls turn the classroom into a playground. There are rules, just like all
classrooms. There are times we ‘bounce’
more actively and times that we ‘slo-mo’. We have even tried out some great ‘team building’
exercises that utilize the balls. The
students are still engaged in learning, but so far the 6th graders
appear to be much more attentive for the entire class period. By using the
balls, students are actively engaged as they’re bodies are shifting and moving
ever so slightly to maintain balance. This
in turn, helps strengthen our core muscles as well.
If you ask the 6th
graders, they say, ‘the balls are fun’.
‘I like them, they are only a distraction if someone isn't following the
rules.’ ‘I feel like I’m more focused
and I can wiggle if I need to’.
Marshall has been involved
with a variety of KAGAN cooperative activities as well as ‘active learning’ for
several years now. This classroom
setting just takes it one step farther. Feel
free to ‘bounce’ in and observe our students as they engage their bodies with
movement and their brains become more actively engaged.
(There are all kinds of research articles about the use of stability balls. Check into them if you'd like to learn more. They can be beneficial for everyone - not just kids!)
