Finding a new way to keep students still and focused to improve their learning, Dawnitta Henson, first grade teacher, had an idea to replace her student chairs with stability balls after hearing about other schools in the state and doing some research.
Stability balls are the large inflatable balls used for yoga and exercise, but can be used in classrooms in place of chairs. Henson said she learned that the balls aren't used for fun, but rather to help students sit up straight, engage the muscles and the parts of their brains needed to remain balanced on a large ball and when stability balls replace classroom chairs students' benefits ranging from quieter classrooms to more attentive students.
"I ordered one stability ball to be a trail to make sure the size was correct and how it would fit different body types," Henson said. "After only having it in the classroom for two days, I was already began to see the impact it could have on my students and the learning environment."
Bobbye Jo Dye, co-owner of Dye Hards Gym in Pea Ridge, offered to sponsor Henson's classroom -- providing funding for the stability balls. Dye, and her husband, John Dye, own the gym.
"He would be glad to do this because ironically he had just been in a business meeting discussing stability balls in classrooms and was interested in the idea of putting them into classrooms in Pea Ridge," Dye said of her husband's support.
While waiting for the remaining stability balls to arrive, Mrs. Henson's class was learning opinion writing in first grade, so she had the students write their opinions of the stability ball after they had a chance to sit on it for a while.
Some of the students' reasons for needing a stability ball of their own to use all day include:
"They are nice to sit on and comfy too." Mya
"They will help me keep my feet on the floor and concentrate more." Taylen
"It is not as hard as the chairs and I like that it is quiet and just the right size for me." Mary Beth
"I think we need the balls because students will not fall off as much as we did in the other chairs and distract me." Bailey
"They are comfortable and I have to find a comfortable place that I can learn in." Hailey
Henson said she has seen the impact that the stability balls have in the classroom because they get the wiggles out and if students are engaged in their seats they are engaged in learning.
"They are in their seats, not standing with the chair out in the walkways, not falling out of their chairs, nor leaning back in the chairs," Henson said.
Mrs. Henson said she is grateful to John and Bobbye Jo Dye of Dye Hards Gym, along with the help of Your Total Fitness, on behalf of her current students and future students, for seeing her vision and making it happen.
Community on 04/29/2015