Students in Marcy Garrison's first-grade class at Stevens Primary School are pedaling away their excess energy and turning it into focus, thanks to new kinesthetic desks in the classroom.

The desks, paid for by a $1,500 mini-grant provided by the Williamsport Area School District Education Foundation and a $5,000 Lowe's Toolbox for Education grant, feature stationary bike pedals and swiveling seats. Other desks in the room have been updated to match the new kinesthetic desks, swapping out regular chairs for exercise balls.

The idea behind the new seats is to facilitate learning and maximize the students' brain function.

Article Photos

KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Stevens Primary School first-graders Jaekairah Harden, left, and Max Boutwell, both 7, sit at a kinesthetic desk with pedals in Marcy Garrison’s class on Wednesday. The kinesthetic desk allow students to use movement to facilitate cognition, maximize brain function and anchor learning, all while seated or kneeling.

 

 

 

 

"Results and outcomes from recent neuroscience research support that movement stimulates and enhances cognitive development by increasing the ability to pay attention, extending the concentration span, improving short- and long-term memory, forming positive moods and supplying the brain with energy and nutrients," Garrison said.

Garrison will measure the effectiveness of the desks through progress monitoring every two weeks.

While a third-grade class at the school has a few swinging bar desks, Garrison's class is the first where just about every student has a desk that promotes movement, according to Principal James Ellis.

"We have students who just need to move," Ellis said. "Having that ability, the kids are benefiting."

Garrison said the students are doing well with the changes in the class and will share or switch so each child gets a chance to use the different types of desks.

"It's helped cut down on distractions," she said.

Garrison originally applied for the grant after another teacher saw the kinesthetic desks and showed them to her. She said she went looking for the grant on her own and found the Lowe's grant.

The kids in Garrison's class had rave reviews for the new seating.

"I like the pedal desk because it is fun and helps me pay more attention and think," Na'jirrah Gilrist, 7, said.

Yaziah Ingram, 6, and Isobel Fike, 7, seconded Gilrist's sentiments, all agreeing the new desks help them focus in class.

Ronald Tyree, 7, likes the alternative seating "because you can bounce and turn" and it helps him do his work.

Jaekairah Harden, 7, said she finds it easy to share with other kids.

Other children in the school soon may be reaping the benefits of the new desks.

"One thing Marcy and I have talked about was having the other teachers do a walk-through of the classroom," Ellis said.

The two are looking into more grants and other ways to finance bringing more of the desks into the school.

According to Garrison, there are two other first-grade classrooms that are in the process of writing grants for the desks.

 

Remember those articles I wrote a few weeks ago about Stacey and her AMAZING kinesthetic classroom?

If you missed them, go catch up and then come back!

Stacey Shoecraft’s Kinesthetic Classroom Part 1

Stacey Shoecraft’s Kinesthetic Classroom Part 2

I got a great response on those posts- you all were so inspired by Stacey! Rightfully so. I had a great time visiting her classroom and witnessing her passion for teaching and learning. However, a question nagged at me, “What do her students think?”

So I contacted Stacey again and arranged to come visit once more; this time to talk with her students.

Without further ado, I introduce you to Joseph and Reed. (Two of the most precious 5th grade boys you will ever meet!) *I would also like for you to know that the three of us were working out on one of Stacey’s stations throughout this entire interview. So cool!

Susan: What is it like, from a kid’s point of view, to go to school in a classroom like this?

Joseph: You get to move around a lot! I used to go home and tell my mom I had to get my wiggles out. Now whenever I feel like I’m stressing out over some work, I can go into a burst and it helps me concentrate. (A burst is when you go as fast as you can on the equipment for a minute.)

Reed: When you do your work and you’re also moving, your brain doesn’t just stop and get distracted. Your brain can actually concentrate on what you are doing. You stay awake!

Susan: Do you ever find the tables distracting?

Joesph: No- it’s not distracting. This year I’ve even gotten better report cards than last year! And Mrs. Shoecraft has a system for us if she needs to give us directions or make an announcement. She tells us to “step down” and put our feet on the floor, look at her, and stand still until she’s done. Then we can get back on the equipment.

Reed: I think it’s the opposite of distracting. There are times when we stand off and focus on the teacher, there are times we all sit on the carpet for a lesson, and there are times when we are doing work. Work time is when we are on the tables, and it really helps me stay awake and concentrate when I can move. I’ve been getting better grades this year too!

Joseph: I bet if we did a survey we’d find better grades in our whole class! (Good idea! I think Mrs. Shoecraft is working on a study with a local university right now!)

Susan: What about concentration? Is it easier or harder to concentrate when you’re moving?

Joseph: I think it’s easier. When you’re in a regular desk, sometimes you have to work to keep your eyes open!

Reed: I agree with Joesph 100%- when you’re moving it’s actually easier to listen and keep your eyes open. I can remember times last year when I would zone out or get really sleepy. That doesn’t happen this year.

Susan: What are the best things about having a teacher who uses so much movement in her teaching?

Reed: Just getting to move!

Joseph: Mrs. Shoecraft is not an ordinary teacher. She puts fun into it! She is just a spectacular teacher. The fact that we have these tables to engage in our learning helps a lot. It’s not just the tables. We have a workout every day after morning work too- it might be a dance break or yoga or a brain break.

Reed: And we do an Olympic thing too. It only takes about 5 minutes but it’s fun. It’s never boring.

Susan: Are there any drawbacks?

Joseph: In this class we have very well-behaved kids who know how to work. But kids have to pay attention to what they are doing and be safe.

Reed: You can get hurt if you fall off this stuff and hit the floor!

Susan: What stands out in your mind as the biggest difference between your classes in the past and your 5th grade class?

Joesph: Last year I can remember kids asking the teacher all day, “Can we have a brain break? Can we have a brain break?” Now we don’t have to ask or wait on the teacher to be ready.

Reed: Yeah- every second is a brain break! We can move whenever we want to.

Susan: Do you feel like school is more fun now?

Joseph: I think maybe this is my favorite year. Maybe it’s because of the tables or maybe it’s just because we have spectacular teachers. The only thing I don’t like about 5th grade is the homework. But, Mrs. Shoecraft has taught us some exercises we can do at home and it helps me blast through the homework much faster.

Susan: You mean you take movement breaks at home during homework too?

Joseph: Yes! And I don’t mean it’s too much homework. It’s fair. But moving helps me get through it.

Reed:  I play basketball and I’ve learned to give myself brain breaks during my homework. I work for 10 minutes and then I go run 5 minutes of drills. Then I come back and do more homework. I got that idea from this class and it really helps me stay focused when I’m doing my homework.

Susan: Do you notice a big difference taking movement breaks than if you just sat and did homework for 45 minutes?

Reed: Definitely! I would fall asleep.

Joseph: Last year 50 minutes of homework would take me 1 and 1/2 hours. I just got too sleepy and tired. This year I can do it in 50 minutes- sometimes even less.

Susan: Why should principals invest in these kinds of kinesthetic classrooms?

Joseph: I think it makes kids get better grades. And if you did this all through school, you would get so much healthier! Your muscles would get stronger because you use them while you’re working.

Reed: It’s safe and it’s just better. Your body doesn’t get stiff and cramped up because it’s always moving.

Susan: Thanks for your thoughts, boys!

There you have it, straight from the students themselves. Kind of makes me rethink many of our educational practices. How about you?

Movement is powerful.