When I first saw a classroom using stability balls instead of chairs, I thought, "That's a strange idea..." but then I started reading the research. When the average chair is replaced with a stability ball, students are proven to be more interested and alert.
I teach 6th grade at a high poverty, Title I school that serves students in kindergarten through 8th grade.
85% of our students are on free and reduced lunch, and we are incredibly diverse with over 30 languages spoken on our campus. Every year, I have so many different learning styles I must accommodate for (particularly ADHD and Special Education). I love to provide opportunities for movement, but with class sizes increasing we don't have a lot of room.
We also have another hurdle this year: a shortage of chairs. I've read a lot of valuable research about how the use of exercise/stability balls as chairs in the classroom have an immediate and lasting impact on how much students pay attention.
My Project
By replacing our old, worn out chairs and replacing them with stability balls specifically designed for classrooms, I believe my students' experience in the classroom will be enhanced. I have witnessed other classrooms using stability balls and was impressed with how much ownership the students had for their new "seats" and I'm sure my incoming group will share that sense of accountability.
The furniture in our building often tops more than 50 years old, and every table or desk is essentially scavenged because there is so little to choose from. I firmly believe that the room my students spend their day in should LOOK like a 21st century learning environment, and these stability balls are another step in that direction.
By donating to this project, you will be supporting a group of high poverty students who need every boost they can get.
This project will not only support more academic learning, but encourage students to get that much needed extra movement during the day.
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Deacon and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
