Sitting on a chair all day in school can make anyone want to move around. So, more and more teachers are letting students have a ball. By sitting on exercise balls instead of chairs, teachers find students' attention improved. The most important thing is that it's very interesting and exciting.
Peter, a fifth-grade teacher in West Virginia, the USA, has been using balls as chairs since December 2010."The students love them, "he says. Peter took a survey of his students. He found that 80% of the students thought sitting on the balls helped them pay more attention to what they were learning. They can focus on what they have learned.
The manager, Mary, feels so strong about the use of balls as chairs, and she encourages the use of the balls. She hopes not only teachers but also students know how to use them. "Our products are used in 24 states, three provinces in Canada, Puerto Rico and Japan," says Mary. "Research shows that sitting on the balls makes them sit up straighter," says Mary, "but it feels not boring." Because the students are moving, it makes their blood flow faster. That carries more oxygen to the brain, so the kids have more energy and can focus longer. "Besides, they're fun," says Peter.
