After noticing that her eighth grade students had problems focusing during math class, a North Carolina teacher decided to channel (引导) their energy in a different way—cycling.
It doesn't sound like the most common thing to do during math class, but Bethany Lambeth, a teacher from Wake County, says that ever since she fixed cycling machines under her students' desks, the quality of their work has improved greatly. They are paying more attention to what the teachers say, and, most importantly, they are no longer fidgeting all the time.
"Before, they were drumming on their desks or touching other students. They don't do that any more now. Their feet are getting the movement out," she said. "There has been a huge increase in the quality of our students' work and a decrease in the amount of missing work. I think the world is changing a lot and kids need to be able to do something different."
Lambeth fixed the cycling machines at the end of last year, which cost around $150 each. The cost was covered by money from kind people. Not all desks have pedals (踏板) under them, so not all the children have to use one. The school is hoping to get more pedals because of the role cycling machines could play.
The kids clearly love the new "toys". Sofia Fedele, one of Lambeth's students, said cycling helped her focus on her work during class. "I usually tap my feet and stuff to keep me focused, I think pedaling is much better, it keeps me exercising and focused," she said.
Quinn Spear, another student in Lambeth's class, also mentioned the good effect on health of cycling during class. He told reporters that he had pedaled 5.5 miles and burned 133 calories, all before 10 a.m.
