The Big Fresh November 19, 2016 Move It

                                               James Levine

How can teachers encourage students to avoid a sedentary lifestyle, when classrooms by their nature involve a lot of sitting? Recently when I visited classrooms I saw three clever options, all showcasing the ingenuity of teachers.

In Ali Russoniello’s classroom in Fair Haven, New Jersey, there are four stationary desk pedalers. Ali explained, “I wanted to get these foot bikes for a long time, but wasn’t sure about asking my principal for funds. It turned out she was happy to support me. They only cost $30 each, and the wellness benefits are so clear. Some students love them, some find them a distraction, but almost everyone chooses to use one when it is their turn.”

What I love about these exercisers is that they are so compact. Ali’s small classroom houses a lot of big eighth graders, but these machines can easily fit under a seat.

Gigi McAllister of Gorham, Maine used a classroom donation site to fund the exercise bands on every desk. Her fourth graders can move their feet against the tension bands whenever they like, and quietly get a little workout whenever they are at their desks.

Finally, Tara Smith of Glen Rock, New Jersey spent a bit of her own funds for these “bungee chairs” in her meeting area, but she doesn’t regret the purchase. “It fits what we know about sixth graders needing movement. Taking turns in these seats teaches students all year long about fairness and being in a community, since everyone loves to sit in them.”

It seems like every day there is a new research study showing the importance of getting up and moving every hour. Leave it to teachers to find creative solutions to a seemingly intractable problem in classrooms where continual movement is rarely an option.

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