Students in La Academia Partnership Charter School's Sixth-Grade Academy use isokinetic exercise ball chairs in their class.
The ball chairs allow for more flexible seating around the room because they are easy to move. The chairs also help students release pent-up energy, and they are believed to help students concentrate, especially when ADHD is a factor. For some students with a sensory processing disorder or ADHD, being in motion allows their brains to be engaged. When children sit on ball chairs, they can direct their natural kinesthetic energy and need for movement in a positive way, because they must constantly move to maintain their balance.
According to Samantha Wharton, one of the school's Sixth-Grade Academy teachers, having the chairs has allowed her to create a variety of work spaces for students to collaborate, especially for STEM projects.
La Academia is a public charter school with an enrollment of 220 students in grades six through 12. The school offers a small individualized program for students in Lancaster County from area school districts. For more information, readers may visit http://www.lapcs.org or find the school on Facebook and Twitter.
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