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Third grade class swaps chairs for exercise balls
NORTH JACKSON
A group of Jackson-Milton Elementary School third-graders received a surprise when they returned to school: One of the teachers had swapped all of her classroom’s chairs for exercise balls.
Cara Vernal, third-grade language arts and science teacher, admitted the first couple days of class were a bit “bouncy.”
“I met with the kids in the gym before class and told them about the balls, why we were using them and the benefits,” Vernal said. She said she gave them ground rules such as no bouncing, rolling or laying on the balls.
When the group of 24 third-graders went to her classroom, Vernal said she demonstrated right and wrong ways to sit on the balls.
Though three children had their exercise-ball rights taken away the first week, Vernal said most kids have behaved well.
The students are not the only ones using the exercise balls — Vernal said she, too, opted for an exercise ball instead of a chair.
“Mine’s on wheels and has a back, since I sit a lot longer than the kids, who sit for 15 minutes at a time,” she said.
Jackson-Milton has been promoting healthy lifestyles for about 10 years.
Kirk Baker, superintendent, said most of the younger students at the elementary school exercise first thing every morning at the school’s track or gym.
Baker said he had the idea of using exercise balls instead of chairs a couple of years ago after reading a Yahoo article.
He said he chose to use Vernal’s class, as she tends to be interested in promoting exercise in her students’ lives.
Vernal said she read an article that explained how using exercise balls instead of chairs helps hyperactive children pay attention for longer periods of time.
Kim Fisk, Jackson-Milton Elementary principal, said several other teachers at the school have expressed interest in trying exercise-ball chairs in future years.
She said this year was just a pilot year with only Vernal’s students testing the alternative chairs.
Baker added that the exercise balls were much cheaper than traditional chairs: An exercise ball costs $24, while a chair costs $60 with a warranty.
Over the summer, Baker said the school purchased enough exercise balls for all the students in Vernal’s class.
The school ordered two sizes of the ball to make sure even smaller students could use them.
Vernal said she is not forcing her students to use the exercise balls — she gives them a choice between that and a chair. She said most students have preferred the exercise balls.