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PiscesClassrooms are Standing Room Only
To battle childhood obesity, one Minnesota teacher has designed standing workstations for students.
Minnesota teacher Abby Brown doesn't tell her kids to "sit down and be quiet." Concerned about child obesity, she thought her students might be more active if they had the option of being on their feet. So she designed adjustable-height standing workstations for her fourth grade students at Lily Lake Elementary, reports ABC News.
Thanks to grant money and the help of a local furniture maker, her dream became a reality. And now her students are reaping the benefits.
Kids have the option of sitting on a bar stool or standing during class. "It helps me stay more active and a little bit more awake," says fourth grader Ryan Meitz.
Desks come with swinging footrests, which teachers say are in constant motion. This helps students who have trouble sitting still in traditional-style desks. Scientists are also studying if all this fidgeting leads to fitter kids, and whether or not standing leads to higher test scores.
If so, this could change the landscape of the classroom forever, researchers say. The standing workstations are already in classrooms in 18 states.
What do you think about these "standing room only" classrooms?
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- 8 Comments
YOU GO GIRL! Thank goodness for this excellent teacher and anybody else who is doing something along these lines. Its about time somebody cares about the kids and not just about the test scores. This idea, whether people know it or not was something I just recently learned on different websites. I was looking for something to do, simple exercises to do at my desk while I work. This idea, also keeps me from getting stiff, I have screws in my hip and standing or sitting too long can hurt. I just hope parents or other teachers don’t take this the wrong way. Good job!
When I was teaching I had some extra standing work stations in the back of the room that the kids who were restless could use to do their work. What a world of difference it made for the fidgity kids. They actually got some work done and didn’t act out as much. I highly recommend this for all teachers.
As a teacher I think that it’s a GREAT idea! Way to go and let’s “hook up” all classrooms!
Well if the goal is to make the kids very uncomfortable all day… then job well done. i guess no one here studies ergonomics. Standing all day and sitting unsupported on a barstool (with no back) is not good for the feet or back (and neck)! I think that maybe standing in small intervals throughout the day would be beneficial. I hope they make allowances for kids with physical problems that won’t allow them to stand all day or sit on a barstool.
@dumg
Have you SAT in one of the chairs at school? I remember the oh-so-fancy chairs ATTATCHED to the desk, that if you weren’t skinny, well, stuff yourself in, tubby!
I would have rather sat on a barstool than that torture device. Besides, you need to keep your balance on a barstool, so they can work balance and their core. If the backrest is needed so badly, some barstools come with those, too.
I think this is a great idea to keep kids awake and focused.
i always loved my 6th grade science class because it was in a lab classroom, and the tables were higher and i would always stand up rather than sit - as a child getting through the entire school day was an endeavor in itself!
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Great idea!!!! I would love to see followup stories on this and see how the kids do in this class and see how the parents think it works for their kids.