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Action Research Topic: Traditional Chairs Vs. Yoga Balls

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Action Research Topic: Traditional Chairs Vs. Yoga Balls

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I currently use yoga balls in my classroom and did some reserach prior to gaining them this year. However, this project has led me to more positive research than I could have imagined! I have some great articles below to help solidify my project.

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jander 2007

Connie Jander was the basis for my project "Movement is essential to learning". She discusses that if an opportuinty to sense, think or move is not allowed by your brain and body, then learning will not occur.

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Mulrine, 2008

In this article it is discussed that “Exercise activities incorporated throughout the day's schedule are important for allstudents, especially those diagnosed with ADHD; research provides evidence that movement activities throughout the day can help allstudentswith their concentration and attention (Mulrine,2008).

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ADHD- Stability Balls are a "treatment" option

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ADHD- Stability Balls are a "treatment" option

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Wen-Chu

This article stems from Department of Medicine in Taiwan, which shows that stability balls are being recognized all over the world as a positive impact in education. The conducted a study on "healthy" students using the yoga balls vs. students with ADHD. They found that it made an impact on both students, but those that had the disorder, or a harder time focusing, it made a significant impact.

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高雄醫學大學 運動醫學系 - 首頁

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高雄醫學大學 運動醫學系

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Increase Physical Activity- elem. students

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Increase Physical Activity- elem. students

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This article was written by graduate students and faultily of the University of Nebraska. It discusses how obesity in children has only increase in that last # of years and its only going to continue if we don't become proactive. The stability balls provide active sitting. The conducted two tests with 4th grade students to measure more daily activity by MIT accelerometers and core strength from sit ups. IT was an overall positive results.

Janulewicz, 2008

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Kilbourne, 2013

This is a short article by Professor Kilbourne of Grand Valley State University, who found a positive effect on student performane focus, and posture through out one semester. Student commented on all of these things helping them as well.

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Brea Capell of Maryville, MO conducted an action research project in October 14, 2012 on how yoga balls effected students time on task. Her research showed that 17 of her 18 students showed increase in mathematics using a pre and post test using the yoga balls.

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Ginette Gamache - Hulsmans conducted a search project in May 3, 2007 to show that her students were more on task and had better handwriting when using the yoga balls. This project also was conducted on those students with and without ADHD. Lastly, she asked student and teacher preception of students using hte yoga balls.

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Study with stationary classrooms vs. active

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Study with stationary classrooms vs. active

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This study done on Sept. 6, 2012 discussed the changing the school environment to increase physical activty and increase learning. There were various tests done to three types of classrooms including the traditional classroom, the neighborhood or active classroom, the standing classroom. These classroom types were put to the test vs. the student on summer vacation. It showed that students in the active classroom were just as active as those on summer vacation.

Lanningham- Foster

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This article discussed a Philadephia school that found that the yoga balls helped students in a 5th grade classroom focus and fidget without disrutpion of others learning or their learning. Also, with this movement its allow for some physical activity to occur, which is in turn increaseing their learning time.

Chasmar 2013

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A suburban Philadelphia teacher has decided to ditch the desk chairs for her fifth-grade students and replace them with stability balls.

Robbi Giuliano, a teacher at Westtown-Thornbury Elementary School, suggests that sitting on the brightly colored bouncy balls will help students focus better on their lessons while simultaneously building core strength.

The Associated Press reports that experts suggest the added movement allow children to naturally fidget without disrupting the class.

"I have more attentive children," Ms. Giuliano said. "I'm able to get a lot done with them because they're sitting on yoga balls."

The exercise gear is part an effort to "modernize" schools based on research linking physical activity with better learning, John Kilbourne, a professor of movement science at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich., told The Blaze.

Teachers nationwide are experimenting with ways to modernize classrooms, including adjustable-height desks and footrests for students.

"It's the future of education," Mr. Kilbourne asserted.

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Philadelphia elementary school ditches desk chairs for yoga balls

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A suburban Philadelphia teacher has decided to ditch the desk chairs for her fifth-grade students and replace them with stability balls. Robbi Giuliano, a teacher at Westtown-Thornbury Elementary School, suggests that sitting on the brightly colored bouncy balls will help students focus better on their lessons while simultaneously building core strength.

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(Witt, 2001)

Lisa Witt conducted action research at Tavelli Elementary in 2001 in Fort Collins, Co. She studied motor and behaviors of students between the ages of 11- 12. She found that male and female students showed an increase in posture, flexibility, range of motion, balance, squirminess, and ability to stay on task with the use of the yoga balls. She used pre and post tests using specific activitys or exercises to note the changes and collect her data.