Ben Franklin Students Have a ‘Ball’ in The Classroom

The familiar sound of students’ plastic and metal chairs screeching and grinding on the linoleum floor of Kathy Gebauer’s second-grade classroom has been replaced with a different sound.

“When we first got them in the classroom, it sounded like there was distant thunder outside,” Gebauer said. “But I realized it was just the sound of our new ‘chairs.’”

The new ‘chairs’ Gebauer is referring to, are actually inflatable therapy balls that have become the new seating for students in her class at . The rolling of the rubber across the linoleum floor creates that subtle sound of distant thunder as students reposition themselves on the balls.

Gebauer has always been an innovator in the classroom. She experiments with styles of music during student work time, she’s always searching for innovative grants online, and was one of the first onboard to bring SMART Boards into the classroom. Her latest experiment in the classroom started with a conversation with a co-worker about accommodations for students with autism.

“I did a little research online and discovered that therapy balls are a great way to calm students with autism and attention deficiencies,” Gebauer said. “However, when I researched further, I discovered there are benefits for all students.”

, a physical therapist and mother of one of Gebuaer’s students, said the gentle bouncing while sitting on a therapy ball helps comfort students with autism, and also provides a release for nervous energy in a student with attention deficiencies.  For other students, sitting on the therapy balls improves posture and helps build core muscles essential to future back health.

“I’ve been a therapist for 18 years and it’s a tool you’ll see in every clinic. Their stomach muscles are working as they sit there during the day,” Rosser said. “As a mother and a professional, I think this is just fantastic.”

Gebauer said her class is in the third week of transition from chairs to spheres. She said she has observed a noticeable shift in the concentration levels of her students, as well as a reduction in fidgety behavior.

“Before I had several kids getting up to sharpen pencils, grab a Kleenex and walk around the classroom often. Students also kneeled and fidgeted around in their chairs,” Gebauer said. “Kids are putting their heads down at their desk less, they are staying in their seats longer and staying on task.”

Despite the obvious temptation for students to "bounce" off the walls with 20 giant balls in the classroom, Gebauer said there has been a minimal distraction with her students. Quiet and gentle bouncing is permitted during the day, and students who get out of control are put back in the traditional chair.

“Some teachers have shown interest in this idea, while others have just rolled their eyes,” Gebauer said. “There’s definitely a learning curve for teachers, and it depends on an individual’s teaching style.”

Before incorporating the balls into the classroom, Gebauer received permission from all the parents, and students were given the option to make the switch or stick with the old-fashioned chair. And since students have made the switch, they may have a tough time switching back when they head to third grade.

“They’re more comfortable than the old plastic chair, and you can pay attention more with them,” said Rosser’s son.

Since implementing the new seating arrangement in the classroom, Gebauer said her class has become the envy of the third-graders that walk past her room during the day. Her class in the only one in the school taking a new approach to how they sit.

“We’re always ready to forge new territory her in second grade,” Gebauer said.

With chalkboards giving way to new and improved SMART Boards, it shouldn’t surprise many if this idea gets "rolling,’ and the traditional four-legged chair also becomes an artifact in the vaults of history.