So, I know stability balls in the classroom is nothing new. I'm always late to the party. Always. I'm finally considering a pair of Uggs. I just have to sit on some things before I jump on board. I've never been called a trendsetter.
I blogged about alternative seating {here} I really thought I was going to do it, but I chickened out. I couldn't envision my kiddos sitting in bean bags and on exercise balls that first day of school. My heart started to palpitate just thinking about it.
Instead, I decided to ease into it. Our awesome PTA purchased 6 stability balls for my classroom and I can't wait to start using them. I had to decide what rules I was going to have to keep everybody safe. {My current palpitator perpetrator is somebody falling off and bonking their head}. I'll introduce the rules on Monday and hope for the best! As you know, I've got a lot of boys this year, so I'm really hoping this helps productively contain their wiggles.
Once Daily 5 is up and running and I've opened up our Book Nooks I think I'll let my students work using these special areas/seats at other times during the day. Slow and steady...
If you use stability balls in your classroom, do you have any tips or tricks you'd like to share? If you are a teacher who would never considering using them, share your thinking too. I'm curious!
Happy weekend!
Toodles...
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| Click the picture to pick up a copy free... |
If you use stability balls in your classroom, do you have any tips or tricks you'd like to share? If you are a teacher who would never considering using them, share your thinking too. I'm curious!
Happy weekend!
Toodles...
I'd be just as scared as you...sorry I'm not helping!
ReplyDeleteYou've piqued my curiosity ... I blogged about Bouncy Bands this week ... I think those might be safer. Can't WAIT to hear how it goes ... you're SO brave to pioneer into new territory ... and those kids are gonna LOVE it, especially the boys!
ReplyDeleteBarbara
Before I moved schools, I had 5 stability balls in my classroom (purchased by PTA) that my students loved. I would pull tickets for the students to sit on them during the day. They loved them. They sat on them at their desks, when we went to the rug, and in small group. We went over rules before tickets were pulled, and if the broke the rules their ball was taken away and no one would use it for the day. No one wanted their ball taken away from them.
ReplyDeleteHey Honey!
ReplyDeleteI so need to get back into blogging! Gosh, I just don't know what happened to my time! I'm glad to read that you're going to try out these balls. I have a few students who could use them! How will you decide which students get to use them?
Patty
Hey Patty Lady,
DeleteI know what you mean about blogging...sometimes it just has to take a back seat!
I think I'm going to pick sticks and let those kids try them out for the day at their desks. After that, I'm not sure - was thinking of letting them use them at my guided reading table. Depends on how bouncy they are...
Work in progress...
Thanks for stopping by, sweet pea!!!!
In my room, each day 5 or 6 kids change their books...so if it is your book change day, then you get a ball. This seems to help my slow-poke book pickers...the pick quicker to get to their ball.
DeleteLaurie
Chickadee Jubilee
In my classroom we use the WittFitt stability ball. We LOVE them!!! Each student has one. This will be my third year with them. I also teach first grade. Several classes in our school have them. We were able to purchase them through a SHIP grant. We always ease our way into using them. WittFitt has a program developed specifically for the classroom. There are special size balls for different ages. (www.wittfitt.com) The guides can work for any stability ball not just the WittFitt balls.. The students have to EARN the right to sit on the stability ball. They have to show they can sit properly in their regular chair first. It is amazing how much the ball is an incentive to have the good posture and feet on the floor. I love your rules poster. I have one but it is not as colorful. One additional rule I have is that they have to sit up straight. They also have to sign a contract to promise to treat the ball with respect and obey the safety rules. Parents also have to sign a permission slip. I know you will love them. At first the bouncing is hard to get use to, but after awhile you really don't notice it. GOOD LUCK!!!
ReplyDeleteWe love the stability balls. This poster is exactly what we needed this week! We also are getting 4 Hokki stools...can't wait for them to be delivered.
ReplyDeleteLaurie
Chickadee Jubilee
Which ones did you get? The ones like Jessica's? My kids are so squirly, it makes me wonder if it would help if I just got them for everyone!
ReplyDeleteYou will LOVE them! This is my 5th year with a full class set. I started on day 1 and have only had one little friend have an issue this year. He seems to think it's a game to roll them around the room during readers workshop. Ugh! He'll get used to them.... I hops :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
yhNew Adventures in First Grade
Thanks for the freebie! I have a donor who saw my project on Donor's Choose for stability balls contact me outside of Donor's chose to donate ball for my room / school. They're coming this week! This is great timing for helping me introduce my kiddos to how to use them properly!
ReplyDeleteHey Lady! I just got some of these for my classroom and googling rules for them, I came across yours! :) I'll blog about it soon. :)
ReplyDelete