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"I Need to Move"
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From Upworthy, a beautiful and moving piece about kids who are different (because of their brains, not their personality.) Maybe we need more of these stand-up desk classrooms. There's even a movement, Stand Up Kids.
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Anonymous said…
Great link, Melissa -- thanks. What we need is rooms (and teachers) that accommodate all kinds of learning styles -- the whole goal is to remove or minimize barriers to learning. For "itchy feet" kids, that might mean a standing desk (or exercise balls to sit on, they helped one of my sensory disordered kids -- as did chewing gum -- or something else to chew on). For a kid with low muscle tone, it might require a regular desk (or even an ability to sit in an upholstered chair part of the day). For kids who cannot concentrate if they have to maintain eye contact, it means allowing them to avert their eyes so they can actually free up "brain band width" to listen to what is being said, and formulate a response (I had one of these too). For kids distracted by any movement, it might mean carrels with sides to block visual distractions -- and/or headphones to block out extraneous noise.
I still grow teary with gratitude over the teachers my kids had who were willing to truly see them, to truly listen to what they needed, and to make accommodations (none of which cost anything -- except the exercise ball and the weighted vest -- both of which I supplied) to make their classrooms as learning-friendly as possible.
AnotherSPEDParent
Anonymous said…
My child's class has Wiggle Seats (sensory chair cushions) for every child who wants one and bins clearly labeled fidget toys. I like that these tools are available to every child so there is no stigma to using them.
West Seattle
Anonymous said…
Great ideas! My kinetic child was allowed to sit on an exercise ball one year (we got the kind with the weighted bottom so it wouldn't roll away). It helped a lot. Then the next teacher banned them from the class and said we would have to have an IEP to use one. I hope one day all teachers will learn to accommodate kids who learn better with movement.
BT
Anonymous said…
My child's teacher has exercise balls but if you wiggle in them she takes it away as punishment. Kinda defeats the purpose.
2boysclub
Anonymous said…
My child has been labeled as having a 'behavioral problem' because he wiggles and has a hard time sitting still. He has a wiggle wedge but just needs to move. They are hoping to create a standing desk for the wiggly children. I find it strange anyone would expect 5 year olds or even 45 year olds to sit all day long :)
Anonymous said…
I am always amused by medical studies that claim that some behavior or other increases the risk of death. Seems like the risk of death is 100%, and nothing is going to change that.
easily entertained
Anonymous said…
My child's third grade classroom has a four person "stand up" desk that any student can migrate to to do work standing up. They can also work at their desk, on the floor, where ever they feel comfortable and productive to output. Some of the 2nd and 4th grade classrooms have "wiggle" (or balance) stools for seats. Some of the wiggles stools are used at computer stations, some are for individual students.
Additionally, after a massive furniture screw up via our SPS furniture person, the first grade classrooms had to go without chairs for several weeks. The positive outcome of the Case of the Missing Chairs: teachers noticed interesting behavior improvements for all kids, especially "wigglers." The teachers lowered the tables and the kids "sit" on the floor/small rugs/or pillows. It's a subject of immense interest for school tours, "I noticed your first grade classrooms don't have chairs..."
As an adult who has worked at sitting jobs and frequently would pick up a manila envelope and just walk around the building, go get coffee, etc. to get a little break, I love that our school is responsive and adaptive to children and their need to move. When we adjust our "expectations" for little children and treat them and their needs respectfully (and look at our own preferences and behaviors) -- it's quite amazing how some slight adjustments improve things.
The speaker list is up for the Board meeting tomorrow; not as packed as I thought with just four people on the waitlist. The majority of the speakers are speaking on high school boundaries (with several wanting to talk about Ballard High). There are only three of us speaking about the Green Dot resolution asking the City to not grant the zoning departures that Green Dot has requested. It's me, long-time watchdog, Chris Jackins, and the head of the Washington State Charter Schools Association, Patrick D'Amelio. (I knew Mr. D'Amelio when he headed the Alliance for Education and Big Brothers and Big Sisters; he's a stand-up guy.)
This may only be a partial list of reasons; please, add anything else in the comments. The deadline to file to run for the Board is May 19th. Entire Board Majority NOT vetting the Superintendent in any way, shape or form. Even the Seattle Times thought that was wrong. It was just absolute hubris and it was wrong. For the second time in just over a year , board members voted to negotiate a superintendent contract during a special meeting with no opportunity for public comment. This time, they showed an even deeper disregard for their responsibilities as public servants: Aborting a national search for a new superintendent and denying Interim Superintendent Brent Jones a chance to show students, parents and taxpayers that, indeed, he is the best person for the job. Government bodies can’t fast-forward through transparent processes just because they think they know the right answer. One other odd thing about the hiring of Brent Jones - most permanent SPS superintendent contracts ar
Update 5 It appears that there is another person running in Director Rankin's district, Michael Christophersen. He has run before. From past interactions when he was running before, he's not school board material in the least and he comes off as creepy. (The King County Elections listing is unclear; he's on there as both running and withdrawing.) If he stays in the race, it will mean a primary for that district. That could be interesting because then you would see if Rankin - after pretty much ignoring Ingraham High parents as well as Broadview-Thomson parents and their safety concerns - truly has support in her own district. As well, there is another contender in District 6 and she's Maryanne Wood. Ms Wood's LinkedIn page says she is a "shift lead" at Kinetic Builders but there are no dates for her employment. The company is a general contracting company. I can't find much more about her. end of update Update 4 - To make it clear: District 1 (Ranki
Comments
I still grow teary with gratitude over the teachers my kids had who were willing to truly see them, to truly listen to what they needed, and to make accommodations (none of which cost anything -- except the exercise ball and the weighted vest -- both of which I supplied) to make their classrooms as learning-friendly as possible.
AnotherSPEDParent
West Seattle
BT
2boysclub
easily entertained
Additionally, after a massive furniture screw up via our SPS furniture person, the first grade classrooms had to go without chairs for several weeks. The positive outcome of the Case of the Missing Chairs: teachers noticed interesting behavior improvements for all kids, especially "wigglers." The teachers lowered the tables and the kids "sit" on the floor/small rugs/or pillows. It's a subject of immense interest for school tours, "I noticed your first grade classrooms don't have chairs..."
As an adult who has worked at sitting jobs and frequently would pick up a manila envelope and just walk around the building, go get coffee, etc. to get a little break, I love that our school is responsive and adaptive to children and their need to move. When we adjust our "expectations" for little children and treat them and their needs respectfully (and look at our own preferences and behaviors) -- it's quite amazing how some slight adjustments improve things.
Signed,
(Happy) Mom of Wigglers
Queen Anne Elementary