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Out with the chairs

‘Alternative seating’ comes to Miller

T-R PHOTO BY ADAM SODDERS Bright blue stability balls have taken over Miller Middle School eighth grade literature teacher Shea Hill’s classroom, and she said the switch from regular chairs has made a noticeable difference in students’ ability to focus on classwork. Though optional, the stability balls have proven popular in her class.

Can students benefit from changing the way they sit?

Stability balls can normally be found in gyms, but one Miller Middle School teacher has brought them into her classroom as an alternative to sitting in a chair.

“Alternative seating is the new trend in education,” said Miller eighth grade literature teacher Shea Hill, whose classroom now has 25 large, durable, blue stability balls.

She said in just over a week of having the new sitting options in the classroom, her students are sitting up and paying attention better in class. She said she’s seen less “slumping” while the students work in class.

“It has helped a lot of my students focus,” Hill said, adding students with attention deficit disorders may benefit from the stability balls. “I had to really focus on the expectations at first.”

Hill said she holds strict rules on the use of the new seats. For instance, only minimal bouncing is allowed while sitting and kicking, throwing and other disruptive behavior is prohibited. Students must stay “in their space” in order to use the stability balls.

“It allows (students) to fidget in a positive way,” she said of the new furniture.

Additionally, Hill said the stability balls offer physical health benefits for the students.

“(The stability balls) are really good for posture and core muscles,” she said.

The 25 stability balls cost just under $400, Hill said, and they were donated by Donorschoose.org, a site where teachers can apply to receive helpful items. She said some of the students’ family members donated to the site to help cover the cost.

“I honestly didn’t expect to get them,” Hill said. “They’re anti-burst, but we still keep sharp objects away from them.”

Some students prefer a traditional seating setup while in class, so Hill said she kept regular chairs around for those who feel they learn better that way.

In the future, she said she may try to get other items, such as desks for students to stand and work at, to help improve focus in class.

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