Directed and Intentional Movement in the Classroom
Gene Bedley
Students who have a tendency or need to move more than others can be taught to replace inappropriate movement that distracts others with non-distracting movement that is acceptable to the teacher.
You Can:
1. Replace traditional chairs with “Beach Ball” chairs. Many younger children learn better when bouncing. Make sure you take a lot of air out of the beach ball so there is no chance of falling over.
2. Consider purchasing some “Thera-Band tubing” ( big flexible rubber band sheets) to be tied to the two from legs of a chair that the child can bounce his legs off while sitting in the chair.
3. Purchase “Fun Noodles” that are used in a swimming or wading pool and cut them into 8″ length pieces and place under their desk, Kids can roll their feet across as they work and this limits disruptions to other students.
4. Teach children ways to move legs up and down rather than using legs and feet to interrupt or trip other students. All of these ideas can be placed on the OK Options board in your classroom so when kids make an inappropriate response you can remind them there are ok options for the classroom.
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