By: Diana Johnsen
djohnsen@kcautv.com
Chairs are out and yoga balls are in.
At least that's the case for one middle school class at Sacred Heart School in Sioux City.
"When I sit in a chair, I just get kind of bored and don't concentrate as well. But for some reason, when I sit on the yoga ball I feel like I can concentrate lot better," said 6th Grade Anna Plathe.
Through the school's "PE for Life Committee", the school got the balls to help students engage in more physical activity and stay alert in class.
"Studies find that kids concentrate a lot longer. They're less fidgety. We thought what better way to try it out in our school," said Natalia Toddly, Sacred Heart's Literacy teacher.
Toddly added that yes, bouncing on them is definitely encouraged.
"Absolutely! That's the whole purpose of it to just do subtle bouncing and to let yourself release that energy."
But, if bouncing gets out of control, it is three strikes and the ball is gone.
Toddly said that students get the option to use them.
Most though said they prefer them and hope one day all classrooms will use them.
"I like it. Especially when you're switching classes, then you don't have to go back to a chair you can go just go back to a yoga ball," said 6th Grader, Julianna Hurlburt.
