Using Chair Balls™ in the
Classroom
Objectives
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Purpose of Activity: To share alternative teaching strategies with
other teachers to enhance learning.
Objectives:
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Teachers will have a clear understanding of ADHD and the effects it
has on a student’s ability to learn.
Teachers will become aware of the different problems and
educational concerns found in a typical classroom.
Teachers will have a clear and in-depth understanding of the
purpose of Chair Balls™ and how to effectively use them in their
classrooms.
Teachers will gain a better understanding of the research behind
Chair Balls™ and their effectiveness in the classroom.
Teachers will be given the opportunity to provide feedback and ask
questions about the activity.
Teachers will be given adequate provisions to identify needs which
may not have been previously identified.
Educational Concerns
Fidgeting
What
off-task behaviors have you observed in
 Standing (out of seat)
your classroom?
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Wandering Around
Day Dreaming
Pacing While Working
Talking Excessively
How can we minimize these behaviors?
Chair Balls™
Who?
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Students who are diagnosed with ADHD.
Students who have not been diagnosed with ADHD.
The typical regular education student.
Students with special needs
“Children diagnosed with ADHD experience academic and sensory
motor problems that make typical school activities a challenge”
(Mulligan, 2001).
What?
“A stability ball is a heavy duty rubber ball filled with air from 45 to
75 centimeters in diameter; they are available with or without 4, 2
inch rubber legs. The legs do not stabilize the ball, but they
prevent the ball from rolling away when the person rises” (Bill,
2008).
Chair Ball™
Stability Ball (generic term)
Swiss Ball
Fit Ball
Gym-nic Ball™
Sit “N” Gym Ball™
Physic Ball
Therapy Ball
Gymnastic Ball
Aerobic Ball
Yoga Ball
Exercise Ball
Balance Ball
When/Where?
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“European Schools have been using therapy balls
and other types of dynamic seating devices in the
classroom as chairs to improve back health since
at least 1988” (Swiss Journal of Physical
Education, 1994).
“Currently therapy balls are being used as the
primary seating in over 5,000 classrooms in
Switzerland” (Spaulding, et al., 1999).
How?
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Chair Balls™ replace the need for regular classroom chairs.
Students sit on the Chair Balls™ while they are at their desks or in
small groups.
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Safety
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Chair Balls™ vs. Chairs
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Rules
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Students aren’t leaning back in their chairs.
Bottom has to stay in contact with the ball
No excessive bouncing
No drumming
Chair Ball™ legs must be in contact with the floor at all times
One foot must have contact with the floor
Consequences
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Lose ball for day
Why?
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Unique and innovative way to decrease off-task
behaviors and improve listening and engagement in the
classroom
Possibly enhances academic performances
“The whole theory with the brain is that when your body’s
engaged, your brain’s engaged” (Miller, 2009).
Please enjoy the following video about
Chair Balls ™.
What has Research Found?
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Witt and Talbot (1998) stated, “Children in a private Florida
school who began sitting on therapy balls demonstrated overall
improvements and work habits, particularly in attention and
classroom behavior”.
Schilling and Washington (2003) indicated that both in-seat
behaviors and legible work productivity improved when seated on
the therapy balls.
Schilling and Schwartz (2004) found substantial improvements
with in-seat behaviors and engagement in all participants when
seated on therapy balls.
Bennett (2007) found, “Increased activity levels and enhanced
physical fitness influence cognition and alertness in the
classroom”.
“They’re awesome,” said 10-year-old James Howell, a fourth
grader at Bauder Elementary School. “They help you focus, they
help you keep your structure and sometimes you get to bounce on
them and get the wiggles out.” (USA Today, 2009)
References
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Bill, V. (2008). Effects of stability balls on behavior and achievement in the special
education classroom. Southwest minnesota state university . Retrieved (2010,
January 21) from http://student-healthissues.suite101.com/article.cfm/no_
more_classroom_chairs
Chambers, T. (Producer). (2006). Adhd visual picture anology. [Web]. Retrieved from
http://www.adhdawareness.com/ADHD-visual-picture.html
Date, S. (Producer). (2008). Classroom's chairs bounced for exercise balls. [Web].
Retrieved from http://www.minipost.com/stevedate/2008/04/24/24/1616/
video_report_classroomchairs_bounced_for_exercise_balls,com
Henderson, K. (2004). Teaching children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder:
instructional strategies and practices. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of
Education.
Huebner, R. A. (2001). Autism: A sensorimotor approach. Gaithersburg, Maryland: Aspen
Publishers Inc.
Johnson-Ecker, C., & Parham, L. D. (2000). The evaluation of sensory processing: a validity
study using contrasting groups. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 54494503
Kauffinan, J. (2001). Characteristics of emotional and behavioral disorders of children and
youth (7th ed.). Columbus: Merrill Prentice Hall.
References Continued
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Llli, U. (1994). Balls instead of chairs in the classroom? Swiss Journal of Physical
Education, 6, 37-39.
Mayo Clinic News (2006). Retrieved on March 14, 2010 from
http://www.mayoclinic.org/levine-classroom-future.
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Mulligan, S. (2001). Classroom strategies used by teachers of students with attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 20, 25-44
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Puliti, B. (2007). Standing room only. Advance for Occupational Therapists. 23 (1). 40.
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Pytel, B (2007, November 21). No more classroom chairs: Students are sitting on exercise
balls. Student
health Issues.
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Schilling, D., Washington, K., Billingsley, F., & Deitz, J. (2003). Classroom seating for
children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: therapy balls versus chairs. The
American
Journal of Occupational Therapy, 57(5),
Witt, D., &Talbot,R. (1998, February). Let’s get out kids on the ball Advance for
Physical Therapists, 27-28.
Wyatt, Kristen. (2009, March 04). No chairs: students "get the wiggles out" on exercise balls.
USA Today, E1-E2.