Strange new desks promise to help students focus

Sedentary education is now being dismissed at Vallecito Elementary in San Rafael.

span style="line-height: 15.8599996566772px;">MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - The elementary school's students are now standing in class, as the chairs were removed in four of their classrooms. According to one of the grade 4 teachers in Vallecito Elementary, this method of educating students is "the wave of the future."

The project would not be successful if not for the help of parents who were all concerned about how their children have been inactive. The parents were the ones who donated money to the school to buy new desks instead of chairs.

The kids were hesitant with this method at first, as they have found it weird and stressing their legs. During the first few weeks, students claimed to have sore legs, until they eventually became used to it and began to like it.

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For the kids, they think they focus more in class while standing; they find it fun and healthy for them, too.

The students came up with a "fidget bar," which is a swinging foot stand for their new desks. These actually help students let off some steam in the classroom after all the energy they have used during their recess.
 
One of the students, Henry Northcutt was asked if the new desks made him a better student. He answered with a laugh saying "I'm not sure about that part."

For the teachers, this unconventional method of learning in class is a good way of getting their focus on. The concept of this method might seem weird, but they find it an effective way of learning. The students are more attentive in class and they appear to be calmer. The parents of the students also claimed their children are now able to sleep better at night.

According to research from Texas A&M University, using standing desks can help students tune in more in class. Students can stay on tasks better 12 percent more than those who are seated. Also, they found that students who are standing burn 15 percent more calories than those who are seating.

Based on studies, the standing desks increase students' academic behavioral engagement and attention, and lessen their unruly behavior. It seems like, with the use of standing desks, the problem on childhood obesity and how to get the students engage in class may soon be solved.

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