Literature Connections
To learn more about my wondering I consulted the literature by searching for
articles and journals that discussed the following keywords- movement, attention,
assistive devices, engagement, fidgeting, ADHD, benefits, and learning. I utilized the
USF library databases and other online articles that lead me to the original research.
Article citation
Jensen, E. (2000). Moving
with the Brain in Mind.
Educational Leadership,
58(3), 34-37.
Sarver, D. E., Rapport, M. D.,
Kofler, M. J., Raiker, J. S., &
Friedman, L.M. (2015).
Hyperactivity in Attention-
Deficit/ Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD): Impairing
Deficit or Compensatory
Behavior?. Journal of
Abnormal Child Psychology,
(7), 1219.
Doi:10.1007/s10802-015-
0011-1
Jensen, E. (2005). Chapter 4.
Movement and Learning.
Key quotes and ideas related to
your wondering
Brain research confirms that
activity- moving, stretching,
walking- can actually enhance
the learning process.
Movement increases heart rate
and circulation, which often
increases performance.
Although people can learn
while sitting, the typical notion
of sitting in chairs for an
extended time may be
misguided.
Students may seem restless
and unable to concentrate- or
worse, they may become
undisciplined-when the real
problem is bad ergonomics and
lack of movement.
-Students with ADHD need
movement.
-That does not mean that they
are running around the room
but facilitated the needed
movement so they can maintain
the level of alertness that
movement allows them.
- Chair movements, leg-
swinging, foot tapping, standing
- Movement can be an
effective cognitive
Ideas for taking
action in your
classroom
- Engage students
through movement.
- Being able to wiggle
and wobble in a chair
might not be enough
movement for them.
- Encourage them to
move, wiggle, stand,
etc.
-Watch their behavior
after they have been
sitting for an
extended behavior of
time. Do they start to
wiggle? Fidget? Want
to lay their head
down?
- Will students who
arent diagnosed with
ADHD have the same
benefits?
- Should I allow for
movement with the
wiggle stools?
(Resistance bands,
etc.)
-Record how they
move when using the
wiggle stools
-This article is
mainly talking about
Retrieved February 12, 2017,
from
http://www.ascd.org/publicati
ons/books/104013/chapters/M
ovement-and-Learning.aspx
Kennedy, M. (2016). Creating
Some Wiggle Room.
American School &
University, 88(10), 20-21.
Hartanto, T. A., Krafft, C. E.,
Iosif, A. M., & Schweitzer, J.
B. (2016). A trial-by-trial
analysis reveals more intense
physical activity is associated
with better cognitive control
performance in attention-
deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Child Neuropsychology,
22(5), 618-626.
strategy to
1. strengthen learning
2. improve memory
and retrieval
3. enhance learner
motivation and
morale
-Posture-makes-perfect does
not mean that they are learning
and comprehending
- fidgeting/ restlessness is apart
of the modern classroom
- movability and
maneuverability of seating is
valued by 21st century students
because it facilitated the ability
to work with groups.
-Traditional tablet-arm chairs
are fixed and less comfortable.
-Especially beneficial for
students with ADHD or autism
but are valued for students in
general.
- Overall this study was
interesting to read
because it showed the
individual trials of
students with ADHD o
see how they we
typically developing.
In regards to their
cognitive control.
- However, I feel like this
activity away from
the desk
-So I am curios to see
if having the ability to
move and fidget
throughout the day
would work
collaboratively with
these movements
talked about?
- Are students more
engaged and wiggly
after PE or recess?
-Start noting the
activities done during
recess and PE in
correlation with the
focus and wiggles.
- Wiggle chairs are
not the only option.
They may work for
some students but
wobble cushions
might prove more
beneficial for others.
It is all about the
flexible seating and
choice to move.
- Record how R does
with the wobble
cushion instead of the
wiggle stool.
-See how over
students do standing
and using the wiggle
stools.
-look at the
cognitive
performance of
students using the
wiggle stools.
-Comprehension
checks?
doi:10.1080/09297049.2015.1 was too focused on the
044511 actual ADHD instead of
the movement that
allowed them to develop
and learn within in the
classroom settings.

Overall the articles all talked about how physical activity is so important our daily

lives. This common idea showed that having students sit in a stationary position for a

majority of the school day is not going to be beneficial for their learning or enjoyment of

school. Though the articles varied from a focus on students with ADHD, to movement in

the classroom, and strictly getting physical activity, there was a lot of information and

recommendations that were valuable to me. For example, the articles recommended

recording their movements and what physical activities were done before that lesson.

I believe that I will be implementing a lot of the ideas into my inquiry work.

Some of the things that I read are not directly related to flexible seating and movement

within the classroom, but they are indirectly related. In specific I will be able to see how

the movement is beneficial for students who often feel a lack of motivation to pay

attention and participate when sitting in the traditional seating options. I will also be able

to record my data by looking for very specific behavior. The last week or so I have just

been recording the way they read their book or are sitting on the wiggle chair. Thus, the

actions I decided to take based on the literature were to record their comprehension of the

material after physical activity and use of the wiggle stools, how attentive they are to

classroom instruction, and how they react to sitting for a long period.