Implementation Plan

CHRISTINA FOUT
MAT718

Problem Statement

The students in my classroom have a constant need to be moving or

fidgeting to keep their brains engaged. In my regular classroom chairs
are continuously banging on the ground, students are standing up
constantly and fidgeting is nonstop. From my observations, the chairs
are a distraction from the learning that should be taking place and they
do not stimulate the students brains.

Baseline Date

I have 9 students with ADHD and all 9 of them are on a behavior plan. On average,
I write about 3 referrals a week caused by off task behavior that leads to other
problems.

I believe that the first step to solving this problem is differentiating the classroom
environment. A 2009 study published in the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
demonstrated that children, especially those with attention deficit-hyperactivity
disorder, tend to move around more when they are using working memory to solve
problems. The upshot is that fidgety behavior in children may look like distraction
but can actually facilitate the learning process by helping them maintain focus
(2013). I believe that implementing alternative seating in my classroom will
eliminate the off task behaviors and an observational assessment will measure
whether or not it succeeded.

Measureable Goals
Professional Goal

The teacher will implement alternative seating in the classroom. Students will
choose between regular seats, pillows, yoga balls and bean bags. This will allow
students choices as well as keep my ADHD students constantly stimulated and
eliminate off task behaviors.
The teacher will conduct a daily behavior assessment to see patterns or changes in
off task behaviors.

Learner Goal

The learners goal is to be more activity engaged in classroom lessons. Being

more engaged in the lessons will increase student achievement in the long run.

Professional Outcomes
Professional Outcomes

1. The teacher will arrange the room with the new alternative seating plan. Students
will be allowed to select their new seat every morning. That will be there seat for the
entire day.
Success Criterion: The success will be determined by student opinion.

Planned Artifact: Results of a student satisfaction survey given before and after the
implementation of the action research

2. The amount of referrals written each week by teacher will be eliminated completely.

Success Criterion: The amount of referrals that are typed into our referral system.

Planned Artifact: Referrals

Learner Outcomes
1. The students will be actively engaged during every classroom lesson.

Success Criterion: The teacher will conduct an observational assessment to record off task
disruptive behaviors.

Planned Artifact: Observational Assessment

2. The students will increase their success on our school wide NWEA assessment in math and reading.

Success Criterion: The students took the NWEA assessment in January. After implementing
alternative seating for 8 weeks I will administer the test again.
Success will be determined by a 2-3 point growth in their scores.

Planned Artifact: Math and reading scores on NWEA assessment

Procedures

Before research begins I will give my students the satisfaction survey about their current seats. I will also conduct an
observational assessment for 1 week documenting all of the off task behaviors in my classroom.

Before I can begin I must set up my classroom. I will have 4 yoga balls, 4 bean bag chairs, 4 low desks with pillow, 4
regular desks, and 4 standing desks.

Week 1:

The process will begin by explaining my expectations to the students. They must come in and select their seat for the day.
They cannot switch seats and they will lose their seat if they are not being responsible.

Week 2-3:

Continue with instruction as usual. Continue to do daily observational assessment.

Week 4:

At the end of the week I will conduct my post student satisfaction survey

To Achieve My Goals I will..

Arrange classroom in a manner that in conducive to learning.

Properly teach expectations so ensure that alternative seating runs

smoothly

Record all observations on a daily basis

Give the pre and post satisfaction survey and compare and contrast
results

Interview with Colleague

Mrs. Wilson is already using differentiated seating in her class. She

loves it and sees a difference in behavior with her students that have
ADHD. However she wishes that she would have spent more time going
over rules and procedures because some students who do not have
AHDH abuse the medicine balls and do not use them for their correct
purpose.

Research

A 2009 study published in the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology demonstrated that children,
especially those with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, tend to move around more when they are
using working memory to solve problems. The upshot is that fidgety behavior in children may look like
distraction but can actually facilitate the learning process by helping them maintain focus (2013).

Then in 2003, a study was published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy concluding that
in students with ADHD, sitting on therapy balls improved behavior and legible word productivity. In
other words, students using ball chairs were able to sit still, focus and write more words clearly.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester seconded those findings in 2007 with a study on the benefits of a chairless
classroom. In the Mayo study, which focused on improving learning and reducing obesity by making
children more active, researchers found that the ability to move around more while sitting made the
students more attentive. Mayo Clinic communications consultant Bob Nellis told the Minneapolis-St.
Paul Star Tribune that he believes this is because kids are able to burn off excess energy by bouncing
on a ball. (Lynch)

References

Alternative Seating for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder:Effects on Classroom Behavior. (n.d.). Retrieved January 27, 2016, from
http://www.thera-bandacademy.com/elements/clients/docs/schilling2004ball__201012DD_104043.pdf

Book Review: A Birds-Eye View of Life with ADD and AD/HD | ADDitude - ADHD & LD Adults and Children. (n.d.). Retrieved January 27, 2016, from
http://www.additudemag.com/adhd-web/article/584.html

DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION Dr Hallowell ADHD and mental and cognitive health. (n.d.). Retrieved January 27, 2016, from
http://www.drhallowell.com/books/driven-to-distraction-recognizing-and-coping-with-attention-deficit-disorder-from-childhood-through-adulthood/

Effect of Therapy Ball Seating on Learning and Sitting Discomforts among Saudi Female Students. (n.d.). Retrieved January 27, 2016, from
file:///C:/Users/c_fou/Downloads/153165.pdf

Exercise Ball vs. Desk Chair - The New York Times. (n.d.). Retrieved January 27, 2016, from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/health/21really.html?
_r=0

Forget the neat rows of desks, Michigan Center students stay on task in alternative seating. (n.d.). Retrieved January 27, 2016, from
http://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/index.ssf/2014/12/forget_the_neat_rows_of_desks.html

How Sitting on a Balance Ball Helps Kids Do Better In School | Gaiam Life. (n.d.). Retrieved January 27, 2016, from http://life.gaiam.com/article/howsitting-ball-helps-kids-focus-and-do-better-school

Six Alternative Seating Options in the Classroom for a Child with Special Needs. (n.d.). Retrieved January 27, 2016, from
http://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2014/11/03/six-alternative-seating-arrangements-for-a-child-with-special-needs/

(Alternative Seating for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder:Effects on Classroom Behavior, n.d., Book Review: A Birds-Eye View of Life with
ADD and AD/HD | ADDitude - ADHD & LD Adults and Children, n.d., DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION Dr Hallowell ADHD and mental and cognitive health,
n.d., Effect of Therapy Ball Seating on Learning and Sitting Discomforts among Saudi Female Students, n.d., Exercise Ball vs. Desk Chair - The New
York Times, n.d., Forget the neat rows of desks, Michigan Center students stay on task in alternative seating, n.d., How Sitting on a Balance Ball
Helps Kids Do Better In School | Gaiam Life, n.d., Six Alternative Seating Options in the Classroom for a Child with Special Needs, n.d.)