Topeka students have cases of ‘the wiggles,’ but USD 501 has a unique cure

Nothing was quite doing the trick for the handful of students in Madison Bach’s fourth-grade class who were suffering from terrible cases of "the wiggles."

In the Ross Elementary teacher’s classroom and in most elementary classrooms, some students have been finding it hard to concentrate and stay engaged in their classwork.

Turns out that asking anyone, let alone rambunctious and energetic kids, to stay still at a single desk for multiple hours on end is a tall order.

But a new way of learning is helping Bach’s fourth-graders stay more focused during class, while also letting them get all of their "wiggles" out.

Topeka USD 501 is in the process of installing more than 100 standing desks in classrooms around the district, as part of an effort to provide some students with a way to channel their energy in a more focused and less distracting manner.

Standing desks help most distracted students stay focused on learning

Years of studies into standing desks have mostly been directed at usage by adults who work in offices and other similar environments. Their results have shown that standing desks are generally better for users’ health and posture.

Studies that have looked at classroom usage among elementary students have also found those same health benefits, although results haven’t been as clear on how well standing desks help improve academic performance.

However, the limited studies suggest that standing desks at least help facilitate students’ ability to learn, especially among those who struggle to remain focused while sitting at regular desks.

“The students, if they feel they have to roam around, can do it around their desk, rather than doing it all over the classroom or even outside it,” said Bach, the teacher.

In Bach’s class, a couple of standing desks were installed last week to especially help three students who have had trouble staying still for extended periods of time.

So far, they’ve loved them.

“These have been perfect, because standing helps me stay awake when I’m tired,” said fourth-grader Zara Douglas.

“If you have a lot of energy, like if you didn’t get to go out to recess, instead of just sitting down and not getting to get up, we can just use the desk,” classmate Eve Socia said.

More Topeka USD 501 classrooms getting standing desks

As Ross Elementary and other schools begin rolling out their standing desks to more classrooms, school counselor Eva Yerkes said she imagines more students and teachers clamoring for the learning alternative in their classrooms.

In addition to the standing desks in Bach’s classroom, Yerkes has a couple of standing desks in her office to allow children the chance to experiment with a different way of learning and staying on task.

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To be sure, installing a standing desk in a classroom requires some flexibility from the teacher, since the desks can really only be positioned in the back of a classroom, and some teachers might also have to adapt their teaching styles for students who aren’t necessarily sitting during a lesson.

“Ideally, we’d have at least a few in every classroom,” Yerkes said. “When we were first told about these, I immediately thought of a few kids per class who have a lot of energy that this will benefit. Some of the other tools we’ve had haven’t been doing the trick, and these will enable them to pay attention and get ‘the wiggles’ out.”

Bach, the fourth-grade teacher, said it would be a stretch to make the case that every desk should be a standing desk.

But for the few who truly need an alternative, it makes a world of difference.

“From the students’ perspective, I know what it was like,” the teacher said. “I have ADHD and dyslexia, so I completely understand what these kids go through when they don’t have the resources they need to be successful.”

Rafael Garcia is an education reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at rgarcia@cjonline.com or by phone at ‪785-289-5325. Follow him on Twitter at @byRafaelGarcia.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka USD 501 uses standing desks to help students stay focused