I had the best intentions with this blog. Unfortunately somewhere between the start of school, and today (our last state test day) life, common core, everything, and anything has gotten in the way! I am hoping now that our state test is finished, I will be able to return to a sense of normalcy. Maybe I will even be able to blog a little more often.
Since today is a Wednesday, I thought I would revisit a previous topic for What Works Wednesday.
Previously, I wrote about Bouncy Bands. Scott Ertl, Bouncy Bands CEO sent me the
original bouncy bands, which consisted of recycled bicycle inner tubes
and PVC
pipe to go on the legs of desks.
After lots of feedback, he started
using fasteners to form loops, since it was difficult to tie the tubes to the
desk. Later, the company switched to a rubber bungee cord with fasteners. Last year,
my students fought over the desk that had the Bouncy Band (I had mostly
tables). I was able to stretch a band to fit the end of a table, but the table
shook too much. I loved the bouncy bands, but this year I loaned them to
colleagues that had sets of desks. It was a better use for them.
Bouncy Bands Photograph |
Scott recently contacted my about
the improved bands with better fasteners on the cords. He also had a new sample
for me to try, Bouncy Bands for chairs. Scott sent me two sets of the
improved bands, one for a desk and the other for a chair. I have a chair that
has pegs on the legs, so I was able to use both sets on chairs. J
With
tables, this is the best solution for my classroom. The bouncy bands for chairs
were a big hit.
My students love that they can
bounce their feet while keeping the table still. I love that I have
been able to share my other sets with colleagues. More students have the
opportunity to use the Bouncy Bands. Our occupational therapist has borrowed
sets, and encouraged other teachers to
try them. She is looking into a grant to fund multiple sets for our school and a neighboring district.
The Creative Child Magazine
featured Bouncy Bands as a 2014 Product of the Year.
They are an inexpensive solution to those fidgety students that need to move.
They can be purchased with funds from Donors Choose. Scott has helped even
further by giving a link to a sample project page.
Bouncy Bands are the What Works Wednesday product for this month. Give Bouncy Bands a try.