Fidget to Focus in the Classroom
One thing Dr. Rotz and I dream of is that Fidget to Focus one day will be required reading for every elementary and high school teacher. Imagine how the school experience would change for all children if teachers understood the neuro-biological reason for fidgeting and and used fidgeting to enhance learning rather than trying to eliminate it! This month we got one step closer to that dream.
The Education Minnesota Professional Conference is Minnesota’s largest professional development event for educators. This year, Dr. Rotz was the keynote speaker. His presentation was well received by the hundreds of educators there, and at the bookstore Fidget to Focus sold out! For those who are interested, here’s the PowerPoint from his presentation: Fidget to Focus-Sensory System Impact on ADHD Minnesota
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I am from an Illinois university located 35 miles south of Chicago. I learned of the stand-up desks from a graduate student’s in-class report. Since that time, I have attempted to get as much information as possible from the Internet. I know these desks have been used in the elementary schools, but I don’t have any information about them being used in high schools. Many of my graduate students, who are also full-time high school teachers, are very interested in experimenting with these desks. High schools have many identified and many unidentified students who have attention deficit disorders. We believe the high schools in our region will welcome some experimentation.
Research with high schoolers is just beginning, but additional work and observations by teachers would be wonderful! This comment has been forwarded to Safco Products Company, a division of Liberty Diversified Industries, in Hopkins, MN which now manufactures the AlphaBetter desks. You are correct, most info from the Marine Elementary website in Stilwater, MN is in regard to the initial work done with students there. Individual who contact me directly are added to an ‘update’ list on how this project is progressing. Anyone interested may send an e-mail to (as you did, Dr. Alexander!)
Collaboration is making this a reality for students of all ages!