Brandywine Heights Elementary teacher Katie Hess recently introduced under-desk cycles to her second graders to allow them to channel their energy into motion, improving concentration, mood, and overall academic achievement.
“I’m used to squirming around in my seat but when I pedal I don’t really do that anymore. The pedal cycles remind me of my bike at home and I really like them,” said second grader Jenna Maioriello.
“I really like the pedal cycles because they really get kids to move more and the pedals help kids not feel bored while doing school work,” said second grader Addison Henninger.
“I like being active during my school work and if I don’t feel like sitting still I can move around. These cycles are special to us because we are trying to pedal across Berks County,” said second grader Abby Kline.
Hess applied for a Berks County Community Foundation grant in December to purchase under-desk cycles, and found out in January that the grant proposal had been approved. Her original grant proposal was for $317, which would have been enough to purchase 10 pedal cycles.
“I was so grateful to learn that they provided additional funding toward the grant, which allowed me to purchase 15 cycles,” she said.
There are 21 students in her class, so Hess decided to purchase an additional seven cycles to have a class set of 22. The family of one of her students, the Demerjian family, sponsored the cost of two cycles.
“I am so thankful and happy to have a full class set for my students, rather than just 10 cycles. With the additional funding, students now each have their own cycle to use whenever they want throughout the school day,” said Hess.
Hess learned about the under-desk cycles after seeing a story on a TV news program about an elementary school teacher who used pedal cycles in her classroom.
“The teacher and students said how beneficial the cycles had been for students’ overall concentration, mood, and that students who tended to fidget in their seats were better able to focus on instruction,” said Hess. “I kept this news story in mind in hopes of finding some sort of funding to purchase pedal cycles for my own classroom.”
After conducting some research online about different types of cycles, their functions, and range of expense, Hess also conducted research about integrating fitness and movement into the classroom.
“And the many benefits for students when they are allowed to MOVE,” she said. “When Principal Stephanie Kelly emailed our staff about the classroom grant opportunity available through BCCF, I thought that this could be the opportunity I had been hoping for to be able to purchase pedal cycles for my students.”
She hopes students love coming to school each day and are happy when they are in her classroom.
“The pedal cycles provide them frequent opportunities throughout the day to move and exercise, while doing their school work and while I am teaching. Pedaling throughout the day seems to improve their mood, focus, and overall concentration,” said Hess. “The students who had more difficulty sitting still throughout instruction are now encouraged to be active!”
Hess said students know it’s ok to move and focus on instruction at the same time.
“I’m hoping that the addition of pedal cycles in our classroom also encourages students to be more active and set fitness goals for themselves. I am anxious to see if there are noticeable gains in academic performance now that movement is integrated throughout all academic areas,” she said.
Students have the option to use the pedals while taking tests.
“Recently, many students chose to pedal while taking a math and reading test and their scores seemed to support that pedaling improved their performance. Their math test averages were some of the highest all year and the majority of the class scored 100 percent on their reading tests,” said Hess. “What I have also noticed is an overall increase in the class’s attention and ability to focus.”
Hess and the students will track miles pedaled. The pedal cycles have a built in LCD display that keeps track of time and distance. Each day, students will keep track of their time and distance pedaled and record it on a chart at their desks. Monthly, they will figure out a total class distance and miles pedaled and record them on a poster displayed outside their classroom.
“Students are hoping that with their combined pedaling efforts, they can pedal across Berks County, approximately 45 miles, by the end of the school year,” said Hess.
Brandywine Heights Elementary School Principal Stephanie Kelly said the students are even more excited to enter their classroom and learn with these under-desk cycles.
“There are several opportunities to make cross-curricular connections with what these cycles can do. The students will have increased physical activity, supporting health and physical education,” sad Kelly. “Students at the elementary level naturally have high energy which sometimes gets in the way of learning. It allows students to channel their energy into motion which helps improve their concentration and focus, mood, and overall academic achievement. The students are less fidgety already!”
Kelly is grateful that Berks County Community Foundation supported Hess with fulfilling this request.
Brandywine Heights Superintendent Andrew Potteiger said, “Research shows that movement is critical to learning and extending the attention span of individuals. By investing in pedal cycles, students are simultaneously enhancing their academic experience and learning potential as their bodies are physically moving, optimizing the learning potential. It is amazing to watch the students as they pedal away while concentrating on their school work.”
Second grader Brandon Heckman likes keeping track of how far he pedals.
“The one thing I really like is that I can pedal whenever I want during the school day,” said Heckman. “It makes me feel really good to have the pedals there, like when I have to think really hard about school work or when I am taking tests. It makes me feel good to pedal while I am working.”
Second grader Zoey Demerjian said they are fun and like setting a distance goal.
“It helps me do my school work better because before the pedal cycles, I would always fidget around to find the most comfortable spot and now with the pedal cycles, I can focus more on my school work,” said Demerjian.
“Having the pedal cycles is better than just sitting still. I like being able to move when I want to and not have to sit still,” said Charlotte Ronco.
“I like the pedal cycles because they are very good for me because I get to exercise in school. The pedal cycles come in many colors but we got silver ones and I like the silver the best,” said Quinn Myers.
Hess wants to thank the Berks County Community Foundation and the following funds within the BCCF for making this possible: the Berks County Association of School Retirees Scholarship, the Public Educational Foundation Fund for Instructional Innovation, and the Ben Franklin Trust Fund. She also thanked the Demerjian family of Mertztown for sponsoring this classroom opportunity.
