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ANDREW, Iowa (AP) — During the first days of the school year in Andrew Community School District, fourth-grade students in Angie Read's class each tried out a new "standing desk" — the latest addition to the classroom.
"All of my students have used it," Read said. "At first, it was just the new thing, and everyone wanted to do it. Now, I'm just seeing the students that really need it are the ones that are going back there and using it."
This year, one standing desk was placed in each classroom at the district's lone school, which has about 175 students. The desks aim to aid the students who are more inclined to move around, allowing them to stay attentive by standing, the Telegraph Herald (http://bit.ly/1KaNtxc ) reported.
"It's just that ability to get that fidget factor out and still focus on your work," Read said.
Fifteen desks — each costing about $200 — were placed throughout the school this year, according to Principal Tara Notz. School officials were able to find funds to order one desk per classroom.
Notz brought the idea to her staff before the school year. School workers supported it.
"It was something we wanted to make a priority and really try this year," she said.
Notz said school officials hope to incorporate more standing desks or alternative types of seating next year.
"We know that not everyone learns in the same way, so we want to be able to provide kids with choice and give them the materials and the resources that they need to learn in the best way they can," she said.
Read has enjoyed watching her students monitor their desk usage. She said they let each other take turns.
"It's been cool seeing them be able to figure that out," she said.
Read recalled the class' first successful experiment with the desk. She selected a student who had not been paying attention that day to use the desk when it first was introduced to the class. After switching to the standing desk, the student performed much better in class.
"You could see that they were just proud to really be able to be successful in their own way with just that small tool -- the ability to stand up and work," she said.
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Information from: Telegraph Herald, http://www.thonline.com
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