Busy feet!

It seems like every year I have a student (usually a boy) who can't sit still or needs to be fidgeting with something in order to pay attention. It took me a long time to realize that when a student is twiddling with something in their desk, doodling, tearing up an eraser, or turned upside down in their chair, they are not just playing or trying to ignore me. In most cases, they are actually listening better than if I had made them sit quietly with their hands on their desk! Of course, all of this activity can be distracting and disruptive to the rest of the class, so the vice-principal at my school came up with an ingenious solution that requires a bungee cord with hooks on each end and a PVC pipe. Slip the pipe over the bungee cord and hook it to the desk leg.  The student has a place to keep his feet busy while keeping his bottom in the chair. I started using this with a student this year and it has really helped him stay focused and on task. Every once in a while I have to ask him to not be so noisy with it, but most of the time it is barely noticeable.

The feet stay busy while the student is engaged and on task!