Add a Little Koosh Ball Everyday!

Lately, I have been relieving for a number of different classes all in the same day. As the relief teacher, I can find myself working with Senior Primary in the morning, the Infants in the middle sessions and then back to Middle Primary in the afternoon. It is a busy planning time at the commencement of a new year as all the IEP (Individual Educational Programmes) meetings are scheduled for the class members with special needs. The class teachers need to be able to discuss, plan and review individual cases as a team of professionals. This same teacher needs to know that their class is being well managed in this time and they are able to return to a calm and productive room at the conclusion of their meeting.


Moving in and out of rooms like this can be far from smooth for the both yourself and the children. Over the years I have tried many strategies but the most effective and simple technique I have found to date is the use of ...........the Koosh Ball!





This little simple, colourful , indestructible, ball -like thingee is my best friend. I always have one, two and sometimes three in my bag at any one time! I am always inventing new and interesting ways to engage children and make the learning environment fun and productive through the use of the mighty koosh ball! The reason for its unfailing success is that its use encompasses the learning style of the kinesthetic learner, the highly visual learner as well the auditory learner who enjoys listening calmly! ( Understanding your students learning styles is critical to success: see http://www.learning-styles-online.com/ for further reading. )

The other interesting fact I have come to discover is that this little koosh ball is officially classified in a group of Occupational Therapists tools known as "Fidgets." Want a quick definition..... have a look at http://www.integrationscatalog.com/sportime-shared/articles/fidget.jsp The more I learn about our sensory systems and their impact on learning, the more I want to know! Each new understanding impacts on the way I see the individual child in the learning environment and the strategies I use on a daily basis.

Everyday Strategies for the "Multi-Talented" Teacher!

1. The person holding the ball is the speaker. When you wish to pass the ball on you must clearly nominate the next speaker and throw directly to them. (No -one is to intercept...outline consequence early.) The teacher must also obey the rules of this strategy for it to work well. The older students love it when I call this "Throwing some Ideas Around ! "
2. Your first visit to a class usually highlights the child who with the highest need for motor movement to concentrate. Choose this child to be the thrower and catcher at all times. All Q & A time is directed through the constant movement. This also gives the class ownership over their own behaviour as the reward for listening is a catch and throw of the koosh ball. I also find it a great way to learn names and observe social structure of the group. The child who is the main catcher and thrower could then choose next person based on participation.
3. One of the beauties of the koosh ball is that it does not matter if you drop the ball or if it lands on someones head......lucky it's not a cricket of a soccer ball I say! Even the younger children are able to physically catch the plastic strands and everyone loves the feel of the koosh. Children will even sit there physically stretching the plastic pieces and enjoying this fidget too! There are times the koosh ball gets given simply as a cheer up or for the need for a fidget! (Now you understand why!)
4. Younger classes are not nearly as proficient at throwing the ball around in an exchange of ideas so I would rather award two good listeners sitting with the koosh ball on their lap or at their desk to watch during the class discussion. After a period of time, I will ask for the best listener they have observed and the koosh ball is exchanged as the prize!
5. With Early Years classes, the koosh ball can assist in transitions from one area or time to another. For example , if the group is all on the carpet for a discussion and you wish to stagger the movement back to the tables, I let the koosh ball do the talking! Only when the koosh ball touches you on the hand can you move to the table or when the koosh ball touches you as lucky number three on your knee! When you don't know names all these strategies are very helpful.
6. Settling and bonding strategy: I like to call this one Sticky Spider Web as it takes a bit of concentration and definitely group cooperation. Ask the middle to upper class to stand and form a circle. Explain that as you catch the ball you are to nominate your person and throw the ball on to the next person as quickly and smoothly as possible. No-one is to receive the ball twice. After practising this through a few times, you could introduce the timer and play beat the time. The next element to add to the experience is to unravel the spider web as well. Once you have gone forward throwing the ball to every player you must reverse the exact same throwing pattern. This is a great memory game.....especially when you add the timer! (It is interesting to see how some children never get to know, or remember, all their class mates names!) When your class is really getting the hag of these steps try introducing two koosh balls simultaneously...fantastic learning experience to highlight the need to focus on what is requires of you...... not everyone else! I call this "Keeping your Eye On the Ball"
7. Competitive class groups love this last game as a reward for focused and sustained class work. I always have my relief teaching notebook with me and I record results. The classes love the fact that I keep a valid and genuine record.

I would love to hear of what you might have used ,or are using, that works in a similiar fashion. Perhaps you might try this humble ideas and improve on them or share your success with them. Love to hear your comments.

Live, Learn and Laugh!

Blessings for the Journey...

Carmel