Will sitting on big orange balls help Lombard students improve focus?

The rule in Becky Tomasello's fifth grade class was clear: "No extreme bouncing."

But a little bouncing was expected - and even OK.

Starting in March, her students took turns sitting on big orange exercise balls instead of their desk chairs as part of a test program at Park View Elementary School in Lombard.

"It's much more comfortable than a chair and it helps me focus," said Bridget Cluskey, 11. "I pay more attention to the teacher when she's talking."

That's the idea. Tomasello and physical education teacher Deb Surdam were awarded a $1,900 grant from the Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance to study how the use of stability balls in the classroom can help children achieve academically.

Tomasello's class shared six exercise balls during the first phase of the program.

The fifth-graders wrote their own set of classroom rules on how the balls should be used, including keeping sharp objects away and not bouncing too much.

Next year, Tomasello will have a full set for her new fifth-graders. A second classroom at Park View - for students with learning disabilities - also will use the balls.

Research shows sitting on the balls helps strengthen core and back muscles and improves balance and coordination. Studies also show sitting on stability balls helps children with attention difficulties stay more focused.

"Exercise is Miracle-Gro for the brain," Surdam said. "The boys and girls are sitting on these balls and using their core muscles, which starts up blood flow to the brain and helps these children focus better."

Tomasello will collect data on next year's fifth-graders through informal student and parent surveys, reading and math assessments and a behavior analysis. The goal is to find out whether using the balls throughout the year helps students improve their test scores.

The program this spring convinced Tomasello that sitting on exercise balls helps kids focus better.

"Sometimes we'll be having a discussion and the only kids volunteering are the ones sitting on balls," Tomasello said. "I'm very excited to get a whole class set."