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TESTIMONIAL: Wellness ClassroomI am an elementary school teacher (3rd grade this year) who has taken the concept of a Wellness Home and downsized it just a bit, transforming my classroom into what I'm calling a Wellness Classroom. A fire ravaged a section of my school, residue from the smoke and fire are still running rampant through our ventilation. I've been suffering from migraines since shortly after the school year began in August, and I began wondering if the ventilation/heating system was playing a part. So over our Christmas break, I bought an Air Wellness Power 5, a water cooler and an Aqua Pour, four of the smaller Kenko Seats. I have 20 children in my room and would have loved to have been able to afford 20 seats, but the reality of my teacher's salary sank in. My students are in 5 groups of fours, so each day a different four get the seats, and by Friday, the entire class has had one day of benefit. All of the technologies were in place when they returned from vacation in January. In order to effectively spread the word of what I was implementing and to try enlist some parent involvement, I held two "Open Classrooms" after school inviting my students to bring their parents to see what this was all about. I showed the Wellness Home video, so they had a feel for where I was getting the ideas, then I opened it up to testimonials from the children kids and questions from the parents. I have definitely generated a lot of interest. In a week I have sold 11 more seats (8 of them for my students, 3 for their siblings in other classrooms) and three pair of Magstrides, I have a few families still with information who are working towards an informed decision. I have created an atmosphere which is inquisitive about the idea of wellness and healthier classroom environments for our children. I have even had donations of seats offered from people within our company whom I have never even met - I love Nikken people! My opinion is that there are other educators out there who want to reap the rewards of an attentive, well-behaved, happy, healthy and balanced room of students. This classroom is great not only for me and my headaches, which have been eliminated, but great for the one or two children who really would try my patience throughout the day due to their behavior. The Kenko Seats reduce the restlessness for the children who normally would be sitting in the plastic chairs. My students who are mostly nine year olds report that they feel comfortable, calm and focused. Imagine that! Wow, I have witnessed an incredible change in my kids – and they have witnessed changes in each other! They understand that they are learning in a healthy environment; that their teacher truly cares about their well-being and their academic achievement. We have state testing coming up soon which everyone seems to be dreading but our classroom’s attitude is "bring it on!" My students have been healthier (great point to make when we are practicing and reviewing for this test) and genuinely enjoy coming to school. I have seen an improvement in their overall moods (yes, third graders can be moody!!). I am genuinely interested in making a difference in my students' well-being and success for as long as I have a direct influence in their lives and their academic performance. (Here’s a bonus - the kenko seats go with them to whichever classroom and grade they progress to!). Shalyn Rocha PS My mom and I spent the past 24 hrs sewing and altering Kenko seats so that tomorrow morning, Monday, I'll officially have a COMPLETE Wellness Classroom! Yea! ALL 20 of my students will be sitting on these technologies from tomorrow until the end of the year at least! |