Desk Cycles Keep Students Engaged In Classroom Lessons

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Middle school students everywhere tend to be a fidgety group, and those at Woodstock Middle School are no exception.

So when eighth-grade language arts teacher Rosa Frederick read an article about small constant movement improving brain function and focus, she knew she wanted to try it out in her classroom.

“I sent our librarian the article, and we decided to write a grant to get this underway,” she said, noting that in the 2008 study, students who conducted light exercise throughout a class period were able to sustain focus throughout complicated mental tasks such as reading or problem-solving.

As she read the article, Woodstock Middle School media specialist Wendy Cope remembered the yard-sale exercise bike she had in her classroom in the ’90s.

“It was always cranking, and the only rule was, whoever was on the bike had to be reading or writing the whole time,” she said. “It was amazing to see those students who could barely sit in their seats stay on task and feel accomplished.”

After doing additional research, Frederick and Cope wrote a grant to Donors Choose.org for 12 Desk Cycles for Frederick’s classroom. The grant was funded in only two months.

Not one to miss an opportunity for learning, Frederick created her own STEM challenge for her Literature/Composition students: not only did they have to put the desk cycles together, but they also had to improve upon the instructions included with the packages.

Students’ reactions have been extremely positive, according to the project planners.

“We began piloting with only three of the Desk Cycles, and I would ask the kids, ‘Who wants to be a hamster today?’ The hands would fly up!” Frederick said.

And the miles racked up, too. One quiet student pedaling on the bike participated more in class, and rode 15 miles in one day. Another student who had previously had difficulty completing assignments finished a challenging rough draft within one class period. Classes compete to improve their mileage over that of the previous class.

“We’re training Woodstock Wolverine athletes for the next five years right here in this classroom,” Frederick said. “I want to see how the WHS (Woodstock High School) track team does in 2017.”

Beyond increased student engagement, the Desk Cycles will be incorporated into the writing curriculum in other ways. Frederick continues to keep data on how far students cycle over the course of a week, and she and Cope are organizing surprise “Mystery Skype” sessions with classes around the country based on how far students have ridden. These will incorporate writing good interview questions and listening and speaking skills with an authentic audience.

Attendance is up, too. Frederick’s homeroom has the highest attendance of any homeroom at Woodstock Middle School.

And knowing they have the opportunity to boost their brains through biking? She said that’s an incentive worth pedaling toward.

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Photo 1: Woodstock MS students Jessie Cook, left, and Abisai Bocanegra pedal during class.
Photo 2: Woodstock MS student Katie Renard keeps pedaling as she works.
Photo 3: Chloe Price, left, and Aaliyahna Cesar rack up miles in class at Woodstock MS.
Photo 4: Woodstock MS students Brendan O’Meara, Sophia Loconto, Carlie Stark and Delon Henderson Jr. work to assemble a Desk Cycle.
Photo 5: Hannah Suh, Laney Broussard and Ella Elbeck put together a Desk Cycle during class at Woodstock MS.
Photo 6: Jocelyn Helsby, Julia Farrier, Heidi Urena and Millie Jones are benefitting from a grant to purchase Desk Cycles.
Photo 7: Woodstock MS students Britney Diep, Emily Wolfe, Reagan Tidwell and Chloe Price get ready to start cycling.
Photo credits: Cherokee County School District