Actions help build physical, mental skills, some teachers say
"A.J. Aybar had a confident grin as he stepped to a table where 12 plastic cups awaited him. In a flurry of motion, the 6- year-old stacked the cups in pyramids and just as quickly returned them to their original positions. As he finished, A.J. thrust his arms into the air triumphantly and dashed to pick up a blue ribbon for defeating a classmate in a demonstration of sport stacking, a physical education activity that has been introduced at his school, Davis Elementary; and other Garland schools. A.J.'s explanation for his success was simple. "I got good just by practicing, and I listen to what she says," he said, glancing toward physical education teacher Melanie Easley. Ms. Easley was fascinated by a demonstration of sport stacking that she saw in August and signed her school up to be one of the first to check out some of the 60 sets of stacking cups available in the district. Schools are introducing the activity in two-week units.

Davis students went through tryouts for a chance to be one of the 52 first- through fifth-graders chosen for six sport stacking teams."Kids who can focus, listen to directions, and show good sportsmanship were the ones picked for the teams," she said. "It's something that even kids who are not athletic can get into and shine like they haven't shined before. It also challenges the athletic ones." The simplicity of stacking chailenges the brain, Ms. Easley said.

"It helps focus, concentration, and ambidexterity for sports and musical skills, and it even helps reading that is done left-to-right," she said. "Stacking helps students use both sides of the body and brain." Alyssa Armstrong, a.10-year-old fifth-grader, has picked up on the benefits."I like it because it helps you learn how to use both of your hands, and it's fun," she said. "I think it will help with sports playing when you have to switch hands." Alyssa hasn't found a way to practice stacking at home 'You use special cups for stacking," she said. 'You can't use glasses or other kinds of plastic cups because they won't work." The cups, sold by Speed Stacks Inc., a Colorado company, are made of a special plastic so they do not stick together as they are stacked and unstacked.

Corey Nguyen, a 7-year-old first-grader, has tried to sharpen his stacking skills at home with plastic food containers, but at least one family member is not impressed. "When I do it at home, my baby sister just stares and drools," he said.

Greg Brown, a 10-year-old fifth-grader is an experienced stacker. "I did it before at another school I went to," he said. "I'm the best in my class, but some of the younger kids are good, too. I like it because it helps me with basketball and other garnes, and it helps me focus befter." The exercise even helps children with physical limitations, Ms. Easley said. "We have one special-needs little girl here who has limited use of her hands," she said. "She can pull her wheelchair to a table, and she stacks like crazy."

Parent approval
Parents who watched a stacking demonstration during a Tuesday PTA meeting also realized the benefits.
"I think it teaches the kids about being fast," Jude Eze said after his fourth-grade daughter, Chisom, let him try stacking. "I can see where it will help them in mathematics, especially, and with concentration." Dorothy Jackson also was impressed with the aim of the exercise after watching her first-grader, Jasmine, participate. "I think it's good for focus, cdordination, thinking skills, and organizing skills," she said.

"It's something that even kids who are not athletic can get into and shine like they haven't shined before," teacher Melanie Easley said. "it also challenges the athletic ones."

Kim Rothius, health and physical education coordinator for the district, is a believer in the physical and mental skills that can be developed through stacking. She noted that teacher Kim Gattrell began using the cups last year in her classes at Kimberlin Academy and applied for a grant to purchase cups for other district schools.

"People who have been using it said for some time really see a difference in the kids," Ms. Rothfus said. "It teaches them that they have to practice something to improve, and it reinforces teamwork and the value of never giving up. "The calendar is pretty full just with our elementary schools that want to check out the cups," she "In the second semester, we hope to send them out to some middle schools." By the end of the school year, there will be a sport stacking competition for students from throughout the district, Ms. Rothfus said. A.J. is looking forward to the championship and a shot at winning more blue ribbons. "I'll try my best, and I'll keep practicing," he said."

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