Angie Atkinson, teacher Special Ed. grades 9-12
Hazen High School
Renton, Washington

"It all began one morning after being copied into an email from John Ansotigue announcing last call for sport stacking entries for the first State competition to be held in 3 weeks. Having taught Special Education for 18 years, I know that changes in routine, breaking down walls, and removing comfort zones is no easy feat. This would be difficult given an entire school year but three weeks? I must be crazy! Never one to turn down a challenge or pass up an opportunity for my kids, I replied to the email and requested the works! As I sat back in my chair, my mind began to race. Forty percent of my kids had tried stacking one time last June at the end of the year picnic. The rest had never seen or heard of stacking. Looking at my students’ diverse range of challenges and abilities, we were in for an adventure. This became even more apparent when my aide reminded me we never learned the cycle at the picnic. No problem! I exchanged a pile of file folders for a set of Speed Stacks and the training DVD and I was prepared for my evening homework – the cycle! The next morning I explained to the kids what we were going to tackle. The response was a mix of emotions. Some thought it would be cool. Many others had the "deer in the headlights" look and questioned everything from being in front of people and losing, to getting up early on a Saturday. Not to be detoured, desks were pushed to the sides of the room and each student was handed a set of Speed Stacks and told to sit on the floor. We watched the DVD on the new big screen. We let Emily inspire us. We watched clips of the Worlds and then began, step-by-step, learning the different stack patterns and rules. A count down to competition was put on the board. Cups were flying and frustrations were high. Some felt it was too hard and too many steps to remember…and then the transformation began to unfold before our eyes. Each day they improved and their confidence grew. Parents called excited that their children, who typically were quiet or stayed to themselves, were now receiving phone calls and inviting classmates over to practice stacking. Students worked even harder in class to earn extra stacking time. Suddenly, there weren’t any missing assignments. Speed Stacks would appear on desks when students finished with their class work. They stacked at lunch and on the floor outside my room before school. Students who never use to hang out together began helping one another improve. One boy spent an hour with another visually impaired student doing timed tests with every color of Speed Stacks we had to determine which color she could see and stack the best. A few days before state two students came flying into the room at a full sprint yelling "We have a sign!" Yes, our stacking team of 12 had a large good luck sign from the cheerleaders, just like all the other sports right in the middle of the ASB. Friday was even better. The cheerleaders came to our room for a special send off. The students were wished good luck during the morning announcements. The ASB president gave them a shout out at the pep assembly. As one student put it, we were practically famous! No longer invisible wallflowers, these students walked the halls with pride often carrying their Speed Stacks so people would take note of who they were. The day of the state competition was the icing on the cake. We boarded our luxury coach armed with Speed Stacks, backpacks and a very large bag of Egg McMuffins and orange juice. On the ride to the competition, everyone watched the Speed Stack DVD to remind ourselves of the rules. When the cycle came on the students cheered and yelled. One student laid across a row of seats and got in a few practice runs on the bus isle floor before we arrived. The competition was awesome. Some students were excited while others thought they would throw up! Fortunately this was remedied with a couple of bags of peppermint lifesavers! Every student rose to the occasion. They conducted themselves in a way that made us all very proud of them. This group had not only grown socially but had truly become a team. At the end of the day students boarded the bus with big smiles and lots of medals around their neck. 

Speed Stacks has changed the lives of my twelve students. They are more confident. They walk the halls of the school taller. There is a new count down on the board for next year. The fear of failure and the "I can’t" has been replaced with "How do we earn enough money to go to Colorado?" My students are also teaching what they have learned. Some general ed. teachers have invited them to teach their classes stacking. They love the role reversal. We will also be connecting with the elementary special education class like ours for a teaching opportunity. Our hope is that they too, will come to state and be able to have a high school stacking buddy who understands that first year fear to cheer them on! Sport stacking has been an incredible experience for all of us. One which I hope will continue for years to come."

www.speedstacks.com

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