Before coming to Japan 12 years ago, L.C. Woodard taught Middle and High School P.E. in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Now, living and working in Misawa city in Northern Japan, Ms. Woodard is responsible for teaching grades K-6 as a Physical Education Specialist at Sollars Elementary School.

After hearing about sport stacking while attending a P.E. workshop in Tokyo, L.C. introduced it to her students at the end of 2006 and has now incorporated it into her P.E. curriculum 'as a way of teaching hand-eye coordination.' Replacing juggling which was used previously, she spends one day of her teaching cycle sport stacking 'which the kids really look forward to.'

"It helps them learn to 'cross the midline' and learn their dominant hand from their non-dominant hand," she said. "Students who are not the best athletes find sport stacking something that they can do and be successful doing. The kids enjoy doing it and look forward to our sport stacking day."

Although there is no 'formal' sport stacking club at Sollars yet, students make their way over to the gym to get in some stacking practice and many kids have purchased their own equipment. "I hope to get a sport stacking club started in the next school year as an extracurricular activity," Ms. Woodard said.

The reaction of her students to sport stacking has been overwhelming. "They fell in love with it the first time they saw it and some of them
ask as soon as they come in the door, are we doing Speed Stacks today?"

   “The kids enjoy doing it and look forward to our sport stacking day. ”

"I find it easy to teach because I break it down into very simple steps," L.C. said. "Also, I have the ones who can do it well partner with the
slower ones to help them, and that has been very successful. The look on their faces when they master the 'Cycle' is priceless. The younger ones say they love sport stacking!"

When asked about the benefits for her students, Ms. Woodard said, "I've noticed the ones who are good at it have more confidence in
themselves and students say they are getting better at typing and other
activities that require use of both hands."

The feedback from parents has been very positive too. "Parents have been enthusiastic about it because their kids are. I've have
quite a few tell me how much their kids enjoy it and that they spend a
lot of time doing it at home."

   “Sport stacking has been widely accepted at school by the students, teachers and parents. ”

"Sport stacking has been widely accepted at school by the students,
teachers and parents," she said. "Our administrator even purchased a set! I've had other staff members come out for 'private' lessons because they think it
looks like fun. Every time it is mentioned on television, someone comes up and tells me how glad they are that I brought it to Sollars."

"I would highly recommend sport stacking to other teachers because the kids enjoy it, it has wonderful benefits and is a great inside activity," Ms. Woodard enthused. "We've had several teachers here who have bought sets to use in their class and sets have been purchased for the students to use in the media center."

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