LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville teacher is trying a unique method to keep kids on the ball in the classroom by working their bodies and their minds.

Roosevelt-Perry Elementary teacher Evelyn Carias traded in her students' chairs for exercise balls. 

"The minute they came in they thought it was so exciting and they've really embraced it and they love it," said Carias.

Ditching traditional chairs for something more common in the gym, the fourth graders do all their school work perched atop the green and blue exercise balls.

"When they're working they know they can bounce, they can roll, whatever makes them comfortable as long as they're not being disruptive to their neighbors," said Carias.

The change took some adjusting for students.

"I couldn't keep my balance when I first sat on the ball. I kept falling over," said student Neveh Brown.

But it didn't take too long for them to embrace the change in just a few short months.

"It's kind of fun because you get to bounce on them, roll around and you get to exercise on them too," said Brown.

Carias came up with the idea over the summer. Knowing she'd have the same students two years in a row, she was looking for something to mix things up and stumbled across research on the alternative seats. She bounced the idea off principal Nichole Marshall, who jumped at the idea.

"I was not going to say no. I was not going to say 'this is not acceptable' or 'no, we're not going to do this'," said Marshall.

An at risk school that serves the Russell neighborhood, Marshall challenges her teachers to think outside the box to better serve their students.

"Your ultimate goal is success for your students at all costs. What are we going to do to make sure our students are successful," said Marshall.

Carias has already seen a difference in her students. She says the class is quieter with fewer disruptions and the constant subconscious movement helps with concentration.

"They're able to focus more because they're using both sides of their brain. And the retention of their memory increases," said Carias.

In addition to working their brains, students also work their bodies.

"The first couple of days they were like 'Miss Carias does your stomach hurt?' and it's like yes, these build--the tightening of the muscles," said Carias.

Now another Roosevelt-Perry classroom is experimenting with the new seats. Carias doesn't think the seat change is the key for all classrooms, but it's keeping her students on the ball as they improve their focus and health.

"When they're having fun they're engaged and being successful," said Carias.

Copyright 2015 WDRB News. All rights reserved.