Brain Based Learning ~ Physical Movement

Want to improve the learning in your classroom?  

You will need to implement brain based strategies into your classroom.  

Strategy Number One-  Physical Movement

We know that we grow neurons through our lifetime and they are highly correlated with memory, mood and learning.  This process can be regulated daily with exercise.  When students move, good chemicals are produced to help thinking, focus and learning.  Our brain "run on empty" when they don't move, so it is critical as educators we get our students moving in the classroom.

What can you do in your room to make sure students get physical movement?  

State Changes & Energizers!

Here are some examples:

Cross Lateral Movements

Sit Ups/Push Ups

Jumping Jacks

Snow Balls Fights (Crumble up paper and throw at each other)

Stand and Sing YMCA

Thumb War with a Partner

Wall Squats

Trading Places (Students change seats)

Mingle, Mingle, Find Another Single (Have students walk around the room until you say stop. Then, have them  

I will post more examples soon!

Random Acts of Kindness and the Wonder Connection

For the first time in my career, we asked our incoming 6th grade students to read a book over the summer.  Our pick was Wonder by R. J. Palacio.  We choose the book because of it's amazing themes- Kindness, Acceptance, Friendship, etc.

We have decided to start our school year discussing kindness and how being kind to others truly impacts the world.  On September 11th, we watched a video clip called:  9/11 Anniversary Call for 10,000 Acts of Kindness.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taQt42zqrKs

Now, even though this "call" for kindness was a few years old, I decided to challenge my own students to this.  They all were asked to do a Random Act of Kindness.  Then, we would share our acts in hopes of inspiring others to continue to do more kind acts.  We also journaled about our experience.

Well, one of my students decided to do his Random Acts of Kindness on me!  This is what I saw on my desk:

I was shocked and SOOOO excited!  I love the fact that my student gave it back to me!  I decided to then, copy the sheet and pass it on to two students in my class as well as 5 teachers in my building!  Looking forward to this lesson impacting tons of other lives!